Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-26-10The Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia met in regular session on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the City of Arcadia, at 240 W. Huntington Drive with Chairman Parrille presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Parrille led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Baderian, Baerg, Beranek, Chiao and Parrille ABSENT: None OTHERS ATTENDING Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director, Jason Kruckeberg Deputy Development Services Director /City Engineer, Phil Wray Community Development Administrator, Jim Kasama Senior Planner, Lisa Flores Senior Administrative Assistant, Billie Tone Hogle Ireland Consultant, Laura Stetson Bon Terra Consultant, Kristin Keeling SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS There were none. TIME RESERVED FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON NON PUBLIC HEARING MATTERS Five minute time limit per person There were none. MINUTES ARCADIA PLANNING COMMISSION Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 7:00 P.M. Arcadia City Council Chambers PUBLIC HEARING 1. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE General Plan Update, Final Environmental Impact Report, Proposed Zoning Code Amendments, and New Official Zoning Map Mr. Kruckeberg and Ms. Flores presented the staff report. Chairman Parrille asked for questions from the Commissioners. The Commissioners chose to first hear from the audience. Chairman PamIle asked for questions from the audience. Ms. Jane Yu, thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity to voice her concerns about zoning for her property at 1012 S. First Avenue. She said that her family purchased their home in 1988 and it was a nice, quiet neighborhood at that time. However, because her property is surrounded by C -2 zoning, the neighborhood has seen some significant changes with an auto repair shop and remodeled health club and swimming pool being added across the street. Ms. Yu said that she is concerned that rezoning in the General Plan Update may have a further negative effect, particularly in regard to noise. Mr. Kruckeberg said there are no changes proposed in the General Plan Update for that area. However, Mrs. Yu may want to consider requesting a noise evaluation of the area. Ms. Beth Constanza, Executive Director of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, said that the General Plan Update was very interesting and that it contained lots of good ideas but she felt that the local business community should have been more involved in the development of the Plan. Mr. Kruckeberg pointed out that three members of the General Plan Advisory Committee were also members of the Chamber of Commerce and that staff conducted several workshops sponsored by the Chamber. In addition, there were two General Plan Update meetings specifically for local realtors and business people. He noted that staff made a concerted effort to involve local business people and to take their input into consideration. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian to close the Public Hearing. Without objection the motion was approved. Chairman Parrille asked if the Commissioners had any questions. Commissioner Baderian asked if water resources could accommodate the projected population. Mr. Kruckeberg said that a water supply assessment is part of the Environmental Impact Report and as a result of this assessment, staff has been assured by all the suppliers of water for the city that the necessary resources will be available to accommodate the projected population increase. Commissioner Baerg asked about the proposed regulations for designated parking spaces for accessory dwelling units. Ms. Flores explained the proposed regulations and how they would apply to accessory dwelling units. Chairman Pamile asked if parking regulations were reviewed for all uses or only for mixed use. Mr. Kruckeberg said that only mixed use and R -3 zoning parking uses were evaluated in the General Plan Update. Commissioner Beranek asked how the Gold Line Station and parking structure will be integrated into the General Plan Update. Mr. Wray explained that staff will conduct inspections as construction proceeds on the Gold Line and that the city will design the transit plaza in accordance with the plan envisioned for the city. PC MINUTES 10 -26-10 Page 2 Commissioner Chiao asked how the new policies in the General Plan Update would be applied to a new development. Ms. Flores explained that any new development would be subject to both the General Plan policies and zoning regulations and that both sets of policies are designed to be compatible, with neither taking precedence. Commissioner Baderian asked if Police and Fire resources would be able to accommodate the projected growth and development in the city. Mr. Kruckeberg explained that this issue was explored in depth with both Police and Fire officials to ensure that the policies of the General Plan would allow them to meet their intemal needs and response time requirements and that staff and Police and Fire officials were satisfied. Commissioner Baerg noted that some of the parking back -up requirements in the R -3 zone were reduced and he asked if the proposed regulations are similar to those in other cities. Mr. Flores said that a survey revealed that the proposed regulations are, indeed, common in the surrounding cities. Chairman Parrille asked about the proposed increase in density from 24 to 30 dwelling units per acre in the R -3 zone. Mr. Kruckeberg said that developers in Arcadia often build fewer units per acre than permitted and the proposed recommendation includes the establishment of a minimum number of units to insure that R -3 lots are developed in accordance with R -3 expectations. Commissioner Beranek asked about the future of horse racing in the city. Ms. Flores said that the long term vision includes horse racing, but if it were not to continue throughout the life of this plan, the replacement use should not compete with the existing mall or downtown. Mr. Kruckeberg noted that horse racing could only be replaced with a world class project. Commissioner Chiao asked about the proposed update of the zoning map. Ms. Stetson said that the zoning map will be updated to be parcel specific and to make sure it corresponds with the General Plan Update. In addition, the zoning map will be refined and modemized to more efficiently reflect of the General Plan vision. Commissioner Baderian noted that the General Plan Update includes a major statement on the importance of bicycles and he asked for comments on this subject. Mr. Wray said that the General Plan Update Circulation Element shows potentially good bike routes and that this will be a useful tool in implementation of bike lanes and the pursuit of grant funding for this purpose. Commissioner Baerg asked if any of the state agencies that were notified of the EIR had any problems with the plan. Mr. Kruckeberg said that 14 official replies were received from various state agencies and that staff responds to all points raised in these letters. He noted that none of these agencies expressed any concerns or suggested any inadequacies of the city's responses. Chairman Parrille asked if a desirable project is proposed next year that does not meet the objectives of the updated General Plan can it still be accomplished. Ms. Flores explained that if that occurred, the City Council would be able to consider a General Plan Amendment. PC MINUTES 10 -26-10 Page 3 MOTION: Commissioner Beranek asked about the recommendations for Live Oak Avenue. Mr. Kruckeberg said that a change in development standards to allow larger Tots to be redeveloped with mixed use projects, the doubling of the floor area ratio, shared parking, etc., are some of the incentives recommended to encourage property owners to redevelop this potentially attractive commercial corridor. Commissioner Chiao asked how the plan addresses the projected increase in traffic in the city. Mr. Wray pointed out that the EIR included traffic models of future growth and recommended land use changes. Hot spot areas where roadways are expected to be impacted by future growth were identified and mitigation measures were developed. In addition, he added that staff will continue to enhance the traffic signal program. Commissioner Baderian asked if the mitigation and monitoring program is reviewed yearly or on a project -by- project basis. Mr. Kruckeberg explained that the program is reviewed annually to ensure that growth is mitigated to a level that is not significant to the environment. Commissioner Baerg asked what concems were most commonly expressed by residents at the community workshops. Ms. Flores said that many residents voiced concem about traffic, parking and transportation in the downtown area. Mr. Kruckeberg added that comments on the Gold Line were also prevalent and, of course, Tots of questions about the effect on each individual's particular property. Chairman Parrille asked where most of the proposed changes in the plan would occur. Ms. Flores said most of the change would occur in downtown and the Live Oak area. Mr. Kruckeberg said that the detailed implementation plan will serve as a key that allows the Planning Commission and City Council to identify and assign priorities. Commissioner Beranek mentioned that many residents have expressed concern related to the size of single family homes and he asked how this issue is addressed in the Plan. Ms. Flores explained that the General Plan Update does not specifically limit the size of a home but provides policies that apply to the size, mass and compatibility of a home with the neighborhood. Commissioner Chiao asked if the projected growth will lead to significant impacts on the Arcadia School District. Ms. Stetson said that representatives of the school district and PTA have assured staff that projected growth can be accommodated. She also pointed out that fees on new development support schools and insure that funds are available to accommodate growth. In addition, school district officials can use the projections in the General Plan Update in their own future planning. Each Commissioner thanked staff on behalf of the entire community for their diligent efforts in development of a thoughtful and inspiring vision to serve as a guide to future development. It was moved by Commissioner Beranek, seconded by Commissioner Baderian, to approve the General Plan Update, the Zoning Map and certification of the FEIR with the project requirements and mitigations outlined in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting program PC MINUTES 10-26 -10 Page 4 (MMRP) and the Statement of Overriding Considerations (SOC) set forth in Section of the Staff Report. ROLL CALL AYES: Baderian, Baerg, Beranek, Chiao and Parrille NOES: None CONSENT ITEM 4. MINUTES OF OCTOBER 12, 2010 RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of October 12, 2010. MOTION: It was moved by Commissioner Baderian, seconded by Commissioner Beranek, to approve the minutes of October 12, 2010 as presented. ROLL CALL: AYES: Commissioners Baderian, Baerg, Beranek, Chiao, and Parrille NOES: None MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Kasama asked the Commissioners about their availability for meetings during November and December. MODIFICATION COMMITTEE AGENDA Chairman Parrille reported that MC 10 -29 for wall signs and MC 10 -32 for the addition of a second story were both approved at the meeting this morning. A third item, TRH 10-01 and THE 10-20, for an oak tree that was removed without a permit and trenching that encroaches on a neighbor's oak tree, were denied and forwarded to the City Attomey for action. MATTERS FROM STAFF UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Kasama said that the November 9 meeting will include review of a Business License Revocation and a proposed project at Baldwin Plaza. ADJOURNED ATTEST: ary, Planning Commission 8:20 p.m. PC MINUTES 10 -26-10 Page 5