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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/23/2007ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA JULY 23, 2007 CALLED TO ORDER: 5:10 P.M. CITY HALL ROSS ANNEX FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM 1600 20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Eric Alderete Victoria Betancourt (arrived 5:15 p.m.) Harvey De La Torre, Vice Chair (arrived 5:13 p.m.) James Gartner Christopher Leo, Chairman Sean H. Mill (arrived 5:13 p.m.) Mike Munoz STAFF PRESENT: Jay Trevino, Ex. Dir. P/ng. & Bldg. Agency Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney Karen Haluza, Planning Manager Martha Ramirez, Recording Secretary CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar. MOTION: Munoz SECOND: Alderete VOTE: AYES: Alderete, Gartner, Leo, Munoz (4) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Betancourt, De La Torre, Mill (3) A. MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 9, 2007. Commissioner Munoz abstained from Minutes of July 9, 2007. B. RECORDING SECRETARY REPORT Pursuant to the Brown Act, the July 9, 2007 Agenda for the Regular Meeting was posted on the door of the City Hall Council Chambers at 22 Civic Center Plaza on July 6, 2007 at 8:24 a.m. RECOMMENDATION: Instruct the Commission Secretary to enter posting into the minutes. • * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR BUSINESS CALENDAR C. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION DISCLOSURE (REGARDING AGENDIZED PROJECTS) Planning Commission Minutes 1 July 23, 2007 Commissioner Gartner will abstain from Item D, Conditional Use Permit No. 2005- 03. D. FINAL REVIEW OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2005-03 Final review of conditions of approval for Abel Food Service to allow vendor trucks at the property located at 2520 South Birch Street. 1 RECOMMENDATION: Approve compliance with the conditions of approval for Conditional Use Permit No. 2005-03. MOTION: Approve compliance with the conditions of approval for Conditional Use Permit No. 2005-03. MOTION: De La Torre SECOND: Mill VOTE: AYES: Alderete, De La Torre, Leo, Mill, Munoz (5) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: Gartner (1) ABSENT: Betancourt (1) WORK STUDY SESSION E. DISCUSSION OF CITY LANDSCAPING STANDARDS Landscape Development Associate Marvin Ellenbecker and Planning Manager Haluza provided a presentation on the City's current landscaping standards, as well as the more recently adopted Citywide Design Guidelines for commercial landscape design. These standards were compared to landscape standards in surrounding cities including Orange, Tustin, Anaheim and Irvine in order to ascertain if Santa Ana's landscaping standards should be increased or otherwise improved in an effort to achieve more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly landscaping throughout the City. The Commission discussed the need to balance the need for establishing a "gold standard" of landscaping excellence with the realities of Santa Ana's existing development pattern, as well as the needs to not further disincentivize redevelopment of small vacant lots. Some Commissioners further expressed that in recent years landscaping has been significantly improved on projects and they felt that the City had begun to turn around in this regard. Other Commissioners expressed what they felt as the need to be more aggressive in requesting, and even mandating, increased landscaping standards. The Commission acknowledged that code enforcement should play a larger role in ensuring that landscaping is maintained over time and that better maintenance standards might be more appropriate than increasing minimum landscaping standards. They also expressed concern over the practice of "topping" trees. The Commission suggested that perhaps the City's standards need to be amended in order to prohibit this damaging tree pruning practice. Due to the complexity of the topic and the desire for a more in-depth discussion, the Planning Commission decided to continue the discussion at a subsequent meeting. F. Recess to Council Chambers (6:36 p.m.) Planning Commission Minutes 2 July 23, 2007 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA CALL TO ORDER 6:44 P.M. ROLL CALL The same staff was present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PROCEDURAL RULES PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO.2007-14 Filed by W. Dean Brown for The Planning Consortium (Verizon Wireless), to construct a 60-foot wireless facility camouflaged as a broadleaf mono-tree at an Industrial Business Park site located at 2961 West MacArthur Boulevard. PUBLISHED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY REPORTER: July 13, 2007 PUBLICLY NOTICED: July 13, 2007 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2007-14 as conditioned. Landscape Development Associate Marvin Ellenbecker presented the staff report and recommendation. The public hearing was opened. No written communications were received. Dean Brown representing Verizon Wireless spoke in support of the project. The public hearing was closed. MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2007-14 as conditioned. MOTION: Mill SECOND: Betancourt VOTE: AYES: Alderete, Betancourt, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Mill, Munoz (7) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 2. Public Comments (for items not on the agenda) No comments were made. STAFF AND COMMISSION COMMENTS 3. Staff Comments No comments were made. Planning Commission Minutes 3 July 23, 2007 4. Planning Commission Comments Commissioner Alderete • Inquired about regulation for posting signage on trees. Chief Assistant City Attorney Kaufman provided information. Commissioner Gartner • Recommended a discussion regarding signage standards. Commissioner Betancourt • Recommended further discussion to enhance quality of landscaping guidelines. Vice Chair De La Torre • Inquired as to who is responsible for chain link fences/landscape/graffiti cleanup on Orange County Flood Control District property. Marvin Ellenbecker provided information. Commissioner Munoz • Recommended atree-topping ordinance and increasing requirements in specific districts. Commissioner Mill • Requested clean up of trash around OCTA bus stop on southeast corner of Sunflower and Bristol Streets. Staff indicated Public Works will also be notified. • Commented on commercial vehicles parking on residential streets. Police Officer McCoy also provided information. Chair Leo • Recommended a better plan to handle overflow parking at the Bowers Museum for future events. • Recommended exploring residential development opportunities adjacent to the Santa Ana River area. • Requested an update of the Metro East project plan. Planning Manager Haluza indicated that the 6th and Park Center project is scheduled for an upcoming Planning Commission work study session. 5. Excuse of Absences 6. Adjournment 7:14 p.m. Mart Ramirez Recording Secretary 1 Planning Commission Minutes 4 July 23, 2007