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Home My WebLink About06/12/2006ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA JUNE 12, 2006 1 CALLED TO ORDER: 5:36 P.M. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Victoria Betancourt Don Cribb Harvey De La Torre, Vice Chairman James Gartner Christopher Leo, Chairman Tom Lutz COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Rigoberto Rodriguez STAFF PRESENT: Jay Trevino, Executive Director Plan. & Bldg. Agency Ben Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney Karen Haluza, Planning Manager Martha Ramirez, Recording Secretary 1 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: Chairman Leo CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Approve staff recommendations on the following Consent Calendar. MOTION: Cribb SECOND: Lutz VOTE: AYES: Betancourt, Cribb, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Lutz (6) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Rodriguez (1) A. MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of May 22, 2006. B. RECORDING SECRETARY REPORT Pursuant to the Brown Act, the May 22, 2006 Agenda for the Regular Meeting was posted on the door of the City Hall Council Chambers at 22 Civic Center Plaza on May 18, 2006 at 3:28 p.m. 1 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 June 12, 2006 Commissioner Betancourt will abstain from Bustamante Family Trust, Item C. Commissioner Cribb spoke with Nexus developer regarding Item 1, Street Name No. 2006-01. Chair Leo received a telephone call from Nexus but did not return call to developer regarding Item 1, Street Name No. 2006-01. 1 D. NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT REVIEW NO. 2006-07 Filed by the Bustamante Family Trust requesting to permit an exterior modification to the existing one story addition at 819 North Spurgeon in the Specific Development 19 zoning district (French Park). RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving Neighborhood Project Review No. 2006-07. Associate Planner Melanie McCann presented the staff report and recommendation. MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Neighborhood Project Review No. 2006-07. MOTION: Lutz SECOND: Cribb VOTE: AYES: Cribb, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Lutz (5) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: Betancourt (1) ABSENT: Rodriguez (1) WORK STUDY SESSION E. DISCUSSION REGARDING 800 MHz IN BUILDING ORDINANCE Fire Marshall Lori Smith provided information on a proposed ordinance that would require new development projects that might have the potential for disruption of emergency communications due to building height or construction type, i.e. subterranean garages, or be equipped with special equipment that would allow emergency radio communications to be transmitted without interference within the building. She indicated that the ordinance would be reviewed with the City Council during July. Chair Leo inquired about older buildings being brought current. Fire Battalion Chief Randy Black discussed issues related to heavier concrete buildings, and heavily reinforced subterranean structures as well as funding. 1 PROCEDURAL RULES PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. STREET NAME NO. 2006-01 TO RENAME IMPERIAL PROMENADE AND HUTTON CENTRE DRIVE AS MAC ARTHUR PLACE Filed by Nexus Companies requesting to rename Imperial Promenade and Hutton Centre Drive to MacArthur Place and Hutton Centre Drive as Hutton Drive in the SD-43 and SD-76 zoning districts. PUBLISHED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY REPORTER: June 2, 2006 PUBLICLY NOTICED: June 1, 2006 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving Street Name No. 2006-01. Planning Commission Minutes 2 June 12, 2006 Senior Planner Vince Fregoso presented the staff report and recommendation. Mr. Fregoso stated that the proposal was part of the marketing/branding program for MacArthur Place/Hutton Centre. Written communication was received from Karen Anderson with Aitken, Aitken & Cohn opposing the street name change. Commission discussion ensued regarding the numbering system that remains the same, the potential confusion with the existing name of "MacArthur Place" and the proposed new name being the same. The public hearing was opened. Nexus representative Cindy Nelson spoke in support of the project. The public hearing was closed. MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Street Name No. 2006-01. Ben Kaufman clarified for the Commission that, due to a lack of public notification for a portion of the proposed street name change, the vote would exclude the Hutton Centre Drive portion of the recommendation and that after property noticing, staff would return with the remainder of the proposed street-name change. REVISED MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Street Name No. 2006-01 excluding the renaming of Hutton Centre Drive to Hutton Drive. MOTION: Lutz VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: 2. VARIANCE NO. 21 SECOND: Betancourt Betancourt, Cribb, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Lutz (6) None (0) None (0) Rodriguez (1) )06-01 Filed by Marcos Contreras requesting approval of a variance to allow the reduction of required parking for office use at an existing industrial building in the General Commercial (C2) zoning district for the property located at 1201 East Fourth Street. PUBLISHED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY REPORTER: June 2, 2006 PUBLICLY NOTICED: June 1, 2006 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution denying Variance No. 2006-01. Associate Planner Pedro Guillen provided the staff report and recommendation. The public hearing was opened. Applicants Julieta and Marcos Contreras spoke in support of the project. The public hearing was closed. MOTION: Adopt a resolution denying Variance No. 2006-01. MOTION: Cribb SECOND: Lutz VOTE: AYES: Betancourt, Cribb, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Lutz (6) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Rodriguez (1) Planning Commission Minutes 3 June 12, 2006 3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO.2006-07 Filed by 7-Eleven Inc., requesting approval to operate a new gasoline service station and a convenience store during the hours of 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. in the General Commercial (C2) zoning district for property located at 4426 Westminster Avenue. PUBLISHED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY REPORTER: June 2, 2006 PUBLICLY NOTICED: June 1, 2006 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-07 as conditioned. Associate Planner Ann Ni presented the staff report and recommendation. Written communication was received from Shav Keuilian, owner at Archie's Corner Market stating opposition to the project. Commission discussed the landscape proposal, consideration for the blank wall behind the property to be covered with ivy, concern with existing metal roof; and ordinance restrictions for 24-hour operation. Officer McCoy clarified that within 150 feet applicant does not need to apply for conditional use permit. Commission inquired about notification to residents at Mobile Home Park. Commission also inquired about an ABC license application. Ms. Ni indicated applicant initially applied and was denied the ABC license, and stated that applicant was only pursuing the 24-hour operation. Ms. Ni indicated that the Riverview West neighborhood approval was received. The public hearing was opened. Applicant Dan Popa and Southwest Real Estate Manager Ronald Taylor spoke in support of the project. Commission discussed modification of the roof material. Applicant indicated they would continue to work with staff for options on the elevations and evaluation on the design and materials for the metal roof. The public hearing was closed. Commission discussed the mitigations affecting the neighbors (landscape buffer and wall, spill-over lighting, tree wells), and recommended that the conditional use permit be reviewed periodically to consider potential neighbor concerns. Officer McCoy stated that the Police Department handles complaints from the neighborhood and would provide the Commission with an incident report. Commission discussed the need for certain stores to operate 24-hours, recommended an increase to the landscape plan that would provide a shield for the residents, consideration for ivy/trellis on walls and review of the roof material. MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-07 as conditioned and directed staff to add a condition for landscape materials to be provided along the south property line abutting the mobile home park subject to the approval of the landscape Associates and the Planning Manager. Ms. Haluza indicated that the staff would continue to work with the applicant to choose an alternative material for the roof. Planning Commission Minutes 4 June 12, 2006 MOTION: Cribb SECOND: Gartner VOTE: AYES: Betancourt, Cribb, De La Torre, Gartner, Leo, Lutz (6) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: Rodriguez (1) 4. Public Comments (for items not on the agenda) No comments were made. STAFF AND COMMISSION COMMENTS 5. Staff Comments No comments were made. 6. Planning Commission Comments Commissioner Cribb • Commented on potential misidentification of a portion of Santa Ana along Sunflower with new banners indicating the area is in Costa Mesa. • Inquired about conformity of current construction on Edgewood one block east of Main. • Requested update on landscaping at the Crazy Horse Square project. • Commented on the potential for inappropriate use of glass block and other incompatible hardscape materials at "The Retreat". Also inquired about the planning of Stone Pine trees at that project. Staff provided a response. • Inquired if Nexus was done with the construction of walls adjacent to the Sandpointe neighborhood. • Commented that the roofline of the new Law Library expansion was unattractive. • Recommended a study session for green architecture. Vice Chair De La Torre • No comments Commissioner Betancourt • Commented on Chicago architecture article and agreed with Commissioner Cribb that the Commission should hold a study session on green architecture. Commissioner Gartner • No comments. Commissioner Lutz • Commented on increase of inquiries for illegal structures submitted by neighbors. Mr. Trevino attributed construction to seasonal fluctuation with remodeling prior to obtaining permits for construction work. • Commented on the northwest corner of Third Street and Bush at Farmer's Market, with dirt parking lot and sidewalk; property owned by the City Redevelopment Agency and recommended encouraging them to landscape the area. Chair Leo • Would like efforts extended to encourage prior gas station owners to reuse the lots throughout the City. Planning Commission Minutes 5 June 12, 2006 7. Excuse of Absences Commissioner Betancourt made a motion to excuse the absence of Commissioner Rodriguez; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Cribb and unanimously approved by the Commission. D C li 8. Adjournment 7:01 p.m. Marth Ramirez Recording Secretary Planning Commission Minutes 6 June 12, 2006