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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-2002ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA 1 ~1 i J AUGUST 12, 2002 CALLED TO ORDER 6:07 P.M. City Hall Ross Annex First Floor Conference Room 1600 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California ATTENDANCE COMMISSIONERS Present: Alexander Nalle, Chairman Lynnette Verino, Vice Chair Don Cribb Molly Doughty Christopher Leo Glenn Mondo Robert Richardson STAFF PRESENT Cynthia J. Nelson, Deputy City Manager Joseph Edwards, Acting Planning Manager Benjamin Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney Kylee Odette, Deputy City Attorney Joyce Amerson, Transportation Manager Mike McCoy, Police Department Yolanda Pena, Police Department Laura Johnson, Recording Secretary CONSENT CALENDAR Motion to approve staff recommendations on the Consent Calendar. MOTION: Leo SECOND: Richardson VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty, Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes from the regular meeting of July 22, 2002. B. RECORDING SECRETARY REPORT RECOMMENDATION: 1 The July 22, 2002 Agenda was posted at the City Hall Council Chambers on July 18, 2002 at 11:00 a.m. C. MINOR EXCEPTION NO.2002-04 Filed by Susan Hyatt to request a Minor Exception from Section 41-60(a)(1) to allow a 5- foot tall front yard fence located at 2407 N. French Street. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file the staff report approving Minor Exception No. 2002-04 as conditioned. D. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 1996-30 Filed by Bryan Leighton to modify the conditions of Conditional Use Permit No. 1996-30 to allow live music at an existing restaurant located at 416 W. Fourth Street. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file the staff report adopting a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 1996-30 as conditioned. * * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR BUSINESS CALENDAR E. SITE PLAN REVIEW N0.2002-03 Filed by the Orange County Register to construct a new 3,072 square foot electric power generation facility adjacent to the existing plant located at 625 N. Grand Avenue RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution approving Site Plan Review No. 2002-03 as conditioned. Maya DeRosa, Senior Planner presented the staff report. Motion to approve Site Plan Review No. 2002-03 as conditioned. MOTION: Leo SECOND: Richardson VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty, Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) WORK STUDY SESSION F. NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC PLANS Jim Ross, Executive Director Public Works, provided a summary of the process for neighborhood traffic plans. George Alvarez, City Engineer, provided a history of early procedures and how staff currently works with the neighborhoods to address traffic issues. He noted that the purpose is to preserve the residential character of neighborhoods by reducing cut-through traffic. Currently a 13-step process is utilized by staff and managed by the Environmental Transportation Advisory Committee (ETAC). Neighborhood involvement in this process is critical to a successful determination. He advised that city-wide analysis is not conducted as it would be an overwhelming work effort, staff resources are not available to perform tasks for all neighborhoods, and it would not be cost effective. He also noted that careful analysis must be given to all requests to ensure that the entire neighborhood concurs. Discussion was held regarding factors that can influence the success of a traffic plan and the possibility of a city-wide survey to determine over-all neighborhood traffic issues. Chairman Nalle requested clarification on the current process and why it was labor- intensive. Mr. Alvarez advised that meetings with residents must be held, data gathered and verified, and that currently there are only two staff members available for this. Discussion was held on possible alternatives to having residents initiate action and the possibility of conducting acity-wide survey. Mr. Ross noted that one plan would not work for all neighborhoods as each have different issues. Commissioner Verino asked if a survey of the neighborhood association presidents could be done to determine which neighborhoods have identified traffic as an issue. Mr. Alvarez noted that relief for one neighborhood may impact another and that must be taken into consideration. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 AUGUST 12, 2002 Kim Sinclair, ETAC representative, noted having the residents generate the process ensures their commitment to the process. She also noted it is a very labor-intensive process and that a perceived problem does not always mean there is a real problem. She did not believe acity-side survey would accomplish the desired results. Chairman Nalle asked Mr. Ross if Public Works staff could send a letter to the neighborhood association presidents to survey if they had atraffic-related issue. Mr. Ross agreed to have staff conduct the survey and report back to the Commission in one month regarding which areas responded with issues. 1 i. 1 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 AUGUST 12, 2002 ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 1 ROLL CALL PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PROCEDURAL RULES AUGUST 12, 2002 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2002-03 7:07 P.M. Filed by the City of Santa Ana to amend Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana municipal Code to establish regulation for cyber cafes. PUBLISHED IN THE REGISTER: August 2, 2002 RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the City Council: 1 1. Approve and adopt the Negative Declaration Environmental Review No. 2002-266. 2. Approve an ordinance extending the interim ordinance that regulates cyber cafes in the City of Santa Ana. 3. Approve and adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2002-03. Vince Fregoso, Senior Planner, presented the staff report and clarified the location of existing cyber cafes. Chairman Nalle opened the public hearing. There were no speakers on the matter and no written correspondence had been received. Chairman Nalle closed the public hearing. Benjamin Kaufman, Chief Assistant City Attorney, provided clarification of the current litigation in Garden Grove concerning cyber cafes and outlined the differences in the ordinances proposed by Garden Grove and Santa Ana. 1 Motion to recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve and adopt the Negative Declaration for Environmental Review No. 2002-266. 2. Approve an ordinance extending the interim ordinance that regultes cyber cafes in the City of Santa Ana. 3. Approve and adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2002-03. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 AUGUST 12, 2002 MOTION: Richardson SECOND: Mondo VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty, Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (C) 2. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2002-02. AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2002-01 AND VARIANCE NO.2002-04 (Ann Ni) (Continued by the Planning Commission on July 8, 2002 to August 12, 2002) Filed by Gamaliel Vasquez to change the General Plan designation from General Commercial (GC) to Low Density Residential (LR7), and the zoning designation from C5 (Arterial Commercial) to R1 (Single Family residence) in order to construct asingle-family residence at 1302 E. Fourteenth Street and allow a reduction in the minimum lot size requirement. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to September 9, 2002. Motion to continue to September 9, 2002. MOTION: Cribb SECOND: Verino VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty; Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2002-10 AND MINOR EXCEPTION NO. 2002-05 (Mark Staples) Filed by The National Traffic Safety Institute to allow for an Adult Education Facility at 2100 East Fourth Street, Suite 120 and to allow for shared parking on the site. RECOMMENDATION: Continue to August 26, 2002. Motion to continue to August 26, 2002. MOTION: Doughty SECOND: Richardson VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty, Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 4. AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2002-08 (Verny Carvajal) Filed by Master Construction to allow a zone change from General Commercial (C1) to Single-Family Residential (R1) of properties located at 1601, 1605, 1611, 1613, 1615, 1619, 1623, 1625 and 1631 W. Santa Ana Boulevard in order to construct asingle-family residence at 1605 W. Santa Ana Boulevard. RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance approving Amendment Application No. 2002-08. Verny Carvajal, Associate Planner provided the staff report and recommendation. Discussion held regarding occupancy and amenities proposed. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 AUGUST 12, 2002 Chairman Nalle opened the public hearing. There were no speakers on the matter and no written correspondence had been received. Chairman Nalle closed the public hearing. Commissioner Mondo requested a review of the development standards. Mr. Kaufman advised that construction of asingle-family home on an R1 lot is a ministerial act and that the question before the Commission was whether or not the block should be re-zoned. Mr. Edwards outlined the review process when an application for construction of asingle-family home is received. Commissioner Verino noted that the applicant had made efforts to ensure the home was compatible with the neighborhood. Ms. Nelson advised that staff is currently working with a consultant to update the Design and Development Standards and they will be brought to Planning Commission for review in a couple of months. These will address many of the issues raised by Commissioner Cribb regarding design and architectural details. Motion to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance approving Amendment Application 2002-08. MOTION: Mondo SECOND: Verino VOTE: AYES: Cribb, Doughty, Leo, Mondo, Nalle, Richardson, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 5. Public Comments CC}MMENTS Francine Seinto, Orange County Associates, asked if written comments could be submitted regarding Item 3 that had been continued and was advised that staff would assist her. 6. Comments from the Staff Benjamin Kaufman advised that research was being conducted regarding the electronic reader boards and a presentation will be made to the Commission when data gathering has been completed. 7. Comments from the Planning Commission Commissioner Doughty • Asked if data was available regarding the number of daily trips there would be if the proposed school is built on the Farmers Insurance site. Ms. Nelson will request that staff provide the information. Commissioner Cribb • Noted that a birthday party had been held last weekend at Santiago Park and the park had been left a mess. He asked if a clean-up fee was charged and if there was any on-site supervision. Staff will investigate. • Asked if there was an oversight committee for review of new housing in the Logan neighborhood and noted that he believed current new construction compromised the historic flavor of the neighborhood. He also noted that it would be a good area to consider when a site is needed for relocation of a historic home. • Noted thanks to CalTrans for the I-5 off-ramps being exceptionally clean. Commissioner Verino • Asked if the Big-Saver sign was temporary and Ms. Nelson advised that they had failed to comply and had been sited. They will be going through the hearing officer process. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 AUGUST 12, 2002 • Asked for an update on the Montgomery Ward site. Ms. Nelson advised that several interested parties were looking at the buildings, but no commitment had been made. • Asked if anything could be done to improve the appearance of the industrial area at 5th between Holly and Raitt. Ms. Nelson advised that it could be included in the next targeted commercial clean-up area. Commissioner Mondo • Noted that during the Pop Warner games at Lilly King Park the additional trash cans provided by Recreation and Community Services are not being used and trash in being scattered all over the park and sidewalks. Asked if it would be possible for Recreation and Community Services to schedule special clean-ups after these games. • Requested an update on the human billboard issue and Ben Kaufman advised that proposed regulations would be brought for review soon. • Noted that in Sandpoint neighborhood near Garnsey and Columbine there is a dark area without street lights which has resulted in noisy gatherings where minors drink beer. When the residents spoke to them glass containers were thrown into their yards. He asked if police patrol could be requested. Commissioner Richardson • Noted that he hoped the Big-Saver site can be brought into compliance. • Encouraged everyone to go to the police department and see the new Stat-Track System that has been installed. Ms. Nelson advised that staff will schedule a Commission meeting for the Police Community Room and request a demonstration of the system. Commissioner Leo • Requested update on One Broadway Plaza project. Mr. Edwards noted that he had been advised by Carribou Industries that an agreement was pending with the Police Officers Association which would allow them to begin the site plan review process. • Noted that he had observed surveyors at Memory Lane and Bristol and was advised that Starbucks is still pursuing development at that site. • Noted that the Americana's event in the Artist's Village had been outstanding. • Thanked the Commission for the discussion on traffic plans. • Requested an update on the residential motel issue. Ms. Nelson advised that the Community Development Council would be requesting that the Redevelopment and Housing Commission approve the contract in September. The goal of the program will be to assist the tenants in achieving self-sufficiency. The motel owners have been put on notice that audit reports are due and that the ordinance will be enforced. A presentation to the religious organizations is planned and their assistance will be requested. Commissioner Cribb • Noted disappointment that the Olsen Company is not living up to the expectations of the arts community with regard to marketing new homes instead of artist live/work lofts and that it will be difficult for him to support future projects. • Noted that he had heard that the Crazy Horse site may be proposed for an extended stay product and requested information. Ms. Nelson advised that staff was not aware of any proposal but would contact the property owner. Chairman Nalle • Requested staff contact the owner of the home located at Santa Clara and Main Street and encourage clean-up and improvements. Ms. Nelson advised that the owner will be contacted. • Noted agreement that the Big-Saver site looks terrible. 8. Excuse of Absences No absences. 9. Adjournment - 8:05 au Johns Recording ary PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 7 AUGUST 12, 2002