Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/26/1998PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING CTTY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 26, 1998 CALLED TO ORDER City Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Room 147 6:05 p.m. ATTENDANCE Lynnette Verino John MacDowell Glenn Mondo Molly Doughty Alexander Nalle Jose Solorio Don Cribb ABSENT None STAFF PRESENT Kenneth Adams Gary Sheatz Sharon McCain Johnson, Recording Secretary CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approval of the Minutes from the regular meeting of October 12, 1998. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes from the regular meeting of October 12, 1998. B. Rernnsideration of actions taken at previous meeting. ' C. STREET NAME NO. 98-04 Filed by Mr. Jeffrey Bitett to allow a street name change from Majestic Drive to MacArthur Place and Maple Street within the MacArthur Place Development. TION: Continue Street Name No. 98-04 to November 9, 1998. D. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO 98-06 Filed by the City of Santa Ana to develop an ordinance for adult entertainment citywide. RECOMMENDATION: Continue Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 98-06 to November 9, 1998. ***** END OF CONSENT CALENDAR **** Motion to approve Consent Calendar items. MOTION: ' AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: E. Comments from th Nalle SECOND: Mondo Verino, MacDowell, Mondo, Doughty, Nalle, Solorio, and Cribb None None None e Executive Director. Ms. Uptegraff informed the Commission that she would like to have a discussion regarding banquet facilities at the next scheduled meeting. She indicated that staff would be providing an update to the CBmml&sion and would be requesting direction from the Commission as to what types of businesses would need to obtain conditional use permits. She also apprised the Commission that the Rite Aid project received approval from the City Council for the curb cut and driveway on First Street. F. Comments from the Planning Commission. F. Comments from the Planning Commission. Commissioner Doughty requested staff to investigate the status of 1418 West Santa Claza as soon as possible. She stated that it appeared that constmction was taking place at the residence without the necessazy approvals and permits. Commissioner Mondo informed staff that there had been an increase in transients and loitering activity at the Sunflower and Bristol shopping center.. He requested that enforcement activities be increased for the areas to control the activity. ' Commissioner Cribb informed staff that there had been an increase in signs placed in the right of way on Seventeenth Street and especially, garage sale signs and asked if staff could create a mechanism to decrease the unsightly signage. Madam Chair Verino informed staff that she had noticed an increase in graffiti on Flower Street and on residential homes, specifically the name `KC' was appearing often. She requested that the graffiti be removed expeditiously. G. Comments from the Planning Manager. Mr. Adams apprised the Commission that the Discovery Science Center was coming before them during the public heazing session. The applicant was requesting to be allowed to install wedding trees instead of date palm trees. In addition, to the modification from the trees, the Center was also requesting that the equipment on the roof not be screened and be waived from the requirements. Commissioner Mondo asked what the Specific Development stated as to the trees and the screening of equipment. Mr. Adams stated that the Specific Development required date palms and mechanical equipment be screened. Mr. Adams further informed the Commission that item number three of the public heazings was the live/work project. The project was coming before the Commission without a staff recommendation due to the applicant's desire to move forwazd with the case prior to the resolution of atl issues Staff further discussed with the Commission the unresolved issues regarding trash concerns, drive aisles, ' pedestrian esplanade azeas, site lighting, and CC&R's for the project. H. Recess. The afternoon session recessed at 7:05 p.m. 2 PUBLIC HEARINGS rnrnvru rusr,ruFUc PUBLIC HEARINGS COUNCIL CHAMBERS OCTOBER 26, 1998 22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA ROLL CALL x;00 p,rn, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ' PROCEDURAL RULES 1. VARIANCE NO. 98-11 Filed by Discovery Science Center to allow modifications to the landscaping standads and to allow roof mounted equipment to be visible from the public street at the Discovery Science Center located at 2500 North Main Street in Specific Development 65 zoning district. LEGALLY NOTICED: October 11, 1998 PUBLICLY NOTICID: October 13. 1998 RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution denying Vaziance No. 98-11. Commissioner Nalle stated that he would abstain from the discussion and action. Ms. Marta Crane displayed slides of the Center, presented the staff report and recommendation. Mr. Robert Smith, representing Discovery Science Center, submitted a letter from the architect and displayed a picture of the site. He indicated the applicant was requesting to paint the mechanical equipment ' the same color as the building. Mr. Smith stated that the visibility was limited, given that the equipment was only visible from Broadway fly over. He further stated that there was a misunderstanding between the applicant and staff regazding the date palm trees; that the applicant had wanted Washington palm trees. The applicant was planning to begin Phase II of the project in approximately three years and felt it would not be feasible to purchase and plant the trees when they would just have to be removed for the Phase II construction. In addition, he recognized that the code required that the roof-mounted equipment be screened but stated that the Discovery Science Center was a unique building with unique circumstances justifying that the requirements to be waived. Commissioner Cribb asked what trees were shown on the original renderings. Mr. Smith estimated that they were date palms. Commissioner MacDowell asked if the applicant had considered to place the date palms inside crates and transplant after or during Phase II. Mr. Smith responded that he had not investigated placing the trees in crates but expressed that it may be hazardous and he did not feel it was an acceptable solution. Commissioner Solorio expressed his frustration with the project and stated that the applicant had come before the Commission several times, received approval of the requests, and yet was coming back again for modification from the approvals. Mr. Mel Vernon, local resident, stated that he had nothing but successful hopes for the project but had many concerns with the request, as well as pazking concerns, and indicated that he was opposed to the request. ' Commissioner Mondo stated that he would like to split the requests of the applicant in order to allow the Commission the ability to investigate the roof equipment. Motion to adopt a resolution denying Variance No. 98-II requesting modification to the landscape standards. MOTION: Mondo SECOND: Solorio AYES: Verino, MacDowell, Mondo, Doughty, Solorio, and Cribb NOES: None ABSEN'T': None ABSTAIN: Nalle 3 Motion to continue the request to waive equipment screening requirements to November 9, 1998. Motion to continue the request to waive equipment screening requirements to November 9, 1998. MOTION: Mondo SECOND: MacDowell AYES: Verino, MacDowell, Mondo, Doughty, Solorio, and Cribb NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: Nalle 2. VARIANCE NO. 98-08 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO 98-16 ' Filed by G & M Oil to allow a freestanding sign to exceed the height limit of the Santa Ana Municipal Code and to allow after hour operations at an existing Chevron gas station located at 1501 South Broadway in the Community Commercial (C1) zoning district. LEGALLY NOTICED: October 14, 1998 PUBLICLY NOTICID: October 13, 1998 RECOMMENDATION: 1. Adopt a resolution denying Variance No. 98-08. 2. Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 98-19 as conditioned. Mr. Jeffry Rice, Principal Planner, presented the staff report and recommendation. Commissioner Mondo asked if the Police Depaztment had any concerns regazding the after hour operations given that the site was considered above average in crime. Mr. McCoy, Police Department, stated that the applicant expressed that they would like to try and address activities at the site themselves before requesting Police Department involvement. He presented the break down of the police service calls and stated that staff placed a 90 day review to ensure that the problems decreased in the near future. ' Mr. Fiscus, representing the applicant, described the request of the applicant and stated that the applicant had no objections to the conditions of approval. Mr. Mel Vernon spoke in opposition to the request and stated that he did not believe after hour beer runs should be encouraged in the City. Commissioner Cribb asked what the primary business was during after hour operations. Mr. Fiscus stated that the business conducted afer midnight was primazily gasoline purchases and convienience items. Motion to adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 98-08 with the draft conditions listed as Exhibit 6 and adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 98-16 as conditioned. MOTION: MacDowell SECOND: Nalle Commissioner Mondo stated that he could not support the motion and suggested that liquor sales be prohibited and the liquor cabinets be locked between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Mr. Jeffry Rice informed the Commission that the staff report had been prepared with a staff recommendation of denial and stated that the necessary documents would need to be prepared according to the Commission action. Substitute motion to adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 98-08 with the conditions listed on Exhibit ' 6; adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 98-16 as conditioned with the additional condition of approval to prohibit liquor sales between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.; and directed staff to prepare the necessary findings, resolution, and conditions of approval according to the recommendation and forward to Planning Commission for final approval at the next scheduled meeting. MOTION: MacDowell SECOND: Nalle AYES: Verino, MacDowell, Mondo, Nalle, Solorio, and Cribb NOES: Doughty ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 4 ABANDONMENT N0.98-09. AND STREET ABANDONMENT NO. 98-09 3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 98-17. TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 15748. ALLEY ABANDONMENT N0.98-09. AND STREET ABANDONMENT NO. 98-09 Filed by Mr. Arthur Strock to allow artist live/work uses; to subdivide properties and to integrate abandoned portions of Second Street and an alley in order to construct 461ive/work studios located at 201 North Main Street in the Central Business-Artist (C3-A) zoning district. LEGALLY NOTICID: October 14, 1998 PUBLICLY NOTICED: October 13, 1998 RECOMMENDATION: ' Commission policy. Mr. Joseph Edwards, Principal Planner, presented the staff report and discussed the request of the applicant. In addition, he informed the Commission of several staff concerns in relation to the project such as project design, the site plan, vesting tentative tract map, dead-end drive aisles, the maintenance of public azeas and landscaping, pedestrian esplanade azeas, lighting, trash removal, hardscape repair, and liability. Mr. Arthur Strock, applicant, provided an overview of the proposed project and discussed with the Commission the three phases of the project. Mc Chris Taylor, representing the applicant, expressed concerns regarding the CEQA checklist findings for hazazdous materials and utilities. The following persons spoke in favor of the proposed project: Bill Harris John Gothold Gerald Schwartz Commissioner Doughty indicated that she was very supportive of the project but expressed her concerns with the project not having completed CC&R's for review. She further stated that as proposed she did not feel comfortable making a recommendation for approval or denial; she was not in favor of the flat roofs, not . having a homeowners association for the development, the trash removal and maintenance, and the disposal of the hazazdous waste. Commissioner MacDowell echoed his support for the project but expressed his concern regarding not having assurances that only artists could live in the units. He also emphasized the need to review CC&R's for the project. Madam Chair Verino indicated that she was looking forward to the project but expressed her concern regazding the project not having a homeowners association, liability and maintenance issues, and not having CC&R's to review for the development. Commissioner Mondo stated that he supported the project but he believed many issues needed to be resolved regarding the proposal such as the street lights, trees, gates for the private driveways, trash collection, disposal of hazazdous materials, and sewer issues. In addition, he reiterated that CC&R's are a necessazy component in the project. Commissioner Solorio stated that he supported the live/work concept and believed that it was a unique project. He expressed concern with the quick Cimeframe of the project, the necessity of the CC&R's, and requested the applicant develop a quality project for the City. Commissioner Cribb thanked that applicant and staff for bringing forward the project and expressed his support for the proposal. He stated that he had discussed the project with the applicant several times. In addition, he expressed concern regazding the hazardous material disposal, the trees being placed in planters, the maintenance of the project, and he echoed the necessity of a quality project. Commissioner Nalle requested information regarding the selling prices of the units and expressed his concern regazding not having CC&R's to review for the project. After further discussion, the Commission requested that the applicant complete the CC&R's, consider a Specific Development zoning district for the artists live/work community, the refuse/trash removal, site lighting design, pedestrian promenade paving for the project, installation of the security gates, planting of trees, and complete required revisions to the tentative tract map. 5 Motion to continue Conditional Use Permit No. 98-17, Tentative Tract Map No. 15748, Alley Abandonment No. 98-09, and Street Abandonment No. 98-09 to December 14, 1998. MOTION: MacDowell SECOND: Doughty AYES: Verino, MacDowell, Mondo, Doughty, Nalle, Solorio, and Cribb NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None ~~ Mr. Arthur Strock indicated that due to all of the affected Divisions of the City for the proposed project, he requested that staff make every effort to include all parties when scheduling meetings. Oral Communications -Comments from the Public. (For matters not previously listed on the Agenda). There were no oral comments. 5. Excuse of absences. There were no absences. 6. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. SMJ n I ~~ Lys ette Verino, Madam Chair Planning Commission 6