HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-17 PC MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
CALLED TO ORDER
ATTENDANCE
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
OCTOBER 9, 2017
CONFERENCE ROOM 1600
CITY HALL ROSS ANNEX
20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
5:36 P.M.
COMMISSIONERS Present:
MARK MCLOUGHLIN, Chair
CYNTHIA CONTRERAS-LEO, Vice Chair
PHIL BACERRA
BEATRIZ MENDOZA
KENNETH NGUYEN
LYNNETTE VERINO
COMMISSIONERS Absent:
ERIC ALDERETE
STAFF Present:
CANDIDA NEAL, Acting Executive Director
VINCE FREGOSO, Acting Planning Manager
LISA STORCK, Assistant City Attorney
MELANIE McCANN, Senior Planner
ANN NI, Associate Planner
RICARDO SOTO, Associate Planner
JERRY GUEVARA, Assistant Planner I
ROSA BARELA, Acting Recording Secretary
Commissioner Bacerra
PUBLIC COMMENTS (on non -agenda items) - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION: Approve staff recommendation on Consent Calendar Items A -C.
MOTION: Bacerra SECOND: Contreras -Leo
VOTE: AYES: Bacerra, Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, Nguyen,
Verino (6)
NOES: None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: Alderete (1)
A. MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
MOTION: Approve Minutes.
B. MINOR EXCEPTION 2017-03
(Applicant: Donald Krotee Partnership, Inc. - 1019 South Bristol Street)
MOTION: Confirm the Zoning Administrator's action approving Minor Exception
No. 2017-03 as conditioned.
C. EXCUSED ABSENCES
MOTION: Excuse the absence of Commissioner Alderete.
* * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR * * *
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 OCTOBER 9, 2017
BUSINESS CALENDAR ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 2017-06, VARIANCE NO. 2017-03 AND TENTATIVE PARCEL
MAP NO. 2016-04
(Applicant: Michael Molnar— 1701 East Saint Andrew Place)
Legal notice published in the Orange County Reporter on September 29, 2017 and notices
mailed on September 29, 2017.
Commissioner Bacerra disclosed he is a member of the Santa Ana Elks Lodge and
recused himself and departed meeting.
Vice Chair Contreras -Leo and Commissioner Verino disclosed they are members of the
Orange County Federal Credit Union.
Acting Planning Manager Fregoso noted receipt of information from the adjacent property
owner and requested a two-week continuance to review the letter and meet with applicant
and adjacent property owner.
MOTION: Continue the matter to the October 23, 2017 meeting.
MOTION: Verino SECOND: Nguyen
VOTE: AYES:
Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, Nguyen, Verino (5)
NOES:
None (0)
ABSTAINED
Bacerra (1)
AND NOT
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Alderete (1)
2. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NO. 2017-01
(Applicant: City of Santa Ana)
Legal notice published in the Orange County Register on September 29, 2017.
Associate Planner Ni and Assistant Planner Guevara provided a presentation on the
second series of the zoning ordinance streamlining process which includes code sections
and zoning districts to be amended, and proposed operational and development
standards. Discussion ensued on the tattoo establishments and community meetings for
tattoos. Chairman McLoughlin opened the public hearing.
The following spoke on the matter:
• Gil Salmon, Heninger Park resident, requested staff reach out to the neighborhoods
that surround the Commercial South Main area when making improvements or
changing allowed uses, and treat Commercial South Main like other districts and allow
tattoo parlors.
• Mary Thornton expressed concern on allowing retail markets open between the hours
of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. noting homes and parking lots back up to businesses on
South Main Street.
o Staff responded that any requests would be subject to the approval of a
conditional use permit with the required public hearing process.
There were no additional speakers and the public hearing was closed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 9, 2017
MOTION: Recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance approving
Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2017-01 to revise certain sections of Chapter 41
(Zoning) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
MOTION: Verino SECOND: Bacerra
VOTE: AYES:
Bacerra, Contreras -Leo
Verino (6)
NOES:
None (0)
ABSTAIN:
None (0)
ABSENT:
Alderete (1)
McLoughlin, Mendoza, Nguyen,
WORK STUDY CALENDAR ITEMS
3. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ORDINANCE
Associate Planner Soto provided a presentation which included a description and types of
ccessory Dwelling Units (ADU), background information on the 2003 State Granny Flat
Ordinance and city ordinance regulating units, on the new state law effective January 2017
making the city's ordinance null and void, conversion of existing spaces, parking
requirements and exceptions, park deficient areas, development standards, and definition
of transit proximity map. Mr. Soto noted a draft of the ordinance is available on the city's
webpage and is scheduled to be presented at the October 23 Planning Commission
meeting.
Discussion ensued on the replacement parking of a converted garage into bedroom,
transit proximity, design standards and guidelines, setbacks, parking in historic districts,
park deficient guidelines and parking.
The following spoke on the matter:
• Julie Humphreys provided a handout which included a park deficient area map, draft
ordinance and State statute; noted State has declared a housing crisis; the city should
promote the construction of ADUs and not place barriers and limitations; and noted the
terms of the draft ordinance are more restrictive than required by the State.
• Gil Salmon, Heninger Park resident, noted concern on overly restrictive language and
that ADUs are not allowed in park deficient areas; people are living in small places with
multiple families; noted minimum lot size should be brought down from 6,000 sf to
5,000 sf; and spoke on the high cost for a minor exception.
• Mary Thornton, Wilshire Square resident, spoke on the large number of rentals and
illegal units; strongly in favor of the draft ordinance as written by staff as a result of
feedback from community meetings; noted that the state public health and safety
impact requirement should be taken into account; favors owner -occupied deed
restrictions; encouraged to work with an agency to have units as affordable and
incorporate into the ordinance.
• Tim Rush, Wilshire Square resident, spoke on the need for a provision that would
provide the inspection of the garage when an ADU is approved to make sure it is
available for parking only and not for storage or rented out.
4. WATER WISE LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE VIDEO
Senior Planner McCann spoke on the Water Wise Landscape Ordinance that was
approved a couple of years ago and presented a video which was produced through a
collaboration of other cities. The video is available on-line along with handouts related to
landscaping to assist developers.
COMMENTS
5. STAFF COMMENTS — None
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 9, 2017
6. PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
Commissioner Verino:
• Thanked Mr. Fregoso for providing requested information.
• Noted she will not be able to attend the October 17 Council meeting.
Vice Chair Contreras -Leo:
• Thanked for the opportunity to attend the Planning Officials Forum and requested
materials that were presented at the workshops be sent to the Commissioners.
Commissioner Mendoza:
• Noted thanks for opportunity to attend Planning Officials Forum.
• Hoped everyone in Santa Ana stays safe from the Canyon Fire.
• Will not attend the October 17 Council meeting as she has previous commitments.
Commissioner Nguyen:
• Thanked staff for the Study Session presentations adding he learned a lot.
• Noted he will not beat the October 23 Planning Commission meeting.
Chairman McLoughlin:
• Noted on the comments from residents on the ADU, adding it will be challenging; as
the word continues to spread to refine feedback they receive.
• Inquired on the timeline of the ADU. Ms. Neal noted the item is going to Planning
Commission on October 23 and to City Council on November 7.
ADJOURNED 6:47 P.M. - The next meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for
Monday, October 23, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 22 Civic
Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California.
Rosa Barela
Acting Recording Secretary
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 OCTOBER 9, 2017