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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-18-1991 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES City of Orange March 18, 1991 Orange, California Monday - 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Joan Wolff, Sr. Planner and Commission Secretary; John Godlewski, Administrator of Current Planning; Bob Herrick, Assistant City Attorney; Gary Johnson, City Engineer; and Sue Devlin, Recording Secretary PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN RE: MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 1991 Moved by Commissioner Master, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, to approve the Minutes of February 20, 1991 as recorded. AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott NOES: None MOTION CARRIED IN RE: MINUTES OF MARCH 4, 1991 Moved by Commissioner Master, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, to approve the Minutes of March 4, 1991 as recorded. AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Master, Murphy, Scott NOES: None ABSTAIN:Commissioner Cathcart MOTION CARRIED Commissioner Cathcart was absent from the March 4, 1991 meeting. IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1894-91 AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION 1371-91 - FIRST KOREAN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF ORANGE COUNTY: A request to allow a 1,440 square foot modular building to be placed on the property to be used for Sunday school classrooms in conjunction with Sunday church services. Subject property is located on the south side of Walnut Avenue between Hewes Street and Hamlin Street, addressed 4700 East Walnut Avenue. NOTE: Negative Declaration 1371-91 has been prepared to assess the environmental impacts of this Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1991 - Page 2 Ms. Wolff presented the staff report. The property is a 1.8 acre parcel of land and it currently contains a 3200 square foot church building. A paved parking area runs through the central portion of the site in a north/south direction. The existing church building is located at the rear of the property on the east side of the parking lot. The proposed modular building will be placed on the west side of the parking lot, also towards the rear of the site. The conditional use permit request is for authorization of permanent installation of a 1440 square foot modular building to be used for Sunday school classrooms. The building will contain four classrooms and will serve a maximum of 64 children, ages 8 to 16. The hours of classes are 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays only. Also proposed is the modification of the existing parking lot layout. The revised layout would provide one more parking space than is contained in the existing lot. Due to the relatively small expansion of the church use, no environmental impacts are anticipated. The public hearing was opened. Applicant John Bonilla, 15941 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 210, Tustin, represented the First Korean Methodist Church. The main reason for the classroom is that the existing facility does not have room for Sunday school classes. Presently they are walking to an existing church that is on the other side of the grass area. They researched the best area for the proposed classroom and decided closer to the church, in the back, would be more convenient to accommodate the youth. There was also a condition for them to increase the parking lot to give it a hammer head effect for fire protection and access. This was requested of them about a week ago. A color rendering was presented to show the Commission how the building would look at the back end of the property line. They invited the neighbors in the area last Wednesday to meet with the church and share with them what it would look like. They feel the need exists for this classroom and are asking for approval. Commissioner Scott asked if the existing trash enclosure would be able to adequately service the increased use? Mr. Bonilla responded affirmatively. It is large enough to accommodate the addition of the new classroom. Commissioner Scott's concern was that the trash bin was outside of the enclosure because of newspapers being stored. Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1991 - Page 3 Those speaking in favor Nate Wisely, 215 South Dunas, spoke favorably of a modular unit to be used as a Sunday school class. Modular units are not new to the area; they are used successfully at E1 Modena High School. Assembly of God previously occupied the site and operated a day care center there. It was difficult for them because of the size of the building. They were able to move to the corner and St. Paul's United Methodist Church took the back lot. He's happy to see the Korean Methodist Church have that many children to make this request. Irene Wink, 4621 Silverleaf, favors this use. She enjoys the privacy in her backyard -- nothing there except for the church. The new building will eliminate the weeds and the danger of fire. She likes this much better than the once proposed two-story houses. Those speaking in opposition George Eaton, 468 North Hamlin, reminded the Commission the site was in a residential area. They have to put up with the noise on Sunday. The property is not being maintained. The Fire Department has to tell them to cut the grass and weeds. He would prefer it be kept for residential use. Joe Borney, 457 North Hamlin, opposes the project because it is high density and will create traffic. It will deplete from the area instead of enhancing it. Mike Jackson, 468 North Hamlin, asked if this became a Sunday school and they want to change it to a pre-school, would they have to come back to the Commission and get permission? What are the sanitation requirements for adding another building? Chairman Bosch stated they would have to come back for any change within the building for other than the Sunday school classroom. Mr. Johnson said this use would require a trash enclosure. It must serve a certain square footage. A need for an additional enclosure will not be needed. Sewers are available for that property. Charles Wade, 479 North Hamlin, asked if this facility had restrooms in it or if there has been any additional restrooms added? Has the applicant provided for the necessary sewer hookup? Does the City have plans for changing the current traffic control systems at the corner of Walnut and Hewes and at the corner of Walnut and Hamlin? He feels there will be substantially increased traffic in the area. Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1991 - Page 4 Chairman Bosch said relative to the proposal before the Commission, it calls for restrooms included within the building. Adequacy of the plumbing fixtures is subject to review by the Building Division based on the Uniform Plumbing Code and City ordinances prior to issuance of permits. Chuck Glass, Traffic Division - Public Works, said the report indicates that the additional classrooms will have fairly low volumes as far as increases. Information on the plans for the two intersections in question were not readily available, but he suggested Mr. Wade call him at the office and he could brief him on the five year C.I.P. Rebuttal Mr. Bonilla responded to the traffic as far as parking. The Koreans purchased this church about 4 or 5 months ago. There has been substantial improvements of the existing church and property since they have taken over the site. He believes it will be part of their on-going maintenance to improve the property. They plan to do some landscaping once the building is in. They don't see an increase in parking from what is there presently. This is for the youth who come with their parents on Sundays. Chairman Bosch questioned the Fire Department's input that led to the hammer head design of the additional parking. He noted about a 20 foot deep back up space at the far west property line. He's concerned there appears to be space that could be potentially misused for parking. Is the m another functional purpose for that being there or do you object to a reduction of that? Mr. Bonilla would not object to a reduction of that area. Chairman Bosch said the plans show a small service yard for air conditioning equipment towards the west property line with a 10 foot setback. Are there any other alternative locations for that? He's concerned about the potential noise problem it might create for the surrounding neighbors. Mr. Bonilla said they plan to build a wooden wall around the air conditioning to lessen the noise of the air conditioning units. Another alternative that might be possible is having them roof mounted, but it might not reduce the noise. Chairman Bosch said the site plan as presented shows quite a bit of undeveloped area. The Commission looks at the ultimate development of land as part of their review. Are there any master plans in existence? Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1991 - Page 5 Mr. Bonilla said there are presently no plans for the remainder of the property. Chairman Bosch said currently there was a Tentative Tract Map that was approved by the City Council, but apparently may not have been filed with the Clerk for a subdivision of a portion of the parcel. Is the applicant willing to stipulate that if in fact this C.U.P. were approved and activated, the Tentative Tract Map be nullified? Mr. Bonilla responded affirmatively. Chairman Bosch said usually modular units are seen as a temporary use, although a modular building could be used for permanent construction. The purpose for modular buildings is often to gain the time. The Design Review Board was concerned that the exterior might be upgraded somewhat to be more compatible with the other permanent building on the site. What are your plans? Mr. Bonilla's illustration was shown with T1-11 exterior. To make it conform with the stucco exterior of the building, they have considered taking the front face of that building and give it the same stucco of the existing building, leaving the unexposed area to Walnut with T1-11 (front face of the building) . Mr. Bonilla did not have any exceptions to the conditions of the staff report. Paul Baker, 10830 Las Jardines East, Fountain Valley, attended St. Paul's Church when it was there. Regarding the master plan for the property, it had been master planned by the Assembly of God Church before St. Paul's acquired the property. It included a larger sanctuary on the front part of the grass area with Sunday school buildings. The public hearing was closed. Commissioner Cathcart would like some definitive wording on the other conditions (i.e., nullify previously approved tract map and the concern with the Design Review Board's findings that the building elevations should match existing site architecture). Condition 22 would state, "If C.U.P. 1894-91 is utilize d, this conditional use permit will supersede Tentative Tract Map 14062." Condition 23, "Building elevations should match existing site architecture and will require Design Review Board approval." Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1991 - Page 6 Condition 24, "The C.U.P.'s accompanying site plan is modified to shorten the new parking area back up distance adjacent to the westerly property line to five feet in length or 15 feet from the property line." Condition 25, "The site plan to be modified for a six foot high concrete masonry unit wall around the air conditioning yard, with no openings towards the west or south property lines." Commissioner Murphy wanted to amend Condition 2, Page 5, to state "Building" use rather than "Trailer" use. Moved by Commissioner Cathcart, seconded by Commissioner Master, to accept the findings of the Environmental Review Board to file Negative Declaration 1371-91 as it does not have a significant adverse impact on the environment or wildlife resources. AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott NOES: None MOTION CARRIED Moved by Commissioner Cathcart, seconded by Commissioner Murphy to approve Conditional Use Permit 1894-91 with the changes/additions of Conditions 2, 22, 23, 24, and 25. AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott NOES: None MOTION CARRIED Chairman Bosch stated their action was final unless appealed to the City Council within 15 days. IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Murphy, to adjourn at 7:35 p.m. AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott NOES: None MOTION CARRIED sl d