HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-19-1990 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
City of Orange December 19, 1990
Orange, California Wednesday - 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott
ABSENT: None
STAFF
PRESENT: John Godlewski, Administrator of Current Planning;
Jack McGee, Director of Community Development;
Bob Herrick, Assistant City Attorney;
Gary Johnson, City Engineer.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IN RE: MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 1990
Moved by Commissioner Bosch, seconded by Commissioner
Murphy, that the Minutes of December 3, 1990 be approved as
recorded.
AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott
NOES: None MOTION CARRIED
IN RE: NEW HEARING
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1883-90 - MAX & PENNY HALL:
A proposal to allow
commercial building o
Street.
NOTE: This project
provisions of
Act (CEQA) per
the
n prop
is
the
State
placement of a sma 11 detached
erty located at 1650 North Tustin
categorically exempt from the
California Environmental Quality
CEQA Guidelines, Section 15303.
Chuck Lau, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report.
The site is located at 1650 North Tustin Street, at the
existing Standard Brands Paint store. It is a proposal to
allow the placement of a small detached commercial building
in the parking lot of Standard Brands. It's a video
cassette vending machine in which rental transactions are
operated with credit cards; it's like bank ATM machines.
The video machine will be located along the first row of the
parking spaces that front Tustin Street. It will occupy two
of the existing parking stalls. Currently, there is a total
of 99 parking spaces for the existing site. The current
parking ordinance requires only 78 parking spaces for that
use. With the loss of two stalls, there are still 97 spaces
available -- 21 spaces in excess of what the code would
require for this type of use. The existing site circulation
will not be disrupted in any way because there are no
changes to the existing site plan layout. The video
Planning Commission Minutes
December 19, 1990 - Page 2
is located out of the front setback area and it is away from
the two existing drive approaches so that vehicle site
distances would not be impaired. The video machine is also
located away from the existing business. The project is
located in the Tustin Street Redevelopment District and the
Agency has reviewed the plans and has expressed no concerns.
They are not participating in the financing of this project.
This proposed use is consistent with the commercial
designation of the General Plan and the entire site
development as it is now, is consistent with the applicable
zoning requirements in terms of setbacks, parking,
landscaping, and division walls. There will be no adult
type videos stocked in the machines.
The public hearing was opened.
Applicant
Rudy Figueroa, Video Kiosk Corporation, 2002 Locust Court,
Ontario, represented the applicants who will be the
franchisers on this project. He submitted some photos of a
conceptual drawing and photos of an actual unit for the
Commission's review. He read the staff report and reviewed
the conditions of approval with the applicants. They are in
agreement with them and asked for approval.
Commissioner Murphy asked if there were other sites and
where they were located?
Mr. Figueroa responded there was a similar site in Valencia,
the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. There was
one in E1 Cajon, one in Florida -- there are six in
operation. They are a new business (about three years old).
Forty-six franchisees have signed up throughout eleven
different regions or states. They have obtained approval in
the City of La Mesa, but it is not under construction yet.
Commissioner Cathcart questioned the coloring of the plastic
shelter as shown in the photo.
Mr. Figueroa said the unit will have the dark glass solarium
because the monitors cannot be read otherwise.
Commissioner Bosch said the site plan showed the basic
footprint of the kiosk and it appears the actual overall
elevation on the ground is about 18 feet x 16 feet. It
seemed to him the two parking spaces is crowding it; three
parking spaces would be better. He was worried about danger
to vehicles, pedestrians and about the squeezing into a
small space.
Mr. Figueroa said they have not done a "B" unit yet; only
the larger units, which utilizes three spaces. They built
Planning Commission Minutes
December 19, 1990 - Page 3
protective posts around those. Another option is to build
the units in a landscaped area where it is protected on
either side. With their larger units, they have not had any
complaints or difficulties. Using more parking spaces at
this location would not be a problem because there is ample
room. They would be receptive to the additional parking
space if the Commission makes that a condition.
Commissioner Bosch thought the a~
safety point of view and also to
would add to a stark condition that
concerned that the display on the
towards the street, is one that has
stand.
ditional space from a
provide some landscaping
exists now. He was also
east elevation, which is
the appearance of a news
Mr. Figueroa shares Commissioner Bosch's concern and does
not feel landscaping would be a problem in order to provide
additional screening (as long as it doesn't grow too tall).
Commissioner Bosch concurred. He would like to see
landscape screening, and have the owner consider providing
an additional parking space, and to also remove the visual
display from the east elevation to eliminate the visual
clutter that might result. He personally felt it would make
it a more attractive project and one that meets the
community safety needs.
Would the owner be willing to stipulate to an additional
condition that would utilize an additional parking space,
center the kiosk within three, and provide additional
landscape screening, as well as to hold the solarium back on
the west side from the far end of the overhang two feet; and
then also to remove the tape display from the street
elevation?
Mr. Figueroa stated Standard Brands Paint store is the owner
of the property and he will call them to obtain their
concurrence.
The liability issue and risk was discussed.
Commissioner Scott asked how many tapes would be available
at this location?
Mr. Figueroa said each side of the larger units handle up to
650 tapes.
Max Hall, 6002 Yorktown Circle, said there was an ATM type
machine on each side of the building. It's built in such a
way that excess space or other buildings are not needed.
There will be 1,300 movies available at any one time.
Planning Commission Minutes
December 19, 1990 - Page 4
Commissioner Scott said one of the items staff brought up
was that of no adult films available. It becomes a little
bit clouded as far as what is considered an adult film with
the new rating. Orange is a very conservative town.
Mr. Figueroa said he had excerpts from his franchise
agreement that addresses that issue. Within the franchise
agreement, it states that the franchises at all times have
to offer only those products and services that are part of
the system of Videomatic Corporation, excluding x-rated
adult films. If the franchiser fails to abide by that, they
have the right to terminate the franchise.
Mr. Max explained how the machine works. There are no
x-rated cassettes displayed. You cannot take a cassette out
of the machine unless you first originally have a major
credit card. In order to have a credit card, you must be of
a certain age. That eliminates kids from using the machine.
Commissioner Scott asked if they would accept a condition,
if the project were approved, that no NC-17 designation be
allowed?
Mr. Max responded that would not be a problem. He would
like the specifics of the new rating because it is his
understanding there are no x-rated movies allowed.
Mr. Herrick said the best way to phrase the condition would
be to refer to the NC-17 and the adult film together. Adult
films are defined in the Municipal Code for other purposes
and it can be piggy-backed on those provisions.
Those speaking in opposition
Jerry Funk, 1551 East Concord.
Charles Engee, 1552 East Concord.
Joan Engee, 1552 East Concord.
They expressed concerns about the lights in the parking
lot. The parking lot is already a racing track at night.
This will be a 24-hour use and it will encourage that
activity. The City cannot control the different elements
that exist now. There is no guarantee. The NC-17
designation only means x-rated movies.
Rebu ttal
Mr. Hall has checked the area out over the last two or three
months. It is dark in that parking lot at night, but he
hasn't seen any disturbances. This will be a secured
building and it is automatically connected to the police
department. This type of kiosk does not create a crowd any
Planning Commission Minutes
December 19, 1990 - Page 5
more than a fotomat. There is some lighting at night; it's
quite a distance away from the back wall. If there are any
problems with lighting, the top lighting can be cut off so
that it won't affect anyone over the wall. There has to be
a certain amount of lighting for safety reasons. He wants
to be a good neighbor and will accept all responsibility for
his project.
The Commission discussed the lighting situation with Mr.
Hall. Condition 3 in the staff report specifies the
lighting requirements as required by the Police Department.
A comment should be made to the Crime Prevention Bureau
regarding the modification of the typical light minimums to
be restricted to just the area around and adjacent to the
kiosk.
The public hearing was closed.
Commissioner Bosch wanted the Commission to consider
additional conditions by requiring that no adult films, as
defined in the Orange Municipal Code and no NC-17 rated
x-rated or non-rated) films or any future rating more adult
in nature than R, be allowed to be vended from this
location; that the site plan be amended to include the
deletion of one additional parking space to allow central
placement of the proposed facility in the resulted three
parking space site in a north-south direction, with
landscaped buffers between the structure and the adjacent
parking spaces for safety and appearance reasons; and that
the proposed structure also be located adjacent to the east
edge of the existing parking space in order to provide a
four foot walking aisle between the west side of the
structure and the drive aisle for safety reasons; and to
modify Condition 3 to add that the Police Department have
brought to their attention with regard to the interpretation
of the building security standards to limit the application
of the parking lot lighting requirements to the drive aisles
immediately adjacent to the structure, requiring the owner
to recircuit the parking lot lighting if necessary to
accommodate that if, in the opinion of the Police
Department, the adjacent street light is insufficient to
fulfill the purpose of the security ordinance. The last
condition would be to require that there be no visual
display of merchandise on the street side of the facility
east side) .
Commissioner Cathcart asked what the policing problems were
at the existing 24-hour ATM's for banks?
Mr. Godlewski responded Planning did not have any
information, but it could be obtained. This project has
been before the Environmental Review Board and the police
have reviewed this application for site plan consistency.
That problem was not brought up as an issue.
Planning Commission Minutes
December 19, 1990 - Page 6
Moved by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner
Master, to approve Conditional Use Permit 1883-90 subject to
conditions 1-10 as brought out by Commissioner Bosch and
with a modification to condition 3.
AYES: Commissioners Cathcart, Murphy, Scott
NOES: Commissioners Bosch, Master MOTION CARRIED
Mr. Godlewski stated the action taken by the Planning
Commission is considered final unless appealed. There is a
15 day appeal period.
IN RE: OTHER ITEMS
Chairman Master requested nominations of Chairman and
Vice-Chairman be made at this time as he will be out of the
country most of January.
Moved by Commissioner Cathcart, seconded by Commissioner
Murphy, to nominate Randy Bosch as Chairman.
AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott
NOES: None MOTION CARRIED
Moved by Commissioner Cathcart, seconded by Commissioner
Murphy, to nominate Don Scott as Vice-Chairman.
AYES: Commissioners Bosch, Cathcart, Master, Murphy, Scott
NOES: None MOTION CARRIED
Commissioner Bosch recognized and thanked the fine work of
Commissioner Master and Vice-Chairman Scott for the recent
term.
Commissioner Murphy scheduled a meeting for the landscape
guidelines study session January 28, 1991 at 5:30 p.m. in
the Weimer Room.
IN RE: ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned to Monday, January 7, 1991.
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