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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-21-1999 PC Minutest? Scsi' I~ C d-~(),G-.;). 3 MINUTES Planning Commission City of Orange June 21, 1999 Monday - 7:00 p.m.PRESENT: Commissioners Bosch, Carlton, Romero, Smith ABSENT: Commissioner Pruett STAFF PRESENT: Vern Jones, Planning Manager/Secretary,John Godlewski, Principal Planner,Mary Binning, Assistant City Attorney.Roger Hohnbaum, Assistant City Engineer, and Sue Devlin. Recording Secretary IN RE: CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approval of the Minutes from the Regular Meeting of June 7, 1999.2. MAJOR SITE PLAI~ REVIEW 92-99 - CAL-WALL A request to allow construction of a 16.000 square foot warehouse building on property zoned M- 2 Manufacturing). The site is located at 2180 North Glassell Street.NOTE:This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act.RECOMMENDATION: Approve Major Site Plan 92- 99.MOTION Moved by Commissioner Romero, seconded by Commissioner Carlton. to approve the Consent Calendar. AYES: NOES:ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch. Carlton. Romero. Smith None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS 3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2282-99 - LA PLATA ENTERPRISES Revised proposal for a request to allow construction of a two-story. 20- unit senior citizen apartment building. The site is located at 170 North Prospect Street. (This item was continued from the May 3, 1999 hearing.)NOTE:This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332.There was no opposition and the public hearing was opened.Wavne Arnold. 2030 Main Street #660. Irvine, represented the applicants. He distributed a handout to the Commission and presented their revised renderings of a senior citizen apartment complex. They have addressed the concerns of privacy, enhanced recreational facilities and to improve Planning Commission Minutes June 21. 1999 quality of the building. An interior corridor did not work because the property is just too narrow. They redesigned the building to minimize the disadvantages and to maximize the quality of the space for the residents. They propose a U-shape design and have moved the recreational area to the center and enhanced it with additional landscaping. Windows are not proposed on the one side of the building that overlooks the neighboring property. They have also added private balconies or decks to each of the apartments. They will screen the property on the sides and in the back with a wall of Italian Cypress. The new facade has more balance and better mass and movement. The stairway has been moved to the interior which will give better access to the residents. They have increased the setback on the front of the building and will provide more landscaping. There will be laundry facilities on each floor. With the individual decks, outdoor storage has been added for each unit. They have added three (3) parking spaces to the parking area and have developed a better turn around area inside the parking lot. A turn around area will also be added in front of the parking lot. by adding extra space to the drive on either side.Commissioner Carlton commented this is a great improvement over the first plan. She is curious as to why the entry door is put into the kitchen rather than the living room.Sam Bevacqua. 819 South Arden Street. Anaheim, explained the living room is considered a parlor and it made more sense to put the door into the dining room. It creates a family-kitchen setting and allows the living room to remain separate.Commissioner Romero stated the Traffic Engineering staff recommended that the front gate be removed.Mr. Arnold replied they wanted to maintain a secure facility for the residents. To accommodate staff's concerns. they will leave the gate open during daytime and evening hours, but close the gate at night.They are also providing a turn around area before the gate by expanding the driveway nine (9) feet on one side and ten (10) feet on the other.Commissioner Romero still wanted to see a community room. and is disappointed that it is not incorporated into the plans.Mr. Arnold said the only space to add a community room would be in the central court yard area. They thought people would more likely make better use of an open area and enjoy the outdoors. rather than an enclosed room. A community room is not required for this size of project and it becomes cost prohibitive for 20 units.Chairman Bosch pointed out that staff had drawn to their attention that in condition 1. the last sentence referred to condition 5. That has been corrected to condition 6 relating to the age of qualifying residents and how they are reported.Mr. Arnold's recollection is that staff had recommended their suggestion of half of the units over 62 years of age. and all of the units over 55 years of age. That is a workable solution for them and it enables them to devote the entire building to senior citizens.Commissioner Smith wanted to know if the rendering submitted to them was the actual landscaping plan.Mr. Arnold acknowledged it was.Commissioner Carlton commented the one-bedroom apartments do not have much wall space. There were several doors into the hall. bedroom and bathroom which takes up a lot of usable space. She would like to eliminate the door directly from the bedroom into the bathroom in all the one-bedroom units.Mr. Arnold said it was not a code requirement to have all of the doors and they can eliminate one of the doors. The trade off from the last plan was that the apartments only had one exterior surface onto the exterior corridor. They revised the design to have two exterior surfaces to create more Planning Commission Minutes June 21. 1999 The public hearing was closed. Chairman Bosch asked stall about a condition regarding submittal of plans for final approval by the Design Review Board. Mr. Donovan stated the Design Review Board had recommended denial of the project and at the last hearing it was discussed whether the Commission wanted stall to refer this back to the DRB and he thought the Commission would assume the role of design review. Stall is not opposed to sending the project on to the Design Review Board. Chairman Bosch's concern is for the landscape plan. The Commission concurred the landscape plan needs to be reviewed by the Design Review Board. Chairman Bosch is very pleased with the great improvement of the project. He also regrets not having a community room. but recognizes it is not required by the ordinance, and there are other amenities within the requirements of the ordinance to fulfill that need. It was noted the project is categorically exempt from CEQA review. MOTION Moved by Commissioner Bosch. seconded by Commissioner Smith. to approve Conditional Use Permit 2282-99 based upon the plans presented. including Sheet 1A. the revised site plan, dated June 21.1999. to show the hammer head turn around outside of the security gate. Approval includes conditions 1 through 10. with the correction to the error in condition 1 to refer in the last sentence to condition 6. listed below in lieu of condition 5. Adding condition 11 that final landscape and irrigation plans must be submitted to. and approved by the Design Review Board prior to issuance of building permits. Adding as a recommendation to the applicant that they delete the bathroom door on the one-bedroom units. Motion for approval is based upon the findings that the permit is granted upon sound principles of land use and in response to services required by the community in that it provides an additional range and a different type of product for senior citizens in part of the City that requires more housing stock for them. That the permit will not cause deterioration of bordering land uses or create special problems for the area in which the site is located. based upon the revised design presented to the Commission. That it has been considered in relationship to its ellect on the community and neighborhood plans for the area. and has been reviewed subject to the conditions necessary to preserve the general welfare and not the individual welfare of the applicant. AYES: NOES:ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch, Carlton. Smith. Romero None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED 4. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2288-99 AND VARIANCE 2061-99 - CREEK VIEW SENIOR COMMUNITY A request to allow the construction and operation of a 67-unit senior citizen apartment complex. The application is for a density bonus. a reduction in required on-site parking. and additional building height.The site is located at 353 South Tustin Street. (This item was continued from the May 17.1999 hearing.)NOTE:This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15332.There was no opposition to this item and the Planning Commission Minutes June 21, 1999 Leon Hyler. 1001 Dove Street #290. Newport Beach. stated they have revised their plans from the previous meeting in which they have added laundry facilities to each floor, they removed three (3) units to lower the density, have provided 1:1 parking, lowered the height of the building, added more storage area. and provided more open space in the court yard. Robert Bucklev. 18281 Montana Circle. Villa Park. is one of the owners of the land that is being sold to Hyler Development. He met with the Hyler's after the first hearing and reviewed the project. A picnic area is located on the southwest portion of the property and could be shared by the senior citizens and the hospital facility. A proposed easement is being discussed for access to the property. They are also working out details between the activities directors of the two buildings to invite the seniors to participate in their volunteer program at the facility. Commissioner Smith wanted to know if the joint agreement has been discussed with City staff. Mr. Hyler has not submitted a document to the City about the shared use of the picnic area. They already have reciprocal easements for ingress/egress with a private road. This agreement between them will be incorporated into the escrow transaction. Two (2) people spoke in favor Doug Davert, 395 South Tustin Karen Wade, 395 South Tustin They are members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints who spoke in favor of the proposed senior citizens apartment complex. They have worked with the developers and have given their input on the project. The church has owned this parcel for 35 years and it has been 30% church and about 60% weed patch and gopher farm. They look forward to the seniors being long-term neighbors.The public hearing was closed.Commissioner Romero appreciates all the changes that have been made. and believes it will be a nice addition to the City.Commissioner Smith is pleased with the improvements as well, including the reduction in the number of units and the increase in the affordable units. She asked staff about the joint use of the picnic area as the conditional use permit goes with the land.Ms. Binning thought the Commission could add a condition stating the applicant shall maintain an agreement with the property owner for use of the picnic area by the residents of the project. The City Attorney's Ollice or staff does not need to review the agreement.The Commission talked about a cement pad that was added to the creek bed for parking. Mr. Carnes explained that area is accessed from the medical facility. This proposed property is not involved with the cement pad area.Chairman Bosch is pleased with the modifications made to the project. The height reduction still maintains a wonderful architectural style. The landscape plans shows an excellent environment for the seniors at this complex. He applauds the agreement between the church and complex to use the common open space. He noted a couple of errors in the staff report: On Page 2 - applicable development standards - left column. fifth item - Rear setback (westerly PI.) -- it should be easterly PI. -- this needs to be corrected to match the plans. Regarding the Minimum Usable Open Space. the total proposed is 10.685 sq. ft.. which exceeds the minimum requirement. This is a fine project and will be a great asset to the community.It was noted the project is categorically exempt from CEQA review.4 Planning Commission Minutes June 21, 1999 MOTION Moved by Commissioner Bosch and seconded by Commissioner Smith. to approve Conditional Use Permit 2288-99 with conditions 1 through 11 as listed in the staff report, adding condition 12, " The applicant shall maintain an agreement with the adjacent hospital property owner for use of ~s picnic area by the residents of this project." The Commission, in its review of the project, finds that the granting of the permit is based upon sound principles of land use and in response to, services required by the community.with locating a very needed housing complex to serve senior citizens in a very appropriate and needed part of the community, where there are adequate support provisions, including the presence of collateral health care facilities in the vicinity to support the senior population, and to encourage its active involvement in the community. The permit will not cause deterioration of bordering land uses or create special problems for the site area, given the compliance with development standards and the applicant' s provisions for the bonuses and relaxation of ordinance requirements as allowed under the senior housing provisions as taken care to avoid deterioration of bordering uses. The permit has been considered in relationship to its effect on the community and neighborhood plans for the area and is made subject to the conditions necessary to preserve the general welfare and not the individual welfare of the applicant. AYES: NOES: ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch, Carlton. Smith, Romero None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED MOTION Moved by Commissioner Carlton and seconded by Commissioner Romero to withdraw Variance 2061- 99. AYES: NOES:ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch. Carlton, Smith, Romero None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED IN RE: NEW HEARINGS 5. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2291-99 - SELMAN CHEVROLET A request to add three (3) service bays as an addition to an auto repair building at this existing facility. The site is located at 1800 East Chapman Avenue.NOTE:This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.There was no opposition and the public hearing was opened.Applicant. Bill Selman. 1800 East Chapman Avenue. requested to add three (3) service bays at the back of their property. The back of the building faces the apartments and acts as a sound wall. Noise will be self-contained and should not be a problem.The public hearing was closed.Commissioner Smith said Selman Chevrolet has been one of the financial anchors in the community for a long time, and she supported the proposed improvements.It was noted the project is categorically exempt from Planning Commission Minutes June 21, 1999 MOTION Moved by Commissioner Romero and seconded by Commissioner Carlton to approve Conditional Use Permit 2291-99. with conditions 1 through 4 listed in the staff report. The permit is granted upon sound principles of land use and in response to services required by the community. It will not cause or create any special problems for the residential or commercial areas in which the site is located. It is considered in relationship to the expansion plan's effect on the City's General Plan. The request to expand the facility is made subject to conditions necessary to preserve the general welfare, not the individual welfare of the applicant. AYES: NOES: ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch, Carlton, Smith, Romero None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Romero. seconded by Commissioner Smith. to adjourn to a study session on Monday. June 28. 1999 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss Old Towne materials and CEQA Guideline revisions. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p. m. AYES: NOES: ABSENT:Commissioners Bosch, Carlton. Smith, Romero None Commissioner Pruett MOTION CARRIED sld