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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/18/1985 - Minutes PC PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES City of Orange March 18, 1985 Orange, California Monday, 7:30 a.m. The regular meeting of the City of Orange Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Master at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Master, Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott ABSENT: None STAFF John Lane, Administrator of Current Planning and Commission Secre- PRESENT: tary; Jim Reichert, Associate Planner; Gary Johnson, City Engineer; and Toba V. Wheeler, Recording Secretary. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN RE: MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 20, 1985 _- The minutes were corrected to show that the last three words of the last sentence on page 5 should be "without much difficulty." Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Mason, that the minutes of February 20, 1985, be approved as corrected. AYES: Commissioners Greek; Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSTAINED:. Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED IN RE: MINUTES OF MARCH 4, 1985 Moved by Commissioner Greek, seconded by Commissioner Mason, that the minutes of March 4, 1985, be approved as recorded. AYES: Commissioners Master, Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None MOTION CARRIED IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS GENERAL PLAN-LAND USE AMENDMENT 2-84~A, ZONE CHANGE 1014 - ORANGE ® SENIOR HOUSING, INC. A request to amend the General Plan-Land Use Element designation from Low Density and Medium Density Residential to High Density Residential, and a Zone Change from R-1-6 and R-D-6 to RMM-7 on a ±7-acre parcel adjacent to the north side of Santiago. Creek between Shaffer Street and Cambridge Street. (This item has been continued from the May 7, 1984, September 5, 1984, November 5, 1984, and February 20, 1985, Planning Commission Meetings.) NOTE: Negative Declaration 895 has been prepared for this project. Commissioner Greek excused himself from the meeting due to conflict of interest. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Two Staff Report and said Staff recommends approval. Chairman Master opened the public hearing. Bruck Johnson, presi- dent of Orange Senior Housing, Inc., reviewed the essential facts regarding Orange Senior Housing and the proposed amendment and zone change in connection with a proposed apartment complex for senior citizens to be known as Triangle Terrace. He stressed the need in the City of Orange for affordable housing for the elderly and asked that the Planning Commission approve the amendment and zone change. Commissioner Mason requested clarification as to the rezoning of only 3.5 acres of the total ±7 of the property and asked if that was all that was intended to be used for the pro- posed development. Mr. Johnson responded that indeed only the portion of the parcel that runs from Shaffer up to the back of Tularosa is being considered. Jay Bush, Pastor Emeritus of First Presbyterian Church of Orange, spoke in favor: he did a survey of all duplexes in the area and found only three persons who objected to the proposed development; otherwise, overwhelming support. Walter Frick, Chairman. of the Orange Senior Center, also spoke in favor of the project and the great need for it. Wayne Spring, 1243 Fairway Drive, Orange, said his basic objection to the project is the smallness of the apartments and that hs thinks the City should look ahead on a project of this nature and realize that in two or three years this type of construction will become a burden. He said there must be better land use planning for the area. and thinks the majority of the residents in the area are opposed to infiltrating their single-family neighborhood with apartments and complexes of this nature. Jim Garrison, 708 East Tularosa, who identified himself as a City ofi Orange pioneer., having lived in the. City since 1936, talked at length about the developments in Orange in the various areas of the City in which he`s lived, as well as previous. efforts to develop the area proposed for this project. He said he had been informed on several occasions that this land would be developed as a park. He expressed his concern as to what the proposed development would do to property values in the area, specifically the value of his home and wondered why the zoning should be changed for the entire }7 acres when the proposed project would be built on only 3.5 acres. He said that after meeting the consultant hired by Orange Senior Housing he has a real fear about this project, that this consultant worked for HUD for five years and Orange Senior Housing sought him out and hired him. to promote the project, and he is wondering if that is ethical and whether or not Orange Senior Housing is losing sight of what they`re after. He also questioned the real worth of the property and the $245,000 being donated by the City in addition to the property. ~?J Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Three Mark Hattan, 707 East Tularosa, p Planning Commission to study: 1) from the City of Orange Police De of residential burglaries in the in which this project is located, districts in the City. He feels area should be selected for the s large chart he made of District 1 he walked twice a day through the proposed to be located and until that bothered him, but now he wa1 and he wouldn't even repeat the t every year there are more and mor undesirable gangs congregating in wise to put senior citizens in th put somewhere out of the area wit said he thinks the senior citizen there, that it is the Orange Seni wants them there. He also Quests •esented three exhibits for the Neighborhood Watch Newsletter ~artment, containing a survey ;sty showing that bistrict 13, has the highest rate of all 48 ;hat because of this another ~nior citizen housing. 2) A 3. He said that for twelve years area in which the project is •ecently he never saw anything :s only once a day in the daytime sings he has seen. He said that rough-looking, foreign-looking, Hart Park and he feels it is not is area but rather they should be i the highest crime rate. He > really don't want to be put >r Housing organization that med how anyone who has to live in a place where they can pay only 30% of the rent can attora to drive cars, pay automobile insurance and buy gasoline; therefore, why does the project have a space to park 75 cars with a driveway that will get so much traffic it will bother the other residents in the area. He also questioned how the senior citizens will be able to .shop when there is no shopping center in the area. He suggested another part of the City where it would be better to locate the senior citizens. 3) A chart of the Sycamore trees in the area which he said were started by a relative of his who brought seeds from Australia. He objected strenuously to these trees being cut down, especially one especially large and old tree near his home, and said he will do everything he can to protect those trees. He said he was promised when he bought his home that the area in which the project is proposed to be located would be developed as a park. He suggested that if something has to be located in that area it should be a new facility for the Police Department and the "old folks home" should be put in another part of the City. Commissioner Master asked Mr. Hattan if he laad made this presentation at a previous meeting to which residents of the area had been invited by Orange Senior Housing or if this was the first time the applicant was hearing his comments. Mr. Hattan said he had tried to present some of his comments at a previous meeting but the answer he received was that "this is the way it`s going to be," so since he obtained no results from the people who are proposing this project he is airing his views to the Planning Commission. Mike Dumbrowsky, 830 Tularosa, said he bought his home because there was open space behind it and when he .bought it he was told that space would stay open and eventually be developed as a con- tinuance of Hart Park. He pointed out that. this proposed project Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Four will be located in the half of the parcel nearest to Hart Park, so that raises the question of how the other half, which is not adjacent to Hart Park, will be developed, and that leads .him to believe that eventually it, too, will be developed for housing. Commissioner Mason asked him if he thought it would be better for this project to be built on the half nearest to Hart Park and he responded that he thinks the parcel in its entirety should be studied before a decision is made. He said he feels that development of the portion nearest to Hart Park may create some ramifications that the City may not want to deal with in the future. Dan Parge, 819 Tularosa, asked if this parcel is buildable. He said he believes it is subject to flooding and suggested getting an idea of the flood level from Orange County Flood Control to ascertain if the property is buiildable under today`s codes. He said he was told there is no money to make a study of this sort but he feels a rough idea can be obtained from existing records. Bruce Johnson, in rebuttal., answered the objections voiced by the area residents. He said Orange Senior Housing is concerned with making the proposed development compatible with the neighborhood. He said they found it possible to reduce the size of the structure from the originally-proposed three stories to two stories and they selected a different spot on the ±7 acres than that originally proposed because it will be more compatible to the neighborhoos and will allow more flexibility in terms of developing a site plan further away from the current residents, giving them far less of a structure with which to have visual contact. He said they have also lowered the parking area so the cars will not be visible to the current residents, and that they plan considerably more additions of trees and shrubbery so that the area will eventually be more attractive than it is now. He said they were very pleased and proud to have the consultant, Don Phillips., working with them and feel his former connection with HUD is a definite asset. He said there are various safety measures and security requirements planned and he feels there will be no question about the safety of the senior citizens who will live there, He pointed out that while there is no shopping. renter in the immediate vicinity, there are several located less than a mile away; at any rate they are planning for transportation to be provided to the senior citizens by the management of the facility. He said that most of the trees in the area will be saved and especially that they did nat plan to cut down the one large and old tree referred to by Mr. Hattan. He said that the potential flood plains in the area have been identified and steps will be taken to raise the elevation and move it out of the flood zone. In this regard they have met with representatives of PIMA in Washington, D.C., who-have reviewed their plans and have asked for additional information which will be supplied to them within a week, and he feels this will indicate that they will be out of the flood plain and they will be given clearance to proceed with their plans and that insurance coverage will be available. Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Five Commissioner Hart asked Mr. Johnson if it was their intention to have a van to transport the senior citizens to shopping areas, and Mr. Johnnon responded that it was.. Winnie Winston, 650 East LaVeta, said the back of her land adjoins Mr. Rattan's property. She said Mr. Rattan did not develop his land until recently and that the reason he is so concerned about the large and old tree is that his grandchildren have a tree house in it. She said she thinks having the senior citizens housing development in the area will improve .the area and the current property .and enhance the neighborhood. She said she has lived there for almost twelve years and has never noticed any undesirable element of the type referred to by Mr. Rattan, or had any problems with safety or burglaries. She said everybody says to put the senior citizens in somebody else's yard, not theirs, but as far as she is concerned the senior citizens can be put in her yard. Commissioner Mason asked if the proposed facility will be blocking the area from Hart Park to Cambridge or if there will be an access between the park. and Cambridge. Mr. Johnson said the creek bed will be totally open and there will be an emergency road adjacent to the faci1ity~~on the creek side just as there already is on the south side now. E11a Olanitzek, 435 North Pine Street,, expressed her concern for the needs of the senior citizens for affordable housing and her disgust with having to fight to build a facility for them. She said she is definitely in favor of the proposed project. Commissioner Master closed the public hearing. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Mason, that the Planning Commission accept the findings of the Environmental Review Board to file Negative Declaration 895. AYES: Commissioners Master., Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Greek MOTION CARRIED Commissioner Hart said this has been an emotional issue but he looks upon this project as a real necessity. He said he doesn't find the problems usually associated with high density applying to this project and he thinks traffic will be minimal. He said the City of Orange has not been taking care of its senior citizens he thinks it is imperative that this project be approved. Mov~d;by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that the Planning Commission recommend approval of General Plan-Land Use Element Amendment 2-84-A. Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Six Chairman .Master said this may not be .the best place for senior citizens housing and .perhaps it is best next to a large complex of stores and a hub of transportation, but such a location is not available. He said this is a compromise situation in which the City has provided the land in an area that is available and that often something of this nature can only be accomplished by a compromise. AYES: Commissioners P~las~ter, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Greek MOTION CARRIED Commissioner Hart pointed out that his previous remarks concerning the need for this project sti11 apply. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that the Planning Commission recommend approval of Zone Change 1014. AYES:. Commissioners Master, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES:. None ABSENT: Commissioner Greek MOTION CARRIED Mr. Lane said this matter would appear before the City Council in approximately four weeks. IN RE: NEW HEARINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1406 - HEIM Proposed second-story living unit above garage in the RD-6 (RCD) zone on the west side of Grand Street, approximately 240 feet north from LaVeta Avenue, NOTE: This project is exempt from environmental review, Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the staff report and said staff recommends approval. ® Chairman Master opened the public hearing. Applicant Larry Heim, 4077 Santa Anita Street, said he had no questions or problems with the requirements of the Staff Report. Chairman Master declared the public hearing closed. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Mason, that the Planning Commission approve Conditional Use Permit 1406. AYES: Commissioners Master, Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES:. None MOTION CARRIED Planning Commission Minutes March 18, 1985 „r Page Seven IN RE: NEW HEARINGS C AYES: NOES: AYES: NOES: IN RE: C7 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1407 - COUNTRY CLASSIC HOMES Proposed two-story apartment unit within 70 feet of an R-1~6 single-family residence zone on the east side of Glassell Street approximately 330 feet south from Collins Avenue. NOTE: Negative Declaration 967 has been prepared for this project. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Staff Report and said Staff recommends approval. Chairman Master opened the public hearing. Applicant Bob Young, 19014 South Mesa Drive, Villa Park, said he has no problems with the conditions in the Staff Report. Chairman Master declared the public hearing closed. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Greek, that the Planning Commission accept the findings of the Environmental Review Board to file Negative Declaration 967. Commissioners Master, Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott None MOTION CARRIED Moved by Commissioner Mason, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that the Planning Commission approve Conditional Use Permit 1407, subject to the nine conditions in the Staff Rpoert. Commissioners Master, Greek, Hart, Mason., Scott None OTHER BUSINESS MOTION CARRIED Chairman Master said a letter had been received from Marty Adair of Adair Enterprises requesting a Study Session with the Planning Com- mission on March 25 to present their master plan for the development of their property in north Orange and receive the guidance of the Commission regarding their application for a General Plan Amendment. Discussion followed on whether or not it would be proper to have a Study Session on this matter. Furman Roberts, City Attorney, who had entered the meeting just prior to this matter being brought up, was consulted and said there was no reason why this couldn't be done. Chairman Master said it would be necessary for the Commission to review the Capital Improvements Budget and this could also be done at the same Study Session. It was agreed that the Study Session would be held at 5:30 p.m. on March 25, 1985. Mr. Lane said he talked with Mark Adcock about the Capital Improvements Planning Commission. Minutes March 18, 1985 Page Eight Budget and Mr. Adcock has no reservations about the Commission's review but is concerned about the date since the City Council made a number of changes in the Capital Improvements Budget and it will not be possible for these to be noted in a proper. format prior to March 25. However, the City Council will have the first reading of the resolution on the matter on March 26 for approval of the first year of the five-year Capital Improvements Budget,. so even though the material available to the Commission might be a little bit disjointed, it is probably just as well to have the review on March 25. Chairman Master thanked Mr. Lane and Bert Yamasaki for the contact list of staff members. Chairman. Master said a letter had been received from Mayor Beam regarding formation of an Advisory Review Committee to periodically review and comment on the concepts of a consultant, The 30th Street Architects, they had hired to develop comprehensive urban design guidelines for the Tustin Street Redevelopment project. Mayor Beam wants the Planning Commission to select one of its members to serve on this committee. Mr. Lane said the purpose of this committee is to prevent the consultant from coming up with a plan that's completely out of character with the community and its job will be to deal with the appearance of the street, the relationships of the buildings to one another in terms of appearance, etc. He said he thinks it will probably involve three or four meetings. _Commi~sion Hart nominated Commissioner Greek to serve on the committee. Commissioner Greek said he was willing to serve and Chairman Master appointed him. Chairman Master said there would also be another committee called the Two Thousand Committee, on which the Mayor would like to have the entire Planning Commission serve, and more details would be forthcoming in the future. I_N RE: ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p,m. to a study session on March 25, 1985, at 5:30 p.m,, and to reconvene to a regular meeting on Monday, Alpri1 1, 1985,, at 7:.30 p.m.., at the Civic Center Council Chambers, 300 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, California. u