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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/20/1985 - Minutes PCa City of Orange Orange, California PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES February 20, 1985 Monday, 7:30 p.m. The regular meeting of the City of Orange Planning Commission was called to order by Vice Chairman Mason at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners, Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott ABSENT: Commissioner Master STAFF John Lane, Administrator of Current Planning and Commission Secre- PRESENT: tary; Jim Reichert, Associate Planner; Gene Minshew, Assistant City Attorney; Gary Johnson, City Engineer; and Toba V. Wheeler, Recording Secretary. IN RE: AYES: NOES: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 4, 1985 The minutes were corrected as follows: On page 8, first paragraph, last word of next to last line should be "easterly" instead of !'iwesterly. " Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Greek, that the minutes of February 4, 1985, be approved as corrected. Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS GENERAL PLAN - LAND USE ELEMENT 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 to High Density Residential (15 to 24 du/ac) and to change the zoning from R-1-6 and R-D-6 to RM-7 on a 7±-acre parcel adjacent to the north side of Santiago Creek between Cambridge Street and Shaffer Street. NOTE: This item was continued from the May 7, 1984, September 5, 1984, and November 5, 1984, Planning Commission meetings. Mr. Lane said a request had been received from Orange Senior Housing, Inc., to continue this item to the meeting of March 18, 1985. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that this item be continued to the meeting of March 18, 1985. AYES: Commissioners Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master ABSTAINED: Commissioner Greek MOTION CARRIED Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Two IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS TENANT DISLOCATION IMPACT REPORT - ORANA TRAILER PARK Discussion and action pertaining to a Tenant Dislocation Impact Report prepared for the Orange Trailer Park located on the south side of Chapman Avenue, approximately 150 feet west from Main Street. NOTE: This item was continued from the December 17, 1984, Planning Commission Meeting. Mr. Lane said the applicant has requested that this item be removed from the agenda because the negotiations for the sale of the prop- erty have fallen through. Moved by Commissioner Greek, seconded by Commissioner Hart, that this item be removed from the agenda. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED IN RE: CONTINUED HEARINGS TENTATIVE TRACT 10112, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1382 - RIDGEWOOD Proposed 46-lot subdivision and a Conditional Use Permit to allow a planned unit development of detached, single-family residences on approximately eight acres situated along the proposed extension of Canyon View Avenue approximately 1600 feet east from the inter- section of East Chapman Avenue and Canyon View Avenue. NOTE: This item was continued from the January 7 and January 21, 1985, Planning Commission meetings. Mr. Lane said a request was received from Ridgewood Development to continue this item to the meeting of April 1, 1985. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Greek, that this item be continued to the meeting of April 1, 1985. AYES:. Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT:. Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED IN RE QONTINUED MISCELLANEOUS ITEM REDUCTION OF OFF-STREET PARKING - CENTURY AMERICAN Request to allow 10~ reduction in the number of parking spaces from 31 to 28 at a proposed retail center at the southeast corner of Tustin and Wilson. Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Three Mr. Lane said the applicant has requested that this item be removed from the agenda because its plans have been revised. It was estab- lished that no motion is needed to remove this item from the agenda. IN RE: NEW HEARINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1398 - TURNER & PRIZIO Proposed office use in the M-1 zonin!g_district at the northeast corner of Eckhoff and Sequoia. NOTE: Negative Declaration 959 has been prepared for this project. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Staff Report and said Staff recommends approval subject to the conditions in its report. Vice Chairman Mason opened the public hearing. Applicant Dave Prizio, 1781 Teri Lynn Lane, Santa Ana, said he understands and agrees to the conditions in the Staff Report and is available for questions. Vice Chairman Mason declared the public hearing closed. Moved b~ Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Greek, that the Planning Commission accept the findings of the Environmental Review Board to file Negative Declaration 944. AYES:. Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES:. None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED Commissioner Greek requested clarification regarding the Special Condition added on page 3 of the Staff. Report regarding approval by the Traffic Engi-Weer in determining the need for installation of traffic and on-street parking control measures by the applicant. Mr. Lane reponded that the Traffic Engineer indicated he has no major problems with the project and no major improvements will be required in relation to traffic. He said improvements will probably be limited to some sign posting and marking of curbs, such as stop signs and red curbs. Moved by Commissioner Scott, seconded by Commissioner Hart, that the Planning Commission recommend approval of Conditional Use Permit 1398 subject to the conditions in the Staff Report. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master Planning Commission Minutes .February 20, 1985 Page Four IN RE: NEW HEARINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1399 - COVE DEVELOPMENT Proposed office use in the M-1 and M-2 zoning districts on the west side of Eckhoff, between Collins and Sequoia. NOTE: Negative Declaration 960 has been prepared for this project. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Staff Report and said Staff recommends approval subject to the eighteen condi- tions in its report. Vice Chairman Mason opened the public hearing. Applicant Rod Emery, president of Cove Development, 3737 Birch Street, Newport Beach, gave a brief summary of the plans and said he is available for questions; however, he has some questions about Conditions #1 and #6 in the Staff Report. Regarding Condition #1, said he feels it M E l f th t l h mery , r. unne e remova o e concerning t should be a closure of the tunnel. Mr. Johnson said Public Works can see the need for a possible use of that facility in conjunction with one or both of the adjacent uses; however, it is the Police Department that is concerned with the tunnel becoming a public nuisance and if it can be assured that there is adequate security go along with something other than removal. Mr. robabl it would y p Emery asked if the wording of the condition could be changed to show closure rather than removal. Mr. Lane said Staff would have no problem with that and he feels the Police Department world be satisfied with a secure tunnel, i. e., both ends closed. Commis- sioner Hart suggested substituting the word "closed" instead of the word "removed" in the Condition. Mr. Emery asked for clarifi- cation of Condition #6 as to what is meant by specialized fire- fighting equipment and said he is willing to comply with what is needed if the Condition will specify the needed equipment. Dis- cussion followed and upon advice from Mr. Lane, the Planning Commission agreed to remove Condition #6. Vice Chairman Mason closed the public hearing. Commissioner Greek asked Mr. Emery if provision had been made .to build~:over. the easement, as shown on the plans. Mr. Emery said the six-story building may slightly encroach upon-the easement, which is south of the four-story building, the latter not being modified and also being contiguous with the southerly end of the six-story building. Commissioner Greek pointed out that there is no parking there now, only a driveway. Mr. Emery said that was correct and that the 30' easement is 20' in fee to the ownership of Varco and 10` in fee to Mr. Eckhoff, and that Cove Development is presently negotiating with Mr. Eckhoff to acquire his parcel, as well as discussing modifications to his property line; however, Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Five if that proves to be a problem Cove can change its plans for a parking area. Mr. Emery asked if approval from the Planning Commission was relative to the exact parking layout as well as to the building plans; he said it was the understanding of his staff that the application was only for the Conditional Use Permit and not a specific site plan approval. Mr. Lane said that since the Conditional Use Permit is to allow office use in an industrial zone, there has to be a site plan to determine the amount of off-street parking and other things related to the project; therefore, the site plan is part of the approval of the Conditional Use Permit. Mr. Emery said that on past projects the Design Review Board has allowed modifications of landscape and parking layouts from those originally approved by the Condi- tional Use Permits. Mr. Hart said he was disturbed by the fact that the Design Review Board has modified plans approved by the Planning Commission since anything approved by the Commission ® was supposed to be final. Mr. Emery said that Cove Development has excess parking presently so the parking plan shown can be modified and the landscaping moved without any impact to the required amount of parking.. He said the plan is not really dimensioned for purposes of a specific site plan approval at this time. He said they don't want to get approval on a project that will require them to negotiate with Mr. Eckhoff to park on his easement, they would like the flexi- bility of being able to modify their plans as long as they supply the same amount of landscaping and parking and adequate ingress and egress. Commissioner Greek said he feels they will have a problem with supplying enough parking because he can't see where they will make up the loss of one tier of parking if they lose the easement area. Commissioner Hart asked what latitude someone else has with changing a plan relative to precise location of the building and/or the amount of available parking after that plan has been approved by the Planning Commission. Mr. Lane said non- substantive changes could be accommodated as long as they. would not affect the public hearing validity. Commissioner Hart said he thought so also and was wondering how far the Design Review Board's authority does extend in changing a precise plan. Mr. Lane said he thinks they have the authority only to approve the landscape plan, the exterior building elevation and things of that nature which are design related, but not to alter substant- ively any plan that has been approved by the .Planning Commission. Commissioner Hart suggested that the application be approved with a condition that Cove Development meet the parking code ,. and asked Mr. Emery if he would have a problem with that. Mr. Emery said he felt that to specify that Cove Development is to meet code requirements for parking and landscaping without major or substantive modifications to the plan would be acceptable and he thinks everything could be worked out to both Cove Develop- ment's and the Planning Commission's mutual agreement with much difficulty. Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Six Vice Chairman Mason declared the public hearing closed. Moved by Commissioner Greek, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that the Planning Commission accept the findings of the Environmental Review Board to file Negative Declaration 960. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED Moved by Commissioner Greek, seconded by Commissioner Hart, that the Planning Commission recommend approval of Conditional Use Permit 1399 for the reasons indicated in the Staff Report, subject to the conditions in the Staff Report with the following revisions: a) Condition #1 be changed to read "That the tunnel existing under Eckhoff Street shall be abandoned in a manner meeting with the approval of the Departments of Public Works and Police," b) Condi- tion # 6 be deleted,. and c) the parking requirements indicated in the Staff Report be maintained and if the 35 spaces indicated in front of the existing building are actually lost they shall be provided elsewhere in the project. ® AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED IN RE: NEW HEARINGS ZONE CHANGE 1029 - DAVIDSON AND FERGUSON Proposed zone change from P (Parking Overlay District) to C-2 (General Business District) on a portion of 2.8 acres situated on the north side of Chapman Avenue, approximately 265 feet east from Eckhoff Street. NOTE: Negative Declaration 961 has been prepared for this project. ® Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Staff Report and said that Staff recommends approval; however, it suggests that the Planning Commission consider that any approval of the plans should be with the understanding that there will be Design Review Beard approval of the parking lot primarily because the original approval of these buildings required a landscaped area along the north property line on both north and south sides of the wall and the new project would remove the landscaping on the south side of the wall. He said that although the. property on the south side of the wall is the interior parking lot area and therefore up to the developer to enhance, because it was an issue at the prior approval the Design Review Board should have the opportunity to review it again. He said he thinks that in the Design Review Boa rd .approval consideration should be given to the possibility Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Seven of a permanent architectural design feature in the windows on the proposed west side of the building as it extends for an additional 33 feet. He recommended that louvers be built into the window design in order to give privacy to the residential property which abuts this property to the rear and to the west. Vice Chairman Mason opened the public hearing. Mitchell Brown of Urban Assist, 3151 Airway Avenue, Costa Mesa, representing Davidson and Ferguson, the applicant, said his company has reviewed the Staff Report and concurs with it. He asked that the architect be given some flexibility on how the window treatment on the second floor is handled, so that it might be a louvered window, a high bay window with no visibility access to the yard next door, or even obscure glass. Lorena Rudat, 2019 West Chapman Avenue, said that eleven years ago this month she received a letter from Gary Johnson in which he said there would be a block wall between her property and the existing building. She said her property consists of her home and another home behind it which she ~ents,tor~someone else, bath zoped R-l',,'arrd she :feels,,that a ~C-2. 1~at next door would b~a_detri- mental'to her R~1 lots:~and thinks she should also be allowed to have her zoning changed to C-2. She a1 so complained about a noisy air conditioner on the property proposed to be redeveloped and is afraid there will be another noisy air conditioner in the new portion of the building. Jim Taylor of Urban Assist said they are rehabilitating office buildings which are rather old and need to be updated and the air conditioning problems will be alleviated when new units are installed. He presented a new design plan showing how the land- scaping will be upgraded. He said there will be less in and out traffic as they will be developing an office complex as opposed to the present medical facility which has a constant come and go of traffic. He said he feels the entire area will be upgraded by the new development. Commissioner Greek questioned the gutter installations in the parking lot. Architect George Seitz, 18023A Sky Park Circle, Irvine, said the paving and the gutter system will be in accordance with City standards. He said there will be a landscape median down the middle to create a dramatic sense of entry and traffic would be one-way on each side of the median, with the landscaping within the parking area enhanced from what it is now. Commissioner Scott asked Mr. Johnson if a block wall was to be installed as Mrs. Rudat had stated. Mr. Johnson said that if there was a letter written it would have been referring to the normal requirement of having a separation between residential and commercial properties. Mrs. Rudat produced the letter and said she had also phoned Mr. Johnson many times. Mr. Lane said there is a block wall in the back between the parking lot and Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Eight the residential property. After perusing the letter Mrs. Rudat handed to him, Mr. Johnson said that there is a block wall required between commercial zoning and residential zoning. He said if the property that Mrs. Rudat owns is zoned commercial but is used as a residence, then that is a different situation and that may have been the reason why the block wall wasn`t required. He said he doesn't remember .that far back but normally if that was the condition of the development it would have been a requirement of the Conditional Use Permit or whatever other use permit approval was given for that particular project. He said he doesn't know about the P-1 property in the rear but he doesn't believe there's a requirement for P-1 property to have a block wall separating it from residential property. n Vice Chairman Mason 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 961. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED Commissioner Hart asked how the Planning Commission can get some assurance that a noisy air conditioner will be baffled or whatever is necessary to alleviate the noise. Commissioner Greek asked if a condition can be put on approval of the zone change indicating that the Planning Commission would like to see the air conditioner noise muffled and the landscaping plan a part of the application. Mr, Minshew replied that he doesn't like a condition on a zone change. .Commissioner Greek suggested that the applicant might like to volunteer that the air conditioning will be repaired. Mr. Taylor said that they have no objection to the landscaping plans being kept in the files by the City Staff to be referred to as the manner in which they will implement the. landscaping and also that they will go on record to the effect that the air conditioning will be attenuated to acceptable City limitations as to noise. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Greek, that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council that it approve Zone Change 1029. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master MOTION CARRIED n Planning Commission Minutes r February 20, 1985 Page Nine IN RE: NEW HEARINGS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 1400 - OCTO-M, INC. Proposed office complex which exceeds the height limit in the C-2 zone at the southwest corner of Town and Country Road and Lawson Way. NOTE: Negative Declaration 962 has been prepared for this project. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with the Staff Report and said that Staff suggests a two-week continuance. He explained that this property is with the Transportation System Improvement Project area and that,th~ cities of Orange and Santa Ana have had discussions about development projects in that area and the impacts of those projects on transportation and other infrastructure needs in both cities. He said there is a committee of the Transportation System Improvement Project that oversees the day-to-day development ® activities in the area, which also has a staff technical advisory committee. The latter committee,;:°,,~hich donsist~ of Pablic~Works and Plahning Departments` employees in both Orange and Santa Ana, met February 15 to discuss this application.,, with the result that no conclusive decisions or commitments were made by either city. The City of Santa Ana felt it needed to discuss it further within their city and indicated to the City of Orange that a report would be sent in sufficient time for the Planning Commission to make a decision in a couple of weeks Mr. Lane said Staff feels it must honor Santa Ana's request for additional time. Vice Chairman Mason opened the public hearing. Ehrouze Ehdaie, architect representing the applicant., requested that there be a deadline set fora response from the City of Santa Ana, so the applicant would be able to make plans for proceeding with the development. Vice Chairman Mason declared the public hearing closed. Moved by Commissioner Hart, seconded by Commissioner Scott, that this item be continued to the .meeting of March 4, 1985, and that ® the City of'Santa Ana be requested to reponde by March 1, and if no answer is received by then it should be considered that their answer was in the affirmative. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES:. None ABSENT: Commissioner Master IN RE: OTHER BUSINESS MEMORANDUM FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES RE REQUEST FROM MARIE H. JONES, 701 WEST MAPLE STREET Request for consideration of a modification to Conditional Use Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Ten Permit 1207 as approved by the Planning Commission on June 2, 1982. Mr. Lane made the presentation in accordance with Mrs. Jones' request as outlined in the memorandum. He said according to State law Facts #5 and #9 are unenforcible and should not have been made part of the approval action. He said the real issue is upping the maximum number of persons from 30 to 32, and that the Building Inspector and the Fire Department inspection people feel the request for 32 persons can be implemented. Commissioner Hart asked if this can be done in an administrative way or must it be done by means of the noticing process. Mr. Lane said he doesn't think the reso- lution can be amended without holding another public hearing; Mr. Minshew agreed. Moved by Commissioner Greek, seconded by Commissioner Hart, that proper action be taken by the Planning Department to inform Mrs. Jones what has to be done to have her request considered. AYES: Commissioners Greek, Hart, Mason, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Commissioner Master ~ MOTION CARRIED LETTER FROM FLETCHER COMMITTEE RE HEIGHT OF PROPOSED VOLT BUILDINGS Mr. Lane made the presentation and said the application from Volt for an office building complex on 12 acres was received by Staff some time ago; however, work on the Environmental. Impact Report is not finished and a draft should be completed within three weeks, after which there will be a 45-day review perios before it can even go to public hearings. He detailed the facts of this proposed deve~ opment to date. POLICE AKD FIRE DEPARTMENT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS Vice Chairman Mason asked Commissioner Hart if he wished to discuss door locks per the memorandum and related attached material received from Planning and Development Services regarding the standard require- ments of Police and Fire Departments for Security Purposes on New Development. Commissioner Hart said he .understood the memo stated that residential buildings should be equipped with a single cylinder deadbolt lock and commercial buildings should be equipped with a double cylinder deadbolt lock, and he recommended filing the memo- randum. In response to a question from Commissioner Greek regarding the Fire Department requirement for firefighting equipment, Mr. Lane said that, per the information in this memorandum, the Fire Depart- ment stated that in the future it will be more specific about what it means when a suggested condition regarding firefighting equipment is recommended. w Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 1985 Page Eleven IN RE: ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 meeting on Monday, March 4, 1985, Council Chambers, 300 East Chapman p.m. to reconvene to a regular at.7:30 p.m., at the Civic Center Avenue, Orange, California.