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2011 - April 4Planning Commission Meeting April 4, 2011 Page 1 of 4 Minutes Planning Commission City of Orange April 4, 2011 Monday 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Buttress, Grangoff, Merino and Steiner ABSENT: Commissioner Gladson STAFF PRESENT: Ed Knight, Assistant Community Development Director Robert Garcia Associate Planner Gary Sheatz, Assistant City Attorney Sandi Dimick, Recording Secretary ADMINISTRATIVE SESSION Chair Steiner opened the administrative session @ 6:45 p.m. He stated on the approval of the minutes from the March 21, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting, there would be only 2 Commissioners present who would be able to vote. Assistant Community Development Director Ed Knight stated there would be 2 voting members and 2 abstentions. Chair Steiner welcomed new Commissioner Ray Grangoff to the Planning Commission. Chair Steiner stated in review of the Agenda there was a resolution for Matthew Cunningham and he asked if they would be adopting the resolution or just presenting the item? Mr. Knight stated he could present the item and the Commissioners could vote on adopting it. Chair Steiner asked if Mr. Cunningham would be present? Mr. Knight stated he believed he would be. Chair Steiner asked if there were any questions on Agenda item No. 2, The Block Stylons? Commissioner Merino stated it should be a very brief item and the Staff Report was very concise. Chair Steiner stated he had hoped that Commissioner Gladson would have been available to hear the item as she had been on the Design Review Committee when the item had gone to the DRC and her input would have been helpful. Mr. Knight stated the item had been in the works for a few years. Commissioner Buttress stated she was pleased to see The Block getting some new blood and the plan for an outlet mall would bring new opportunities to the City of Orange. Mr. Knight stated the stores that were moving in were of higher quality. Associate Planner Robert Garcia stated they were bringing in some good tenants with The Rack, H &M and Saks. Commissioner Buttress stated she could see the mall evolve into a destination location where people would want to go to shop. Mr. Garcia stated the buildings surrounding The Block were also going through some improvements. Commissioner Merino asked if Borders had already closed down? Mr. Knight stated the company had filed for bankruptcy and he believed they were closed at The Block location. Planning Commission Meeting April 4, 2011 Page 2 of 4 Chair Steiner asked if there was anything in their folders that they needed to discuss and that he had noticed a note to Chapman University in his folder. Mr. Knight stated that was a note from a homeowner near the University and more of an F.Y. I. to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Grangoff asked why the Planning Commission was given a copy of the DRC agenda? Mr. Knight stated it was provided in order for the Commissioners to see what might be coming to the Planning Commission in the future, such as the parking structure for the building that had lost parking with the 22 freeway expansion. That building was having trouble leasing the property and had been bought by a new group who had recognized the need for additional parking. Assistant City Attorney Gary Sheatz stated the building had an 89% vacancy rate. There was no further discussion. Administrative Session adjourned @ 6:55p.m. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION None REGULAR SESSION Presentation by Chair Steiner Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 06 -11 expressing appreciation to Matthew J. Cunningham for 2 %2 years of dedicated service to the City of Orange Planning Commission. Commissioner Merino made a motion to adopt PC Resolution 06 -11 expressing appreciation to Matthew J. Cunningham for 2 %2 years of dedicated service to the City of Orange Planning Commission. SECOND: Commissioner Buttress AYES: Commissioners Buttress, Grangoff, Merino and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gladson MOTION CARRIED Chair Steiner read from the Resolution and presented it to Mr. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham thanked the Planning Commission and City Staff for their recognition of his service on the Planning Commission. Planning Commission Meeting Consent Calendar: April 4, 2011 Page 3 of 4 (1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 21, 2011. Commissioner Merino made a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the Planning Commission on March 21, 2011, as written. SECOND: Commissioner Buttress AYES: Commissioners Buttress and Merino NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Grangoff and Steiner ABSENT: Commissioner Gladson MOTION CARRIED New Hearing: (2) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2828 -11 AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE NO. 4511 -10 — THE BLOCK STYLONS A proposal to change existing stylons at The Block at Orange. No new stylons are being proposed. LOCATION: 20 City Boulevard West NOTE: This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1 — Existing Facilities) because of minor alterations of existing private structures and exterior alterations. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 07 -11 approving a change to the graphics of the existing stylons of the approved sign program for The Block at Orange. Associated Planner Robert Garcia presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Chair Steiner opened the item for any questions to Staff. There were none. Chair Steiner invited the applicant to address the Commission. Blake Windal, address on file, stated he was available to answer any questions the Commissioners might have. Mr. Garcia had represented their item very adequately. The Planning Commission Meeting April 4, 2011 Page 4 of 4 tower signs which most of them were familiar with and which he would be happy to see being changed from their current status; and the intent was to brand the shopping center as a destination. The vision was to move from an entertainment and dining destination to a more serious retail center. As many of them may have seen from the packet, there were renderings which denoted on the bottom panel, The Outlet at Orange, and that name was still in discussions, but the idea was that the name of the shopping center would be displayed on the bottom of the panels. Individual tenants would use the upper portion of the stylons for their advertisement and there could be multiple tenants on a panel. The colors were more vibrant and they were attempting to bring The Block back to its original luster. He was available to answer any questions the Commissioners had. Chair Steiner asked if there were any questions for the applicant? There were none. He closed the Public Hearing and brought the item back to the Commission for any discussion or a motion. Commissioner Buttress stated she was happy to see the improvements. Chair Steiner stated there was a need to spruce up the stylons and it would be a good addition to The Block. Commissioner Merino made a motion to adopt Resolution No. PC 07 -11, approving CUP No. 2828 -11 and DRC No. 4511 -10 -The Block Stylons, subject to the conditions contained in the Staff Report and noting the item was categorically exempt from CEQA. SECOND: Commissioner Buttress AYES: Commissioners Buttress, Grangoff, Merino and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gladson MOTION CARRIED (4) ADJOURNMENT: Adjournment to the next regular Planning Commission Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 18, 2011. Commissioner Buttress made a motion for adjournment to the next regular scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission on April 18, 2011. SECOND: Commissioner Merino AYES: Commissioners Buttress, Grangoff, Merino and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioner Gladson MOTION CARRIED Meeting Adjourned @ 7:13 p.m.