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.