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2010 - November 15Planning Commission Meeting November 15, 2010 Page 1 of 7 Minutes Planning Commission November 15, 2010 City of Orange Monday 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Cunningham, Imboden, and Steiner ABSENT: Commissioners Merino and Whitaker STAFF PRESENT: Ed Knight, Assistant Community Development Director Robert Garcia, Associate Planner Doris Nguyen, Associate Planner Gary Sheatz, Assistant City Attorney Sandi Dimick, Recording Secretary ADMINISTRATIVE SESSION: Vice Chair Cunningham opened the Administrative Session at 6:47 p.m. with a review of the Agenda. Commissioner Imboden stated there would be only two Commissioner's voting on the minutes from the October 18, 2010 Planning Commission meeting, as he had been absent from that meeting. Vice Chair Cunningham asked if there were any questions on the Agenda items. There were none. Assistant Community Development Director, Ed Knight stated there was nothing further to add. There was no further discussion Administrative Session adjourned @ 6:50 p.m. REGULAR SESSION: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None Planning Commission Meeting November 15, 2010 Page 2 of 7 Consent Calendar: (1) APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF OCTOBER 18, 2010 Commissioner Steiner made a motion to approve the minutes from the regular Planning Commission Meeting on October 18, 2010. SECOND: Commissioner Cunningham AYES: Commissioners Cunningham and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: Commissioner Imboden ABSENT: Commissioners Merino and Whitaker MOTION CARRIED Planning Commission Meeting NEW HEARINGS: November 15, 2010 Page 3 of 7 (2) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0.2790-10; MAJOR SITE PLAN NO. 0630-10; AND DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE N0.4483-10-SANTA INES SENIOR VILLAS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0.2790-10; MAJOR SITE PLAN NO. 0630-10; & DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE N0.4483-10 -SANTA INES SENIOR VILLAS A proposal to demolish two buildings previously used as a preschool in order to construct 44 apartments where 43 of the units would be rented to seniors (62 and older) with extremely low, very low, or low-incomes. The 44th unit would be a manager's unit. LOCATION: 184 N. Prospect NOTE: This project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15194, because it provides Affordable Housing and meets the required criteria. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 40-10 recommending approval to the City Council for construction of 43 senior affordable housing units and 1 manager's unit. Associate Planner, Doris Nguyen presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Vice Chair Cunningham opened the item for any questions to Staff. There were none. Vice Chair Cunningham invited the applicant to address the Commission. Scott Chopin, address on file representing the Irvine Pacific Group of Companies. He thanked the Planning Commission for hearing him. He had time to read through the Staff Report and Ms. Nguyen was incredibly thorough and he could not add much to what she had already shared. The proposed project would be the third senior community project that he had worked on in the City of Orange. When he was with Kaufman and Broad they had built Harmony Creek off of Tustin and La Veta many years ago and next to the subject property there was Stone Gate Senior Villas and his company had been the developer on that property that had been completed in 2003. He was excited to be back in Orange and it was his favorite City to work in. Generally the property was a 44 unit senior property. Certainly in the City of Orange they had had much experience in the affordable housing world and the project would expect to be a 9% loan to housing tax credit project. His company was working closely with the redevelopment agency to subsidize the project and they hoped to get into the Planning Commission Meeting November 15, 2010 Page 4 of 7 project around March 2011 and gain funding around June. Those types of projects took a longer time to come to fruition, but it had been a great working experience so far. Vice Chair Cunningham asked if there were any questions for the applicant. There were none. Vice Chair Cunningham opened the item for Public Comment. Louis Flores, address on file, stated he lived a couple doors down from the proposed project. He was the person who had suggested having the crosswalk going across with a flashing light. There would be three different units with seniors and they all walked across the street because going down to Chapman or Spring Street was too far to walk. He suggested putting some type of flashing light so pedestrians could get through. With the construction being done he was in the walk-in tub business, the Safe Step Walk in Tub, and it was the only senior tub manufactured in the United States; which would create jobs and be easier for seniors to get in and out of. He had another comment but had forgotten; he looked to Ms. Nguyen. Ms. Nguyen stated the third comment was that he had wished that he had been able to purchase the property himself, but the asking price was too high. He would have considered redesigning the sites with 2 bedrooms and 2 '/z bathrooms, or a 1 bedroom with 1 '/2 baths to allow access to an alternate restroom if one was occupied. Vice Chair Cunningham closed the Public Hearing and brought the item back to the Commisiion for further discussion or a motion. Commissioner Steiner asked what was the rationale for the crossing signal not being provided. Ms. Nguyen stated the Public Works Department had a policy going forward that they would not install mid-block crossings unless they were signalized or had a stop sign. There was an un-signalized crossing at Maple that had been there for over 20 years. There had been a traffic study that had been conducted. Originally there had been 4 pedestrian crossings, Maple, Vine, Spring and Chapman. In a span of a '/4 mile, there had been four crossings and there had been a lot of accident. There had been rear end collisions where the first car would stop for a pedestrian; but the following car would not realize the car had stopped and then rear end the stopped car. There had been a traffic study in relationship to the apartments. The crossing at Vine had been removed. The one at Maple had been kept. Commissioner Steiner made a motion to adopt PC 40-10, recommending approval to the City Council of CUP No. 2790-10; MSPR No. 0630-10 and DRC No. 4483-10-Santa Ines Senior Villas, subject to the conditions contained in the Staff Report; noting the item was categorically exempt from CEQA. SECOND: Commissioner Imboden Planning Commission Meeting November 15, 2010 Page 5 of 7 AYES: Commissioners Cunningham, Imboden, and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Merino and Whitaker MOTION CARRIED Planning Commission Meeting November 15, 2010 Page 6 of 7 (3) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0.2797-10 - MARISCOS MOCORITO A proposal for an Alcoholic Beverage Control Type 41 (On-Sale Beer and Wine -Eating Place) License to have on-site consumption of alcohol for the guests of the eating establishment. LOCATION: 320 E. Katella Avenue, Unit H 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 the project consists of the operation and licensing of an existing restaurant. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 41-10 approving an Alcoholic Beverage Control Type 41 License (On-Sale Beer and Wine for a Bona Fide Eating Place). Associate Planner, Robert Garcia presented a project overview consistent with the Staff Report. Vice Chair Cunningham opened the item for any questions to Staff. There were none Chair Whitaker invited the applicant to address the Commission. They had nothing further to add. Commissioner Steiner stated he wanted to ensure the applicant accepted a1135 Conditions of Approval. The applicant acknowledged, yes. Chair Whitaker closed the Public Hearing and brought the item back to the Commission for further discussion or a motion Commissioner Imboden made a motion to adopt PC 41-10, approving CUP 2797-10- Mariscos Mocorito, subject to the conditions contained in the Staff Report, noting the project was categorically exempt from CEQA. SECOND: Commissioner Steiner AYES: Commissioners Cunningham, Imboden and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Merino and Whitaker MOTION CARRIED Planning Commission Meeting (4) ADJOURNMENT: November 15, 2010 Page 7 of 7 Adjournment to the next regular Planning Commission Meeting scheduled for Monday, December 6, 2010. Commissioner Steiner made a motion. to adjourn to the next regular scheduled Planning Commission Meeting on December 6, 2010. SECOND: Commissioner Imboden AYES: Commissioners Cunningham, Imboden, and Steiner NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Commissioners Merino and Whitaker MOTION CARRIED Meeting Adjourned @ 7:13 p.m.