Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 03-25-08SPECIAL MEETING -WORKSHOPS: 5:30 P.M. -BUSINESS LICENSE 6:00 P.M. -BUILDING CODE were held in the City Council Confierence Room. MINUTES REGULAR MEETING TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 25, 2008 7:10 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Given PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Chair Nielsen Chair Pro Tem Puckett Commissioners Kozak, Murray, Thompson Staff present Elizabeth Binsack, Community Development Director David Kendig, Deputy City Attorney Dana Ogdon, Assistant Community Development Director Terry Lutz, Principal Engineer Scott Reekstin, Senior Planner Amy Thomas, Senior Planner Eloise Harris, Recording Secretary None PUBLIC CONCERNS CONSENT CALENDAR Approved 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -MARCH 11, 2008, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. It was moved by Puckett, seconded by Murray, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. None PUBLIC HEARINGS REGULAR BUSINESS Approved 2. TUSTIN HISTORIC REGISTER NOMINATION - 535 PACIFIC STREET. Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 1 RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission approve the nomination of 535 Pacific Street for an Historic Register Plaque. Thompson Recused himself and left the dais; he lives within 500 feet of this property. Reekstin Presented a brief staff report. Kozak Stated he was pleased to see another property in Old Town come before the Commission for placement in the Historical Register. Puckett Agreed with Commissioner Kozak and moved the approval of the plaque for 535 Pacific Street. Murray Seconded the motion; and, indicated he went by the property and was impressed by the appearance of this residence. Nielsen Added that this is a wonderful program; it is good to see that staff is working with the Tustin Conservancy and the Tustin Historical Society in recognizing these properties in Old Town. Motion carried 4-0. Thompson Returned to the dais. Received and filed 3. OLD TOWN PARKING STUDY. On February 19, 2008, the Tustin City Council received the Old Town Parking Study and directed staff to begin implementing the parking alternatives discussed within that document. On March 11, 2008, the Tustin Planning Commission received a copy of the Old Town Parking Study as background to support its future involvement in the review of related implementing actions. At that time, the Planning Commission requested additional information and a presentation on the matter. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file the report. Ogdon Presented the staff report. Rock Miller, KOA Presented the consultant's PowerPoint show. Corporation Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 2 Ogdon Added that the Parking Study is a planning document and does not waive the City's parking requirements, change the in-lieu fees structure, etc. but simply sets a direction for staff to go; in anticipation of bringing some of those implementation measures to the Commission, sharing the study ensures the Commission's understanding of Council's direction. Murray Complimented Mr. Miller on the Parking Study, indicating he has seen other studies but this was among the best. Asked why the timeframe of 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. was used in the occupancy counts. Mr. Miller Stated it is generally known that prior to 9:00 a.m. parking problems in commercial areas do not become evident; by 11:00 p.m. the parking in the residential areas has stabilized; generally speaking, it is not necessary to exceed those hours in order to do a full analysis. Murray Asked if the two-hour intervals were the result of the two-hour timeframe for parking. Mr. Miller Responded that the procedure involves atwo-hour scan of an area to determine what the .overall parking demand is; in those areas where parking is heavily used, supplemental studies are performed only in those areas. Murray Asked when parking structures are found to be viable alternatives. Mr. Miller Indicated that parking structures are generally recommended when a density-informed development requires parking needs to be concentrated in order to maintain more buildings; that may not happen in Old Town; if the City sets in place some of the mechanisms that are being recommended as alternatives, that issue can be revisited; in-lieu fees are generally based upon the need to acquire land if it is there for facilities; based upon the parking opportunities and current density pattern, parking structures do not seem necessary at this time. Puckett Asked if there are numbers available regarding the percentage of utilization for the existing parking structure. Mr. Miller Responded that the Stevens Square structure was lightly used except during the noon hour of the restaurant immediately adjacent to the structure. Puckett Suggested that the Prospect and Main lots are underutilized but that will change when the Village is occupied. Mr. Miller Indicated it was his understanding that those parking areas were factored into the parking requirements for Prospect Village and will be more than Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 3 adequate to meet the needs of that development; it was recommended that the City take a careful look at parking for major developments, such as an entire block being converted to a different land use. Puckett Echoed Commissioner Murray's comment that this is a well-done parking study. Kozak Thanked Mr. Miller for the informative report and presentation. Asked staff if KOA's recommendations regarding revisions to the Code would require a separate set of parking standards to improve the flexibility for Old Town. Director Replied that over the next year the Planning Commission should see these recommendations brought forward; it is not possible to predict a time frame at this time. Kozak Suggested that in order to accelerate the attraction to Old Town it might be possible to advance these items. Thompson Asked if the 1,005 required parking spaces number was based upon Code calculations or upon what was observed in the field work. Mr. Miller Answered that number was based on KOA's field work; the total amount of cars parking during peak hours was 1,005; that would take into account the concept of shared parking; a Code parking demand was not done, because the total amount of parking observed was substantially below what the Code might have required had it been applied. Thompson Questioned to the projected future volumes referred to as more than 140 spaces of surplus parking; and, asked what that calculation was based on. Mr. Miller Replied that the number was based upon a Code calculation applied to the proposed uses with appropriate discounts applied to account for shared parking. Thompson Asked where Old Town should be from a utilization standpoint. Mr. Miller Answered that 85 percent across the board would not be the optimum because that would be perceived as crowded everywhere; individual areas should not be above 85 percent; selected prime areas could be above 85 percent; the alternatives are larger parking fields or areas where a person knows parking will be available; out-lying spaces should always be available. Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 4 Thompson Asked how it will be possible to know as projects are approved along the way when the parking standards are too lax and different regulations are necessary. Director Indicated that this is one area where Traffic Engineering is hard and fast; there are no easy answers or one best way; there may be a point where additional parking will be necessary in the Old Town area; Old Town is unique in that no one wants to see a sea of parking by a building, and a suburban parking standard may not be appropriate; it is necessary to be thoughtful in the process; this Parking Study is a useful tool in that process. Nielsen Added that Old Town has unique parking issues that do not exist anywhere else in Tustin; any development in Old Town requires flexibility and parking cannot be specifically quantified and codified as to exactly what will happen; the options suggested in the Parking Study are excellent; it is very difficult to plan for the next 50 years in Old Town as opposed to other areas; different options will provide the flexibility necessary. Thompson Suggested that the statistics be updated in two or three years; being cognizant of the decision-making when jumps occur in utilization that affect the land use decisions that are made by the Planning Commission. Nielsen Reiterated that it is hard to know when that point has been reached; it is impossible to know what the developments will be in Old Town twenty years from now and what the issues are going to be; the options provided in this study will be helpful; staff will continue to be diligent regarding mitigation measures as progress occurs. Director Stated that the larger projects that may be realized in Old Town could be the easier projects allowing the benefit of performing a parking study/ traffic analysis associated with those projects through the environmental review process; the more difficult process will be the small infill developments. Nielsen Restated that it is not easy to quantify future issues; keeping Old Town as vibrant as possible and as aesthetically pleasing as possible is the goal. It was moved by Puckett, seconded by Kozak, to receive and file the report. Motion carried 5-0. STAFF CONCERNS 4. REPORT OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE MARCH 18, 2008, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 5 Director reported The City Council approved the MCAS Tustin Mitigation Monitoring Report and the 2007 General Plan Annual Report. The City Council approved the conditional use permit requesting a dental office at 740 EI Camino Real and directed the applicant to submit for a design review that must be approved by the Planning Commission. The City Council held the second reading of the Prospect Village planned community district regulations; those regulations will become effective shortly; Prospect Village should be submitting an application for a master sign program soon; that application will be presented before the Planning Commission. City Hall will be open every Friday, commencing March 28, 2008. COMMISSION CONCERNS Thompson Stated he attended the Easter Egg Hunt and thought it was a big success; the swift clean-up was amazing. Noted he attended the Easter Prayer Breakfast sponsored by RBF Consulting; Councilmember Jim Palmer was one of the officials in attendance. Indicated that he was nominated and approved for the OCTA Go Local Committee. Referred to previous discussions regarding commercial guidelines for Old Town; and, asked that a timeframe be established for the next step in that procedure. Director Stated that staff received a draft copy of interim guidelines from the Redevelopment Agency; those guidelines will be reviewed internally and then presented to the Planning Commission. Thompson Referred to the letter from Broadmoor Park relating to the Southwest Tustin Tour; and, asked if staff would be responding to that letter. Director Answered in the affirmative. Kozak Welcomed new staff members Cari Meyer, Assistant Planner, and Amy Thomas, Senior Planner. Thanked staff for the workshops and Mr. Rock Miller and Assistant Director Dana Ogdon for their presentations regarding the Old Town Parking Study. Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 6 Murray Thanked staff for the very informative workshops. Thanked his fellow Commissioners for the discussion of the Old Town Parking Study. Asked for the status of the Drug Emporium. Director Indicated that Big Lots has requested a tenant improvement for that facility. Murray Complimented the City's Community Services Commission for the Easter Egg Hunt and also Chair Nielsen and Chair Pro Tem Puckett for their work through the Tustin Community Foundation. Puckett Noted the Easter celebration was a huge success, thanks to Dave Wilson and his staff and also to Erin Nielsen, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, for putting the Pancake Breakfast together; twice as many breakfasts could have been sold and the Foundation will prepare to do that next year; the funds provided substantial income for the Foundation that will be used in the grant process. Nielsen Thanked staff for the workshops; it is always good to see that staff is performing outreach to the community in an effort to provide better customer service. Indicated he had a fine time at the Easter Egg Roll and the Pancake Breakfast; and, thanked the many volunteers who helped with the Breakfast. Thanked Kathy Hall for providing a letter to the Planning Commission regarding Broadmoor Homes in Tustin; he was pleased to hear that staff will be responding to some of the issues presented; the majority of the letter related to the architecture of the patio homes in Broadmoor with a nice dissertation regarding the designs referred to as "MidCentury Modern." Congratulated Commissioner Thompson on his appointment to the Go Local Committee for OCTA. Stated he looks forward to design guidelines coming forward for Old Town Commercial; anything staff can do to move that forward would be appreciated; and, added that the Old Town Residential Guidelines should perhaps also be updated. Requested that a tour be scheduled for the Laurelwood, Peppertree, Tustin Meadows, and Summerfield communities. Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 7 Director Asked if the Commission would like the tour scheduled for the next meeting. Nielsen Answered that whatever is convenient for staff when there is a light agenda would be fine. Thompson Requested a start time of 5:30 p.m. Director Stated the tour would be scheduled to occur before the next Planning Commission meeting, April 8, 2008. Nielsen Asked that staff provide information other cities may have regarding smoke shops in the vicinity of schools. 8:10 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at 300 Centennial Way. r...., Jo ielsen Chairperson ~~ ~ _- E izabeth A. Binsack Planning Commission Secretary Minutes -Planning Commission March 25, 2008 -Page 8