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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes 07-16-79TUSTIN PLANNING AGENCY Minutes of Regular Meeting July 16, 1979 The Planning Agency held a regular meeting Monday, July 16, 1979 in the Council Chambers of the Tustin City Hall, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, California. The meeting was called to order at 3:07 p.m. by Chairman Schuster. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Mr. Sharp and the invocation was given by Mrs. Kennedy. PRESENT: Schuster, Sharp, Saltarelli, and Kennedy ABSENT: Welsh Also Present: Alan Warren, Assistant Planner Dan Blankens~ip, City Administrator James Rourke (3:22 p.m.), City Attorney Midge Mehl, Recording Secretary MINUTES Due to the Independence Day holiday and vacation days, the Minutes of the meeting held July 2, 1979 were not ready for presentation, but will be avail- able at the next regularly scheduled Agency meeting. PUBLIC HEARING Variance 79-3 Applicant: Location: Request: Heath and Company on behalf of Coast Federal Savings and Loan 662 East First Street To allow a monument sign of 13 feet in height, in variance with the Sign Ordinance. Mr. Warren presented the staff report and stated that the Coast Federal facility is currently under construction on the south side of First Street, approved under Use Permit %76-25. He said of the total permitted sign area of 125 square feet, the applicant has only utilized 69 square feet. The overall dimension of the subject sign is 4'10" by 6'6" for a total area of 31.4145 square feet rather than the 32.2 indicated in the application. He stated that after careful evaluation it was the staff's determination that the sign area does not exceed the maximum permitted area of 32 square feet and a variance is not necessitated for excess sign area. The yellow lettering on dark brown sign will set atop an eight foot high cast concrete base and includinq the slight support gap between the sign and the base, it would give an overall height of just slightly under 13 feet. The sign ordinance permits a height of 6 feet above grade or 4 feet above the top of a landscaped planter or mound, for businesses within a shopping center. The request exceeds the permitted height by 7 feet. He further stated that after careful consideration of precedent actions, comparable situations on nearby properties, the technical point requiring a Variance rather than a Use Permit, and the apparent lack of detriment to surrounding commercial properties or uses, the staff recommends favorable consideration be granted to Variance #79-3. The approval would not be a grant of special privilege, but rather a grant of privilege to this property which ~s available to like properties and uses under similar zoning in the immediate vicinity. Mrs. Kennedy said in the absence of the city attorney and the Director of Community Development, she would like to c6ntinue this matter until the evening meeting. Mr. Schuster asked about the height of the sign and why the applicant had not requested a pole sign rather than a monument sign. Mr. Warren answered Mr. Schuster's question regarding the height of the sign, and why the applicant preferred the monument-type sign. Planning Agency Minutes July 16, 1979 page 2. Chairman Schuster declared the public hearing open and asked if there was anyone to speak in favor or opposition to Variance 79-3. Mr. Ron McKenzie, 3225 Lacy Street, Los Angeles, representing Heath and Company, manufacturer of the proposed sign, said the sign was designed as a monument-type sig~ to be in accord wi.th the building it identifies and did not feel that it would obstruct any vehicular traffic in that it is approxi- mately 12 feet back from the curb and vehicles leaving driveways in the vicinity would be well in front of the si~n before entering the street. He said he felt the findings of the Planning Staff showed good justification for this variance and they concurred w~th the Planning Satff's recommendations. MOTION by Kennedy, SECONDED by Schuster, to continue Variance 79-3 to the evening meeting to be held at 7:30 p.m. this date. Mr. Sa]tarel]i stated he saw no valid reason for a continuance of this matter. He sa~d we have the staff's recommendation; it is within the limits of what the other financial institutions in the area already have, however, he Qas concerned about the solid concrete base of the sign. There followed a discussion regarding the solid concrete base of the pro- posed sign. Ms. Helen Crider, 14621 Clarissa Lane, Tustin, stated the requested sign does fit into the aesthetics of the building and she would like the Agency to consider that had they split the lot and asked for a sicfn for one building then there would be a sign for another building--this sign blends right in with our build- ing, and a pole sign would detract from it. Mr. Warren stated that in regards to the Agency's concerns about the concrete base of the proposed sign, as a condition, if the Agency should approve, we could stipulate some form of landscaping on either side of the concrete base, to soften the mass of concrete. ~s. Kennedy stated that under the current sign code she did not feel this particular sign was justified. She could find no grounds to approve it. She asked the city attorney if the buses parking along First Street, causing a blockage of a sign within the height restrictions allowed by the code, could be considered a hardship? ~,~. Rourke said yes, that could be considered a hardship, you could base a finding upon that consideration. Mrs. Kennedy said she did not like thc wording of Resolution No. 1833--it uses the fact that we have given these privileges to other financial institutions around the subject property. She said if a factor--a hardship factor--some- thing that the buses blocking the sign; then, perhaps she could support it. Chairman Schuster asked for a vote on thc motion. AYE S: NOES: ABSENT: Kennedy Sharp, Saltarelli, and Schuster Welsh MOTION by Saltarelli, SECONDED by Sharp, to approve Variance 79-3 by the adoption of Resolution No. 1833 with the addition of a clause indicating one of the matters of hardship is related to the buses parking on First Street. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Sharp, Saltarelli, and Schuster Kennedy Welsh Mrs. Kennedy stated s~e could not support the motion because of item 1 under conditions of granting, but she did support the motion in intent. Planning Agency Minutes July 16, 1979 page 3. PUBLIC CONCERNS None OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS Extension of Time for Tentative Tract No. 10281 MOTION by Saltarelli, SECONDED by Sharp, that Tentative Tract No. 10281 be extended for an additional six (6) months time, as recommended by the staff, for Jansvu Properties. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Sharp, Saltarelli, Kennedy, and Schuster None We 1 sh Presentation of Preliminary Cqnce~t for Stevens' Property Mr. Blankenship stated this concerned the Stevens property located on the south side of Main Street between "B" and "C" Streets; the Gfeller Development Company has been in the process of purchasing the Stevens house and they would like to present some of the conceptual plans they have in mind with regard to the property,as an informational item for the Agency. He said these con- cepts were reviewed with the }.:1 Camino Businessmen's Association, which approved them in concept and are supportive of the preservation of the Stevens house and the surrounding area. He said several representatives of the Chamber of Com- merce had also reviewed these concepts and found them to be very favorable. Mr. Doug Gfeller gave a presentation, displaying architectural renderings of what they planned to do with the property, and informed the Agency of their future plans. Mr. Sharp said he hoped the Gfeller Development Company planned to include sign plans with their CC&Rs. Mr. Gfeller said yes, signs would be included in the CC&Rs. It was the consensus of the Agency that the proposal, as explained by Mr. Gfeller, was an "exciting" progra/n and they were looking forward to working with the Gfeller Development Company on this project. CORRESPONDENCE Non e STAFF CONCERNS Non e AGENCY CONCERNS Non e There being no further business to come before the Agency, the meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m., to meet again for a regular meeting to be held August 6, 1978 at 3 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Tustin City Hall. S~ephen ~ ~us~er~ C~nai-r~-~- Donald J. Saltarelli, Vice-chairman M.I. Mehl Racording Secretary