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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 04-14-75 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION April 14, 1975 The regular meeting of the City of Tustin Planning Commission was held on the fourteenth day of April, 1975, at the hour of 7:30 p.m. of said day, in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Centennial at Main, Tustin, California. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners: McHarris, Dukleth, IIill, Schier Absent: Commissioners: None Others Present: R. Kenneth Fleagle, Assistant City Administrator- Community Development Director Bruce Lenorovitz, Assistant Planning Director James Rourke, City Attorney Marge Will, Recording Secretary PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Commissioner Dukleth. INVOCATION was led by Commissioner Hill. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Hill, seconded by Schier, that the minutes of March 24, 1975 be approved as amended~ MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 Mr. Flea~le reported for the record that Ursula Kennedy has been appointed to the Commission and will await two weeks further before taking her seat because of the 2 week application filing requirement. PUBLIC HEARING Use Permit 75-10 - Don Koll Company - Development of private storage units as a portion of a Master Planned Business complex. Location: Southeast corner of Red Hill and Moulton Parkway. Mr. Lenorovitz told the Commissioners that Don Koll Company is proposing to construct 63,470 square feet of private storage units with an on-site residence at the entrance of this facility for a caretaker-manager, which is located on the most southeasterly portion of the conceptually approved Koll-Borchard Complex. 48% of the site will be devoted to buildings, 42% to paved access and circulation areas, and 10% to landscaping. There was some concern regarding the landscaping but Mr. Lenorovitz told the Commissioners that representatives of Don Koll Company had met with staff that afternoon and were looking on alternative solutions to the landscaping discrepancies. The warehouse complex design appears to be acceptable and compatible with surrounding developments. The following design considerations will need to be incorporated in revised plans: (1) Minor revision to the entrance area and relocation of gates; (2) revi- sion to landscape island on the east-west aisles so that each island is a landscaped circle of 6' diameter with protective curbing; (3) submittal of color and material board for the exterior materials, along with colored elevations; (4) 6-inch raised concrete curbing is needed around all planters; and (5) trash enclosure gates are needed. Comments from the Engineering Department were that additional roadway should be constructed easterly of the development on Moulton Parkway. This additional construction should provide a tapered roadway sufficient to move eastbound traffic safely from the proposed multilane improvement from Red Hill Avenue easterly to the existing single lane road easterly of the development. The Fire Department indicated a 15 foot wide fire lane with access gate is needed at the northeasterly corner of the mini-warehouse complex; 2%" x 4" fire hydrants are needed with 8" mains; required 1 hour fire wall separations for each 3,000 square feet of building area for the protection of the complex and tenants who are storing valuables within their units. Another general comment was access to units by public safety personnel under supervision of resident manager is needed. Commissioner McHarris opened the public hearing at 7:50 p.m. Everett Davis, Vice President, Don Koll Company stated that necessary steps are being taken to assure a minimum possibility of flammables being stored and that partitioned spaces would reduce fire possibilities; that a caretaker would be on duty 24 hours; and that Don Koll Company would be willing to work with the city on terms and conditions of the lease and any other factors or problems that might arise. Closed public hearing at 8:00 p.m. The Plan.ning Commissioners were glad to hear that the warehouse complex was to be sprinklered, that the only electrical outlet in each unit was for a light bulk, and that the Don Koll Company was to retain a long term ownership of the development. They were concerned regarding the possibility of storing flammable materials, and hours of operations, and directed that these be resolved with staff plus placement of buildings, the tapered road- way on Moulton Parkway, and other design considerations indicated in the staff report. In addition, the Commission, with the concurrence of the Don Koll Company requested that the Fire Department specify the limitations and restrictions on the storage of any material that may be hazardous, explosive, or highly flammable, with these restrictions written into the lease agreement. Moved by McIIarris, seconded by Dukleth to adopt Resolution No. 1436 granting a use permit for the construction of a mini-warehouse. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PUBLIC CONCERNS - None Mr. Fleagle requested the Commission that due to the number of people in the audience who were here for agenda item ~1 under new business, he would like to have that discussion next. Moved by Hill, seconded by Schier to take up first item under New Business. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 NEW BUSINESS 1. Heritage House, 151 North Tustin Avenue, Change of Use Mr. Fleagle stated that on March 26, 1975, Amalgamated Restaurants, Inc., the owners of Heritage House, filed a letter requesting the Planning Commission make a finding approving a change in use from a liquor store and commercial office use to a liquor store, commercial office and food serving establishment use. In October 1969 the City approved site development plans for a structure with first floor to be used as a liquor store and take-out delicatessen with offices located on the second floor. The site design was sub-standard by current design standards, especially as related to parking accommodations. The building owners without benefit of a permit or Commission authority modified the structure by changing a portion of the second floor to dining room use and converting operations to a sit- down eating establishment. Adjoining property owners protested to the City of the lack of parking which adversely impacted the use and enjoyment of their properties and congestion in the area. The City brought criminal and civil complaints against the company through the City Attorney after numerous attempts were made by staff to gain compliance of Heritage House with their authorized use. Mr. Fl~agle added that the report of the Building Official indicates that 30 spaces would be the minimum parking accommodations required to satisfy the code requirements for the uses as proposed. PC Minutes 4/14/75 Page 3 The Plann.i~ Commissioners were concerned as to when the building was converted to a restaurant; are there signs which indicate "reserved for parking;" does the structure meet the Uniform Building Code; are there provisions for the handicapped; do they have rest rooms on the second floor; and were the present owners aware of the non-conformance of the Heritage House as to uses? David Baade, attorney representing Amalgamated Restaurants, Inc. told the Commission that the alterations which were made and change of uses were made prior to the present ownership. At the time the property was purchased they did not look into this particular aspect and none of them were aware of the problems with the additional use. He stated that they are willing to reduce occupancy of dining room to conform with the parking standards. He feels this type of restaurant is badly needed in the area which is convenient to neighboring office buildings serving a modest-type meal with a place to sit down. Moved by McHarris, seconded by Schier to have staff write to the adjoining property owners a~vising thrum of a Planning Commission meeting on April 28, 1975 at which time they could attend and express their concerns and opinions re the change in use of this property. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 OLD BUSINESS 1. Commercial Planned Development District, First Street west of Prospect Mr. Flea~le told the Planning Commission that the proposal before them is to amend the zoning ordinance to create a Commercial Planned Development District overlay zone to encompass an area 300' northerly and southerly of First Street, west of Prospect, to enable greater flexibility in development criteria and encourage the consolidation of properties. Apprehension was voiced over the prospect of adverse impact upon adjacent residential properties that may result from the overlay proposal that would provide wide latitude of development criteria. It is suggested that this defect may be eliminated by a different approach to the objectives. Mr. Fleagle described the proposed model zoning ordinance which was adopted by the City of Anaheim and the Orange County Board of Supervisors request for cities and county to amend their zoning ordinances to achieve a uniform definition of terms and classifications. CG-PUD - To provide for and encourage the orderly development of commercial areas throughout the city in accordance with the Land Use Element of the General Plan, which will serve the demand for a wide variety of goods and services. Planned Unit Development (Suffix) - A large scale development of a parcel or a combih~ion of related parcels to be developed by a single owner or group of owners involving a related group of uses, planned as an entity and having a predominant developmental feature which serves to unify or organize development and is susceptible to development and regulations as one unified land unit rather than as a mere aggregation of individual buildings and structures located on separate lots. Commissioner McHarris wanted to know how this action will accomplish what we are striving for? Mr. Flea~le replied that this ordinance provides for the extension of commercial zoning where it can be accomplished without adverse impact upon other developments. Standardized classifications will assure orderly and sensible growth which would be acceptable for the city as well as persons wishing to locate businesses in Tustin. He said it is difficult at the present time to tell the difference between C-1 and C-2 commercial zoning in the city. Commissioner Dukleth wanted to know if Orange County goes along with this type of zoning? M~. Fleagle replied that he had received calls from about a dozen cities in L.A. and Orange Counties inquiring about the Tustin proposal. He said he believes it would be a better system than what has been before. Both con- tractors and developers have been dismayed that there was no uniform zoning and that it poses unnecessary problems that could possibly be reduced with the present proposal. Commissioners IIill and Schier expressed concern about applying the proposal to the entir'e city, stating that they would like to see the Commission restrict this proposed zoning ordinance to First Street properties at this time. Margaret Byrd and Agnes Bacon told the Commissioners that they both live on First Street and object to big buildings going in, and endorsed the PUD phase which they said would protect them with regard to height. Moved by Schier, seconded by Hill to advertise for a public hearing covering a change in zoning for First Street to CG-PUD. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 2. Noise Element of the General Plan Mr. Lenorovitz said that the first draft of the Noise Element of the General Plan was presented to the Planning Commission for their review and initial comments on March 24, 1975. Staff has since circulated the element to the other City Departments and received a comment from the Fire Department relating to the use of sirens. It is recommended that any additional comments be received from the Commission and a public hearing be advertised for the next Planning Commission meeting on April 28, 1975. During this time, the element will be refined and additional sections added satisfying the State Planning and Zoning Law. The Planning Commission stressed the provision of reducing building fees for use of less noiser construction equipment; limitation on the noise intensity that would be allowed in various sections of the city; and the requirement of central air conditioning system in design of buildings near freeways to prevent air pollution.. Moved by Hill, seconded by Dukleth to advertise for a public hearing for April-28, 1975. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - None CORRESPONDENCE Orange County Variance 8539 - Richard Cunnison, 2061 Fairweather Road, Santa Ana Orange County Variance 8540 - George Miller, 1882 La Cuesta Drive, Santa Ana Moved by Dukleth, seconded by McHarris to have staff respond to the Orange County Environmental Management Agency thanking them for the opportunity to review these applications and expressing no objection. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 STAFF CONCERNS Mr. Fleagle reminded the Commissioners that the financial statements are due April 15. PC Minutes 4/14/75 Page 5 COMMISSION CONCERNS Commissioner Schier remarked that'the Mohtessori School'I0oks So ~uch"better' Wi~h. the extension of the eaves, Commissioner McHarris commented on the Council Chambers and the new surroundings. Moved by Hill, seconded by McHarris to adjourn at 10:20 p.m. to the next regular meeting of the Planning Commission. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PLANNING COMMISSION CHAIRMAN PLANNIS~G COMMISSION RECORDING SECRETARY