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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 03-10-75 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION March 10, 1975 The regular meeting of the City of Tustin Planning Commission was held on the tenth day of March, 1975, at the hour of 7:30 p.m., of said day, in the Council Chambers, 275 South "C" Street, Tustin, California. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners: McHarris, Dukleth, Hill, Schier Absent: Commissioners: None Others Present: R. Kenneth Fleagle, Assistant City Administrator- Community Development Director James G. Rourke, City Attorney Marge Will, Recording Secretary PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Commissioner Hill. INVOCATION was led by Commissioner Dukleth. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Schier, seconded by Hill that the Minutes of February 24, 1975 be ~pproved. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PUBLIC HEARING 1. N_ewport..A.venue__Imp~rov~e. ment. p. roject No. 765 - EIR 75-1 Mr. Fleagl~ advised the Commission that a public hearing had been duly advertised and copies of a Draft EIR for the Newport Avenue Improvement Project had been distributed to interested agencies. .Responses have been received from departments and agencies as follows: Fire Department - 2½" x 4" hydrants to be provided each 350/400' along Newport Avenue. Both sides to have this treatment to provide available firefighting water due to islands and main through-fare of motor vehicles. Parks & Recreation ~epartment - The proposed landscaping and off-street b~fk--eway were endorsed. Road De~partment, County of orange - Page 4 - Objectives. Indicate if median is raised or striped. Page 40 - Distribution of traffic. The sentence should be changed to read "During the construction phase, one lane of traffic shall be kept open, at all times in both the North and South Directions." Also, mention should be made of proper safety signing and traffic control (flagmen, etc.) Southern California Edison Company - In reply to the letter of February 13, the Edison Company is actively considering the undergrounding of existing overhead utility lines along Newport Blvd. between Brian Avenue and Bonita Street. The entire length of the Newport Blvd. improvements is not under consideration for undergrounding due to the fact that the City of Tustin would not have adequate Edison Rule 20A funds available in 1976 to cover the entire distance. Undergrounding is the only alternative versus re- locating the existing overhead utility lines along Newport Blvd. Approxi- mate costs will be furnished the city by April 1. Chairman McHarris opened the public hearing at 7:40 p.m. There being no one wishing to be heard on this item, the public hearing was closed. Commissioner }{ill reported that with the development of Newport Blvd. he felt The traffic would increase greatly--up to 45,000 ADT. He said we should think very seriously about modifying the entrances and exits to the Santa Ana Freeway at Newport Blvd. The future planning requirements should be considered at this time. This is greatly important to the development of the future of our downtown area. He requested consideration of this matter in relationship to the EIR. ! City Attorney Rourke commented upon the previous actions of the City to gain a freeway interc~'ange at Newport Blvd. Commissioner Hill requested that the City Engineer furnish for the ~6-r~ssio'n's information, the background and status of the Newport Avenue interchange at the Santa Ana Freeway. Commissioner Schier noted that the total project was estimated to cost $625,100, yet Resolution No. 74-100 allocated only $101,200. He requested a reconcilliation of costs and source of funds for the project. Mr. Fleagle responded that he was unable to provide that information at the moment, but would obtain a cost breakdown from the City Engineer for the Commission's information. Moved by Dukleth, seconded by Schier, to adopt Resolution No. 1435, certifying the EIR for th~ Newport Avenue Improvement Project, with the EIR to consist of the draft, correspondence, and amendments related to undergrounding of utilities, reconcilliation of funding, and minutes of this meeting. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 Commissioners complimented staff for the thoroughness of the Draft EIR, and noted the cost savings to the city by the in-house preparation of the document. OLD BUSINESS Application for a Use Permit to authorize the development of a commercial and professional complex in the Planned Community (Commercial) District - Triangle bounded by Newport, Main and Bryan Mr. Fleagle told the Commission that after the Commission's approval of the concept on February 24, staff has worked with the property owner and designer to develop a site plan that would be of mutual satisfaction, and to incorporate the thoughts of the Commission. The following changes and accommodations have been made from the original presentation: (1) Architectural compatibility has been achieved by integration of building materials and styles; (2) inte- gration and interrelationship of structures by 20 feet patio area between buildings and access ways within project, (3) retail space has been reduced from 27,000 sq. ft. to 26,440 sq. ft.; (4) office space has been reduced from 11,400 sq. ft. to 10,600 sq. ft.; (5) parking accommodations of 128 for restaurant, 132 for retail, 36 for office, 12 animal hospital and 38 for potential coffee shop--totalling 346; (6) pedestrian access has been provided for perimeter sidewalks; (7) perimeter landscape areas with garden walls are provided to screen vehicles from the streetscape; (8) traffic circulation has been provided through the plot area; (9) agreement reached with Silver Fox restaurant to accommodate trash areas and screen from public view; and (10) parking spaces that were hazardous have been removed or corrected. Mr. Fleagle said without precise plans for the proposed restaurant it was suggested that the seating capacity be limited to 100 patrons with 34 parking spaces. Commissioner Dukleth questioned whether curb parking is permitted around the triangle. Mr. Flea~le replied that the streets are designed for curb parking, with restrictions for turn lanes. Commissioner McHarris asked Mr. Coelho whether there would be a face on the south side of the clock tower. Mr. Coelho, developer, responded that clock faces would be put on three or ali four sides of the clock tower. Although not his desire, he was agreeable to limiting the future restaurant to a seating capacity of 100 patrons. PC Minutes 3/10/75 Page 3 In reply ~o the Commission question regarding lighting, Mr. Fleagle said that staff would review precise development plans for a uni~or~ 'lighting design carried out throughout the parking lot, landscaping, and tieing in with the existing Silver Fox lighting on the Newport Avenue frontage. Commissioner Hill stated that he would like to see a monumen%Ttype identification sign listing the various small stores that were in the back of the shopping center and not visible to the street. He hoped that some- thing could be worked out for this type of identification sign that would be within our sign code ordinance. Moved by Schier, seconded by Hill to adopt Resolution No. 1434 as drafted, w~th the request that the clock face be on the east, w~st and south sides of the tower, and that the landscaping plans be reviewed to assure against any drainage problem for this development. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 Mr. Coelho thanked the Commission for all their help, and also informed them of Ken Fleagle's assistance in resolving the design problems, and that he enjoyed working with the City of Tustin on this development. The Planning Commission informed Mr. Coelho that the project should be an attractive addition and of mutual benefit to the City of Tustin. 2. Commercial Planned Development District - First Street Overlay Mr. Fleagle presented the history and status of the Planning Commission's recommendations for a Commercial Planned Development District as an overlay zone for First Street properties. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 646 on March 3, 1975, as an urgency ordinance requiring a Use Permit for the development of any properties within the District, pending formal hearings and recommendations by the Commission. The Commission has three alternative approaches: (1) Reaffirm its previous recommendation for the Commercial Planned Development District overlay; (2) recommend a zoning classification for each parcel within the area, based upon a precise land use study; and (3) initiate a zone change action to place the property within the Planned Community (Commercial) District in accordance with O~dinance No. 646, as adopted. Items of concern related to this matter are the potential of changing the village character of First Street by authorizing large development complexes, the impact upon adjoining residential areas, with particular concern for those properties between First Street and Irvine Blvd., varying levels of acceptability determined by the specific location, and the lack of development standards. The Commission felt that development standards would provide greater assurance to a potential developer as to the limits of acceptability. There was also concern for an identification of those lots which would be probable for development or redevelopment. Moved by Hill, seconded by McHarris to defer any action on this item to a workshop session with the City Council that has been scheduled for 4:00 p.m. March 31. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 Commissioner McHarris asked staff to continue to look at the precise lots and individual possible alternatives to land use. NEW BUSINESS - None AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - None CORRESPONDENCE The Commission considered the notice of public hearing scheduled by the Orange County Planning Commission at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 1975 to consider the Southeast Orange County Circulation Study and related alternative land uses. PC Minutes 3/10/75 Page 4 Concern was expressed over the need to provide additional inter-city traffic arteries to accommodate the development of the north E1 Toro area pursuant to existing trends and policies. Further consideration was given for the necessity of providing relief for Red Hill Avenue by the construction of Jamboree Road. Moved by Hill, seconded by Dukleth to have staff prepare a letter to Orange County statin~ that' testimony will be presented at the hearing on March 18, expressing the concerns and recommendations of the Planning Commission and City Council, as related to land use alternatives and the circulation element. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 COMMISSION CONCERNS 1. League of California Cities Announcement Mr. Fleagle stated that since three Commissioners were interested in attending the 1975 Planning Officers' Institute in July at the Hotel Del Coronado, that he would request travel expenses in the 1975-76 budget. Chairman McHarris inquired as to the status of a circulation element of the General Plan. Mr. Flea~le replied that a request had been made of the City Engineer to develop a working document for a circulation element. Further inquiry will be made. Further inquiry was made in reference to establishing underground utility districts. Mr. Fleagle responded that the First Street project had used all previous fund allocations and borrowed 3 years in advance. The allocation for 1975-76 is $45,000, of which the total amount will be required for new construction projects. Moved by Schier, seconded by Hill to adjourn at 9:40 p.m. to the next regular meeting of the Plan~ing Commission. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PLANNINg' COMMISSION RECORDING SECRETARY /