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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 01-13-75 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION January 13, 1975 The regular meeting of the City of Tustin Planning Commission was held on the thirteenth day of January, 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: Dukleth, Hill, Schier, Sutcliff Absent: Commissioners: McHarris Others Present: R. Kenneth Fleagle, Assistant City Administrator- Community Development Director Bruce Lenorovitz, Assistant Planning Director James G. Rourke, City Attorney Marge Will, Recording Secretary PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Commissioner Sutcliff. INVOCATION was led by Commissioner Dukleth. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Moved by Schier, seconded by Hill that the Minutes of December 9, 1~74, be approved. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Amendment No. 1 to Specific Plan of Bike Trails and Ways Location: Newport Avenue - Irvine Blvd. to Edinger Mr. Flea~le reported that this public hearing is an amendment to the Specific Plan of Bike Trails and Ways for the Tustin area by the addition of Newport Avenue as a Primary Bike Trail from the intersection of Newport Avenue with Irvine Blvd. to its southerly terminus at the mainline of the AT&SF RR and Flood Control Channel parallel with Edinger. The County of Orange Master Plan of Countywide Bikeways indicates route 60 along the Southern Pacific Railroad right of way from the Santiago Creek to Irvine Blvd. A subsequent amendment to the County plan follows the alignment of the abandoned Santa Fe Railroad right of way from Newport Avenue, southerly of Irvine Blvd., easterly to connect with the Venta Spur Line and the City of Irvine Bike Trail System. The proposal now before the Commission is to provide a primary bike route southerly of Irvine Blvd. on Newpor~ Avenue, to provide a major access route to Tustin High School. Mr. Bob Rusby, Orange County Department of Harbors, Beaches & Parks gave a presentation to the Planning Commission explaining the Orange County Master Plan of Countywide Bikeways, amendment #4, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 11. He said meetings have been held between city agencies and the county since July 15. He explained the proposed 100% financing and also the 50-50 matching funds financing for cities that is presently authorized. Proposed for PC Minutes 1/13/75 Page two adoption by the Board of Supervisors is a policy that would provide 100% financing for acquisition and development of bicycle paths that are on the adopted County Plan of Arterial Bikeways. He also added that the County is pleased with the progress the City of Tustin is making in developing plans and their valuable contribution to the system of bike trails. M~. Busby reported that negotiations are underway with Southern Pacific already authorizing $300,000 for acquisition, the development of a feasibility study, and an additional $325,000 is earmarked for the development of the Southern Pacific right of way. Commissioner Hill asked what would be the reaction if we did make a recommendation that we request the County to extend down to Newport Avenue and take 100% responsibility. Mr. Busb~ replied that it would be his recommendation for the Planning Commission to make this request. Commissioner Hill expressed his wishes to include Newport Avenue from Irvine Blvd. to its terminus at Edinger. The public hearing was opened at 7:50 p.m. Mauri Elsner, TNT Committee asked Mr. Fleagle when will the bike system go into effect? Mr. Fleagle replied the intent of this proposal is to incorporate the bike path within the project limits of the street improvement for Newport Avenue between McFadden and Irvine Blvd. with completion about September 1976. Timing of this improvement project would be coordinated with construction and improvement of the Southern Pacific right of way. Mr. Elsner is concerned with the bike traffic on the westerly and easterly side of Newport. There is no place to ride on the westerly side and the City should be concerned with safety of bikes between now and 1976. Commissioner Dukleth stated that at this time we did not have the answer. We are just asking for the bicycle routes. Mr. Elsner replied that I suppose the police will continue to ticket the kids. Mr. Fleagle said that this matter has been brought to the attention of ~e Traffic Commission with the hope that they can resolve the problem to the best interests of all in the interim. He said the proposal under consideration is a 2-way bike lane on Newport Avenue in con- junction with the street improvement project. Thomas Tallman, representing the Parks and Recreation Commission said this matter has been researched for 1½ years and the main concern is safety - no safe place to ride bikes on Newport Avenue to or from high school. The Southern Pacific right of way is used by bikes to Main Street and then nothing after that. Our concern is that something should be done now to provide a safe way for kids to ride. He would like to see if the Planning Commission, Parks & Recreation Commission and Traffic Commission could provide a temporary bike route for children to get to the Tustin High School coming from the northerly end of the city. He said a count was made on a rainy day and over 800 bicycles had been riden to Tustin High School, and 300 to Currie-Thorman. The number of bikes could continue to increase as more students are riding their bikes to school instead of driving cars. PC Minutes 1/13/75 Page three Mr. Tallman requested that a lane be stripped for the bicycles with ~imited "No Parking." Commissioner Schier requested that this request be transmitted to the Traffic Commission. Commissioner Dukleth agreed that we should get recommendations from the Traffic Commiss'ion re this request and in turn go ahead and implement the restrictions. Mr. Miyamto, 1031 Walnut Street, wanted to know if the bicycle lane would be on both sides of the street. If the bicycle lane would be on the side where his business is located, the "No Parking" would create a problem for his customers. Also the other small businesses on that side of the street would be disturbed. Commissioner Dukleth informed Mr. Miyamoto that we are a long way from the design of the bicycle path, but would note his concerns. Commissioner Sutcliff said that this would have a significant impact on the s~'ll businesses until the street improvements are accomplished. Mr. Fleagle said that the Traffic Commission is working on the immediate problem and will have a response to Mr. Miyamoto's problem soon. Commissioner Sutcliff asked whether representatives of the Traffic Commission could attend a Planning Commission meeting to give their views re this problem. They might have a solution which we are not aware of. Commissioner Schier recommended that the Traffic Commission get a copy of the Plannin~ Commission minutes so they would be aware of what we had in mind. The public hearing closed at 8:10 p.m. Commissioner Hill suggested that 1 (e) of Resolution No. 1425 be changed from "~etween Irvine Blvd. and Laguna Road," to "between Irvine Blvd. and McFadden." Moved by Sutcliff, seconded by Schier that Resolution No. 1425 be adopted as su~'stantially drafted, with the bike path to be extended to Edinger Avenue and the Flood Control Channel to connect with the County Arterial Bike Path System. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 PUBLIC CONCERNS - None OLD BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Phase II Neighborhood Incremental Development Plan for the Irvine-Tustin Industrial Complex (Tract 8763) Location: The area bounded by Walnut Avenue on the north, future Myford to the east, Jamboree Road on the west, and mainline AT&SF RR on the south. Mr. Fleagle reported that the Planning Community District Regulations (March 1974) for the industrial complex require the submission and approval by the Commission of a Neighborhood Incremental Plan consisting of a Conceptual Design Plan and Streetscape designs. He said that a conceptual plan was approved by the Commission for Phase I, northerly of Walnut on June 10, 1974. The conceptual plan presented to the Commission at this time for approval includes Phase I, as previously approved, and Phase II southerly of Walnut. PC Minutes 1/13/75 Page four Larry Webb, Planning Consultant, outlined the plan and explained that the 40 acres of land comprising the Marine Corps Base had not as yet been acquired by the Navy. The easement for planes flying into the air facility extends into the City of Irvine. Commissioner Sutcliff was concerned that possibly the easement area - which was recently planted in tomatoes - would not be kept up so far as weeding and discing. Mr. Webb replied that certain regulations had already been established for weeding and discing but that landscaping had not been required. He added that the individual industries would have to do their own landscaping. Mike Babbitt, managing engineer for the complex said in the conceptual design That was presented to the city that provisions had been made for farming of the easement. Mr. Webb added that bicycle trails could be included and suggested that no parking be allowed on the streets and local roads within the complex. Mr. Fleagle said that it was within the power of the Commission to specify conceptual design and that any plans submitted would have to conform to the criteria. The Commission could specify that the landscaping on all major arteries and streets adjoining the avigational easement could be required at such time as any adjoining lots are developed. William Hamilton, Parks and Recreation Commission, representing Tustin Meadows said'that we have taken into consideration flight patterns, bikeways, bus stops, but seemed to have overlooked traffic that would be using Red Hill Avenue in developing this complex. Commissioner Hill reported that the traffic problem was of concern to the Planning Commission when the design was approved 6 months ago. Moved by Sutcliff, seconded by }{ill to have staff look into the questions raised b~ thi~ discussion and prepare a resolution incorporating the findings and conditions of the Commission. MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - None CORRESPONDENCE - None STAFF CONCERNS - None COMMISSION CONCERNS 1. Election of Chairman and Chairman Pro-Tem. Mr. F~ea~le told the Commission that nominations would be presented at the night of election which is January 27, 1975. Moved by Sutcliff, seconded by Schier to adjourn at 9:05 p.m. to a workshop session for the disposition of old City tlall~ MOTION CARRIED: 4-0 ~"i[//~/'  Ol~Xt] AI R~32q PLANNINg' COMMISSION R]~CORDING SEC RETARY