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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 05-14-73MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION DATE: May 14, 1973 TIME: 7:30 p.m. PLACE: 275 South "C" Street, PRESENT: Hare, Larnard, Sharp ABSENT: Dombrow, McHarris Council Chambers INDEX ROLL CALL ............................................... APPROVAL OF MINUTES ..................................... PUBLIC HEARING Bus Bench Locations ................................. PUBLIC CONCERNS - none OLD BUSINESS Foster Art Services .............. ~ .................. Commission Coordination ............................. NEW BUSINESS PM-73-65 - John J. Mullen & Assoc ................... Final Map of Tract No. 8034 - U. S. Development ..... Environmental Impact Report - Entranceway to Tract No. 6473 ................... Street Tree Ordinance ............................... AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - none CORRESPONDENCE Letter from California Roadside Council ............. Univ. of Calif., Berkeley - Course for Planning Commissioners ........................... STAFF CONCERNS UP-71-369 - Hester Development ...................... Revised subdivision map - County Tract 8294 ......... COMMISSION CONCERNS ..................................... ADJOURNMENT .............................................. PAGE 1,2,3,4 1-2 2 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 14, 1973 The regular meeting of the City of Tustin Planning Commission was held on the 14th day of May, 1973, at the hour of 7:30 p.m., of said day in the Council Chambers, 275 South "C" Street, Tustin~ California. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Larnard. The Invocation was given by Commissioner Hare. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Others Present: Hare, Larnard, Sharp Dombrow, McHarris James G. Rourke, City Attorney; R. Kenneth Fleagle, Ass't. City Administrator-Community Development Director; Bruce Lenorovitz, Assistant Planning Director; Nancy Lawton, Planning Commission Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Larnard moved for approval of the minutes of the April 23, i973 meeting; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Bus Bench Locations For the purpose of requiring advertising companies to show cause why bus benches should not be removed from any site not accommo- dated by public ~ransportation facilities. Mr. Fleagle advised the Commission that he had received a call from Mr. Glen Wa--rner of the Bench Ad Company, who stated that their attorney was to be present tonight, but could not make it, so someone from the company would attend. Seeing as how no one was here at the moment, Mr. Fleagle recommended that the hearing be delayed to later in the meetinq until a representative was present. Commissioner Larnard moved to delay the hearing; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 PUBLIC CONCERNS - none OLD BUSINESS 1. Foster Art Services - Master Layout Plan Location: 430 W. 6th Street Mr. Lenorovitz summa~d the staff report, advising that Foster Arts have submitted a 6700 square foot addition to an existing warehouse. He stated that on March 14, 1973, the Development Preview Commission reviewed the first set of plans, and recommended that the project should be suitably landscaped. On the plans that were submitted fo~ Planning Commission approval on March 26, 1973, the interior of this plot was nearly devoid of landscaping, and therefore, the Planning Commission reco~n~nded that the Staff and applicant review the plans in relation to the City's adopted Development Standards. PC Minutes 5/14/73 Page two Subsequently, the applicant did review and resubmit plot plans indicat- ing additional landscaping. A member of the Staff met with applicant at the site, and walked 'through the complex reviewing the landscaping plans for feasibility and completeness. Twenty landscaped "islands" have been added, which range in size from a few square feet to large areas that act as a screen for the parking lot, when viewed from the street. An item that has not been indicated, but should be included, is a 30" high parking lot screening wall to the rear of planting'areas that are adjacent to a street. The subject landscaping plan, which would not be adequate for a new com- plex, appears to be satisfactory for the case at hand, considering the number of existing buildings, the parking lot layout, and existing cir- culation patterns. Mr. Lenorovitz suggested that a parking lot screening wall be incorpor- ated in the plan, and that deficiencies in landscaping areas be corrected by including additional landscaping in the future corner building. This corner building should not be a part of this consideration. Irrigation facilities should also be installed to the approval of Staff. Commissioner Hare moved for approval of these plans; seconded by Commis- sioner Larnard. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 2. Co~mission Coordination Mr. Fleagle suggested a letter from the Chairman be sent to the Orange County P!a~ning Commission expressing the Commission's gratitude for the intent of notification of hearings on zone changes in the Tustin Sphere of Influence. Commissioner Larnard moved for the signing of this letter; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 At this point in the meeting, Chairman Sharp questioned if anyone had arrived from the Bench Ad Company for the public hearing, and Mr. Glen Warner stood up. Therefore, the public hearing was now re-opened. Mr. Flea~le advised that there are presently some 39 bus benches in the City of Tustin which have not been authorized pursuant to a permit as required by Ordinance %438 (Sign Ordinance). At the present time there are no bus lines servicing Tustin, however, future service is proposed by the Orange County Transit District. As a condition of this service, the OCTD has requested cities to adopt agreements which would cause the City to assume responsibility for the maintenance of bus stop locations. One clause in this agreement requires the City to remove, or prohibit, bus benches at any location other than a designated bus stop. At the present time, bus benches are primarily serving as off-premise billboards, with no apparent justification for their presence within the City. If the ad company has an obligation to its subscribers, it was made without benefit of City approval or permit. The City would not be revoking any prior right or permit, as there are no permits on record. Mr. Fleagle read letters from Charles Greenwood and Eddy Meredith which expressed their approval of the removal of the bus benches. Chairman Shar~ asked l~ all of the benches were owned by one company, and Mr. Fleagle advised that they were. Chairman Sharp opened the public portion of the hearing at 7:57 p.m. -2- PC Minutes 5/14/73 Page three Glen Warner, 1504b ~rnw~li, ~irada, of th~ bench Ad Company, in- formed the Commission that these bus benches did serve ~he bus line that serviced the City a few years ago. He stated that they turn in & list of the locations every year, pay a business license and receive the stickers to put on the benches, and felt that this should validate their existence. He did not think the Ordinance called for bus stops at bus bench locations. John Prescott, Chairman of the Executive Commission of Saddleback Chi ~l. stated that they were one of the principal clients of the Bench Ad C~- pany, and have attempted to design signs in good taste for the benches. He felt that the benches are not necessarily bus benches; but a conven- ience bench. Also, it is advertisement for the small businessman in the community; as the only other forms of advertisement would be direct mail and the newspaper. He felt that although there may too many of them, most of them are in good taste. Public portion of 'the hearing was closed at 8:07 p.m. for discussion among the Commissioners. Commissioner Hare commented that his first reaction was that the bus 5enches must be removed, as some were in isolated areas, and there w~re three or four grouped together. However, he made 19 random telephone calls to residents, all of whom had no objection to the bench~. He also made several tours of the city, and found that many of the benches were being used, especially by senior citizens. Therefore, he sees a definite need for the benches in strategic areas, not clustered together. Commissioner Larnard questioned as to the. stickers'that were sent to ~ Bench Ad Company, with Mr. Fleagle advising that a business license fee had been paid, which included the stickers, but this does not authorize the location. Mr. Fleagle stated that the Chamber of Commerce has b, ~ looking at the Sign Code, and their Board of Directors has recommend, that the benches be .deleted. Chairman Sharp asked if when the Orange County Transit District comes ~, if the ~i~y will have to get the bus benches. Mr. Fleagl~ said that there are three approaches the City can take: do nothing as far as providing conveniences; permit benches by private bench company with their ad, or provide publicly owned benches or bus shelter. Also, in the E1 Camino Plan, there is a provision for street 'furniture. Chairman Shar~ asked if the convenience was the top priority, or the advertising, and Mr. Fleagle stated that the street furniture concept was different than the benches. Street furniture provides a place for shoppers, and people who are touring, to sit and rest. Chairman Sharp questioned Commissioner Hare as to where he noticed ~eopl~ using the benches t~ most~ with Commissioner Hare stating that most of them were in front of the Hacienda Home, Centennial and First, and E1 Camino Real from the Market Basket. Commissioner Larnard moved for approval of the Staff recommendation, that the bus benches are in violation of Ordinance #438. Commissioner Hare commented that he was confused as to what part of ~ Ordinance the ad company was violating, and that he would suggest hold- ing any action in abeyance until such time as the bus line comes in. Also, why are we now bringing this up, after they have been in existence for about 7 years. Mr. Fleagle read the part of the Ordinance that applied in this situa- ~ion~ reiterating that a business license was issued, but no permits have been issued for the location of the benches. -3- PC Minutes 5/14/73 Page four commissioner IIare felt that there should be more control of the benches and remove the ones that are in isolated areas and are eyesores, but do not remove them all. Chairman Shar~ seconded Commissioner Larnard's motion made earlier. Commissioner Hare asked Mr. Warner and Mr. Prescott if they had any ~urther comments. Glen Warner stated again that he felt that as long as they turned in a complete list of locations every year, that this was all that was re- quired. He also advised that if there have ever been any complaints, the bench has been removed. John Prescott said that a point just came to mind as respects the per- m~ts. He stated that when Ben Wheelock was City Engineer, permits were obtained at that time for the bench locations for Tustin Savings and Loan. MOTION CARRIED: 2-1 (Hare voting "no") NEW BUSINESS 1. PM-73-65 - John J. Mullen & Assoc. for Robert Dolley Location: Southwest corner of Irvine and Red Hill Mr. Lenorovitz advised that this item is for the purpose of dividing Parcel No. 1 of previously approved Parcel Map 73-60 into two parcels for financing and development. Commissioner Larnard moved for approval of PM-73-65, by adoption of Resolution No. 1341; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 2. Final Map of Tract No. 8034 - U. S. Development Corporation Location: North side of Walnut, east of Tract No. 8033 Mr. Lenorovitz stated that this final map is in substantial conformance With the Tentative Map No. 7794. Commissioner Larnard moved for approval of Final Map of Tract No. 8034, by adoption of Resolution No. 1340; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 Chairman _S~a~p questioned why this was exempt from an EIR, with Mr. ~leagle stating that as the Tentative was filed prior to April 5, 1973, the Final is exempt. 3. Environmental Impact Report - Entranceway to Tract No. 6473 Mr. Fleaqle stated that in order to proceed with this project, seeing as how it crosses Flood Control District property, a Negative Declara- tion is required. Commissioner Larnard moved for approval of this Negative Declaration by adoption of Resolution No. 1339; seconded by Commissioner Hare. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 -4- PC Minutes 5/14/73 Page five 4. Street Tree O£di,~ce Mr. Fleag.~e presented for the comments and suggestions of the Commission, a proposal initiated by the Parks & Recreation Commission and Assistant City Administrator-Administration, for amending the Street Tree Ordin- ance. Also presented was a memorandum from Mr. Gene Uematsu of the De- velopment Preview Commission. Chairman Sharp wished to know who made the final action on this item, and was advised by Mr. Fleagle that the City Council does. The consensus was that Mr. Uematsu made some very valid recommendations,, and that they should be considered. Commissioner Larnard moved for support of Mr. Uematsu's recommendations; seconded by Chairman Sharp. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION - none CORRESPONDENCE 1. Letter from the California Roadside Council Mr. Fleagle advised that the California Roadside Council is now charg- ing a $40 annual fee for their services, where in the past, the service has been free. The Commissioners felt that this fee would be too much for the amount of time the services would be used. Co~missioner Hare moved to receive and file; seconded by Commissioner Larnard. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 2. University of California, Berkeley - Course for Planning Commission~ Each of the Commissioners received a booklet for their'information on this particular course which will be conducted in Berkeley. STAFF CONCERNS 1. Hester Development - UP-71-369 Mr. Fleaqle advised that a public hearing was to be advertised for May 29, 1973, for the purpose of specifying the precise terms and conditions of development and any amendments necessary to the terms and conditions of the Use Permit. This was a recommendation of the City Council. He suggested that the Commissioners review these files at City Hall prior to the hearing, as they are quite extensive. 2. Revised subdivision map on Newport, south of LaColina, Tract No. 829~ Mr..Fleagle stated that in reviewing this revised map, it did not incor- porate the objections voiced to the County Planning Commission, and the same concerns are still present. PC Minutes 5/14/73 Page six COMMISSION CONCERNS Comissioner Larnard commented that he would like to see the City enforce ~igid laws for bicycles. Mr. Fleagle advised that the Police Department was going to conduct a bicycle safety program in the very near future, and it would be advertised in the newspaper. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Hare moved for adjournment at 9:22 p.m. until the next regular meeting of May 29, 1973 (Tuesday, due to Holiday); seconded by Commissioner Larnard. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0 CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING ~ISSION P~LANNING gOMMISSION RECORDING SECRETARY -6-