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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 1981 08 31 MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED WORKSHOP OF THE TUSTIN CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ~ !! ..... .~ u~,.. 300 Centennial Way · :.I~r_ ~. ~. ,~l~ August 31, 1981 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Sharp at 7:35 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Councilpersons Present: Sharp, Kennedy, Saltarelli Councilpersons Absent: Hoesterey and Edgar Others Present: Charles Thayer, Interim City Manager Mary E. Wynn, City Clerk Mike Brotemarkle, Comm. Dev. Director Robert Ledendecker, City Engineer Alan Warren, Senior Planner Ed Knight, Associate Planner R. Kenneth Fleagle, Consultant Approximately 75 in the audience PLAZA DEVELOPMENT ON "C" STREET Doug Gfeller, Gfeller Development Company, explained the project. Gfeller will rbe preserving the Stevens House and building seven other office build- ings. The remodeling on the Stevens House will be finished around November at which time Gfeller Company will move in. Ee displayed the landscaping plans and the brick walls with wrought iron. He explained that originally they had planned to have underground parking but decided against it because it would limit landscaping. They purchased lots on "C" Street for parking and had received approval from the Planning Agency for the change in parking. There is enough parklag on the lot to accommodate their project~ The City was offered air space rights for a parking structure if it desired to pay for the structure with no cost for the land. The City Council approved the parking structure at its meeting on August 3, 1981. Mr. Gfeller continued that this workshop was primarily for information about the Plaza. The first proposal left "C" Street as it is today. City staff was concerned about one of the prime lots being turned into a parking structure and ramp as they felt the ramp might block the privacy of the homes in the area. If all the traffic from the parking structure exited onto "C" Street, it might require a signal at "C" and Main Streets. Staff suggested eliminat- ing the ramp and designing the parking structure so that half the traffic would use the northern access and half the southern access. Gfeller lowered the parking. three feet below street grade for the neighbors' benefit which will make it less than a one-story building. "C" Street was realigned so that it could ha used by local traffic and so that traffic from the structure would be split in each direction. The Plaza could be used for park concerts or for people to sit in, and it is about three feet above street level with the rest of the area at standard street level. Since the Plaza would be used by the public, the City would provide approximately $50,000 and Gfeller Development approximately $125,000 of the cost. Mr. Gfeller stated that if the City does not participate in the Plaza or even the parking structure, his development can stand on its own merits. George Broomell was opposed to the Plaza because he felt it would increase traffic on "B" Street and Pacific Street, and he pointed out that Jamestown Vil.l~ge~a~d,E.l~Camino Plaza have plenty of parking space in their lots. Abby Andrews agreed with Mr. Broomell and added that Sixth and "B" Streets and Sixth and E1 Camino are becoming hazardous intersections. The City Engineer responded that the Sixth and E1 Cemino Real intersection is becoming a problem spot with poor visibility and will need a signal in the future. A resident of Pacific Street asked about the height of the wall. Mr. Gfeller responded the wall itself is 42" high and within City sta:n~A~ds~ ~hich was verified by the Community Development Director. Ed Pankey of "B" Street was concerned about traffic increase on "B" Street as a result of the Plaza and wants "C" Street to be left as is. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Page 2, 8-31-81 Walter Flaherty, 190 E1 Camino, was concerned about increase in traffic, traf- fic jams, undesirable truck traffic, the need for at least three traffic signals, and whether the streets are built to withstand increased traffic. He felt the public should have the right to know what Gfeller paid for the lots for the parking structure. Mr. Gfeller agreed to make the amount availaBl~ to7 City staff,-hut~steted that their financial costs were confidential; however, he revealed that the land cost was more than the cost for the parking structure. John Roach, downtown merchant, was in favor of the Plaza and said that the property bought for the parking structure had begun to look like a ghetto. The owner of Rose Marie Draperies was in favor of the Plaza. She stated when she first moved in it was like a ghost town with nothing for a parking lot. Ruth Rowland did not see the need to close "C" Street and stated her opposi- tion. Mr. Gfeller explained that the street would not be closed, but would be realigned and constructed for two-way traffic and fire and emergency equip- ment. Councilman Saltarelli stated that irrespective of this project, we should look at restricting truck traffic on Pacific, "B" and "C" Streets and direct them to Sixth and E1 Camino Real. Paul Berkman, owner of Rutabegorz Restaurant on Main at "C" Street, spoke in favor of the project. Speed Schuster, speaking as a resident, was in favor of the project, stating that the City has an obligation to clean up this area and if it is not done, we -will -have~ a.-s~-area. The downtown area would be fortunate if they had traffic problem. N. Dawson wanted to be sure the residents were considered. She asked what was going to camouflage the parking structure. Mr. Gfeller explained that the parking structure would be three feet below street grade, it will have three foot wall with opening of wrought iron and then a four-foot band of concrete. The design is subject to city ~pprOval.~ It will not be a tilt-up block wall 14 ft. high, but will be aesthetically pleasing. In response to Mrs. Kennedy, he said that the Plaza area for sit- ting and activities would be about 5,000 sq. ft. Mrs. Dodge, resident of Tustin Meadows, was opposed to the project. Councilman Saltarelli explained that this workshop was not regarding the park- ing structure, as the Council was already committed to that, but was just for the PlaZa and the realignment of "C" Street. The Council does not want to condemn anyone's property for parking purposes, but would rather work with developers to accomplish this. In eight or nine years, the taxes from the Gfeller proposal will pay for the parking structure. Bill Moses, owner of Tustin News, criticized City staff for failing to have an up-to-date traffic study on "C" Street. He was concerned about truck traffic if "C" Street is realigned. He was in favor of developing a pleasant histori- cal plan for the Stevens house and felt the parking structure merits consider- ation, but was opposed to realignment of "C" Street. Mr. Alman, "C" Street, questioned the low figure of $600,000 to build a park- ing structure. Mr.. Gfeller explained that for the past 12 months the struc- tures have been built for about $15 to $20 per sq. ft. Because of the depressed economic outlook, builders are putting them up cheaper. A markup will be charged on this, but it will just be Gfeller's cost. At the Redevel- opment Agency's direction, Gfeller's attorney and the City Attorney are work- ing on an agreement with some fixed maximum price. Gfeller will have fixed price bids. The digging of the hole will not cost anythin~'and~o'nstruCti0nI management costs will be absorbed by the project. Mayor Sharp responded to another resident that the City is looking into other parking sites as well, but this was an opportunity the City saw a need to take advantage of now. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES, Page 3, 8-31-81 Carl Greenwood, Tustin Presbyterian Church, said their main concern is traf- fic. He did not feel it would be easy for people to get in and out of the realigned street. It may be that the Plaza will not accomplish what is intended. Mr. Pankey thought the project was very attractive but expressed that if "C" Street were left as is, it would continue to be a commercial area. However, if the Plaza were approved, it would become semi-residential and semi- commercial. Audrey Heredid said she was in favor of the project and thought it would be a shot in the arm for downtown merchants. Her business is on the second floor and she has never been aware of large trucks on "C" Street. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic. If there is a traffic problem on "B" and Pacific now, the realignment of "C" Street is not going to affect that. Victor Anderson, Tustin Blacksmith Shop, pointed out that there is a park just a block away and people are not just sitting around in it. He was in favor of intalling stop signs on Main Street to encourage traffic to use First Street. Floyd Bridges, business owner in Jamestown Village, asked if the realigned street could accommodate fire trucks. Mr. Gfeller advised that the design meets all City standards. There will be a permanent easement to the City. There will be a loss of about eight parking spaces on "C" Street. The parking in the Plaza area will be for the Gfeller Development. Barbara Cox, "B" Street, was not in favor of the Plaza and asked who would maintain the Plaza, would the parking structure be closed at night, and would there be a nuisance of skateboarding in the Plaza. Mr. Gfeller responded that the maintenance of the Plaza would be their responsibility but responsibility for maintenance of the parking structure had not been determined at this time. Interim City Manager Thayer responded that no decision has been made on clos~ ing the parking structure at night and that there probably would be some skate bards and bicycles, but certain devices could be installed to discourage that. The area would be patrolled and would have adequate lighting. Margaret Byrd was opposed to the Plaza and thought it would be a waste of money. Another resident thought it was a lovely project but was concerned how stran- gers to the town would find it. Mayor Sharp said that Fullerton (where he is employed) has three redevelopment projects and from what he has observed, this is one of the best deals where a private developer helps a City meet some of its needs. Mr. Thayer pointed out that the Plaza would be used by employees of the Stevens Development,?75 employees just north of this project,f~ and people from the E1 Camino Center and the Jamestown Center. It could also be used for art sales by townspeople and senior citizens. In response to Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Gfeller said they were looking into a surface that would be easy to walk on in high-heel shoes. Mayor Sharp said that those who had spoken at this workshop were about equally divided for and against the Plaza. This project will be considered at the afternoon Redevelopment Agency meeting on September 8, 1981. The workshop was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.