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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes 01-09-06 7:02 p.m. Given All present Staff present Approved, with one correction Received and filed Director Pontious MINUTES REGULAR MEETING TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 2006 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Elizabeth Binsack, Community Development Director Jason Retterer, Deputy City Attorney Dana Ogdon, Assistant Community Development Director Eloise Harris, Recording Secretary CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - DECEMBER 12, 2005, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. It was moved by Floyd, seconded by Pontious, to approve the Consent Calendar. Commissioner Menard noted a minor correction. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS None REGULAR BUSINESS 2. 2005 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT YEAR IN REVIEW. The Community Development Department Activity - Year in Review briefly describes the total number of discretionary projects (i.e. Conditional Use Permits, Design Reviews, Subdivision Maps, etc.), major accomplishments for various functional areas within the Community Development Department, and Building Division activity. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission receive and file. Highlighted various items contained in the Review. Asked how the graffiti numbers compared with prior years. Minutes - Planning Commission - Page 1 Director Answered that those numbers are up; additional funds will be requested through the Community Development Block Grant program this year. Menard Indicated a lot of graffiti occurred during the holidays. Director Agreed that graffiti increases when students are out of school. Noted that staff will be bringing a Legacy Log to the Planning Commission; the computer software has stalled that process somewhat; it is staffs intention to compile information in a fashion similar to what was provided in the East Tustin Specific Plan summaries. Pontious Stated that something similar to the timeline that was provided during the early stages of Tustin Ranch, showing the location of each development area, would be helpful. Director Indicated that is the sort of presentation staff is trying to implement; and, added the following updates on the Legacy: . Noted that John Laing I is completed; John Laing II is moving along. . Permits for the models at the Grove and the Square have been issued. . The Final Map for the Grove has been approved; production units can go forward when all the conditions have been implemented. . The Tustin Unified School District is expected to approve the Mitigation Agreement at tonight's meeting; the last major outstanding item relates to a LlFOC issue on the Square. Nielsen Asked if any comparative numbers with 2004 regarding Use Permits, Design Reviews, etc. were available. Director Answered that the numbers provided were gross numbers; staff could go back and do a comparison; finding whether or not the numbers are up from last year would require more research. Nielsen Responded that more research would not be necessary. Director Stated the major difficulty relates to the difference between easy projects and major projects; for example, Prospect Village was a more complex project as compared to say a karate studio. Minutes - Planning Commission January 9, 2006 - Page 2 Nielsen Director Menard Director Nielsen Director Director reported Floyd Director Pontious Lee Director Lee Asked how things are going with Prospect Village. Indicated staff received the commercial portion in plan check right before the holidays; things seem to be in synch; there are minor comments at this point; the map must be approved by the City Council for everything to move forward. Asked if permits may be issued prior to the map's recordation. Stated the map would have to be recorded prior to issuance of permits-probably after the first or second meeting in February- and then it will be up to the developer. Asked if staff is keeping an eye on the existing building. Answered in the affirmative. STAFF CONCERNS 3. REPORT OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE JANUARY 3, 2006, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. Lucy Burch, Vice Chair of the Historic Resource Committee, presented a plaque to David Arnold, 355 West Second Street, for Outstanding Old Town property, fourth quarter 2005; and, urged the Commissioners to drive by the property and see what a nice job Mr. Arnold has done. Asked how properties are selected for this honor. Responded that the Historic Resource Committee makes that determination. Noted the agreement with the Orange County Rescue Mission and the hope that this will speed things up at the site. Asked what commissions have vacancies. Indicated the vacancies may be listed on the City's website; if not, the City Clerk would have the list. COMMISSION CONCERNS Noted there was a sign advertising Jack-in-the-Box taped to a stop sign pole on Edinger between Red Hill and Jamboree; and, asked that Code Enforcement remove that sign. Thanked staff for the Year in Review. Minutes - Planning Commission January 9, 2006 - Page 3 Menard Indicated that the 4' x 8' plywood sign advertising the auto auction in Santa Ana was up again last Sunday on the freeway overpass at Fourth Street; this may be Caltrans property but the sign should not be allowed. Thanked staff for the reports. Floyd Stated that he is a volunteer with the Tustin Police Department and removes those kinds of signs as part of his weekend volunteer work; added that the volunteers are not allowed to remove political signs even though the election may be long past; and, asked that Code Enforcement make a point of picking up those political signs. Director Indicated that Code Enforcement can remove political signs ten days after the election if the candidate fails to do so. Floyd Reminded everyone the First Inaugural Mayor's Dinner will take place this Thursday at Tustin Ranch; the chair of the event has indicated more than one hundred tickets have been sold, which will be a nice turn-out for Mayor Davert; the proceeds will go to the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts and distributed as scholarships to students pursuing the arts in college. Pontious Asked if the City has an ordinance against human signs. Director Deferred that question to the Deputy City Attorney. Retterer Indicated he would need to do some research before commenting on this subject. Pontious Noted that some Council members also have mentioned a concern regarding the human signs. Menard Added that the human signs often appear at busy intersections and create a potential traffic hazard. Pontious Stated that, if there are legal reasons the ordinance is not being enforced, it should be removed from the Code. Added that graffiti on utility boxes along Mitchell, Nisson, Red Hill, and Browning is an ongoing problem that has not been abated for some time; there is also graffiti on the backs of signs. Director Indicated that utility companies are generally responsible for the utility boxes, but Code Enforcement has had a policy of addressing the problem. C_-.' Nielsen Asked if Tustin Pride still participates in graffiti removal. Minutes - Planning Commission January 9, 2006 - Page 4 Director Answered she is not aware of any Tustin Pride involvement. Nielsen Stated there is a large vinyl sign at The Barn site, asking for employment applications, with a table where someone was taking applications; this seemed an improper implementation of the Sign Code and a potential safety issue. Indicated he has received no response to his question regarding the lane narrowing at Red Hill and Edinger. Thanked staff for their input, especially regarding Legacy-related issues. Wished everyone a Happy New Year. 7:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at 300 Centennial Way. /7 ~ ,::t/¿,¿ d. '.4' Elizabeth A. Binsack Planning Commission Secretary Minutes - Planning Commission January 9, 2006 - Page 5