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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 PC Minutes 09-11-06 ITEM #1 CONTINUATION OF WORKSHOP: SIGN CODE AMENDMENT - SIGNS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BEGAN AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER 7:02 p.m. ACTION AGENDA REGULAR MEETING TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 CALL TO ORDER Given PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Chair Floyd Chair Pro Tem Puckett Commissioners Kozak, Lee, and Nielsen Staff present Elizabeth Binsack, Community Development Director Dana Ogdon, Assistant Community Development Director Jason Retterer, Deputy City Attorney Justina Willkom, Senior Planner Chad Ortlieb, Associate Planner Ryan Swiontek, Assistant Planner Eloise Harris, Recording Secretary None PUBLIC CONCERNS CONSENT CALENDAR Approved 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - AUGUST 28, 2006, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. It was moved by Puckett, seconded by Nielsen, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS Adopted Resolution 2. No. 4038 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 06-011 REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A MASTER SIGN PLAN FOR THE VALENCIA BUSINESS CENTER LOCATED AT 1382 VALENCIA AVENUE. THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE PLANNED COMMUNITY INDUSTRIAL (PC-IND) ZONING DISTRICT. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 1 RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 4038 approving Conditional Use Permit 06-011. 7:04 p.m. The Public Hearing opened. Swiontek Presented the staff report. Puckett Asked if the Valencia Business Center was on the tour the Planning Commission took earlier this year. Director Indicated that the building was under reconstruction. Puckett Asked if the building is finished now. Director Answered in the negative; and, suggested that Commissioner Puckett might be thinking of the Voit development or the Werdin- Saunders site, one of the old PacBell parcels; both are industrial condominiums that are similar to this product type. Floyd Invited the applicant to the lectern. Todd Travis, representing the applicant Indicated the plan is for a simple sign program that will be aesthetically pleasing to the community and the business park itself; good controls have been included to prevent tenants from choosing improper signs. 7:10 p.m. The Public Hearing closed. Nielsen Stated he was in favor of the proposed sign program which seems suitable for the site. Kozak Indicated his support for staff's recommendation; the building's location and surrounding compatible uses and the scale and size of the building allows for this type of signage; the design standards are uniform and acceptable; the conditions of approval cover sign maintenance and building repair upon sign removal; no negative precedent will be set. Lee Added that he also supports the program, which will help define a nice-looking building. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 2 Puckett Noted that staff has adequately addressed all the issues; stated his support; and moved approval of Conditional Use Permit 06-011. Commissioner Lee seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Adopted Resolution 3. No. 4037 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 06-012 REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH A MASTER SIGN PLAN FOR THE TUSTIN FINANCIAL CENTER LOCATED AT 14511 MYFORD ROAD. THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE PLANNED COMMUNITY INDUSTRIAL (PC-IND) ZONING DISTRICT. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 4037 approving Conditional Use Permit 06-012. 7:13 p.m. The Public Hearing opened. Ortlieb Presented the staff report. Nielsen Asked if there are commercial buildings across Walnut from the site. Ortlieb Answered that staff does not have that information. Nielsen Questioned if the signage on those buildings is known to staff. Ortlieb Answered in the negative. Nielsen Asked if those buildings are part of the INine Industrial Park. Ortlieb Answered in the affirmative. Puckett Noted that the property owner has done a tremendous job remodeling the building; the signs proposed are within the scope of what should be utilized on a building that size and will fit into the area. Asked staff how many tenants may occupy the building. Ortlieb Answered the sign plan has spaces for four tenants in the directory even though there are six spots. Puckett Questioned if there are ultimately six tenants more signs will be requested on the building. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 3 Ortlieb Floyd Todd Travis, representing the applicant Kozak Mr. Travis 7:28 p.m. Stated the application limits the amount of signs to three; any additional signs would require a return to the Planning Commission. Invited the applicant to the lectern. Indicated he agreed that the property owner has done a marvelous job revitalizing the building; it is intended to carry the theme forward with the signage. The property across the street is a low-rise condominium-type complex with small signs for each unit, all facing Walnut or the other side street. There is a possibility of twelve tenants in the subject building; the entire northern end of the building is allotted to one tenant, but the interior sign program addresses the possibility of twelve tenants. The property owner does not want a lot of signs on the building; therefore, the signs are limited and in scale with the building. The limitations in the City Code and the Irvine Business District Code would result in signs that would not be readable or serve the purpose the signs are designed to fulfill. The monument sign height was an issue with the Irvine criteria, but Irvine would allow a 4' x 20' sign. The applicant did not want such a large sign on the corner. There is an existing sign similar to the proposed dimensions. That sign will be removed and the proposed sign put in the same area in a slightly different position. The monument sign was designed to continue the theme and keep a consistent look to the property. Asked if the sign that faces east on the long elevation of the building has a sight distance to Myford compared to the same size sign that is closer to Walnut on the south elevation. Indicated those large signs were kept on opposite ends of the building to prevent the signs being too close together and to make the space available to larger tenants, thereby not crowding the building face; the reason the sign at the end of the building is half the size was the panelized nature of the tilt up wall; crossing a panel would not be aesthetically pleasing. The Public Hearing closed. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 4 Nielsen Stated the unique position and size of that lot warrants the proposed sign program; thanked Mr. Travis for the explanation; and, added that he is in favor of the project. Kozak Noted he also appreciated the applicant's explanation; the scale and sign locations are appropriate; the conditions of approval regarding sign maintenance and building repair upon any sign removal are proper and in place; given the location and the compatible surrounding uses, he supports the recommended action. Floyd Indicated he is pleased with the monument signage in Tustin; and, thanked staff for working with applicants to ensure those standards continue. Lee Stated the signs will make the overall building aesthetically pleasing; he supports the project. Puckett Noted that staff's well-defined reports make it easy to support the recommendation. Moved to adopt Resolution No. 4037, seconded by Nielsen. Motion carried 5-0. REGULAR BUSINESS 4. 2005 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL REPORT. California State Law requires each City to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for its physical development and any land outside its boundaries which bears a relationship to its planning activities. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission review and authorize staff to forward the Annual Report on the Status of the Tustin General Plan to the City Council for consideration. Nielsen Complimented staff for going an excellent job; and, noted the article that appeared in the Orange County Register regarding affordable housing and general plan submission that does not happen in all Orange County cities. Kozak Added compliments to staff for a job well done; looking through the listing under the various elements of the General .Plan that have Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 5 been accomplished is very impressive; staff needs to keep up the good work. It was moved by Kozak, seconded by Nielsen, to forward the General Plan Annual Report to the City Council. Motion carried 5-0. 5. PROJECT SUMMARY. The summary focuses on the status of projects that the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, or Community Development Director approved, major improvement projects, and other items of interest. Director Noted that approximately 500 permits have been issued to Lennar/Lyon (including the recreation building permit) within their two communities. Floyd Stated that people have asked him why Chipotle does not seem to be moving forward. Director Indicated there were issues with their Water Quality Management Plan; that issue has been resolved; grading and building permits will be issued soon. Puckett Indicated that he has been asked whether or not anything is happening at Tony's Sea Landing. Director Answered that a small pizza/microbrewery chain is expected soon at that location. Nielsen Stated that there does not appear to be much happening at the Orange County Rescue Mission; and, asked if there is a time frame for completion. Director Responded that staff visited the site today; the on-site manager indicated the hope is to be finished by the end of the year; whether or not that will include the security building is unsure; California Pizza Kitchen is building the kitchen for them, which is a significant donation from that organization; several of the other improvements are moving forward; since many improvements are donated, the project is not moving as quickly as other projects. Floyd Asked if there are any people living at the Rescue Mission; and, if not, where are the people located. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11. 2006 - Page 6 Director Floyd Director Nielsen Director Director reported Nielsen Director Nielsen Indicated that there is a women's facility in Orange, a men's facility in Santa Ana, a facility in Temecula, and another will be constructed in Buena Park. Asked what the Tustin location will serve. Stated her understanding it will be families. Asked if Public Works anticipates the Orange County Sanitation District tearing up more of Tustin's streets in the coming months. Indicated that staff would check with Public Works and report back on that question. STAFF CONCERNS 6. REPORT OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. The City Council held the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 1317 related to office uses in commercial districts; upheld the Planning Commission's recommendation; the 2nd reading will be held at the next City Council meeting. The City Council, at a Public Hearing, upheld the Planning Commission's denial of the Minor Adjustment relating to the fence height extension around the Presidio Tract pool area. Asked if the concern expressed by the Planning Commission regarding other tracts with similar problems was addressed by the Council. Answered that the City Council understood there can be similar issues, but fences do not resolve those issues; and, reiterated the Council's desire not to fence people out and not to create gated communities in The Legacy. COMMISSION CONCERNS Congratulated the Tustin High School football team for their victory over Foothill High School last Friday evening. Complimented the Public Works Department for their quick response and putting a stop to a private company's water tanker trucks filling up at fire hydrants on his street. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11. 2006 - Page 7 Nielsen continued Requested that tonight's Planning Commission meeting be adjourned in honor of the victims of 9/11/01; and, asked that everyone continue to support the troops who are in harm's way. Kozak Thanked staff for the reports this evening. Thanked the Public Works Department for the prompt response to his request for removal of the stickers from the Old Town signs. Added his thoughts regarding the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country; and, asked that we support our troops. Lee Expressed his thoughts and concerns for the families of the 9/11 victims; and, asked that we remember to give thanks and send positive thoughts to the overseas troops serving for us. Puckett Added his remembrance of 9/11; and, stated his hope that nothing like that will ever happen again. Noted that Angie Kardashian, who sold her restaurant to go to New York after the attacks and feed the fire fighters, will be featured on KOCE this evening at 6:30 p.m. and again at 11 :30 p.m. Angie has a room in her home that is filled with memorabilia from her experiences in New York. Thanked whichever City entity it was that responded promptly to his request that weeds be mitigated between Peppertree and Tustin Meadows. Floyd Reminded everyone that Tustin Tiller Days will be here soon. 9:47 p.m. ADJOURNMENT In Honor and Remembrance of September 11, 2001 The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Monday, September 25, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at 300 Centennial Way. Minutes - Planning Commission September 11, 2006 - Page 8