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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 03-27-07A TOUR OF THE DISTRICT AT TUSTIN LEGACY LEFT CITY HALL AT 5:30 P.M. AND RETURNED AT 6:35 P.M. MINUTES REGULAR MEETING TUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 27, 2007 7:05 p.m. CALL TO ORDER Given PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Chair Floyd Chair Pro Tem Puckett Commissioner Kozak, Lee, and Nielsen Staff present Elizabeth Binsack, Community Development Director David Kendig, Deputy City Attorney Dana Ogdon, Assistant Community Development Director Justina Willkom, Senior Planner Eloise Harris, Recording Secretary None PUBLIC CONCERNS CONSENT CALENDAR Approved 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -MARCH 13, 2007, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. It was moved by Puckett, seconded by Kozak, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried 5-0. PUBLIC HEARINGS No action taken 2. WITHDRAWN APPEAL OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S DECISION THAT THE PROPOSED USE AT 15201 WOODLAWN AVENUE FOR SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES, INCLUDING THE GARAGING AND MAINTENANCE OF REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES, IS NOT A PERMITTED USE PURSUANT TO THE PACIFIC CENTER EAST SPECIFIC PLAN. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission take no action. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 1 Adopted Resolution 3. DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT 06-002 AND MCAS Nos. 4058 and TUSTIN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT (ZONE CHANGE 4059; Resolution 07-001) AS FOLLOWS: No. 4060 was continued to the MCAS TUSTIN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT next Planning (ZONE CHANGE 07-001) IS A REQUEST TO Commission ALLOW TANDEM PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL meeting DEVELOPMENTS AND COMPACT SPACES IN NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS AND WOULD SPECIFY THEIR REQUIRED DIMENSIONS. • DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT (DA 06-002) IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF TUSTIN AND TUSTIN LEGACY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, TO PROVIDE THE DEVELOPER CERTAIN ASSURANCE THAT IN RETURN FOR THE DEVELOPER'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING FOR THE PROPERTY THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE SPECIFIC PLAN, THE CITY WILL IN TURN REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE DDA AND THE SPECIFIC PLAN. RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission: 1. Adopt Resolution No. 4058 finding that the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Final Environmental Impact Report for the Disposal and Reuse of MCAS Tustin ("FEIS/FEIR") and its Addendum is adequate to serve as the project FEIS/EIR for Development Agreement 06-002 and MCAS Tustin Specific Plan Amendment (Zone Change 07-001) and that all applicable mitigation measures will be incorporated into the project as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. 2. Adopt Resolution No. 4059 approving the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan Amendment (Zone Change 07- 001) to amend various sections of the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 2 3. Adopt Resolution No. 4060 approving Development Agreement 06-002 between the City of Tustin and Tustin Legacy Community Partners, LLC (a Delaware limited liability company. 7:08 p.m. The Public Hearing opened. Willkom Presented the staff report, noting that the DA 06-002 item would be continued to the next Planning Commission meeting, April 10, 2007. Nielsen Asked if there would be any tandem parking for anything other than residential. Willkom Indicated the tandem parking spaces would apply to all the attached residential units; within Neighborhood G, only up to 40 percent would utilize tandem spaces. Nielsen Asked why the sports park location was changed. Director Indicated that no change was being proposed regarding the park location with the proposed Specific Plan Amendment. Nielsen Stated the material indicated a change in location of the park from Red Hill and Edinger, replacing the original sports park location with a commercial development and changing the location to nearer the linear park and Carnegie. Kozak Noted that he had the same question, pointing to page 25 of the document under Recreation. Nielsen Indicated that he was curious about the specific reasoning behind changing the location. Kozak Asked if the size of the park would be the same or downsized. Willkom Stated that the analysis of the environmental impact had three items: 1) the Disposition and Development Agreement, 2) the Development Agreement, which staff is recommending be continued to the next meeting; and 3) the Zone Change; the relocation of the sports park is part is the DDA which the City Council considered at the last Council meeting; the applicant might wish to address that issue. Director Indicated the intent was to defer construction from Phase 1 to Phase 2; the exact size, location, amenities, etc. have not been determined. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 3 Nielsen Stated his assumption was that it might be a better location due to the linear park. Floyd Asked if the park would be part of the Redevelopment presentation planned for the future. Director Responded in the affirmative. Nielsen Questioned the possibility of changes in the housing types, intensity, mixed uses, reconfiguration of land uses and whether or not any such changes would be with the mutual consent of the City and the developer. Director Answered that the City would need to approve anything not consistent with the DDA or the Specific Plan. Puckett Asked if the 20 percent compact parking spaces represents the standard. Willkom Indicated that the 20 percent figure was included in the Specific Plan and could be used only after the approval by the Community Development Director; the proposed Zone Change would allow 20 percent compact without qualification. Floyd Referred to the Tustin Crossings project and the percentage of compact spaces allowed there. Director Responded that the developer took advantage of the maximum number of compact spaces; that site is not meeting the City's current standards; that site experienced the widening of Newport Avenue and lost eight spaces and might already have been nonconforming, making that site inappropriate as a gauge; a newer, more modern development would be a better comparison, using the City's current parking ratio. Kozak Asked why the arches are being eliminated and substituted with bridges. Director Stated that would be part of the DDA and is not pending before the Planning Commission; those proposed modifications will be presented at a different Planning Commission meeting. Floyd Suggested that presentation should take place within the next 30 days. Lee Asked who is involved in enforcing the compact parking spaces when larger vehicles are parked in the spaces. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 4 Director Answered there is not an enforcement requirement; the developer may choose to enforce compact space parking; the City encourages that the compact spaces be the least accessible to the retail facility or the primary entrances and/or used for employee parking and lower turnover spaces. Floyd Asked what can be enforced, such as towing cars Director Answered that such enforcement does not take place. Floyd Invited the applicant to the lectern. Simon Whitmey, Thanked staff for their hard work on these technical issues; a fuller Tustin Legacy presentation will be presented in the near future when many of the Community questions can be addressed; the Specific Plan Amendment is an Partners important part of the development and the future of The Legacy. Nielsen Asked for clarification regarding the sports park. Mr. Whitmey Stated that the original location at Warner and Red Hill was predicated on the fact that it would be a sports park and a detention water basin; the hydrology now suggests that site would not be workable for the retention basin; the sports park would have been 10 feet below grade, subject to periodic inundation during severe rain storms; the new location is within Area E but is now south of the linear park closer to Carnegie where it may not be in conjunction with a storm drainage device. Nielsen Asked for information on the progression of the high school site. Whitmey Stated the high school site is owned by the City; the developer has been engaged in conversations with the School District and City staff; the high school is generally considered to be a higher priority for everyone and that the 40-acre site owned by the City will be conveyed to the School District; the challenge is to find the funding. It was moved by Puckett to adopt Resolution Nos. 4058 and 4059 and continue Resolution No. 4060 to the April 10, 2007, Planning Commission meeting. Nielsen Asked if there were issues with postponing the Development Agreement and taking the Specific Plan Amendment forward. Director Answered in the negative. The motion was seconded by Kozak. Motion carried 5-0. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 5 REGULAR BUSINESS Received and filed 4. 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 Called attention to the monitoring report regarding the communities in The Legacy, the permits that have been issued, and the number of square feet under construction at Vestar. Floyd Asked about the 51 square feet that are missing from under construction and total square footage. Director Suggested that could be the Costco fueling station attendant's area; under construction refers to permits that have been issued. Nielsen Thanked staff for the tour of The District and for providing a quick dinner at the end of the tour. STAFF CONCERNS REPORT OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE MARCH 20, 2007, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. Director reported The City Council approved the Tentative Tract Map for the Red Hill condominiums. The City Council held the first reading of the Sign Ordinance; the City Council was pleased with the Planning Commission's recommendation. Floyd Asked if the public turned out for the item. Director Answered in the negative. The Council will be hearing the appeal regard the fibercement product at 200 South A Street at the April 3, 2007, meeting. COMMISSION CONCERNS Nielsen Thanked staff for the tour of The District, especially Henry Huang, Building Official, who served as the tour guide. Indicated the development at The Legacy is proceeding in a proper manner thanks to the dedication and expertise of the City staff. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 6 Lee Added his thanks to staff for the tour. Kozak Thanked staff for the tour and accommodating his special request to look at the Sheriffs training facility. Complimented staff regarding the amount of work involved in the environmental documentation for the Specific Plan. Noted the Summary of Projects is an indication of the great things that are happening in the community. Thanked staff for sending the material regarding the Pasadena well facility and the comparisons of the original design and the redesign, which is much more compatible with the residential neighborhood. Stated that the Arco station on Newport Avenue provides just enough room between the drive entry off Newport into the station and the driveway just to the south to fit two automobiles and, when parked, there is no turning radius in or out of the facility; Public works should take a look at that situation and also the difficulty in making safe right-hand turns out of the station. Indicated that last Friday he attended the KFHS radio night and was astounded by the talent of these Foothill students. Welcomed David Kendig, the new Deputy City Attorney, to his first solo Planning Commission meeting. Puckett Thanked staff for the tour, noting how proud he is to be a Tustin resident and see the development taking place at The Legacy. Asked the Recording Secretary to make sure that mail for the Planning Commissioners is delivered to them in a timely fashion; sometimes mail left in the packets involves events that have already taken place; perhaps on Friday of each week, any mail could be forwarded to the Commissioners via USPS. Harris Apologized and promised to correct the oversight. Floyd Mentioned there are several grand openings coming up; and, encouraged all the Planning Commissioners to attend. Indicated that another tour of The District in 30-45 days would be a good idea. Puckett Suggested the grand openings referred to above will provide the Commissioners with a chance to wear the Planning Commission nameplates recently provided by staff. Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 7 7:44 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting of the Planning Commission will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at 300 Centennial Way, with a tour of The District beginning at 5:30 p.m. ~~ Bre oyd Chairperson ~~~~~ Elizabeth A. Binsack Planning Commission Secretary Minutes -Planning Commission 3-27-07 -Page 8