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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 20, 2006 PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes Meeting—April 20, 2006 — 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue 1. ROLL CALL: Present: BARBARA LOMAS, Chairperson MURRAY TRAGISH, Vice Chairperson TED BLOCKLEY RUSSELL JOHNSON TOM McGINNIS JOHN S. SPENCER Absent: JEFFREY TKAC Advisory Members: Janice Scanlan, James D. Movius, Marian Shaw, Steve Ewing Staff: Marc Gauthier, Jennie Eng, Dana Cornelius 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS: None. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Non-Public Hearing Items 4.1 a Approval of minutes for Planning Commission meeting of March 13 & 16, 2006. Commissioner McGinnis moved, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to approve the Non- Public Hearing Items on the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by group vote. 4.2 Public Hearing Items 4.2a Approval of Extension of Time for Vesting Tentative Tract Map 6152 (Porter Robertson Engineering) 4.2b Approval of Vesting Tentative Tract 6712 (SmithTech\USA) The public hearing is opened. No one from the public or on the Commission requested removal of any consent agenda item. Commissioner Blockley moved, seconded by Commissioner Spencer, to approve the public hearing consent calendar items. Motion carried by group vote. Planning Commission —April 20, 2006 — 5:30 p.m. Page 2 5. PUBLIC HEARING—Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 11441 (DeWalt Corporation) This item was withdrawn by the applicant. 6. PUBLIC HEARING—Tentative Tract Maps 6.1 Vesting Tentative Tract 6712 (SmithTech/USA, Inc.) Heard on consent calendar. 6.2 Tentative Tract 6736 (Andre Fuller) Commissioner Tkac joined the Commission. Public hearing opened. Staff report given. No one spoke in opposition to Staff's recommendation. Teri Bjorn, with Kronic Moskivitz law firm, on behalf of Fuller properties, stated she would like to respond to a letter received from A&E Union regarding the sewer issues. She stated that the sewer line in Casa Club Drive now and stubbed out to this property is within the City utility easement, and that utility easement is maintained by the City per city records. Therefore, they believe there is not, and should not be any issue relating to sewer. Ms. Bjorn, further stated that with regard to the draining patterns and the fact that A&E intends to take issue with drainage patterns, the applicant does have an on-site detention on the property, and studies have shown that the drainage is going to be within historic drainage patterns, and therefore, there should not be an issue with the drainage patterns. She introduced Justin VanMullen. Justin VanMullen with On Design architects gave a presentation. The public hearing is closed. Commissioner Tragish inquired about condition 15, and the status of the second access. Staff responded they don't know if it is complete yet. He further inquired about the applicant's access to the sewer line apparently owned by A&E. Ms. Bjorn responded that the applicant does have access to the sewer as it is currently in Casa Club Drive within a City utility easement, and is stubbed to the property line. Ms. Bjorn stated that they believe A&E's letter is incorrect. Commissioner Tragish inquired of Staff about the sewer access, to which Staff responded that Public Works has a condition under 2.2 that addresses this issue, by providing that the applicant must prove that there is sewer capacity. Commissioner Johnson asked for clarification as to the emergency access road on Miramonte and if it will be completed before construction begins on this project. Staff responded in the affirmative, and added that Condition 16 requires emergency access availability. Commissioner Lomas inquired why this item is back at the Planning Commission after being heard at City Council. Staff responded that the map is before the Planning Commission tonight and under State law if you want to do condominiums you have to file a map with the local agency that has on the face of that map for condominium purposes. The applicant needed to file this map in order to sell these as condominiums. Staff stated that the site plan review was appealed to the Planning Commission from the Development Services Director, and it was seen as apartments. Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner Blockley, to approve Tentative Tract 6736 with findings and conditions set forth in the attached Resolution, and with the Planning Department dated April 19, 2006, and the Public Works memo dated April 17, 2006. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Johnson, McGinnis, Spencer, Tkac, Tragish, Lomas. NOES: None. Planning Commission —April 20, 2006 — 5:30 p.m. Page 3 7. PUBLIC HEARING — Receiving comments on the adequacy of the Tier 2 Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Westside Parkway. The public hearing is opened. Staff report given. Arthur Unger stated that the Environmental Impact Report is not adequate as it does not state that you could use mass transit instead of this freeway. He talked about bus stops, as well as proper tree plantings. Roger McIntosh, representing the Kern Transportation Foundation, stated they have reviewed the Environmental Impact Report and have found it to be adequate. He stated that they feel it is time to move this project forward. The public hearing is closed. Commissioner Tkac stated he agrees that this project is long over due. He inquired of Staff about Mr. Unger's proposal for light rail, to which Staff responded that the purpose of this meeting is as to the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Report. He further inquired what the time frame is for this project to go forward. Mr. Wright responded that the timeline is dependent upon funding, and if the State upholds their promise for funding, completion may be in approximately six years. Commissioner Tkac inquired if any of Bill Thomas' funds were allocated for this project, to which Mr. Wright responded that it was initially planned that way, but there could be some used on this project. With respect to the question about the potential for any light rail, Mr. Wright stated that he does not know what width would be required for light rail. Commissioner Tragish stated that the Environmental Impact Report presented may have indicated why there's two different alternatives and the pros and cons of both of them, and why there is indecision, and inquired why there are the two particular alternatives, and why it still is not decided and what the advantages and disadvantages are to both and how they would impact the Environmental Impact Report. Staff stated that they prefer to take this as a comment and redo the project description to make it clearer. Commissioner Tragish stated that he is confused about the sections (6.5) dealing with cumulative impacts and references that were made to the impact of air quality as a result of the parkway. He stated that he could not see any mitigations or alternatives or how the air quality (end of tape) regulatory effect over auto emissions. Staff responded that they will respond to this in the final Environmental Impact Report. Commissioner Tragish further inquired about the impact on the recharge basins, and requested further clarification on how they're going to redirect the discharge basin, and what, if any, the impacts will be. Commissioner Johnson stated that he felt the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Report to be fairly accurate in addressing the project, and thoroughly covering areas such as mass transit alternative and the transportation management system, as well as other alternatives. Commissioner Blockley stated the provision for pedestrian and bicycle access across the proposed freeway have been addressed by the Environmental Impact Report. He further stated that it appears that the freeway does not divide existing neighborhoods, and if this needs to be made more apparent in the Environmental Impact Report, it might be helpful to make a better Environmental Impact Report. Commissioner Lomas stated the graphics are very helpful. She further commented that section tabs would be helpful. She inquired as to what the bridge at Allen is considered for zoning in the area. She also inquired about the removal of the interstate freeway designation, and how it factors in, and how it changes the numbers. She further commented that the off-ramps do not look like what she recalls previously. Commissioner McGinnis stated the Environmental Impact Report does address mass transit on page 2- 48. He complimented those who contributed to the Environmental Impact Report. Commissioner Spencer complimented Staff on the Environmental Impact Report. He stated that we should move on with the project as there have been enough studies done to get it moving. Commissioner Tragish moved, seconded by Commissioner McGinnis, to refer the comments to Staff for preparation of a final Environmental Impact Report. Planning Commission —April 20, 2006 — 5:30 p.m. Page 4 Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Johnson, McGinnis, Spencer, Tkac, Tragish, Lomas. NOES: None. 8. COMMUNICATIONS: None. 9. COMMISSION COMMENTS: None. 10. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 6:37 p.m. Dana Cornelius, Recording Secretary JAMES D. MOVIUS, Secretary Planning Director May 9, 2006