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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-08 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Meeting – February 21, 2008 - 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue 1. ROLL CALL: Present: , Commissioners Blockley, Johnson, McGinnisTragish Absent: Commissioners Andrews, Stanley, Tkac 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS: 4.CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Non-Public Hearing Items 4.1a Approval of minutes for Planning Commission meeting of January 17, 2008. Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner McGinnis, to approve the Consent Calendar, Non-Public Hearing Items. Motion carried by group vote. 4.2 Public Hearing Items 4.2a Approval of Planned Development Review 07-0151 (Intertex General Contractors Inc.) 4.2b Approval of Planned Development Review 07-1563 (Summit Engineering) 4.2c Approval of Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 11784) (Porter and Associates) 4.2d Approval of Vesting Tentative Tract Map 7105 (Stantec Engineering) 4.2e Approval of Vesting Tentative Tract Map 7126 (Pinnacle Civil Engineering Inc.) 4.2f Approval of Zone Change 07-0898 (Rick Engineering) The public hearing is opened, no one from the audience requested removal of any item from the Consent Calendar. Commissioner Tragish requested removal of 4.2a (Agenda Item 5.1) from the Consent Calendar. The public hearing is closed. Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner McGinnis, to approve the Consent Calendar Public Hearing Items with the exception of 4.2a which was pulled. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Johnson, McGinnis, Tragish NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Commissioners Stanley, Andrews, Tkac Minutes of Planning Commission – February 21, 2008 Page 2 5. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT REVIEW: 5.1 Planned Development Review 07-0151 (Intertex General Contractors, Inc.) The public hearing is opened, staff report given. John Hutton who works for Vulcan Materials, located at 8517 Panama Lane, stated their company adjoins the subject project. He reminded the Planning Commission that they were present at the 2005 hearing and at that time they were opposed to a heavy industrial site of M-3 due to the close proximity of the land uses that were proposed at that time, which were ultimately approved. He pointed out that there were mitigation measures at that time, along with conditions. He stated that they would like to ensure that those conditions are met, as a minimum standard, as they are concerned with their ability to operate as they have since 1976, which is zoned M-3, heavy industrial use, which they can operate on any day and at any hour of the day at this time. He stated they do produce such things that could be considered a nuisance for a typical residence or maybe even a retail use. He stated that they are also concerned with the safety aspects. Vince Roach, with CB Richard Ellis, the leasing agent, stated they are in agreement with the conditions recommended by Staff. George Martin, representing the applicant, stated they did not know they were going to be off the Consent Calendar until this morning and they scrambled to get all the consultants together to answer questions. He pointed out that he thinks this project will keep traffic in the southwest instead of traveling to the Northwest Promenade. The public hearing is closed. Commissioner Tragish stated that one of the reasons he took this item off the consent calendar is because many times when these projects come through they put a PCD zoning on it. He inquired as to how the circulation and traffic is going to be handled. He further inquired as to the access points and how the circulation through this project is anticipated to be handled. Daryl Hebenstreet, with Architect Orange, explained that the project initially was going to have multiple areas and multiple districts through the project because of the depth of the site. He stated to divide it appropriately they had the concept of two signal light intersections and the intersections are linked together by a drive lane that goes through the project, which has a lane in each direction, as well as a dedicated turning lane in the middle that is connecting the two primary entrance points into the project. He went on to state that the two entrance points then distribute into the general parking fields for the major tenants. He also explained that the other circulation pattern that goes through the project is off of Gosford Road and goes through the downtown district, which is creating a pedestrian and focal node for the project. He stated that this district is arranged in such a way where there is parking off of the street and is not on the major circulation route. He stated that the pattern on the site is similar to many projects of this size and scale and was reviewed by the project traffic engineer, as well as general prudent site planning concepts. Commissioner Tragish inquired if the downtown area is illustrated in the project design goals and asked what the downtown area looks like. Mr. Hebenstreet responded that it has a different architectural vocabulary then the rest of the project. He explained that the bulk of the project is in what they would consider to be a classic ranch style. He showed what they consider to be a classic ranch style. He pointed out that it is not agrarian, but it takes some of the language and metaphors from the agrarian history and is a fairly sophisticated look that contains rock, exterior plaster, and wood elements and is really working well in the project to break down the scale of the project and create a harmony in architectural style. Mr. Hebenstreet explained that the downtown district is patterned after a number of fairly classic downtowns that you can find in California and this particular one happens to be downtown Orange. He stated that the different look is intended to give variety to the project, as well as to reinforce the idea of different districts and different zones within the project. Mr. Hebenstreet showed the landscape plans for the downtown area of the project. Minutes of Planning Commission – February 21, 2008 Page 3 Commissioner Tragish inquired if there is an access point off Panama by the main entrance for a fast food location to which Mr. Hebenstreet responded in the affirmative. Mr. Hebenstreet pointed out one other fast food that is programmed as a fast food. He explained that the pinpointed restaurants would not have drive-thrus, although the bank may have a drive-thru. Mr. Hebenstreet confirmed that there are a total of three accesses off Panama. Commissioner Tragish stated that his concerns with lighting and elevations has been addressed by Staff. He also pointed out that the circulation elements appear to have been dealt with. Commissioner Tragish inquired as to the landscaping on the project, to which Mr. Hebenstreet responded that they are meeting or exceeding City ordinances. He also pointed out that the basic ideas in the project were to reinforce the downtown district in the choice of plant materials and reinforce the main entrance drive. He stated that another important aspect is that they have pedestrian circulation elements that are dividing the project into “exterior rooms” that do not exceed 200 cars in the parking lots, so they are breaking down the scale of the parking lot into various size pieces through the use of pedestrian access and planting rows. Mr. Hebenstreet stated that the main driveway component is reinforced with a different type of planting than the typical project. He said that all of the plant palette elements are on the City approved palette list. Commissioner Tragish inquired as to what kind of trees are being put in the parking lots. Mr. Hebenstreet responded that most of the trees in the parking lot are deciduous trees and evergreen. st Staff added that there is a memo from Marian Shaw dated February 21 that would need to be included in any motion for approval. Commissioner Johnson pointed out that Conditions 58 and 59 address the western most buildings and a setback from the eastern boundary of Vulcan’s property and has a height restriction, as well as a covenant recordation that Vulcan will be having operations at many hours, with objectionable elements, including dust, noise, vibration, bright lights, unattractive visual appearance, etc. Commissioner Johnson moved, seconded by Commissioner McGinnis, to approve Plan Development Review No. 07-0151 with findings and conditions set forth in the attached Resolution, Exhibit “A,” and referencing the memo from Marian Shaw, dated February 21, 2008. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Commissioners Blockley, Johnson, McGinnis, Tragish NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Commissioners Stanley, Andrews, Tkac 5.2 Planned Development Review 07-1563 (Summit Engineering) Heard on Consent Calendar. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS – Vesting Tentative Parcel Maps / Vesting Tentative Tract Maps/Zone Change 6.1 Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 11784 (Porter and Associates) Heard on Consent Calendar. 6.2 Vesting Tentative Tract Map 7105 (Stantec Engineering) Heard on Consent Calendar. Minutes of Planning Commission – February 21, 2008 Page 4 6.3 Vesting Tentative Tract Map 7126 (Pinnacle Civil Engineering Inc.) Heard on Consent Calendar. 6.4 Zone Change 07-0898 (Rick Engineering Company) Heard on Consent Calendar. 7. COMMUNICATIONS: None. 8. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Commissioner Johnson thanked the students for coming out to the meeting. 9. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Robin Gessner, Recording Secretary JAMES D. MOVIUS, Secretary Planning Director March 12, 2008