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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/23/1994MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AUGUST 23, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Office, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Chairman Meyer. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Meyer; Vice Chairwoman Plunk, Commissioners: Schad, and Fong Also Present: Associate_Planner Rob Searcy; Assistant Planner Ann Lungu; Interim City Attorney Michael Montgomery; Engineer Consultant Mike Myers; Administrative Secretary Marilyn Ortiz; and Consultant Don Cotton Absent: Commissioner Flamenbaum and Community Development Director James DeStefano MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS Wilbur Smith, 21630 Fair Wind Lane, asked if the new signals on Diamond Bar Boulevard will be synchronized for better traffic control. CE/Myers responded the traffic lights will be synchronized the full length of Diamond Bar Boulevard. Max Maxwell., 3211 Bent Twig Lane, stated he believes the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Bramelea property is anon -binding agreement. ICA/Montgomery responded that it is a non-binding agreement. Chair/Meyer declared the Matters from the Public/Audience Public Comment portion of the meeting closed. Chair/Meyer stated the City Council would like to have the Planning Commission complete deliberation of the 1994 Draft General Plan by September 12, 1994. _7___ August 23, 1994 CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: Page 2 Planning commission 1. ADOPTION OF THE 1994 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN A. CIRCULATION ELEMENT AP/Searcy recommended the Planning Commission Planning Commission decide whether to include the fifth strategy in the draft document of the Circulation Element. CE/Myers reported there is a marked and signed bicycle route designated on both sides of Pathfinder Road to Brea Canyon Road. The painting has been refreshed from time to time during the annual striping maintenance contracts, however, because this predates cityhood, there appears resolution by the City of Diamond Bar designating this as a bicycle route. This can be a consideration of the Planning Commission for inclusion in the General Plan of designated routes. on September 13, 1994 the MTA will hear from their consultant regarding bikeways for the San Gabriel Valley. There are no additional recommendations for bikeways from staff in addition to those presented by GPAC. Responding to Chair/Meyer, CE/Myers recommended the Planning Commission wait for the recommendations from the September 13, 1994 MTA meeting. J. Todd Chavers, Traffic and Transportation Commission stated he and Commissioner Istik were the delegates to the final GPAC meetings and reported back to the Traffic and Transportation Commission. Commissioner Chavers indicated the existing Circulation Element had been depleted and did not offer logic from existing conditions to future conditions to substantiating the goals and strategies which the Traffic and Transportation Commission should be incorporated. He further stated he is appearing before the Planning Commission without the blessing of the Traffic and Transportation to present his own comments on the revised document. Drawing attention to Page V-6, Mr. Chavers indicated the table which describes Level of Service at Intersections is included in the MEA only, and should rro be included in the General Plan. Page V-8, 9, 10 and 11 present existing conditions in the MEA and should be - J - -�-_ .�_-...�.d_��sc_3kF=30.'x. ''.^_4� .«. -..v-.. . » �.w ....,.�-.�Y—._ _ _•. ..-�. - - -_ .w w, acro i = - _ -- . r--111 4 August 23, 1994 Page 3 Planning Commission included in the Circulation Element since it is the foundation upon which recommendations for goals and policies will be built. Mr. Chavers continued Page 12, D. Existing Conditions should be brought into the General Plan. He further pointed -to Page 13, paragraph 3 and indicated this information must be included in the General Plan. Mr. Chavers indicated the following logic should be used for moving from existing conditions to future conditions and into goals and strategies: a. Automobile; b. Transit; c. Trucks; d. Rail; e. -Bike, and f. Equestrian. This order should be maintained throughout the document. On Page 17 the graphic of bicycle and equestrian trails clearly outlines what is available in the City and Mr. Chavers proposed additional use of graphics throughout "-� the document. f w Mr. Chavers stated the most crucial part of the alternative document is on Page 21 and the pages which follow. Item C, Future Conditions, is not included in the GPAC document and pointed out to the Planning Commission the information on future growth provided for surrounding communities is vital to the consideration of input for the Draft General Plan. Mr. Chavers continued Page 24, 25, 26 and 27 are a litmus test for the Circulation Element. The General Plan should clearly refer to specific areas by name. Section D presents history which supports planning efforts to predict the future roadways in and around Diamond Bar. The information contained within Pages 30, 31 and 32, needs to be summarized and included in the General Plan. Mr. Chavers concluded the GPAC document has a definition of "environmentally sensitive transportation corridor" under the section, "Existing Conditions". N This definition would be more appropriately included in i the Circulation Element as a description of the type of a� roadway that could potentially traverse around or through the southern portions of the sphere of influence of the City of Diamond Bar. I1t'll August 23, 1994 Page 4 Planning commission Chair/Meyer declared the Public Hearing open. Don Gravdahl, 23988 Minnequa Drive stated it was the consensus of the Traffic and Transportation that a copy of the alternate document would be sent to every GPAC member. Citing an example of Grand Avenue gridlock he stated he favors an alternative route study for the Tonner Canyon area which could be presented to the citizens of Diamond Bar. Max Maxwell, 3211 Bent Twig Lane, stated the Planning Commission should use the document presented by GPAC and is against building a road through Tonner Canyon. Wilbur Smith, 21630 Fair Wind Lane, stated the alternate document is not in the format of the GPAC document. He does not accept a proposal to put a road, through Tonner Canyon. Mike Goldenberg, Diamond Bar, asked that the Planning Commission consider Mr. Chaver's recommendations. Bob Huff, 1641 Fire Hollow Drive, requested the Planning Commission consider an alternate traffic route and likes the alternate document._ In addition, he requested consideration of a bike path on Grand Avenue. Jack Healy, 23041 Aspenknoll Drive, commended Mr. Chavers. He added the traffic flow problem through the City would not be solved by building a road through Tonner Canyon. Gary Neely, 344 Canoe Cove Drive, spoke about the ratio of volume to capacity with respect to traffic flow and asked the Planning Commission to consider the document and map submitted by Todd Chavers, as well as, the feasibility of alternative traffic routes. RECESSED: Chair/Meyer recessed the meeting at 8;.26 p.m. RECONVENED: Chair/Meyer reconvened the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Barbara Beach-Courchesne stated she is opposed to a road through Tonner Canyon. Todd Chavers, Diamond Bar spoke about the similarities between independent consultant studies which indicate, �• �3^�n �� i August 23, 1994 Page 5 Planning Commission the need for a'bypass road through Tonner Canyon. He asked that the Planning Commission look at the map to see where the proposed road is located. Chair/Meyer declared the Public Hearing portion of the meeting closed. A motion was made by C/Schad and seconded by C/Fong to leave Page 43, Strategy 2.2.2 as is. The motion was carried 3-1 with the following roll call: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Schad, Fong, C/Meyer NOES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Plunk ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Flamenbaum The Planning Commission recommended that staff review Pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the alternate document for inclusion within the Circulation Element. CE/Myers responded staff will return to the Planning �' Commission with edited recommendations. C/Fong suggested Equestrian trails be included. CE/Myers responded that on Page V-8, the language needs to be clarified to accuracy. C/Fong stated Page V-7 should indicate the Southwest Chief stops at the Fullerton station. VC/Plunk indicated the closure of the Pomona station and asked staff to verify. C/Fong requested an issue statement be inserted with language such as "alternative modes of transportation to include bicycles and equestrian will be promoted where feasible" between Pages V-§1 and V-13. Chair/Meyer asked for a volunteer to write the issue statement to be added as Issue 0. VC/Plunk asked that language include "considering connecting with neighboring cities and enhancing useability. Don Cotton, Cotton/Beland/Associates, Inc.; added that if the Planning Commission finishes the review of the . Land Use Element during the meeting of August 29, 1994, CBA will attempt to review all of the document between the meeting of August 29, 1994 and September 12, 1994 to determine whether there are any inconsistencies. �� I August 23, 1994 Page 6 Planning commission !'I' Notations of any further corrections will be presented to the Planning Commission September 12, 1994 so the Draft General Plan can be forwarded to City Council. VC/Plunk asked that staff look at Page 4 of the GPAC document and place "Road Systems" more appropriately within the document, or re -title it "Definition of Terms". Chair/Meyer reiterated staff will review Pages V-4 through V-20 and make the suggested modifications and make certain the existing system is adequately described and there is a f definition for the level of service. i The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for September 12, 1994 for review of the completed draft document. Chair/Meyer requested meetings August 301 September 6 and September 12, 1994 to review the Land Use Element, and change the regular Planning Commission meeting from September 12 to September 19, 1994. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS: - None INFORMATION'ITEMS: - None A motion was made by C/Schad and seconded by VC/Plunk to adjourn the meeting. The motion was carried unanimously. Chair/Meyer declared the meeting adjourned at 10:12 p.m. Respectfully, James DeStefano Secretary Attest: David Meyer Chairman