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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/26/1994-� MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26, 1994 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Room, 21865 E. 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: Flamenbaum, Schad, and Fong Also Present: Community Development Director James DeStefano; Associate Planner Rob Searcy; Assistant Planner Ann Lungu; Interim City Attorney Michael Montgomery; Engineer Consultant Mike Myers; and Administrative Secretary Marilyn Ortiz. Absent: None MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: Clayton Parker, Attorney at Law, 17862 East 17th Street, Tustin, representing the Walnut Unified School District, presented a letter regarding the proposed Land Use Designation of a 78 acre parcel and a 20 acre parcel. Wilbur Smith, 21630 Fair Wind Lane, recommended open space land use designation for the school property. In addition, he recommended the rural residential slope density begin at 20 percent and the minimum 1.5 dwelling units per acres. Oscar Law, 21511 Pathfinder Road, requests a four acre parcel for a 25,000 square foot senior citizen's center with 300 parking spaces of which 150 are designated handicapped to be located on Site D of the Southpointe School District property. He suggested an astrological observatory for the same site. Max Maxwell, 3211 Bent Twig Lane, recommends open space designation for the Southpointe school property. Barbara Beach-Courchesne, 2021 Peaceful Hills Road, opposes f�I�l4 September 26, 1994 Page 2 Planning Commission, �4l i granting Southpointe their request. Steve Nice, 2621 Rising Star Drive, stated the map and deed restrictions should remain on the South Pointe property and urges the Planning Commission to keep the parcel designations as they are and make no changes at this time. Clay Chaput, Walnut Valley Unified School District, feels that open space designation prevents the building of a school. The property was designated residential and the School District wants this retained. Responding to VC/Plunk, CDD/DeStefano indicated that the property is zoned RPD 10,000 6/U, ,which is a planned unit development classification. Chair/Meyer added that the property is map restricted to prohibit development. Robert Huff, 1641 Fire Hollow Drive, stated that until the School District presents a definitive plan, it should not be discussed. Chair/Meyer declared the public comment portion of the agenda closed. I. NEW BUSINESS A. 'PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM NO. 94-7 A request to develop a Planned Sign Program for a commercial shopping center known as Diamond Bar Town Center, 1155 S. Diamond Bar Boulevard. AP/Searcy stated that the applicant is Rick'Denman, Signs and Services Co., Inc. 10980 Boatman Avenue, Stanton, CA 90680 and the property owner is Sandra Quilty and Len Stalhandsk,e, Commercial Center Management, Inc., 2922 Daimler, Ste. #1013, Santa Ana, CA 92705. The Ranch Center, located in northern Diamond Bar adjacent'to the SR 57 Freeway, is a traditional commercial strip center developed in the mid 19701s. The center currently has a significant landmark in the form of a water tower, which exemplifies the "Country Living" image long identified with Diamond Bar. The water tower has been a landmark welcoming highway travelers to the City. f' The Ranch Center has evolved from a regional commercial September 26, 1994 Page 3 Planning Commission attraction in the 1970's to a predominately vacant commercial center under the competition from regional malls that were developed during the 1980'x. Today the mall has fallen into economic hardship and has been under the receivership of the Resolution Trust Corporation and Commercial Center Management Co., Inc. as temporary receiver. - The center is developed around a central parking area with buildings on three sides. -The units closest to Diamond Bar Boulevard are afforded the best exposure to vehicular traffic. The units to the east and north have limited visual access to Diamond Bar Boulevard. The center is currently operating with a high vacancy rate. The major tenants are Thomasville Home Furnishings and Acapulco Restaurant. The tenants feel they have immediate need for a sign program to attract more business to the Center. The Center is currently undergoing numerous upgrades and the Planned Sign Program is an intrinsic component in the effort to rescue the Center. The applicant's proposal includes placing channel letter signage on the parapet above each unit known as tenant identification signs and tenant storefront identification signs located in the arch over the entrance to units. The sign criteria allows for the maximum 1.25 square feet of.. signage per lineal foot of frontage as allowed by the code. The sign code does, however, restrict the installation of wall signs to one per use per outer wail. The applicant therefore, seeks relief from this standard. The signs incorporated into the architectural raceway are proposed to be constructed of an aluminum cabinet displaying a white plexiglass with an opaque background with satin finish. The copy is to be translucent vinyl with illuminated fluorescent lamps. The alternative wall cabinet design is located over the entrance to each merchant. The aluminum cabinet will display flex letters on a white plexiglass background painted opaque with satin finish paint. An aluminum border trims the top of the cabinet. Additionally, the applicant is proposing to place a combination of channel letter signage and wall cabinet signs on the water tower with the center name, the major tenant and signage for two additional tenants totaling 143 square feet. A The maximum signage currently allowed by the code allows a 4 maximum of 72 square feet of signage and restricts the height of freestanding signs to six feet. September 26, 1994 Page 4 Planning Commissions The applicant is proposing to incorporate a combination of information signs. Included within this element of the program are two illuminated entry signs, 4 feet in height with 4 square feet of sign area. The directional sign is perched atop a,rockriver base and wood pedestal. The aluminum cabinet encases the white plex face painted green to match the building trim. Pursuant to State law, all legal codes related to automobile restrictions for parking are required to be posted at each entrance to a commercial site. The applicant has accomplished this by designing a '7 foot high sign that serves as an information reader board. The 'sign proposes, to exhibit handicap and fire lane information as well as directional 'parking information. The code does not address this type of sign but restricts any freestanding sign to 6 feet in'height. Three smaller directional signs constructed of aluminum tubing with aluminum face painted blue green to match building trim with white copy are proposed at the center aisle, adjacent to Thomasville, and at the eastern portion of the interior parking area. The sign is 4 feet in height with approximately 2.67 square feet of sign area.'"� All permits are to be approved by the landlord prior to obtaining approval of the City. The tenant may not display banners, pennants, balloons, or other similar advertising of a temporary nature until the applicant has garnered the necessary approvals of the City. All sign letter faces are required to be a uniform white translucent. Logo faces and other. face colors are subject to approval by the landlord although staff would prefer to have the optional colors stipulated with the Planned Sign Program. The Planned Sign Program for this center is one of the applicant's diversified efforts to revive this struggling commercial center. The sign criteria is largely in conformance with the existing sign ordinance. Each unit is allowed a maximum of one wall sign per outer wall, up to a maximum of 125 square feet. The -applicant is requesting relief from this standard based upon the hardship related to building orientation to Diamond Bar Boulevard and the lack of visual access. The applicant has expressed the need to use parapet signage as a draw from the street and the 77 tenant storefront sign for identification once in the center. 4 The applicant far exceeds the 72 square foot provision for LJ f September 26, 1994 Page 5 Planning Commission freestanding signs by proposing 143 square feet of signage. This quantity of signage equates to approximately one half the sign face area of the Diamond bar Honda sign/Burger King freeway oriented sign. Freeway oriented signage can only be obtained at the discretion of the Planning Commission for lodging, food and fuel business uses. The maximum sign area available for this type of signage is 128 square feet. Sign type E, proposed at 7 feet in height, is not in conformance with sign standards. Staff recommends that this sign be revised to conform to permitted dimensions. The remaining informational signs are compatible with current sign standards. Staff has completed the review of this project in order to determine the environmental impacts associated with implementation of the project and has determined that this Planned Sign Program will not have a significant effect on the environment and is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15311 of the California Environmental Quality Act-(CEQA). I A Planned Sign Program review by the Planning Commission does not require a public hearing. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the Planned Sign Program 94-7 as amended, Findings of Fact, and conditions as listed with the resolution. Rick Denman, Signs and Services Company, Inc., 10980 Boatman Avenue, Stanton representing Commercial Center Management as owners stated that the Center has 26 units with 14 vacancies. The owner has painted, slurry coated the driveway, and landscaped, and views the signage as a critical detriment to leasing. AP/Searcy stated that the current signs are legal and non- conforming. CDD/DeStefano indicated that if the sign for the tower is legally non -conforming, this request would break the non- conformity, and since the tower sign is well above six feet the property owner could be required to strip the tower of all existing signage. The second option is to permit the legal non -conformity and to permit additional signage on the tower. Motion was made by C/Schad and seconded by C/Flamenbaum to accepted the Draft Resolution amended as follows: That the resolution include the proper advertising numbers on the freestanding/monument sign; the existing reader board be September 26. 1994 Page 6 Planning Commission II removed and disposed of off-site; the existing sign E will be brought into conformance reducing the height from seven,feet to four feet; include a pallet of, type faces for signage, and on Page 2, under "Findings" add the following to the document "This project is in conformity with the City's Draft and proposed General Plan." The motion was carried unanimously. Chair/Meyer indicated C/Flamenbaum was absent during voting at the prior Planning Commission meeting and he requested that C/Flamenbaum cast his vote on items to break the voting stalemate: The Planning Commission voted 2-2 regarding modification or omission of the first sentence which read "It is the primary goal of the -City of Diamond Bar to maintain a rural and country living environment" on Page I-1. Motion was made by Chair/Meyer and seconded by C/Flamenbaum to eliminate the sentence. Motion was carried 3-2 with the roll call as follows: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Flamenbaum, VC/Plunk, Chair/Meyer NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Schad/Fong ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None Motion was made by C/Fong and seconded by C/Schad to have the first sentence, Page I-1 read as follows: "It is the desire of the citizens of the City of Diamond Bar to maintain a rural and country living environment." Motion was carried 3-2 with the roll call as follows: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Fong, Schad, Flamenbaum NOES: COMMISSIONERS: VC/Plunk, Chair/Meyer ABSTAIN COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None Motion was made by C/Flamenbaum and seconded by VC/Plunk regarding Page I -7,D. 1. Land Use Mix a. "Disposition, of remaining Open Lands Including, but Not Limited to, a Determination of Deed and Map restriction Status", to change "Open" to "Vacant" so that the sentence reads: "Disposition of Remaining Vacant Lands Including, but Not Limited to, a Determination of Deed and Map Restriction status", and delete "within hillside areas" from the first sentence of the first paragraph so the sentence reads: "Determining the status of remaining vacant lands is a major policy decision facing the City." Motion as carried 3-2 with the roll call as follows: %�„ I i September 26, 1994 AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Page 7 Planning Commission Flamenbaum, VC/Plunk, Chair/Meyer Schad/Fong None None Motion was made by C/Flamenbaum and seconded by Chair/Meyer to delete the last sentence from Page I-7, D. 1 a. "Past confusion resulting from Los Angeles County transmittal of development entitlements should be resolved." The motion failed 3-2 with the roll call as follows: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Flamenbaum, Chair/Meyer NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Schad, Fong, VC/Plunk ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None Motion was made by C/Flamenbaum and seconded by VC/Plunk regarding Page I-10, E. Strategy 1.1.1 a. to put back the definition "The maximum gross density of Rural Residential will be 1.0 dwelling unit per gross acre (1 du/ac)." The motion was carried unanimously. I Motion was made by C/Flamenbaum and seconded by VC/Plunk to eliminate Strategy 1.1.1 a., second paragraph, Page I-10. Motion was carried 4-1 with the roll call as follows: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Flamenbaum, Fong, VC/Plunk, Chair/Meyer NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Schad ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None Motion was made by C/Flamenbaum and seconded by VC/Plunk add the following to Page I-11, Strategy f. "Develop a slope density scale ordinance which shall be applied to all land use designations in the City. Such slope density scales shall reduce the number of dwelling units available as a function of average slope of the land in question and shall begin at 25 percent. Average slope is defined as follows:." Motion was carried unanimously. Motion was made by Chair/Meyer and seconded by C/Schad to add Strategy g. Page I-11 to read as follows: "As part of the Slope Density Scale Ordinance, develop a formula for the i preservation of open space." Motion was carried unanimously. Motion was made by VC/Plunk and seconded by C/Flamenbaum to September 26, 1994 Page 8 Planning commissionij change the wording on Page 1-15, Strategy 1.3.6 to read: "Encourage consolidation of individual lots into a coordinated project; encourage provision of enhanced amenities such as public art, plaza areas, open space and landscaping, and pedestrian facilities in excess of required minimums; or provision of housing within a mixed use project." Motion was carried unanimously. C/Flamenbaum recommended Page I-18 Strategy 1.6.5 be changed to read as follows: "Encourage clustering within the most developable portions of project sites to preserve open space and/or other natural resources." The recommendation _wa,s adopted unanimously. S/Schad recommended Page I-18, Strategy 1.6.5 a. be amended to read: "Encourage offers to dedicate additional open space land to the City or a conservancy." The recommendation was adopted unanimously. C/Fong recommended that strategy formerly known as Strategy 1.7.3, Page I-19 be renumbered strategy 1.6.6 and reinstated as previously written. The recommendation was adopted unanimously. C/Fong recommended Page I-19, Goal 2 be changed to read as follows:n Manage land use with respect to the location, density and intensity, and quality of development. Maintain consistency with the capabilities of the City and special districts to provide essential services which achieve sustainable use of environmental and manmade resources." The recommendation was adopted unanimously. Regarding Page I-23, Strategy 3.3.5 a. eliminate "plans and add in its place "palettes" so that it reads: "Foliage used in planting palettes should be drought tolerant, fire resistant, and have colors similar to those of native materials in the surrounding area." Regarding Page I-23, objective 4.1, insert "/circulation" so the sentence reads: "Promote and cooperate in efforts to provide reasonable regional land use and transportation/circulation planning programs." C/Fong recommended Page I-24, Strategy 4.1.5 be amended to read as follows: "Monitor and evaluate potential impacts, upon the City of Diamond Bar, of major proposed adjacent, local, and regional developments, in order to anticipate land LJ use, circulation, and economic impacts and related September 26, 1994 Page 9 Planning Commission developmental patterns of the City of Diamond Bar." The recommendation was adopted unanimously. Chair/Meyer recommended Page I-24, Objective 4.2 be amended to read as follows: "Maintain City boundaries which are reasonable in terms of existing service capabilities, social and economic interdependencies, citizen desires, and City revenues and expenditures." The recommendation was adopted unanimously. Chair/Meyer recommended on Page I-24, Strategy 4.2.2 a. "as a whole" be deleted so the sentence reads: "Compatibility exists with the goals and desires of the people and the City of Diamond Bar." The recommendation was adopted unanimously. Chair/Meyer declared the meeting adjourned to September 27, 1994, 7:00 p.m. at 9:50 p.m. Respectfully, JdW&s DeStefano i Secretary