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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/27/1995MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE, PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 27„ 1995 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in Flamenbaum. ROLL CALL the P1'edge of Allegiance by Chairman Present: Commissioners: Chairman Flamenbaum, Vice Chairman Huff, Meyer, Schad, Fong. Also Present: Community Development Director James DeStefano; Assistant Planner Ann Lungu; Associate Planner Robert Searcy; Recording Secretary Carol Dennis PRESENTATION: Chair/Flamenbaum presented a plaque to C/Meyer commending him for his services as Planning Commission Chairman for the period June 14, 1993 to February 27, 1995. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLI6 COMMENTS - None CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Minutes of March 13, 1995. C/Fong asked that the first sentence, last paragraph on Page 1 be changed to read: "C/Fong stated that he felt adequate deliberation was not made at the last meeting for the Commission to delete the water element from the Draft Resolution, Page 4, Condition #1." A motion was made by t/Meyer and seconded by C/Schad to approve the minut�s as amended. The motion was carried 5-0. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING: Chair/Flamenbaum reminded the Commission that he continues to recuse himself from this agenda item and turned the meeting over to VC/Huff. March 27; 1995 Page 2 Planning commission 1. Conditional Use Permit No. 94-7: A request to locate an unmanned public utility substation for a cellular telecommunication facility at an existing office building located at 3333 Brea'Canyon Road, west of the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Brea Canyon Road. The installation of the facility requires the placement of a 90 foot high steel monopole with three antenna arrays, a microwave dish, and the construction of an enclosure to house the equipment room and emergency generator. Applicant: L.A. Cellular, Box 6028, Cerritos, CA 90702- 6028. Property Owner: Metro Diamond Bar Properties, Inc., 2030 Main #1020, Irvine, CA 92714. AstP/Searcy reported that the applicant requests that the item be tabled. This project was originally presented to the Planning Commission on January 9, 1995, continued to January 13, 1995 and subsequently continued to this meeting. As a result of the recommendation by the Planning Commission, the applicant has been investigating alternative sites. As a result, the applicant may submit a revised application to the Commission. Staff supports the applicant's request to table the item with an indication that the public hearing will be renoticed when the item is brought back to the Planning Commission. VC/Huff declared the public hearing reopened. Dan Hare, L.A. Cellular, stated that he was available to answer questions from the Planning Commission. C/Schad stated that several citizens have indicated they are concerned about the site of the proposed tower. Mr. Hare responded that the applicant created a computer model of the radio signal based on the topography which supports the school site. A live radio test was concluded last week at that site and the applicant is currently in the process of reviewing the data. If the conclusion is positive, the applicant will request use of the school site. Responding to C/Fong, Mr. Hare stated that although the primary consideration is the school site, they wish to leave all options open until the testing is completed. He, ,k indicated that it would be approximately two months before the item would again come before the Commission. Seeing no one else who wished to speak, VC/Huff declared' the public hearing closed. r 1 March 27, 1995 Page 3 Planning Commission l I A motion was made by C/Meyer and seconded by C/Schad to table the item. The motion was carried with the following roll call: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Meyer, Schad, Fong, VC/Huff NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Chair/Flamenbaum ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None W PUBLIC HEARING - None OLD BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS - None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 1) PlaLning Commissioners Institute. CDD)DeStefano reported that several members of the Planning Commission and staff attended the meeting last week and staff has provided the Commission with copes of presentation papers provided at that meeting. He asked if the Commissioners have requests to purchase cassette tapes of any of the presentations. 2) Update on Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47850. CDD/DeStefano reported that this is a 57 unit 73 acre site located off of Steeplechase Lane in "The Country Estates". This project was previously before the Planning Commission in November, 1991 and it was last before the City Council in November, 1992. As a result of a settlement agreement between the City and the applicant, a task within the implementation measures is a joint session between the Planning Commission and the City Council for review of the project. Staff has scheduled Thursday, April 6 at 6:3D p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium for this meeting. The Planning Commission is joining the City Council for the specific purpose of receiving a presentation regarding the applicant's compliance with 24 points that were raised in November, 1992 pertaining to the geotechnical report. In addition, the City Council has requested the Planning Commissioner's comments regarding the project in their capacity as land use advisers to the City Council. Since the public hearing is with the City Council, the Council will review the project in the public hearing setting and move to take action on the item. March 27, 1995 Page 4 Planning Commission , Responding to Chair/Flamenbaum, CDD/DeStefano stated that the specific purpose of the joint session is to review the applicant's compliance with the 24 points raised in the geotechnical review sheet from the City. The City Council will have the ability to exercise any degree of discretion permitted by the Council through state statute and local ordinances pertaining to approval of the subdivision. The Planning Commission is being asked to provide any comments on the project. CDD/DeStefano asked the Planning Commissioners what they would like their role to be. C/Schad responded that the item has been reviewed by the Planning Commission several -times. He indicated he does not feel the Planning Commission can add anything further and sees to reason for the Commissioners to be in attendance. VC/Huff stated he agrees with C/Schad that he sees no useful purpose in the Planning Commission attending. If it is mandated, the Commission needs to attend. If the Planning Commission is to review the project it should be done in an official capacity with the ability to take action. C/Meyer indicated that it is his understanding that the City Council denied the tract because of perceived discrepancies between the geotechnical report and the engineering review. If the Planning Commission through the normal process makes a recommendation on a subdivision, the matter would go to the City Council. If the Council wanted to deviate substantially from the recommendation of the Planning Commission the Council would send the item back to the Planning Commission for deliberation. The Planning Commission would rehear the item with direction from the City Council and would have a specified amount of time to return a revised recommendation to the City Council. In his opinion, this process is being condensed into a joint session. He stated he does not understand why the Planning Commission is involved in the joint session.' :C C/Fong stated his comments are similar to those of C/Meyer.' Chair/Flamenbaum asked CDD/DeStefano to convey they �' Commission's concerns to the City Manager and the City Council prior to the joint session and advise what is expected of the Planning Commission. { CDD/DeStefano responded that he would relay the concerns of the Commissioners to the appropriate March 27, 1995 Page 5 Planning Commission parties and attempt to clarify the purpose for attendance by the Planning Commission. 3) Status Report on Draft General Plan CDD/DeStefano reported that the City Council last discussed this project on March 6, 1995. The Council deliberated on the Land Use Element and directed staff and the consultants to make the changes necessary to compile a final draft for distribution for public review. Staff intends to have the document ready for publication by the end of the week of March -27. He stated there may be a need for Planning Commission review of some items that may have changed. Monday, April 10, 1995 is scheduled for Planning Commission review. City Council has stated that once the document is published and 30 days has elapsed for public review, the Council will review the document the week of May 8. Staff anticipates the document will be adopted sometime during the month of May, 1995. Chair/Flamenbaum requested that the Commissioners advise him of the plans to attend the April 6, 1995 joint session `= meeting regarding Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47850. He suggested that any Commissioner not attending the meeting could forward his comments to Chair/Flamenbaum or to CDD/DeStefano. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS: The Commissioners thanked the staff for coordinating their attendance at the Planners Institute. Responding to C/Fong, CDD/DeStefano stated that the City is attempting to schedule a meeting with Chino Hills and Brea to discuss transportation related issues that effect the three cities. The City Council discussed the Chino Hills letter in January and as a result of the Council's review of the letter and the Circulation Element, there were a number of changes made to the Circulation Element. A copy of the revised Circulation Element is being forwarded back to Chino Hills with reference to their letter of November. There is a significant disagreement among the three cities with respect to the use of road through Tanner Canyon. Chino Hills is seeking a Scenic Highway designation for C Carbon Canyon Road in an attempt to limit the possibility of being widened to increase capacity. As a result of ., Chino Hill's General Plan, Soquel Canyon now loops rather than connecting with Brea Canyon's version of the Canyon. Chino Hill's General Plan indicates a Tonner Canyon Road through the center of the valley floor. March 27, 1995 Page 6 Planning commission Chair/Flamenbaum asked staff for a schedule of events for the next few months. CDD/DeStefano stated that the items scheduled for April 10 are the General Plan, the Intercommunity hospital secondary road study and a review of the proposed signage for all City parks. The only item currently scheduled for April 24 is a four lot subdivision on two and one-half acres across from the JCC Development project on Steeplechase Lane terminating at Hawkwood Road. - Chair/Flamenbaum requested that the Diamond Ranch High School road alignment be agendized for a future Planning Commission meeting. C/Schad thanked Steven Nice for assisting him in a tree plantinglprogram on Sunday, March 26 at Petersen Park. He stated that with the participation of approximately 40 students from'Maple Hill School they planted 60 oak trees and li'wild cherry plants. ANNOUNCEMENTS - None Chair/Flamenbaum declared the meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m. Attest: Bruce Flamenbaum Chairman Respectfully Submitted, Do Stefano Community Development Director i .. �- � � � _ _ ,i i •• -, .� ,511