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Home My WebLink About2/26/1996MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 26, 1996 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Flamenbaum called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Chairman Flamenbaum. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners: Chairman Flamenbaum, vice Chairman Schad, Commissioners Fong and Meyer. Also Present: Community Development Director James DeStefano; Senior Planner Catherine Johnson; Assistant Planner Ann Lungu, and Recording Secretary Carol Dennis. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: P Craig Clute, 21217 Fountain Springs Drive, stated the landscape plan for the L.A. Cellular calls for 75 foot to 100 foot high eucalyptus trees. He indicated his understanding that a different type of tree is being considered and he wanted to update the Planning Commission. He requested to know where the generator will be located. He further stated there is no landscaping shown on the ball field side and the location of the fuel storage is not indicated. He stated he feels the school district may wish to have the site be camouflaged. He further stated he will be discussing the matter with the school board, PTA and Brahma Club Boosters. He indicated he would like to see the Planning Commission become more involved in the process to insure compliance. Mr. Clute stated his concerns regarding his neighbors block wall. He further stated the cinder block wall was built four feet high and extends to the sidewalk with the double gates swinging outward toward the street and over the sidewalk. He indicated he was told by a City official that the owner of the block wall did not have to obtain a permit to build the wall and he does not understand why Diamond Bar does not require a permit for block walls. Chair Flamenbaum responded to Mr. Clute that the L.A. Cellular generator will be housed inside the building. Regarding block walls, the City does not have a Development Code. The City operates under the Los Angeles County Development Code which does not require permits for walls less than six feet in vu. height unless they are retaining walls. -Absent a General Plan, there can be no City Development Code. February 26, 1996 Page 2 Planning Commission CDD/DeStefano responded to- Mr. Clute that the wall may not exceed 3 1/2 feet in height. If the wall is four feet high, once course will have to be eliminated. He indicated he will investigate the matter of the gates. According to the code, gates may not swing out into public access. He told Mr. Clute that he does not have to wait for a Planning ''Commissi'on meeting to bring these items to the City's attention. He stated that, in the: future, if Mr. Clute is not satisfied that his concerns have been addressed by the staff, other courses of action are available. He referred Mr. Clute to the City's 24 hour voice message service, the internet and the City's electronic bulletin board. AstP/ Lungu responded to C/Meyer that the L.A. Cellular's landscape plan no longer calls for planting of eucalyptus trees. L.A. Cellular is willing to add landscaping las necessary to camouflage the site and will coordinate this effort with '',the school district. The school district is concerned with the cost of ongoing maintenance for the landscaping. C/Meyer reiterated the original intent of the Planning Commission was to insure that L.A. Cellular provide adequate landscape coverage for the site and to assist in the ongoing cost ofthe maintenance. L.A. Cellular indicated to the Planning Commission they would provide a revenue stream to maintain the property and'the landscaping. He stated the intent of the Planning Commission was to have the site fully screened. Chair/Flamenbaum requested staff investigate L.A. Cellular's landscape plan compliance at the ARCO station on -Brea Canyon Road at Diamond Bar Boulevard. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Minutes of January 22, 1996. C/Meyer made a motion, seconded by VC/Schad to approve the minutes as presented. Without objection, the motion was so ordered with C/Fong abstaining. OLD BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS - None CONTINUE PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Variance No. 95-2. A request (pursuant to Code Section 22.56, Part 2) to construct a series of two retaining' walls (crib walls) within the rear portion of the project site. Rim ___ -- - - _-- -.____ �. ................... ........•.. -.— ...r..,,r i-tsw.Ir..liA-iims ulM.unrlAbwluLlu+Nnlli _ _—____—___—__ - _ --__ _ _ —` _ _ _ February 26, 1996 Page 3,,. Planning Commission i AstP/Lungu stated the applicant has requested Variance No. 95-2 be continued to March 25, 1996. Staff ;recommends that the Planning Commission continue the public hearing for Variance No. 95-2 to March 25, 1996. Chair/Flamenbaum declared the public hearing open. Seeing no one who wished to speak, Chair Flamenbaum declared the public hearing closed. C/Meyer made a motion, seconded by C/Fong to table Variance No. 95-2. The motion was approved with the following roll call: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Meyer, Fong, Chair Flamenbaum, VC/Schad NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS: 1. Presentation of plaques to outgoing Commissioners. I Chair/Flamenbaum presented a plague to Commissioner Meyer and thanked him for his service to the Planning Commission. CDD/DeStefano presented a plaque to Chairman Flamenbaum and thanked him for his. service to the Planning Commission. He pointed out that Chair/ Flamenbaum is the longest serving Planning Commissioner having served on the Commission from December, 1991 to February, 1996. CDD/DeStefano congratulated C/Meyer and Chair/ Flamenbaum, and thanked them for their service to the'Planning Commission and to the City. Y INFORMATION ITEMS: C/Fong requested status on the non-compliance sign at the corner of Cold Springs Lane and Diamond Bar Boulevard. CDD/DeStefano responded that SP/Searcy wrote a report on this item to the Planning Commission and will include a copy of the report in the next Planning Commission agenda. C/Meyer stated he has enjoyed serving on the Planning `"' Commission and thanked staff for their assistance. He thanked the Commissioners for their input, debate and support. VC/Schad commended C/Meyer and Chair/ Flamenbaum for their service and education. He indicated he appreciated their analytical enthusiasm for the projects and problems February 26, 1996 Page 4 Planning Commission confronting the City. He stated he will miss their presence on the Planning commission. C/Fong voiced his appreciation for the services of C/Meyer and Chair/Flamenbaum on the Planning Commission. He thanked them for their knowledge and insight into the issues and indicated he has learned a great deal from them in the past two years he has served on the commission.''He stated he, will miss C/Meyer. and Chair/Flamenbaum. Chair/Flamenbaum thanked staff and the Commissioners for their support and cooperation. He stated he hopes that the Commission has been accessible to the community and that the Commission has succeeded in accomplishing the betterment of government and the community at large. ANNOUNCEMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to conduct, Chairman Flamenbaum declared the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, 2es DeStefano Community Development Director Attest: Bruce Flamenbaum Chairman -_ .I- . 11 11i.. X111. - !Y . " F Nil 117: , SII W 1,: I. 4 Wi, C ,X r:�!i�alAl� fi»u.��ul�':.A.`u�