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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/8/1997MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 8, 1997 i CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Ruzicka called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by C/Fong. ROLL CALL: Present:Chairman Ruzicka, Vice Chairman Schad, and Commissioners, Fong, and Goldenberg. Also Present: Community Development Director James DeStefano, Senior Planner Catherine Johnson, and Assistant'Planner Ann Lungu. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS - None CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Minutes of March 25, 1997. VC/Schad made a motion, seconded by C/Goldenberg, to approve the minutes of March 25, 1997 as amended. The motion was approved 4-0 with C/McManus being absent. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Conditional Use Permit 94-4(1) is a request for an extension of time (pursuant to Code section 22.56.140), of this project's original approval, dated March 13, 1995. The original approval permitted development of a 23.8 acre park site known as Pantera Park. The park is located east of Pantera Drive and south of Bowcreek at 700-800 Pantera Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. Applicant/ City of Diamond Bar, 21660 E. Copley Property Owner: Drive, Suite 100, Diamond Bar, 91765 CDD/DeStefano presented the staff report. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 94-4 (1) , Findings of Fact, and conditions as listed within the resolution. F Chair/Ruzicka opened the public hearing. Albert Perez, 703 Pantera Drive, asked if the proposed tot lot and lighting are included in the current plan. APRIL 8, 1997 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION CDD/DeStefano indicated the proposed tot lot on the park plans. He indicated that the tot lot is included as originally approved. He reiterated that there is, no lighting planned for the first phase construction. However, as a result of the Planning Commissions approval, conduit will be installed for possible lighting during a future construction phase., Lola Perez, 703 Pantera Drive, asked what may cause further construction delays and why the extension cannot be for a shorter period of time than one year. CDD/DeStefano again explained the proposed constructiion schedule. Further delays are not anticipated. However, a'one year extension is the maximum time permittedby Code and is requested to insure adequate time to begin construction. Jaime Ocampo, 752 Bow Creek Drive, said he is concerned about privacy, noise level and safety between the park and his property. CDD/DeStefano stated this area has been set aside for the park project since prior to City incorporation. It is designed to be an active park and may present some increase in noise levels during daylight hours. The park will be available for the use and enjoyment of its adjacent residents. A permanent chain link fence is proposed for the Bow Creek Drive property line. Hassan Sotuda, 754 View Lane, stated his concerns regarding recent changes in environmental, traffic, lighting, air pollution, and parking issues. He objected to a park in his neighborhood. Keith Mathews, 526 Dole Court, asked how the City plans to stop motorcyclists from using park area hillsides. CDD/DeStefano stated a portion of the property is owned by a private party. The portion owned by the City of Diamond Bar has been fenced. He asked the residents to report trespassers to the Sheriff's Department. Kathryn Fox, 927 Pantera Drive, said she is concerned about increased traffic and related parking concerns. CDD/DeStefano stated the adjacent public streets contain sufficient width to accommodate increased traffic. The park includes 135 on-site parking spaces, and two ingress/egress driveways which are deemed sufficient to accommodate the infrastructure. APRIL 8, 1997 PAGE 3" PLANNING COMMISSION i Chair/Ruzicka closed the public hearing. CDD/DeStefano stated there are no new environmental issues related to this park. The park is proposed to be constructed on the existing 15 flat acres. No hillside construction is proposed. The Walnut Valley Water District water tank service gated road is accessed from Sunriver Drive and Eastgate Drive. C/Goldenberg stated that the proposed park was the subject of a series of public hearings held over a period of about one year. The Parks and Recreation Commission responded to the concerns of the surrounding residents. Originally, a community center was proposed for the site. As a result of the neighborhood traffic conditions, the facility was excluded. . C/Goldenberg moved, C/Fong seconded, to approve the extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 94-4(1), Findings of Fact, and conditions as listed within the resolution. The motion was approved 4-0 with.0/McManus r being absent. 2. Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Redevelopment y Plan for the Economic Revitalization Area (DEIR). Patrick Mann, Cotton/ Bel and/Associates, Inc. explained the components and conclusions of the Draft Environmental Impact Report. Chair/Ruzicka opened the public hearing. Seeing no one present who wished to speak on this item, Chair/Ruzicka.closed the public hearing. CDD/DeStefano reminded the public that additional comments will be accepted by the Diamond Bar Redevelopment Agency through April 25, 1997. OLD BUSINESS: NEW BUSINESS: 1. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR DETERMINING CONSISTENCY WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE DIAMOND BAR ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION AREA. CDD/DeStefano presented the staff report. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt a Resolution determining consistency with the General Plan APRIL 8, 1997 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION and recommending adoption of the Redevelopment Plan for the Diamond Bar Economic Revitalization Area. Felise Acosta and Hitta Mosesman, Rosenow Spevacek Group Inc., presented an overview of the Redevelopment Plan and how it relates', to the City's and', Agency's goalsto revitalize the proposed project area. The Planning Commission is being asked to find conformity with the City's General Plan and to recommend that the Redevelopment Agency and City Council approve the Redevelopment .,Plan for the Diamond Bar Economic Revitalization area. Ms. Acosta responded to C/Goldenberg that impair ,ed investment is a redevelopment law term that classifies economic blight. The' term is generally applied to properties that are excessively vacant, suffer declining values and are not' worth economic improvement due to investment factors that 'render the property non - economical. The agency powers must conform to the City's General'Plan. The information compiled by Economic Research Associates consulting group is a vital component of the reports before the Planning Commission for consideration. Ms. Acosta explained to VC/Schad that community redevelopment -law requires that in order for an agency, to collect any tax increment revenue, it must have incurred debt. The agency must have debt on its books that islat least equal to the increment collected in any given year. debt by having the city loaniit Many agencies incur money. Agencies initially incur debt through the process of adopting a project area. Annually, on October 1, each agency within California must file a Statement of Indebtedness with the County Auditor Controller in order to receive the tax increment check. The debt limit, required by law, is based upon analysis of the greatest potential annual percentage of projected debt. The debt limit is an arbitrary legal limit which sets the maximum amount of debt allowed at any one time during the 45 year plan. A city may not issue debt that it cannot support. Responding to Chair/Ruzicka, Ms. Acosta coirmedet vthat $220,000,000 is the projected tax increment enue anticipated during the 45 year plan. The agency may not exceed $60,000,000 in total debt at any one time. Once the plan is adopted, the only way the debt'limit can be changed is by an amendment to the Redevelopment Plan. Assembly Bill 1290 requires an amendment to the redevelopment plan which involves a lengthy public hearing -process similar to the current ongoing adoption plan process. 11 APRIL 8, 1997 PAGE 5 :; PLANNING COMMISSION Ms. Acosta responded to Chair/Ruzicka that the debt of a redevelopment agency is not the debt of the city. This information is fully disclosed in statement viewed by potential bond purchasers. The investor assumes earthquake risk when it purchases California G.O. Bonds or Department of Water and Power Energy Revenue Bonds. VC/Schad asked if a redevelopment agency can play a role in open space preservation. Ms. Acosta cited Goal No. 9 of the redevelopment agency plan. As long as the agency had the resources available and it met the needs of the redevelopment plan, the preservation of open spaces could be considered by the agency. Responding to C/Fong, Ms. Acosta stated redevelopment agencies do not have power to tax. The agency receives the increase in taxes that are generated by increases in values. When property values increase as a result of revitalization, the related property tax increase is r returned to the redevelopment agency. x Ms. Acosta stated that over the past three years, Diamond Bar residential property values have continued to increase while industrial and commercial values have decreased. Chair/Ruzicka opened the public hearing. Seeing no one present who wished to speak on this item, Chair/Ruzicka closed the public hearing. CDD/DeStefano pointed out the list of properties slated for revitalization was amended by the City Council and staff. He presented the revised Resolution. Responding to C/Fong, ACA Susskind recommended Item B. RESOLUTIONS: 3 be reworded as follows: "The Planning Commission hereby recommends approval of the Redevelopment Plan for the Diamond 'Bar Economic Revitalization Area. In the event that, prior to the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan, the Agency or City Council desires to clarify or refine the list of proposed public improvements referred to in the Plan, or to make other minor technical or clarifying changes to the Redevelopment Plan, the Planning Commission hereby finds and determines that any such changes need not be referred to it for further report and recommendation." Without objection, the Commission concurred with the recommended change. APRIL 8, 1997 PAGE 6 PLANNING COMMISSION vC/Schad moved, C/Fong seconded, to adopt the amended Resolution determining consistency with the General Plan and recommending adoption of the Redevelopment Plan for the Diamond Bar Economic Revitalization Area. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS - None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: CAD/DeStefano stated the list of Planning Commission Goals & objectives and projects for the 1997-1998 fiscal year will be ission at its April 22, 1997 meeting. provided to the Comm SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: C/Goldenberg reminded the Commission that the City's 81th Anniversary Celebration will be held on Sunday, April 20, 1997 at Peterson Park from 12:00 noon to 5:00 P.M. On April 26 and 217, 1997, the El Toro Marine Airbase will conduct its final air sholw. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, VC/Schad moved, C/Fong seconded, to adjourn the meeting. Chair/Ruzicka adjourned the meeting at 9:07 to April 22, i 1997. Res ctfu y b ' ted, Js DeStefano C =unity Development Director Attest: P ' f R icka Chair an