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Home My WebLink About3/23/1999MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 23, 1999 CALL TO ORDER:, Chairman Tye called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Kuo. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Steve Tye, Vice Chairman Steve Nelson and Commissioners George Kuo, Joe McManus and Joe Ruzicka. Also Present: James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager, Linda Smith, Development Services Assistant; Sonya Joe, Development Services Assistant, and Stella Marquez, Administrative Secretary. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1. Minutes of March 9, 1999. C/Kuo moved, C/Ruzicka seconded, to approve the minutes of March 9, 1999, as presented. Motion carried 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: None NEW BUSINESS: None PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Development Review No. 99-2 (pursuant to Code Section 22.48.020.A) is a request for approval to construct a two-story office building of approximately 42,720 gross square feet (40,900 net square feet) to be utilized for general office purposes. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1520 S. Bridge Gate Drive (Lot 15, Tract No. 39679) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 MARCH 23, 1999 PROPERTY OWNER: APPLICANT: PAGE 2 Diamond Bar Associates c/o AEW Capital Management, LP 601 S. Figueroa, Suite 2150' Los Angeles, CA 90017 Opus West Corporation 2030 Main Street, Suite 520 Irvine, CA 92614 DCM/DeStefano presented staffs report. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve Development Review No. 99-2, Findings of Fact and conditions listed within the resolution subject to the following recommended modification: That Condition 0) be reworded to read: "The applicant shall provide a crosswalk in the vicinity ofLot 15 and Lot 12 to connect the existing and proposed sidewalks, to the satisfaction of the City Engineer." I In response to C/McManus, DCM/DeStefano presented a drawing of the proposed crosswalk. He explained the location of existing and proposed sidewalk in the immediate area of the proposed project. He further explained the intent of the City Engineer to provide pedestrian linkage throughout the Gateway Corporate Center. C/Kuo pointed out a typographical error on the parking space chart located on Page 4 of staffs report. 153 parking spaces should be corrected to 173 parking spaces. He asked for an explanation of the effectiveness of the proposed traffic mitigation measures. DCM/DeStefano explained that without the implementation of a number of traffic improvements, the level of service (LOS) at Copley Drive and Golden Springs Drive will drop from an acceptable level of C to F. Staff anticipates the installation of a number of different improvements such as lengthening the left throat ingress to Copley Drive, modification of the signal to accommodate the new length of throat, as well as, the related phasing, creating two right turn lanes and two left turn lanes out of Copley Drive, modifying the median in front of Lot 23, etc. C/Ruzicka stated his concerns about the already congested intersection of Grand Avenue at Golden Springs Drive. He asked if the proposed mitigation measures will take care of increased traffic at that intersection. DCM/DeStefano responded that a Comprehensive Environmental Impact Report was produced for the Gateway Corporate Center. Built into that EIR was anticipated buildouts of various product types within the Center. Built into the mitigation measures for the anticipated traffic impacts was a long list of public improvements on Golden Springs Drive and its immediate vicinity. The mitigation measures included signalization, medians, etc., that currently exist. In addition, the developers of the Gateway Corporate Center contributed about $380,000 to the City of Diamond Bar for "downstream" mitigation which included Golden Springs Drive - Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive - Brea Canyon Road, where improvements have been ongoing over the years. This project has met its obligation in contributing to the anticipated impacts. This project will add to the congestion at Golden Springs Drive and Grand Avenue. However, it has paid its mitigation for those impacts. The MARCH 23, 1999 PAGE 3- increased congestion is more a product of transient cut-through traffic. The thousands of building permits that have been issued and constructed in Chino Hills, for example, has had an enormous impact upon Grand Avenue. Chair/Tye stated that one of the conditions for approval of Development Review No. 98-15 and 98-16 was to "restripe the northbound approach on Copley Drive to provide one left turn and dual right turn lanes, and modify the existing traffic signal accordingly. The identified improvements which will be conditions of approval are expected to mitigate the traffic." The identical condition is found on Page 6 of this project. He asked why all three projects contain the same conditions. DCM/DeStefano explained that the repeated conditions are deliberate. The conditions came about as a result of the traffic study that was conducted at the time which took into consideration the anticipated development within the various lots. The conditions are repeated to insure that the improvements are captured by the development. If Lot 22 or Lot 12 is never constructed, the improvements are never implemented. Therefore, the condition insures that the improvements are implemented by repeating the condition for each of the four projects that were a part of the original traffic study. Chair/Tye asked why the focus of the conditions is on Copley Drive and not the same at Gateway Center Drive. DCM/DeStefano stated that the traffic consultant has not recommended consideration of this type of condition at Gateway Center Drive. Based upon the engineering assessment, the assumption is that the majority of the trip generation will be from Copley Drive moving toward Grand Avenue. The majority of the development will be coming off of Copley Drive and Bridge Gate Drive. Jeff Hill, Opus West Corporation, explained the proposed project. He explained that the applicant asked the traffic consultant to look at all three projects in total. The traffic studies have shown that the Gateway Center Drive at Golden Springs Drive intersection is not nearly as impacted as the Copley Drive at Golden Springs Drive intersection. The proposed building is a spec building. There is no specific tenant contemplated for the building at this time. Chair/Tye opened the public hearing. There being no one who wished to speak on this item, Chair Tye closed the public hearing. C/Ruzicka stated his concerns regarding the impact of parking lot lighting and building signage with respect to residents living on the ridge above the project. VC/Nelson asked that language be added to the conditions to provide for minimal impact of lighting upon animals in the immediate area of the project. i _ e MARCH 23, 1999 PAGE 4 VC/Nelson moved, C/Ruzicka seconded, to approve Development Review 99-2, Findings of Fact and conditions as listed within the resolution with staffs recommended amendment to Condition 5. 0) and with the following statement be added to Condition 5. (d) on Page 6: "The applicant shall install lighting with shielding to insure that it not glare or spill' onto adjacent residential properties." Jeff MR stated that he has no issue with the proposed statement. However, he wants to be certain that he complies with the Sheriff Department's safety and security requirement. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kuo, McManus, Ruzicka, VC/Nelson, Chair/Tye NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS: C/Kuo stated he is looking forward to attending the Planners Institute in order to learn more about becoming a professional and contribute more to the community. VC/Nelson said he will be unable to attend the Planners Institute because of family commitments. Chair/Tye congratulated VC/Nelson on the occasion of his 25th Wedding Anniversary. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: DCMJDeStefano stated that as Hearing Officer for Administrative Development Review applications, he tonight took action to defer the matter of a room addition to an existing house within "The Country Estates" to the Planning Commission because the project will require a front yard setback variance. This item will be scheduled for the April 13, 1999 meeting. Opus West has submitted an amendment to Lot 22. It is the intent of Opus West to seek approval for retaining was surrounding the building on Lot 22 in order to generate about 50-60 additional parking spaces. This project will be an item before the Planning Commission on April 13. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As agendized. MARCH 23, 1999 PAGE 5, ADJOURNMENT: C/McManus moved, C/Kuo seconded, to adjourn the meeting. There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chair/Tye adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, 7 Jal s DeStefano Secretary to the Planning Commission Attest: d C Steve Tye Chairman