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Home My WebLink About10/23/20011 1 1 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 23, 2001 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Zirbes called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Nelson led in the pledge of allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Bob Zirbes, Vice Chairman Joe Ruzicka, and Commissioners George Kuo, Steve Nelson, and Steve Tye. Also Present: James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager, Ann Lungu, Associate Planner, Linda Smith, Development Services Assistant, and Stella Marquez, Administrative Secretary. 2. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None offered. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 9, 2001. C/Tye asked that Item 8.2 on page 5 be corrected to reflect the roll call vote. With that correction, C/Tye moved, C/Nelson seconded, to approve the minutes for the regular October 9, 2001, meeting as corrected. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: 5. OLD BUSINESS: None 6. NEW BUSINESS: None 7. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS: Kuo, Nelson, Tye, VC/Ruzicka, Chair/Zirbes None None None OCTOBER 23, 2001 8. PUBLIC HEARING: PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 8.1 Conditional Use Permit No. 99-3(1)/Development Review No. 99-6(1) (pursuant to Code Section 22.66.050.C.) is a request for a one-year extension of time for a project approved by the Planning Commission on November 23, 1999. The Planning Commission approval allows the construction of an office building of approximately 13,325 square feet to be utilized for office and as a research laboratory facility for automobile emissions testing. The extension of time, if approved, will allow the continuation of this entitlement until November 23, 2002. PROJECT ADDRESS: 1575 S. Valley Vista Drive (Lot 13 of Tract No. 39679) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) 1575 S. Valley Vista Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 AssocP/Lungu presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve a one-year extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 99-3(1) and Development Review No. 99-6(1), Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval, as listed within the resolution. Paulette Farris, Accounting Director, SEMA, was available for questions from the Commission. In response to C/Tye, Ms. Farris explained that negotiations with AAA Auto Club of Southern California have taken longer than expected. VC/Ruzicka moved, C/Tye seconded, to approve a one-year extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 99-03(1) and Development Review No. 99-6(1), Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval, as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Kuo, Nelson, Tye, VC/Ruzicka, Chair/Zirbes None None 8.2 Development Code Amendment No. 2001.03 (pursuant to Code Section 22.44) is -- a request to amend the following Articles of the Development Code: OCTOBER 23, 2001 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION Article II *Section 22.08.240, Table 2 -4 -Residential District General Development Standards: amendment relates to increasing lot coverage; Article III •Section 22.34.030.D. — Single-family Standards: amendment relates to landscape maintenance standards; •Section 22.34.040.E. — Multi -family Standards: amendment related to landscape maintenance standards; *Section 22.34.050.D. — Commercial Standards: amendment relates to landscape maintenance standards; *Section 22.34.060.D. — Industrial Standards: amendment relates to landscape maintenance standards; •Section 22.42.060.B.10. — Parcel coverage: amendment relates to lot coverage; Article V •Section 22.68.030.B.1. — Changes to, or expansion of, a structure: amendment relates to increasing lot coverage; Article VI •Section 22.80.020, Definitions — "S": amendment relates to the definition for site coverage; PROJECT ADDRESS: Citywide APPLICANT: City of Diamond Bar 21825 E. Copley Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 AssocP/Lungu presented staff's report. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt recommending City Council approval of Development Code amendment No. 2001-03 and Negative Declaration No. 2001-04. Chair/Zirbes opened the public hearing. OCTOBER 23, 2001 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION Ralph James, West Coast Custom Rooms, 786 Pinefalls Avenue, Walnut, said that over the past couple of years his firm has lost a number of opportunities to build patio additions for Diamond Bar residents because of the requirements imposed by the 30 percent lot coverage requirement. Richard Malooly said he sees no negative impact by allowing lot coverage to be increased to 40 percent and hopes the Commission will consider the increase. Harry An said he has no concept of what 30 percent or 40 percent looks like and suggested renderings of the different percentages would be helpful. Chair/Zirbes closed the public hearing. There was general concurrence that 40 percent lot coverage in conjunction with elimination of paving for vehicle use from site coverage criteria is a reasonable solution that will make small additions more affordable for residential homeowners. Chair/Zirbes suggested Item D — Landscape Maintenance read as follows: Front yards and side setback areas visible from the streets shall be landscaped with lawns, trees, shrubs and other plant material, and shall be permanently maintained in a neat and orderly manner. All lot areas shall be substantially free of weeds, debris and dead, diseased or dying vegetation, etc.". Following extensive discussion, VC/Ruzicka moved to adopt a resolution recommending City Council approval of Development Code Amendment No. 2001-03 and Negative Declaration No. 2001-04. C/Tye seconded the motion and asked that the motion be amended to retain Rural Residential lot coverage at 30 percent. VC/Ruzicka agreed to the amendment. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kuo, Nelson, Tye, VC/Ruzicka, Chair/Zirbes NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 9. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS: C/Nelson credited staff for their presentation on Item 8.2. Prior to the presentation, the proposal did not feel right to him. He was able to support the proposed development code amendment when he understood that the proposal addressed small additions such as bump -outs and patios. VC/Ruzicka concurred with C/Nelson. His concern was to differentiate between what Diamond Bar wants and what was dumped on the City by Los Angeles County. He hopes staff will bring back language to take care of the hillside and slope maintenance situation. r, OCTOBER 23, 2001 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION C/Tye thanked DCM/DeStefano and the Planning Staff for getting the equipment at the top of Diamond Bar Boulevard (Pulte Homes) camouflaged. 10. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: < 10.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. As agendized. 11. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chairman Zirbes adjourned the meeting at 8:26 p.m. Attest: Chairman Bob Zirbes Respectfully Submitted, ON—)—P James DeStefano Deputy City Manager