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Home My WebLink About10/28/2003MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 28, 2003 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Tye called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Ma nagement/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 East Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Tanaka led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Steve Tye; Vice Chairman Dan Nolan; and Commissioners Jack Tanaka; and Osman Wei. Commissioner Steve Nelson was excused. Also present: James DeStefano, Deputy City Manager; Ann Lungu, Associate Planner; Linda Smith, Development Services Assistant; and Marisa Somenzi, Administrative Assistant. 2. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Approval of October 14, 2003, Regular Meeting minutes. C/Tanaka moved, VC/Nolan seconded, to approve the October 14, 2003, Regular Meeting minutes as corrected. Motion carried by the following Roll Calf vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Tanaka, Wei, VC/Nolan, Chair/Tye NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Nelson 5. OLD BUSINESS: None fi. NEW BUSINESS: None OCTOBER 28, 2003 Page 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7.1 Development Review No. 2003-17 and Minor Variance No. 2003-12 pursuant to Code Sections 22.48.020(a)(2) and 22.52.020(4) is a request for a land use intensification to convert a commercial center's retail suite to a Subway restaurant and to permit a 20 percent decrease in the required number of off-street parking spaces. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: APPLICANT: 508 N. Diamond Bar Boulevard Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Robert C. Williams P.O. Box 213 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 Suryankant Patel 3444 Marble Ridge Drive Chino Hills, CA 91709 DSA/Smith presented staff's report. Staff recommends Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2003-17 and Minor Variance No. 2003-12, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. DSA/Smith indicated that due to the recent fires, Mr. Williams was unable to attend tonight's meeting. Mr. Williams indicated to DSA/Smith that he read staff's report and concurred with the conditions of approval. Suryankant Patel, Applicant, said he has owned a restaurant in Diamond Bar for the past 10 years and wishes to open a second restaurant. He pointed out the benefits to the City and asked for Commission approval. He responded to Chair/Tye that he concurred with the conditions of approval. Chair/Tye opened the public hearing. There was no one present who wished to testify on this matter. Chair/Tye closed the public hearing. Although Chair/Tye was somewhat concerned about the parking, he favored the project. 1 r 1 OCTOBER 28, 2003 Page 3 PLANNING COMMISSION VC/Nolan moved, C/Wei seconded, to approve Development Review No. 2003-17 and Minor Variance No. 2003-12, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: DOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Tanaka, Wei, VC/Nolan, Chair/Tye None Nelson 7.2 Conditional Use Permit 2003-03, Development Review No. 2003-13 and Minor Variance No. 2003-07 (pursuant to Code Section 22.42.130(8)(4), 22.58, 22.48 and 22.54) is a request to install a wireless telecommunications facility with antennas mounted on a monopole camouflaged as a broad leaf tree and equipment cabinet. The Development Review relates to architectural design review. The Minor Variance relates to the height of the broad leaf tree monopole that exceeds the maximum allowable 35 -foot height. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: Eastgate Water Reservoir 24500 Eastgate Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Walnut Valley Water District 271 S. Brea Canyon Road Walnut, CA 91789 APPLICANT: Spring PCS Assets, LLC 18200 Von Karman Avenue Irvine, CA 92612 DSA/Smith presented staff's report. Staff recommends Planning Commission approval of Conditional Use Permit 2003-03, Development Review No. 2003-13 and Minor Variance no. 2003-07, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Tye felt that 15 -gallon shrubs would serve to camouflage the site better than 5 -gallon shrubs. If staff felt that 5 -gallon shrubs were sufficient he would concur. DSA/Smith believed that 5 -gallon shrubs would be sufficient. Gary Castle, Starbridge Communications, complimented staff on an excellent presentation. He concurred with staff's approval and conditions of approval. OCTOBER 28, 2003 Page 4 PLANNING COMMISSION He indicated that Sprint would not remove any of the current foliage. If anything were damaged, it would be replaced. VC/Nolan asked for an explanation of the 37 feet versus 35 feet for the height. He understood the applicant needed two feet for camouflage and asked why it could not be 33 feet with two feet of camouflage on top. Mr. Castle explained that in this case, this site stands alone. The problem is the surrounding sites. When Starbridge tried the lower levels (33 feet and lower) the match was not there. In addition, the 32 -foot height of the water tank presented a problem. His company was attempting to obtain a 360 - degree circumference and the water tanks blocked access to a site on the opposite side. Therefore, it was more feasible to place the antenna at 35 - feet. VC/Nolan asked if this site would improve black spots along Grand Avenue toward Chino Hills. Mr. Castle explained that during certain times of the day the frequencies were not available especially during peak traffic hours. He could not say with certainty that the purpose of this site was to "fill in" those black spots along Grand Avenue although he felt it might help. C/Wei asked the diameter of the antenna without the camouflage, Why is it not feasible to camouflage from the top of the antenna down? What is the coverage radius of the site? Mr. Castle responded that his company tries to set up every antenna site with a 360 -degree circumference. The shooting distance has to do with the height of the antenna. The radius of this site is as little as one mile and as much as one and one-half miles. The three sector antennas are six feet high x three inches deep. The concept of the camouflage tree is to provide branches above, around and below the .entire antenna array. If there were no camouflage above the antenna it would show. Mr. Castle assured Chair/Tye that the antenna would not be visible. Chair/Tye opened the public hearing. There was no one present who wished to speak on this item. Chair/Tye closed the public hearing. 1 Il OCTOBER 28, 2003 Page 5 PLANNING COMMISSION VC/Nolan moved, C/Tanaka seconded, to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 2003-03, Development Review No. 2003-13 and Minor Variance No. 2003-07, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Tanaka, Wei, VC/Nolan, Chair/Tye NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Nelson 8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTSANFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Tanaka asked everyone to please vote on November 4 and to remember those who have served their country on Tuesday, November 11. 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: DCM/DeStefano thanked the Commission, AA/Gonzales and AA/Somensi for working with and assisting the planning staff during AA/Marquez's absence. Staff presented a video prepared by Advantek to observe the City's 66 traffic signals in an effort to move traffic more effectively. Following the video presentation, DCM/DeStefano explained that the City Council asked if the presentation meant to summarize only key intersections or whether it was meant to summarize results of observing all 66 intersections. The answer was that the overall reduction of at least 10 percent improvement was representative of all 66 intersections in the City. Chair/Tye was most impressed with the left turn lane lead lag work improvements on westbound Grand Avenue. He was pleased to see that something was being done about traffic movement in the City. DCM/DeStefano reminded the Commissioners that the next regular meeting date of November 11 is a holiday and because there are no agenda items for that meeting, the meeting was canceled. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for November 25. DCM/DeStefano reported that the Four Corners Compass Workshop scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 was postponed to a future date to be determined. DCM/DeStefano further reported that tonight Commissioners were provided with a copy of the latest site plan for the Calvary Chapel retail project. Staff meets with Developer Lewis to discuss the EIR, site plan and other details. Yesterday staff received a letter from the Country Hills Towne Center developer requesting a zone change from C-1 to C-2, a matter that should come before the Planning Commission for consideration in the next month or so along with other possible OCTOBER 28, 2003 Page 6 PLANNING COMMISSION zone changes. Last week City Council approved expenditure to launch a proposal to 40,000 households to attract Trader Joe's to Diamond Bar Staff believes that the corner of Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive is the best location for such a business. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Planning Commission, Chairman Tye adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m. in memory of Alex Marquez, brother of Stella Marquez. Ily y4gbmitted, Jan -res UeSte�rapo Deputy City Manager Attest: Chairm` n Steve Tye