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Home My WebLink About1/11/2005MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Nolan called the meeting to order at 7:05p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Low led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Dan Nolan, Vice Chairman Jack Tanaka and Commissioners Ruth Low, Joe McManus and Steve Tye. Also present: James DeStefano, Assistant City Manager, Nancy Fong, Planning Manager, Linda Smith, Development Services Associate and Stella Marquez, Senior Administrative Assistant. 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 December 14, 2004. VC/Tanaka moved, CITye seconded to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 14, 2004, as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5. OLD BUSINESS: 6. NEW BUSINESS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: None None VC/Tanaka, Tye, Low, McManus, Chair Nolan None None JANUARY 11, 2005 7 Page 2 PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS): None 7.1 Development Review No. 2004-41. In accordance with DBMC Section 22.48, this was a request to remodel and construct an approximate 1,617 square foot two story addition with 192 square feet of patio cover/deck at the rear, and to remodel the existing 1,669 livable square foot, one story single-family residence with a two car garage. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER/ APPLICANT: 2260 Evergreen Springs Drive (Lot 84, Tract 25978) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 John P. and Reyna O. Melendez 2260 Evergreen Springs Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 DSA/Smith presented staff's report. Staff recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2004-41, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Nolan opened the public hearing. With no one present who wished to speak on this item, Chair/Nolan closed the public hearing. C/Tye moved, C/Low seconded to approve Development Review No. 200441, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed in the Resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Tye, Low, McManus, V/C Tanaka, Chair Nolan NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS: Chair/Nolan asked how the City fared during the recent rainfall. ACM/DeStefano said that to date the City had suffered little damage as a result of the significant rainfall. There were a few fallen trees on private and public property and the primary concern was at the Diamond Bar Center where a couple of the newly created slopes JANUARY 11, 2005 Page 3 PLANNING COMMISSION had some minor failure in the form of sloughs that staff was watching. He said that repairs could be costly. C/McManus asked if the tree that fell onto Grand Avenue was the responsibility of the property owner. ACM/DeStefano responded that the tree that fell across Grand close to Rolling Knoll was on private property and fell into the public right-of-way. Closer to Longview/Summitridge, certain trees immediately adjacent to the sidewalk were on City property. He was not sure who cleaned it up so quickly. 9. STAFF COMMENTS AND INFORMATION ITEMS: ACMIDeStefano reported that the Jerry Yeh subdivision was approved by the City Council on January 4 as recommended by the Planning Commission and that the State of the City event was scheduled for Thursday morning, January 13 at the Diamond Bar Center. ACMIDeStefano stated that at the request of the City Attorney an agenda item would be added to the Planning Commission agenda of January 25 that was a matter that involved a substitution clause within the City's Sign Code. Legal maneuvering was taking place across California that requires cities to ensure that they had a "substitution clause" in their sign codes that allowed non-commercial speech on legal commercial signs. Assuming Planning Commission approval, the matter is scheduled for City Council consideration on February 1. C/Low asked if staff had an update regarding the Lewis Development. ACMIDeStefano responded that the retail portion was proceeding. Two retailers, Home Depot and Target continue to compete for the anchor position. Staff hopes to have a final decision as to the anchor by the end of January and the anchor will determine the look of the balance of the center. He and PM/Fong met with Brookfield, the residential builder to discuss a reduced version of the project from 200 units to about 185 units. The Planning Commission will likely see the details in a formal subdivision application in about two to three months. According to the developer the project should be under construction by late summer. The church wants to delay construction on their property so it is likely that Lewis will build the replacement parking spaces behind the existing church with the new sanctuary being constructed in another year ortwo. Finally, the City and Lewis are involved in moving forward with physical improvements such as traffic signals adjacent to the site and widening of Golden Springs Drive near Grand Avenue and Grand Avenue from Golden Springs to the first signal as well as construction of left turn pockets about April 2005. The anchor tenant should be completed by April 2006 and the City's work along Grand Avenue/Golden Springs completed by March 2006. The JANUARY 11, 2005 Page 4 PLANNING COMMISSION Lewis project at Site D is at a standstill because Lewis and the City disagree on the use of the property. Lewis wants residential and the City wants commerciallretail ACMIDeStefano responded to C/Tye that Lewis is scheduled to close escrow on the church property in late July with the property reverting to the anchor tenant. The hospital property is owned by Lewis and is under contract to be purchased by Brookfield. Lewis is in escrow with a two-year agreement with a one-year option to purchase Site D. C/Tye wanted to know why the school district was involved in the discussion about what occurred with Site D. ACMIDeStefano explained that the school district looks for new forms of revenue to build capital facilities. Their short list includes the so- called academies project across from South Point Middle School for which they need $30-35 million. The school district proposes to sell Site D for $21 million so it is important for them to participate in discussions regarding the sale and use thereof because Lewis will not complete the transaction unless they are certain they can glean a profit and Lewis claims they cannot make a profit unless it is purely residential. C/McManus said that residents have indicated to him that they want easy access to commercial retail so that they do not have to navigate the freeways to purchase goods and service and in his opinion, staff is right -on about wanting retail at the site. C/Low asked for an update on the supermarket vacancy at the Country Hills Towne Centre. ACMIDeStefano said he was told today that an anchor market inked a letter of intent to occupy. It is a Chinese grocery store, not Ranch 99 but an independent operator and will be a 38,000 square feet high-end upscale store. Michael McCarthy, the center's developer, intends to submit revised drawings the end of January and the Planning Commission will likely review the proposed project in March of this year. Mr. McCarthy plans to close the theater in the next couple of weeks for repair and depending on the outcome he may or may not reopen it. Chair/Nolan asked for an update on the Walnut Valley Trailer Park property. ACMIDeStefano responded that there had not been much activity with respect to that property. The City continues to work with the current property owner. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. JANUARY 11, 2005 Page 5 PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Nolan adjourned the meeting at 7:42 p.m. pectfully- ubmitted, .dames DeStefano Assistant City Manager Attest: . 4'�7 Dan Nolan, Chairman