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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/13/2005MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman McManus called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Tye led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Chairman Joe McManus, Vice Chairperson Ruth Low, and Commissioners Dan Nolan, Tony Torng and Steve Tye. Also present: James DeStefano, Assistant City Manager; Nancy Fong, Planning Manager, Ann Lungu, Associate Planner and Stella Marquez, Senior Administrative Assistant. 2. PRESENTATION OF CITY TILES: 2.1. PRESENTATION TO PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARY, JAMES DESTAFANO. C/Torng said he felt very disappointed that ACM/DeStefano was leaving the City. However, he appreciated ACM/DeStefano's promise to give him a very detailed tour of the City tomorrow. VC/Low said it had been just fabulous working with ACM/DeStefano She remembered that his first call to her indicating he wanted her to come visit him felt like a summons to the principal's office. However, it was a wonderful meeting and ACM/DeStefano displayed his mastery and passion for the City of Diamond Bar. She was very sorry that Diamond Bar is losing ACM/DeStefano and the City's loss is Chino Hills' gain. She was very sad about his departure and that he is grace under pressure and the best wordsmith she has met. ACM/DeStefano has been a great asset to the Commission and to the City. C/Tye said it occurred to him that as of the 10th of this month ACM/DeStefano has been with the City for 15 years and C/Tye has been able to hassle ACM/DeStefano for 7 years and nine months of those 15 years. If ACM/DeStefano had shared with him that he was driving ACM/DeStefano crazy C/Tye would have gone first. C/Tye said he could not tell ACM/DeStefano how much the City would miss him because SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 2 PLANNING COMMISSION he was the elder statesman of the City. To be here for 15 years out of the 16 and one-half years that Diamond Bar had been a City was remarkable. What ACMlDeStefano brought to the City and to this Commission and to the leadership will be sorely missed and C/Tye said he was very sorry to see ACMlDeStefano go. C/Nolan told ACMlDeStefano that he was a true professional, an asset to the City and that he had been great in terms of all of the Commissions he had been involved with as witnessed by his leadership. ACMlDeStefano had moved the City forward through some very turbulent times and the City and this Commission will miss him. C/Nolan said he was always pleased to say that he was affiliated with ACMlDeStefano. He congratulated ACMlDeStefano and wished him good luck in Chino Hills. Chair/McManus said that in all of the years he had lived in Diamond Bar ACMlDeStefano was no doubt the greatest loss the City had suffered internally. Chair/McManus said he had spoken with several past Planning Commissioners as well as people who do business with the City and all were of one accord. This City and this Commission will miss ACM/DeStefano. ACM/DeStefano thanked the Commission and said that indeed he had been with the City 15 years as of Saturday, September 10. He said he had thoroughly enjoyed all venues that he was involved in including the Planning Commission and that he had worked with 20 different Planning Commissioners during the past 15 years. The Commission has been able to do a great many good things with the City including the General Plans, Development Codes, subdivisions, lots of new houses, lots of new projects, acquisition of open space and an enormous number of things over the years. For him one of the highlights is the culmination of the construction of the Target project. He said he was very happy that he was able to play a role in the project because it would be a huge economic asset for the City as well as its first new shopping center in 25 years. He said he was moving on to Chino Hills to do very similar work in a new environment with new challenges and new opportunities. While he was excited about the new endeavor he said he felt very guilty about leaving and losing the daily association with people in Diamond Bar. He said he would miss everyone and would carry a lot of good memories with him. 2.1.2 PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING PLANNING COMMISSIONER, STEVE TYE. C/Torng said that during the short time he served with C/Tye it was a fun time for him. He said that he respects C/Tye's heart and he thanked C/Tye for his service. SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 3 PLANNING COMMISSION VC/Low recalled that the first time she sat on the Planning Commission dais she had not realized the extent of C/Tye's wit whose legacy is that he leaves big shoes to fill. His years of service are evident in the way he looks at and analyzes a project and his questions indicate a concern for the applicant as well as the homeowner. She said she respected his care and concern for both the homeowner and the project and how a project would impact the City. She felt C/Tye was very dedicated as evidenced by his visit to all sites and that he consistently voted his heart and his conscience. She thanked C/Tye for his service to the City of Diamond Bar and said she was proud to have served with him. C/Nolan said that C/Tye had served on the Planning Commission for seven plus years and prior to that tenure, four years on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He has known C/Tye for several years and his rapier wit is his legacy. C/Nolan said he appreciated C/Tye's friendship, the way he thoroughly investigated everything the Commission had done and the City will miss his service on the Planning Commission. He said he wished C/Tye nothing but the best going forward. Chair/McManus said that in addition to his wit C/Tye had been a great help and support to each of the Commissioners. He said he appreciated C/Tye's thoroughness. C/Tye said he appreciated the kind words and recognition. He thanked ACM/DeStefano and PM/Fong. He said it was great to look around the City and realize the number of projects that had received a stamp of approval from the Planning Commission. There is still much to be done and C/Tye said he would miss serving on the Planning Commission. 3. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None Offered. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As Presented. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR: 5.1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 23, 2005. C/Nolan moved, VC/Low seconded to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes for August 23, 2005, as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Nolan, VC/Low, Torng, Tye, Chair/McManus None None SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 4 PLANNING COMMISSION 6. OLD BUSINESS: None 7. NEW BUSINESS: 7.1 PLANNING COMMISSION POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL. PM/Fong presented staff's report and asked the Commission to review the manual and forward their comments and recommendations to staff. 8. PUBLIC HEARING(S): 8.1 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW 2005-26. In accordance to Chapter 22.48 of the City of Diamond Bar Development Code the applicant requested approval of plans to construct an approximate 1,159 square foot first and second floor addition to an existing 1,417 square foot one-story single-family dwelling on an existing .020 acre R-1 8,000 zoned parcel with a consistent underlying General Plan Land Use designation of Low Medium Density Residential (RLM). PROXECT ADDRESS: 24347 Claywood Drive (Tract 42583, Lot 36; APN 8281-041-051) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 PROPERTY OWNER: Christopher and Debra Perrin 24347 Claywood Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: Pro Builder/Kenn Coble 449 W. Allen Avenue, Suite 109 San Dimas, CA 91773 AssocP/Lunge presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review 2005-26, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed with the resolution. Kenn Coble, applicant, said his firm designed the project to conform to the standards of neighborhood. Chair/McManus opened the public hearing. With no one present who wished to speak on this item, Chair/McManus closed the public hearing. SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 5 PLANNING COMMISSION C/Tye said he visited the site today. He noted that there were no objections from the neighbors and believed the project was well designed and conformed to the site and surrounding neighborhood. VC/Low said she too visited the site and agreed with C/Tye that it was well designed and fit nicely with the surrounding homes. She felt it would be a good addition to the neighborhood. C/Tye moved, C/Torng seconded, to approve Development Review 2005-26, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Tye, Torng, Nolan, VC/Low, Chair/McManus NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 9. PLANNING COMMSSIONER COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Torng wished ACM/DeStefano and C/Tye good luck. C/Tye told C/Torng he should soak up as much information as possible while he had the opportunity. He again thanked ACM/DeStefano for his leadership, professionalism and willingness to share his knowledge. He also thanked ACM/DeStefano for his guidance and said he appreciated that whether or not the Commissioners agreed with ACM/DeStefano's direction he was always professional. C/Tye felt that the City of Chino Hills had no idea how fortunate it was to get ACM/DeStefano and whatever they were paying him was not enough. C/Nolan echoed C/Tye's sentiments and said he would miss both ACM/DeStefano and C/Tye and wished them great things as they moved forward. VC/Low hoped that ACM/DeStefano would refer projects rejected by Chino Hills to Diamond Bar. She thanked ACM/DeStefano for his help and tact. She reiterated that it had been great serving with C/Tye. Chair/McManus said that all of the Commissioners appreciate ACM/DeStefano's efforts and talents and he will be sorely missed. SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 6 PLANNING COMMISSION 10. STAFF COMMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 10.1 Public Hearing elates for future projects. ACM/DeStefano reported that The Country Hills Towne Center is moving slowly but it is moving forward. Staff hopes to bring this item to the Commission at its last meeting in October or its first meeting in November. The Target project is underway. Over the next three months the applicant will grade the area and build giant retaining walls behind the store site and construction is scheduled to start in December or January and be completed in July or August with the opening slated for the first week of October 2006. ACM/DeStefano also reported that JCC was in escrow to purchase the property across from South Point Middle School. Kmart had not moved forward at a pace Preferred by the City because of the sluggishness of the merger between Kmart and Sears and because Kmart controls the lease on the property for another 45 years. It is likely that Kmart will have its way with the property unless the City steps in to use powers that have not been used in 15 years. He said he anticipated that by the end of the year the store would officially convert to a Sears Essentials. ACM/DeStefano opined that C/Tye had served on the Planning Commission for a long period of time and came to the Commission during an extraordinary time, at a crossroads for the City of Diamond Bar just after significant leadership changes on the City Council setting the Council and the community toward a proper path of a business -oriented City Council and decision-making process and a visionary view of where the City ought to be as time moved forward. There was no more fighting amongst City Council Members and Planning Commissioners once the new Council was seated after the election of 1997 and the new Commissioners were seated in 1998. It was a great time because C/Tye and others got to shape the City's future with the provisions that were clearly a part of with the creation of the Development Code, the Subdivision Ordinance, Design Guidelines and all of the things staff members refer to every two weeks along with all of the development over the past 10 years. C/Tye played a significant role in the development of the documents that for many years have been used by staff and embraced by the development and construction community. C/Tye has served his community well and as he seeks other opportunities in the City in the next few months he will continue to do so whether it is in a higher office or elsewhere as he continues to serve the City. ACM/DeStefano said he had very much enjoyed working with C/Tye and so have the other staff members. He thanked C/Tye for his service. PM/Fong responded to Chair/McManus that the owners of the burned out building on Pathfinder Road at Brea Canyon are very close to getting their building permit. SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 Page 7 PLANNING COMMISSION All plans were approved and all that remains are minor adjustments on the part of the applicant. C/Nolan asked if there were plans to repair the Diamond Bar Village sign. PM/Fong responded that staff contacted the property owner and the property manager and were promised that repairs or replacement would be forthcoming. VC/Low asked if it would be possible for staff to provide a brief status of approved projects during regular Commission meetings. For example, the shopping center on Lemon and Golden Springs was approved several months ago and there has been no apparent progress. In addition, the Vons project seemed to be moving forward and she would appreciate knowing the details. PM/Fong said staff would provide a list of approved projects with current status in the Commission agenda. 11. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/McManus adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m. Respectfully Sub Natty Fong, Penning Manager Attest: cManus, Chairman