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Home My WebLink About7/11/2006MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 11, 2006 CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/G)overnment Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Everett led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Ron Everett, Kwang Ho Lee and Vice - Chairman Steve Nelson. Absent: Commissioner Tony Torng was excused. Also present: Nancy Fong, Community Development Director; Ann Lungu, Associate Planner; 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 June 13, 2006. C/Lee moved, C/Everett seconded to approve the minutes of June 27, 2006, as changed. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT 5. OLD BUSINESS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: None 6. NEW BUSINESS: None Everett, Lee, VC/Nelson None Torng JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 7.1 Development Review No. 2006-12/Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-07 - In accordance with Sections 22.48, 22.56, and 22.68 of the City of Diamond Bar Development Code, this was a request to construct an addition of approximately 2,163 square feet with patios; balconies approximately 464 square feet, and additional driveway parking to the existing 2,601 square feet legal non -conforming single-family residence including the existing two -car garage. PROJECT ADDRESS: 24418 Top Court Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 PROPERTY OWNER/ Himanshu D. and Bhavna H. Tanna APPLICANT: 24418 Top Court Diamond Bar, CA 91765 DSA/Smith presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2006-12 and Minor Conditional Use Permit 2006-07, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. DSA/Smith explained to C/Lee and C/Everett staffs application of the City Code to parking spaces and the driveway. C/Everett was also concerned about drainage. DSA/Smith assured C/Everett that the City's Public Works Division and Building and Safety Division would monitor the drainage. CDD/Fong said that more extensive erosion control would be required for projects that commence after October 1 (rainy season) in order to assure that silt and building materials are not allowed to enter the City's drainage system. C/Everett reiterated that he was still very concerned about the parking exposure for the applicant and the applicant's neighbors. VC/Nelson opened the public hearing. Pete Volbeda, architect, explained the proposed project. The entire site drains from the rear of the property to the street and the applicant will submit grading and drainage plans as required by the City. Mr. Volbeda felt that there would be a maximum of four cars parked on the site. C/Everett reiterated that the parking really bothered him. He complimented JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION Mr. Volbeda on the design of the project. Mr. Volbeda said he read staff's report and concurred with the conditions of approval. VC/Nelson closed the public hearing. C/Lee moved, C/Everett seconded to approve Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-06 and Development Review No. 2006-10, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as amended and as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Everett, VC/Nelson NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Torng 7.2 Development Review No. 2006-20 — In accordance with Sections 22.42 and 22.48 of the City of Diamond Bar Development Code, the applicant requested approval of plans to construct roof mounted wireless communications facilities and equipment cabinets, as well as various surface mounted antennas on the existing Holiday Inn. The site is fully developed with a multi -story hotel. The subject property consists of 3.5 -acres of land. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWINER/ 21725 E. Gateway Center Drive (Holiday Inn Select) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Oak Creek, LTD. Partnership 21725 E. Gateway Center Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: Royal Street, LLC Maree Hoeger, Project Manager 350 Commerce, Suite 200 Irvine, CA 92601 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 CDD/Fong reported that in accordance with the applicant's request to continue the project in order to have additional time to provide adequate and appropriate screening for the cell sites, staff recommended that this matter be continued to August 8, 2006. JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION VC/Nelson opened the public hearing. There was no one present who wished to speak on this item. C/Everett moved, C/Lee seconded to continue Development Review No. 2006-20 and Conditional Use Permit 2006-07 to August 8, 2006. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Everett, Lee, VC/Nelson NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Torng 7.3 Development Review No. 2006-24 and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-06 - In accordance with Code Section 22.48.020(a)(1), this was a request to construct a first and second story addition of approximately 1,960 square feet to an existing one-story single-family residence of approximately 3,299 square feet including the existing three -car garage. The Minor Conditional Use Permit was a request to maintain the existing five-foot side yard setbacks for the proposed addition. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: 1456 Redpost Court (Lot 62, Tract 31153) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Sunil Manaktala 1456 Redpost Court Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: Ramon Sales 2711 Benedict Street Los Angeles, CA 90039 AssocP/Lungu presented staffs report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2006-24 and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-06, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. CDD/Fong responded to C/Everett that landscaping was addressed on page 8 under Planning Commission Special Conditions of the Resolution. JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION VC/Nelson opened the public hearing. Sunil Manaktala, property owner, stated he read staff's report and concurred with the conditions of approval. Mr. Manaktala indicated to C/Everett that he was not aware of any homeowners' association in his area. With no one present to speak on this matter, VC/Nelson closed the public hearing. C/Lee felt this was a very exciting project for the area. C/Lee moved, VC/Nelson seconded to approve Development Review No. 2006-24 and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-06, Findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONER& Lee, Everett, VC/Nelson NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Torng PLANNING COMMSSIONER COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Lee thanked staff for great reports. C/Everett thanked the applicants for presenting good projects and being willing to stand behind them. He thanked staff for good reports as always. He wanted staff to follow up on the "finger" piece of property that belonged to an adjacent property of a project discussed during the last Commission meeting because the landscape was in poor condition and would, in his opinion, readily burn. CDD/Fong assured C/Everett that staff would follow up on his concern. 9. STAFF COMMENTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 9.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. CDD/Fong announced that during a special meeting on Monday, July 10, the City Council appointed Jim DeStefano as the new City Manager effective July 31, 2006. JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 6 PLANNING COMMISSION CDD/Fong asked the Commissioners if they would like to hold a design workshop or appoint two Commissioners to serve as a Design Review Subcommittee for the proposed 99 single-family condominium JCC Homes development south of South Point Middle School. The homes range from 3,200 to 3,600 square feet. Most of the homes are proposed to be three-story. Staff is concerned that this is a product that Diamond Bar has not seen and there are design issues that need to be addressed. During the design workshop such issues as land use, subdivision issues, etc. cannot be discussed. The only discussion point is the design of the project i.e., size of the lots, setbacks and design of the product and the structure and, whether the builder is creating a "quality" neighborhood. C/Everett felt that all of the Commissioners should be involved. VC/Nelson agreed and felt that potential Brown Act violations would likely be avoided if all Commissioners were involved. His philosophy as an environmental planner is that there are many people to accommodate over the next couple of decades in Southern California and it is his opinion that it is not cost-effective to keep building "out" at the expense of open space and transportation systems. Cities need to begin to look responsibly at alternative housing designs and he agreed with C/Everett that these types of projects could be done very attractively. If the project accommodates a need it has value. In addition to having a design workshop it would behoove JCC to provide examples of projects that could be visited by the Planning Commissioners. VC/Nelson said he would have to recuse himself because his company performed the technical biological work on the project. CDD/Fong said that staff agreed with the comments that if the housing stock is to be increased in Diamond Bar quality and livable neighborhoods must be created in which residents can feel a sense of pride. Staff is seeking consensus on a direction for the project. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. JULY 11, 2006 PAGE 7 PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, VC/Nelson adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, -"I ii2�- Nancy Fong Community De to Director Received and Filed 4Ax, "V -I, (Steve Nelson, Vice Chairman