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Home My WebLink About4/22/2008MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 22, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Nolan led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Kwang Ho Lee, Kathleen Nolan, Jack Shah and Vice Chairman Tony Torng, Chairman Steve Nelson Also present: Nancy Fong, Community Development Director; Greg Gubman, Planning Manager; Ann Lungu, Associate Planner; Brad Wohlenbeg, Assistant City Attorney; and Stella Marquez, Senior Administrative Assistant. 2. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 25, 2008. C/Lee moved, C/Nolan seconded to approve the March 25, 2008, Minutes as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: 5. OLD BUSINESS: None. 6. NEW BUSINESS: None. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Lee, Nolan, VC/Torng None Chair/Nelson None 7.1 Development Review No. 2008-07 — Under the authority of Development Code Section 22.48, the applicant requested approval to add approximately APRIL 22, 2008 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 1,112 square feet to enlarge the existing lobby of the Best Western Hotel in order to provide food service and additional offices. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER/ 259 Gentle Springs Lane Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Manish Patel Ratan Hospitality, LLC 1205 W. Sierra Madre Avenue Glendora, CA 91741 APPLICANT: EPIC Design Build 1232 Monte Vista Avenue #4 Upland, CA 91786 AssocP/Lungu presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2008-07, findings of Fact, and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Nelson asked how many semi -trucks with trailers might occupy the parking lot. AssocP/Lungu said she did not have specific data. When she drove by the site this morning there was one in the parking lot. Sometimes trucks park on Gentle Springs and staff is encouraging them to instead park on site. Chair/Nelson asked how street parking would be policed. CDD/Fong responded that because it is a private street the property owner is responsible for policing truck parking and that is why staff conditioned the project accordingly. C/Nolan stated she visited the site this afternoon, spoke with the front desk clerk and toured the site both front and rear. There was one truck parked in the front and there is ample parking available at the rear of the property. The proposed design for the facility is beautiful and the landscaping design is fabulous. She said she felt it was a great project. Chair/Nelson opened the public hearing. Marie Cunningham, EPIC Design Build, said she had no comments but was happy to address any questions or concerns the Commissioners might have. Chair/Nelson asked Ms. Cunningham to comment on street parking and whether the hotel expected such a large number that the trucks would find it necessary to park on the street. The goal is to keep trucks off of Gentle APRIL 22, 2008 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION Springs. Ms. Cunningham said she felt it was a reasonable request. The amount of rigs varies but generally does not exceed more than three or four at one time. The truckers used to park in the Kmart lot but were asked not to do so. Chair/Nelson asked if the hotel planned to regulate the matter and Ms. Cunningham responded that there are plans to indicate that parking is available on-site. Manish Patel explained that the numbers of parking spaces reported by AssocP/Lungu were predicated on 100 percent occupancy. Normal occupancy rate is about 50-60 percent. Chair/Nelson closed the public hearing. VC/Torng moved, C/Nolan seconded, to approve Development Review No. 2008-07, Findings of Fact, and subject to conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Nolan, Shah, VC/Torng, Chair/Nelson NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT COMMISSIONERS: None 7.2 Development Review No. 2007-35 and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-05 — Under the authority of Development Code Sections 22.48, 22.22.56 and 22.66, the applicant requested approval to convert an existing garage to 560 square feet of livable area, and add a 1,201 square foot four - car garage and tennis court in the rear yard. The Minor Conditional Use Permit approval is for maintaining the existing nonconforming front yard setback. The project site is developed with a two-story residence of 2,558 square feet with a two -car garage and swimming pool. PROJECT ADDRESS: 2759 Steeplechase Lane Diamond Bar, CA 91765 PROJECT OWNER: Dong Hong 2759 Steeplechase Lane Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: David Y. Hu 18071 Arenth Avenue City of Industry, CA 91748 APRIL 22, 2008 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION AssocP/Lungu presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approvalof Development No. 2008 05, Findings ooview NFacto. Oand cond07-35 itions of Minor Conditional Use Permit approval as listed within the resolution. VC/Torng asked how far the four -car garage was located away from the residence and whether that it was a reasonable design standard due to the distance between the two. Is there a walkway to the pool/tennis court area. CDD/Fong said she saw steps down to the pool area. AssocP/Lungu said she could not recall any specific code requiring the garage to be within a certain distance of the house. There is a parking area at the rear of the home. AssocP/Lungu clarified the conditions to 20 approval for the garage including tandem the need to widen the garage There were no ex parte disclosures. Chair/Nelson opened the public hearing. David Hu, applicant, stated that his original intention was to build a guesthouse and in the middle of the process that began in 2003, the applicant changed her mind. However, in the meantime, the code changed. The owner needs room inside the house but discovered she was only allowed to build the garage. She would prefer to have an attached garage and will probably use the concrete pad to unload groceries and other items before continuing on to park in the garage. Mr. Hu responded to VC/Torng that he concurred with the conditions of approval. Chair/Nelson closed the public hearing. C/Nolan moved, C/Lee seconded, to approve Development Review No. 2007-35 and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-05, Finding of Facts and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Nolan, Shah, VC/Torng, Chair/Nelson None None APRIL 22, 2008 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION 8. PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: VC/Torng complimented staff on the wonderful City Birthday Party. Chair/Nelson concurred that the City Birthday Party was the best to date. Staff is to be commended. 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 9.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. CDD/Fong announced that Ann Lungu would retire the end of May. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chairman Nelson adjourned the regular meeting at 7:40 p.m. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, Nelson, Chairman Development Director