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Home My WebLink About5/25/2010MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 25, 2010 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Torng called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the South Coast Air Quality Management District/Government Center Auditorium, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: VC/Nolan led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Kwang Ho Lee, Steve Nelson, Jack Shah, Vice Chairman Kathy Nolan, and Chairman Tony Torng. Also present: Grace S. Lee, Senior Planner; T. Linh Ho Assistant City Attorney; David Alvarez, Assistant Planner; 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 the Regular Meeting of May 11, 2010. C/Shah moved, VC/Nolan seconded, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 11, 2010, 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, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng None Nelson None 7.1 Development Review No. PL 2010-11 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.48, the applicant requested approval to construct a new single-family residence of 8,870 square feet on a 58,806 MAY 25, 2010 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION square foot Rural Residential (RR) zoned parcel with a consistent underlying General Plan Land Use designation of RR. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: Lot 55, Derringer Lane (Tract 23483, APN 8713-034-029) Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Sumermal & Rajkumari Vardhan 320 Woodruff Walnut, CA 91789 APPLICANT: Pete Volbeda 180 N. Benson Avenue, Suite D Upland, CA 91786 AP/Alvarez presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. PL 2010-11, based on the Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. C/Shah asked if the site would be balanced using imported dirt and AP/Alvarez responded that the applicant would import 5,300 cubic yards to create a pad. Chair/Torng asked if the retaining wall met the height requirement. AP/Alvarez responded that there are three retaining walls; the two lower retaining walls are six feet high and the upper retaining wail is four feet high. There were no ex parte disclosures. Chair/Torng opened the public hearing. Pete Volbeda, Applicant, said he was pleased with staff's presentation. Although this site will have about 5,000 cubic yards of imported dirt, the property owner also owns the lot to the north which has excess dirt which will be moved to the proposed site so the two lots will be balanced. C/Shah asked if any dirt would be exported and Mr. Volbeda reiterated that there will be no export because the dirt will be balanced between the two lots. Mr. Volbeda responded to Chair/Torng that he read staff's report and concurred with staff's recommendations. MAY 25, 2010 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION Chair/Torng opened the public hearing. With no one present to speak on this item, Chair/Torng closed the public hearing. C/Lee moved, C/Shah seconded, to approve Development Review No. PL 2010-11, base on the Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Nelson, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None 7.2 Development Review No. 2009-01 and Comprehensive Sian Proqram No. 2009-01 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.48 and 22.36.060, the applicant requested approval for a fagade remodel and Comprehensive Sign Program for a 30,602 square foot existing commercial building on a 113,683 square foot (2.6 acre) Regional Commercial (C-3) zoned parcel with a consistent underlying General Plan Land Use designation of General Commercial (C). PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER 1241 Grand Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91765 A&J Sunset Village, LLC 10508 Wyton Drive Los Angeles, CA 90024 APPLICANT: Jeda Designs 140 East Santa Clarita Unit #13 Arcadia, CA 91006 SP/Lee presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. 2009-01 and Comprehensive Sign Program No. 2009-01, based on the Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. C/Lee took exception with the proportion of the size of the building to the proposed height and wondered why staff would recommend approval of such a design. SP/Lee responded that initially staff was concerned about the MAY 25, 2010 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION appearance. Prior to three or four revisions, the original design was even more top heavy and staff suggested adding additional moldings on the parapet in an attempt to appear less top heavy. The reason the property owner wants this design is to have the higher tower to gain more visibility for the building due to the location behind the two-story building to the west. She suggested the applicant explain the reason for requesting the extra height of 10 feet. Staff tried as much as possible to mitigate the extra height and work with the architect. C/Lee said he believed that visibility was important but so too was appearance and if a building does not look good it might not serve its intended purpose of presenting a good impression. SP/Lee responded that staff agrees. C/Nelson asked how high the slope was leading to the residences on the east side in relationship to the increased height of the tower. SP/Lee said the building is definitely a lot lower than the residential buildings. C/Nelson said his point was that even after increasing the height from 25 to 35 feet, those towers still remain below the level of the back yards so their views will not be impeded and SP/Lee agreed. There were no ex parte disclosures. Susan Lamont, property manager, pointed out that the owner of the property is trying to work with tenants to improve the look of the center, enhance the visibility to ensure more foot traffic, generate more business, more sales, as well as lower rents to keep people in the center. C/Lee suggested the property owner utilize more parking spaces because the parking lot is always so congested. Ms. Lamont said there is no space for parking at the rear of the buildings. One of the big problems is that other centers are right up against this center and many people who work in the center park in the parking area. The owner tries to enforce the parking but it is very difficult and the owner cannot afford to have an onsite guard. The space in the back is an alley and drainage ditch and to try and open that area for parking would potentially cause a lot more problems. Chair/Torng opened the public hearing. With no one present who wished to speak on this item, Chair/Torng closed the public hearing. C/Shah moved, C/Nelson seconded, to approve Development Review No. 2009-01 and Comprehensive Sign Program No. 2009-02, based on the MAY 25, 2010 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Lee, Nelson, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng None None 7.3 One -Year Time Extension for Development Review 2007-06 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.66.050, the applicant submitted a request for a one "year extension of time to begin construction. The project was approved May 13, 2008, with a two (2) year timeframe to obtain building permits and begin construction. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: APPLICANT: 2502 Razzak Circle Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Wasif Siddique 11076 Venture Drive Mira Loma, CA 91752 Robert Larivee Award Winning Design 3109 Center Drive Santa Ana, CA92704 SP/Lee presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of a one-year time extension for Development Review 2007-06. Chair/Torng opened the public hearing. With no one present who wished to speak on this matter, Chair/Torng closed the public hearing. VC/Nolan moved, C/Shah seconded, to approve a one-year time extension for Development Review 2007-06. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Nelson, Shah VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None MAY 25, 2010 PAGE 6 PLANNING COMMISSION 8. PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Nelson said that he was forced to recuse himself from Site D deliberations presented at the last few meetings because the company he works for performed work for the Site D applicant. He kept up with the minutes and thought the Commission did an excellent job of listening to the public and separating fact from emotion and felt his colleagues should be proud of their decision moving forward. 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 9.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. SP/Lee referred the Commissioners to the list of pending projects in planning review and stated that at this time, there are no items scheduled for the June 8 meeting which may be canceled. SP/Lee stated that Site D Specific Plan is scheduled for Council discussion on June 15 and possible action on July 20. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chairman Torng adjourned the regular meeting at 7:28 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 22nd day of June, 2010. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, Greg Gubman Community Development Director Tony Torng, Chairmar�