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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/22/2010MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 22, 2010 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Torng 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: VC/Nolan led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Kwang Ho Lee, Jack Shah, Vice Chairman Kathy Nolan, and Chairman Tony Torng. Absent: Commissioner Steve Nelson was excused. Also present: Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace Lee, Senior Planner; Natalie Tobon, Planning Technician, and Stella Marquez, Senior Administrative Assistant. 2. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCEIPUBLIC COMMENTS: None 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: VC/Nolan asked to have Public Hearing Item 7.2 under consideration ahead of 7.1 since she would have to recuse herself and leave the dais. VC/Nolan moved, C/Shah seconded, to amend the agenda to consider Public Hearing Item 7.2 ahead of 7.1. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lee, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Nelson 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 25, 2010. C/Shah moved, C/Lee seconded, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 25, 2010, as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: JUNE 22, 2010 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: 5. OLD BUSINESS: None 6. NEW BUSINESS: None 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS: Lee, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng None Nelson 7.2 Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-181 ' — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.58, the applicant requested to relocate a music school presently operating under the business name "The Music Store." The proposed music school will provide music lessons to children and adults. The proposed hours of operation are from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. on Friday; and, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. 785 Pinefalls Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Sam Sakurai 787 Pinefalls Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91789 APPLICANT: Gene Iacono The Music Store 20875 Golden Springs Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91789 PT/Tobon presented staffs report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-181, based on the Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. VC/Nolan asked if there were other vacancies in the complex that were taken into consideration when considering parking and PT/Tobon responded that this was the only vacancy. Chair/Torng questioned the number of parking spaces required. PT/Tobon responded that 14 spaces are required for the music school. JUNE 22, 2010 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION There were no ex parte disclosures. Chair/Torngopened the public hearing. Gene Iacono, 785 Pinefalls Avenue, said he read staffs report and agreed with the conditions of approval, Mr. Iacono said he has been in the community for 31 years on Golden Springs Drive. His school has more than 10,000 alumni who are members of the community and have now started bringing their children to his school. He developed the one-on-one teaching business model and it has remained strong and is a feather in the City's cap. It is the kind of scenario that is beneficial to the community. He thanked PT[Tobon and all of the City's staff who worked very hard to accommodate them after being evicted from his previous space to accommodate a pizza parlor. The new location serves as more of a "campus feel" instead of retail and he is pleased that it fits with his plan. Timothy Neal, 217 LaSalle, Riverside, said he began taking lessons at The Music Store in 1986 and was involved in voice education and guitar lessons. He was also involved in a music workshop program that was very beneficial and he believed it has benefited him in all aspects of his life and felt it would likewise benefit others. He plans to bring his son from Riverside to The Music Store once his son is old enough to take lessons. Paul Broche, 1881 Hawkbrooke, San Dimas, said he met Mr. Iacono about 25 years ago when he was looking for help for his children. All three of his children were musicians and he needed a good place for them to study and he took them to The Music Store. All three of his children took lessons there through the 80's and early 90's. His daughter now teaches elementary school and her two children now attend The Music Store. This is a tradition that Gene Iacono has worked hard to build that offers a culture of music education that just cannot be matched. I Colin O'Neil, 1608 Morning Sun, has known the applicant for about nine years and music is a very important part of his life as well. Music education is very important — it improves reading and writing skills as well as benefits other motor skills and he would like for the Commission to approve the application. Chair/Torng closed the public hearing. JUNE 22, 2010 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION The applicant returned to the dais to respond to C/Shah's question about what kind of music The Music Store offers. Mr. Iacono responded that the store teaches vocal and instrumental, and has a faculty of 18 teachers. There is no fixed age restriction because some very young students can benefit from lessons early in life on some instruments. Some students are in their 50s and 60s. Studies have shown that individuals who study music have higher SAT scores. VC/Nolan said that 18 years ago her daughter took acoustic guitar lessons with the applicant and today she is a college educator and agrees that music helps with academic studies. VC/Nolan moved, C/Lee seconded, to approve Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-181, 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, Shah, VC/Nolan, Chair/Torng NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Nelson 7.1 Development Review and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-108 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.48.040 and 22.56.040, the applicant, David Viera, is requesting approval of a Development Review of an addition to the side of the house and a Minor Conditional Use Permit to allow the continuation of an existing 13 foot, 4 inch rear setback (25 feet is required). The lot is zoned Low Density Residential (RL) with a consistent underlying General Plan Land Use designation of Low Density Residential (RL). PROJECT ADDRESS PROPERTY OWNER: 24033 Highcrest Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Karen Camaj 24033 Highcrest Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 JUNE 22, 2010 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION APPLICANT: David Viera Viera Design & Construction 127 W. Badillo Street Covina, CA 91723 VC/Nolan asked to be recused from deliberation on this matter. VC/Nolan said that she is close friends with the property owner. V/C Nolan left the meeting. PT/Tobon presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-108, based on the Findings of Fact, subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the Resolution. There were no ex parte disclosures. Chair/Torng opened the public hearing. David Viera, 17 W. Badillo Street, Covina, CA 91723, said he read staff's report and concurred with the conditions of approval. Chair/Torng closed the public hearing. C/Lee moved, C/Shah seconded, to approve Development Review and Minor Conditional Use Permit No. PL 2010-108, based 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, Shah, Chair/Torng NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: C/Nelson, VC/Nolan 8. PLANNING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Shah said he was unable to attend the Council's Site D deliberation. Chair/Torng said he attended the Council's Site D deliberation and found it very interesting. Indian tribal members attended the meeting and said Site D was their holy land. The public hearing was continued to July 20, 2010. JUNE 22, 2010 a PAGE 6 PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF COMM ENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 10.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. CDD/Gubman reported on his attendance at the International Conference of Shopping Centers Annual Convention in Las Vegas during which he attempted to assist in marketing some of the available retail space and in particular, redevelopment of the Kmart property. CDD/Gubman stated that the City Council began the public hearing process for Site D last week and continued the public hearing to July 20. About 11 or 12 members of the public spoke to the project after which the City Council provided staff with direction to return on July 20 with responses to comments as well as, additional information. The Council expressed some opinions and there is certainly no consensus among Council Members at this point. One Council Member felt commercial was not viable; another Council Member felt the opposite and the remaining Council Members appeared to be open to alternatives. Should the City Council ultimately make a decision that is substantially different from the Planning Commission's recommendation, the item will be remanded back to the Planning Commission for a new public hearing process. If this occurs it would not likely happen before August 2010. CDD/Gubman stated the City is officially in escrow for the purchase of the new City Hall building and expects that escrow will close in August. The City has also successfully completed its lease extension negotiations with AQMD and through that process the City will continue the existing lease on a month- to-month basis beginning in February until staff is ready to relocate. Upon relocation, the City will continue to use the AQMD Auditorium, Hearing Board room and Conference Rooms for City Council and Commission meetings. Preliminary negotiations with the Los Angeles County Library are underway and appear to be promising at this point. Staff has also released a RFP for the architectural services. During the mandatory walkthrough of the building two weeks ago, five of the firms that were sent the RFP- participated in the walkthrough. The deadline for the responses is the end of next week. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in tonight's agenda. JUNE 22, 2010 PAGE 7 PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chairman Torng adjourned the regular meeting at 7:41 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby. approved this 22nd day of June, 2010. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, Greg Gubman Community Development Director _T-o-rly-Torng, Chairm