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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/23/2018 PC MinutesMINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 23, 2018 CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Wolfe called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. in the City Hall Windmill Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: C/Mok led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners Naila Barlas, Frank Farago, Jennifer "Fred" Mahlke, Vice Chair Ken Mok, and Chair Raymond Wolfe Also present: Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; James Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Natalie T. Espinoza, Assistant Planner; and Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator. 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: November 28, 2017 C/Farago moved, C/Mahlke seconded, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 28, 2017, as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: 5. OLD BUSINESS: None 6. NEW BUSINESS: 6.1 General Plan Status Report for 2017 Barlas, Farago, Mahlke, VC/Mok, Chair/Wolfe None None CDD/Gubman presented staffs report and recommended that the Planning Commission approve the General Plan Status Report for 2017 and forward the report to City Council to Receive and File. ChairM/olfe asked how many people participate in the Home Improvement Program and CDD/Gubman responded that the City manages to get four projects a year through and there is an application waiting list. What seems to take so JANUARY 23, 2018 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 7 long and slows the pace of funded projects is that there is very robust criteria set forth by the LA Community Development Commission which administers the CDBG monies. Some of the applicants who go through that vetting process decide to opt out because they are not willing to make the commitment or they ultimately do not qualify under the income requirements. Unfortunately, the vetting process takes a few months once the applicant comes up on the waiting list. In spite of this, the City manages to get four approved for the $80,000 maximum amount with 20 percent of the $100,000 allocation going toward administration of the program. ChairNVolfe asked how the City broadcasts the program and CDD/Gubman stated that in addition to the City's website and social media, there are brochures that are distributed at City sponsored events and at City Hall. CDD/Gubman updated the Commission on the current General Plan Update and stated that staff hopes to reach the point of adopting the new General Plan in about a year and a half (mid -2019) which will add policy language to some of the initiatives, efforts and master planning efforts that are not centralized in the current General Plan. ChairNVolfe believed this was a much more extensive document than the Planning Commission has seen in years past. He thanked staff for their time in putting this document together. C/Mahlke moved, C/Barlas seconded, to approve the General Plan Status Report for 2017 with addendum to the Land Use Element 1.4 recognizing acquisition of the YMCA property and forward the report to the City Council to Receive and File. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Farago, Mahlke, VC/Mok, ChairNVolfe NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC HEARING(S): 7.1 Development Review No. PL2017-128 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Sections 22.48, the applicant and property owner requested Development Review approval to demolish an existing 1,965 square -foot residence and construct a new single family residence consisting of 3,564 square feet of livable area; 664 square feet of garage area; and 151 square feet of balcony and courtyard area on an 8,000 square -foot lot. The subject property is zoned Low Medium Density Residential (RLM) with an underlying General Plan Land Use designation of Low Medium Density Residential. SUBJECT PROPERTY: 1128 Hare Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91789 JANUARY 23, 2018 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION PROPERTY OWNER: Yenta Promlap 1128 Hare Avenue Diamond Bar, CA 91789 APPLICANT: Leo Wu, Archifield, Inc. 67 E. Live Oak Avenue #201 Arcadia, CA 91006 AP/Espinoza presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. PL2017-77 based on the Findings of Fact and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. VC/Mok asked if the second floor balcony would look directly into the Cypress trees so that except for the peak of the roof, the property at 1043 Capen Avenue would not be visible to which AP/Espinoza responded that VC/Mok was correct. Chair/Wolfe opened the public hearing. Mr. Gabriel, Project Manager representing the architect indicated that this project complies with all of the Development Code requirements and is in accordance with the City's General Plan and uses in the neighborhood. He believes this project will eventually help with the Housing Element of the General Plan to trigger other neighbors to do some home improvements in the area. Based on the quality and design of the project it will, in his opinion, provide an improvement to the area. He would appreciate the Commission's approval based on the needs of the owner. VC/Mok asked Mr. Gabriel to let the architect know that he feels the plan and design is a good use of the amount of space available. Chair/Wolfe closed the public hearing. Chair/Wolfe said that when he reviewed the packet he was concerned about the size of the house which is significantly larger than any of the other houses in the area. A couple of the homes are close in size. He was also concerned about the properties immediately surrounding the project. However, he agrees with VC/Mok that this is a beautiful design and he appreciates the idea of "hiding" part of the garage. He appreciates the effort the property owner went through to ask the neighbors if they had any concerns and the level of detail that was provided asking for written comments. Chair/Wolfe said he believed that the property owner went above and beyond in trying to make sure that what they were proposing for their own property would not adversely impact other proprieties. In fact, he does also believe that it will actually enhance the neighborhood. He appreciates the fact that we are drawing back on our historical roots in the area. And for those reasons, he believes that although it is somewhat large, it is a good project. JANUARY 23, 2018 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION C/Mahlke said she too was concerned about the size of the house, however, the thoroughness of the packet, photographs and renderings answered any questions that she had and made her feel more confident about a decision she would want to make on this project and beautiful design. C/Mahlke moved, VC/Mok seconded, to approve Development Review No. PL2017-128, Findings of Fact and conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS NOES: COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS Barlas, Farago, Mahlke, VC/Mok, Chair/Wolfe None None 8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: VC/Mok said that during the Commission's hiatus, many people have come up to him to ask him about previous projects that have been placed on the back burner and hoped tonight's meeting would provide information he could relay to them. First is the former Diamond Jim Dairy (condominiums) and the Union 76 station (tire store) on Golden Springs Drive which were delayed due to environmental issues. Another concern was what the City of Industry intended to do with the area north of the SR60 on Grand Avenue heading toward Walnut. CDD/Gubman stated that with respect to the Diamond Jim's Dairy site, the same problem has plagued that site as well as the 76 station site at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Cold Spring Drive. Both were former gas station sites and during soil investigation it was discovered that remediation when the underground tanks and pipes were removed was not complete and there continued to be soil contamination. On the Cold Spring/Diamond Bar Blvd, site, the remediation has been completed and the site is ready for development. Unfortunately, the delays caused by the remediation work led America's Tire (which had City approval to develop the site) to cancel its project. At the Diamond Jim's Dairy site there has been a more complicated soil remediation issue because there is a subterranean plume that has leached northward and it is below residential back yards. This project has been under the jurisdiction of the State Water Board and it has been an excruciatingly long process. The developer has the entitlements in place to build the nine condominium units, but it has been a long ordeal to ultimately get the site cleared for residential development. The remediation standards to allow for residential development is more rigorous than for non-residential uses. CDD/Gubman said that the City of Industry has not been forthcoming with any information regarding development plans related to the site preparation work occurring on Grand Ave. JANUARY 23, 2018 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 9.1 Public Hearing dates for future projects. CDD/Gubman reported that the next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for February 13 with two items currently on the agenda which are new custom homes. Next Tuesday, the Commission and City Council will meet for a Joint Meeting on the General Plan Update which will be the first formal action in the General Plan Update process where staff will be asking for the joint body to select a preferred alternative of the three alternative land use plans that will be presented. The key distinction between those three alternatives is a potential location for a future town center. It is likely this will be a three-hour meeting and staff will be providing dinner for those who wish to come early. CDD/Gubman spoke about the email he sent to Commissioners regarding the next Planning Commissioners' Academy in Monterey which is scheduled for April 4 through 6. Thanks to those who have responded and for those who have not responded, he would appreciate a response prior to the registration deadline on March 2. For those who wish to attend, the event is paid for through CDD/Gubman's department budget for registration, hotel and air fare to San Jose. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As posted in the Agenda. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Wolfe adjourned the regular meeting at 7:58 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this February 13, 2018. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, Greg Gubman, Community Development Director l/ V Raymon olfe, Chairperson