The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About05/14/2019MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 14, 2019 CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Barlas called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Windmill Room, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair/Mok led the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. ROLL CALL: COMMISSIONERS: Jennifer "Fred" Mahlke, Ken Mok, William Rawlings, Vice -Chairperson Frank Farago and Chairperson Naila Barlas Also present: _ Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; James Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Grace Lee, Senior Planner; Natalie T. Espinoza Assistant Planner; and Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator. 2. MATTERS FROM THE AUDIENCE/PUBLIC COMMENTS: None 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Minutes — April 9, 2019: C/Rawlings moved, C/Mahlke seconded, to approve Consent Calendar Item 4.1 as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5. OLD BUSINESS: 6. NEW BUSINESS: COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS None Mahlke, Mok, Rawlings, VC/Farago, Chair/Barlas None None 6.1 Review of Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Conformity with the General Plan. SP/Lee presented staff's report and recommended that the Planning Commission Adopt a Resolution finding the proposed Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Capital Improvement Program to be in conformance with the General Plan. C/Rawlings said that if the City had more money there would likely be more projects in the works. It is apparent to him that the City Council and staff are being wise with the taxpayer dollars which as a longtime taxpayer in the City, he appreciates. MAY 14, 2019 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 7 C/Rawlings moved, C/Mok seconded, to adopt a Resolution finding the proposed Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Capital Improvement Program to be in conformance with the General Plan. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Mahlke, Mok, Rawlings, VC/Farago, Chair/Barlas NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None PUBLIC HEARING(S): 7.1 Conditional Use Permit No. PL2018-242 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.58, the property owner and applicant requested a Conditional Use Permit for a children's learning center for interpersonal and intrapersonal social skills development at a 1,000 square foot space within a 121,788 square foot multi -tenant commercial center. The subject property is zoned Community Commercial (C-2) with an underlying General Plan land use designation of Commercial (c) PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: 21044 Golden Springs Drive #D-11 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Lakeview Village Corporation 12879 Harbor Boulevard, Suite N-1 Garden Grove, CA 92840 APPLICANT: Hiu Tung Choy 21044 Golden Springs Drive #D-11 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 CDD/Gubman stated that the applicant did not post the project site with the public hearing notice per legal requirement, therefore, in accordance with the applicant's request, the matter will be re -noticed for the June 11, 2019, meeting. 7.2 Development Review. Minor Conditional Use Permit and Tree Permit No. PL2017-138 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Sections 22.48, 22.56 and 22.38, the applicant and property owner requested Development Review approval to construct a 1,273 square foot two-story addition and 513 square foot garage addition to an existing 2,183 square foot single family residence on a 71,313 gross square foot (1.64 gross acre) lot. A Minor Conditional Use Permit was requested to allow the continuation of an existing nonconforming structure with a 20 -foot front setback (where 30 feet is required). MAY 14, 2019 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION A Tree Permit was also requested to protect two coast live oak and two black walnut trees. The subject property is zoned Rural Residential (RR) with an underlying General Plan land use designation of Rural Residential. PROJECT ADDRESS: PROPERTY OWNER: APPLICANT: 23331,Ridgeline Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765. Tuan Tran 23331 Ridgeline Road Diamond Bar, CA 91765 An Ha 3140 Trask Avenue, Suite 202 Garden Grove, CA 92844 AP/Espinoza presented staffs report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review, Minor Conditional Use Permit and Tree Permit No. PL2017-138, based on the Findings of Fact, and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Barlas opened the public hearing. Ronald, adjacent neighbor to the property owner, said he was concerned about termites during the renovation process and wanted to know the project timeline. C/Mok asked if the speaker was concerned that if the property had termites that they might fly to his residence and infect his property; and, why was he concerned about the timeline? Ronald responded they were curious about the timeline, Mr. Tran, property owner, said this is the first he has heard of the termite concern and he does not have the knowledge or capability to answer that question. The timeline varies but with all parties involved he believes it might be about one year from commencement of construction. Chair/Barlas closed the public hearing. VC/Farago moved, C/Rawlings seconded, to approve Development Review, Minor Conditional Use Permit and Tree Permit No. P12017-138, based on the Findings of Fact, and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the draft resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Mahlke, Mok, Rawlings, VC/Farago, Chair/Barlas NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None MAY 14, 2019 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION CDD/Gubman stated that with respectto the question regarding termites, he has no idea what the answer is as to whether there is any requirement for termite inspection prior to demolition work. This is something that is beyond the scope of this agenda item which has to do with the proposed design. If the speaker wished to provide staff with a telephone number or a way to contact him, planning staff will check with the City's Building Official and provide an answer as to how the City may be required to deal with that issue. 8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: None 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: 9.1 Proiect Status Report. CDD/Gubman said the next regular meeting is scheduled for May 28; however, that meeting will be canceled due to lack of business items. Tonight's meeting will be adjourned to June 11, 2019, where one of the items scheduled for that agenda. is the Conditional Use Permit application item the Commission was unable to hear this evening along with any other items that may be ready to go on the agenda for that date. CDD/Gubman stated that the Cal Poly College of Urban and Regional Planning included a class on Placemaking and the topic for this past semester was Placemaking in Diamond Bar. He attended the presentation last Wednesday and the students presented very interesting case studies in Diamond Bar with perspectives that those with years of experience may not consider in the way of those of younger minds. The students looked at seven sites including many of the study areas in the General Plan update and also provided ideas and graphic concepts for other areas including the H -Mart Center and how that might be intensified to include a residential component, as well as a second look at the intersection of Grand Avenue/Diamond Bar Boulevard as a possible Town Center. Barring all other constraints (traffic, etc.) they looked at how that area/site could potentially transform should traffic congestion and other transit opportunities could possibly facilitate more active/pedestrian oriented type activities. It was an enjoyable afternoon and there may be a way to reference some of their ideas and/or concepts in the General Plan update when it is finalized. C/Mok asked if CDD/Gubman would be sharing information on the students' study with the City Council and, were the participant's residents of Diamond Bar and were they familiar with the entire City. MAY 14, 2019 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION CDD/Gubman responded to C/Mok that most were not residents of Diamond Bar but they clearly spent a lot of time doing reconnaissance and site specific studies and knew their project areas very well and provided very insightful responses to CDD/Gubman's questions. He has not thought of other ways of sharing the information. He will be getting copies of their design studies and will see if there is a good way to share the information with everyone to spark some interest. C/Mok said he would be very interested to learn of their ideas. C/Rawlings wondered if there were programs to help the City address the transportation part and team those people up with the planning students. He appreciated CDD/Gubman's participation and hoped there would be creative ideas to deal with the traffic/transportation issue. CDD/Gubman said that at the beginning of the semester he spoke to the class to help facilitate direction on approaching their projects. He was vested in seeing the outcome of the study. The issues of traffic were discussed and solutions will likely require technological evolution with micro -transit and other modes of transportation, as well as having City shuttles that would circulate around the seven study areas. There was a great deal of focus on adding residential to those areas which is important as the City approaches the time that it has to update its housing development and find housing sites in the City that do not conflict with the open space and conservation roles in the Comprehensive General Plan. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in the agenda. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Barlas adjourned the regular meeting at 7:05 p.m. to June 11, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 11th day of June, 2019. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, Greg Gubman, AICA' Community Development Director Naila Barlas, Chairperson