HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/2019 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR ;
MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
, JULY 9, 2019
CALL TO ORDER: '
Chair/Barlas called the meeting to order at 6 : 30 p . m . in the City HaII Windmill Room ,
21810 Copiey Drive , Diamond Bar, CA 91765 .
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE : VC/Farago led the Pledge of Allegiance .
1 . ROLL CAL�: COMMISSIONERS : William Rawlings , Vice-Chair Frank
Farago and Chair Naila Barlas
Absent: Commissioners Jennifer ° Fred° Mahlke and Kenneth
Mok were excused . ;
Also present: Greg Gubman , Community Development Director; James
Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Grace Lee , Senior Planner; Natalie T. Espinoza,
Associate 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 — June 11 , 2019 :
C/Rawlings moved , VC/Farago seconded , to approve Consent Calendar Item 4 . 1
as presented . Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote :
AYES: COMMISSIONERS : Rawlings, VC/Farago , Chair/Barlas
NOES : COMMISSIONERS : None
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS : Mahlke, Mok '
5. OLD BUSINESS : None
6. NEW BUSWESS : None
7. PUBLIC HEARING (S) :
7. 1 Development Review and Comprehensive Siqn Program No. PL2018-51 —
Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22 .48 and
22 . 36 . 060 , the applicant, John Taylor and property owner, Diamond bar 3721
LLG , reguested Development Review approval to partition an existing 15 , 519
square-foot building into six tenant spaces and renovate the fa�ade and
landscaping of the existing building . A Comprehensive Sign Program was also
JULY 9, 2019 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION
C/Rawlings asked if guidelines would be subject to change through updating the
General Plan to ensure the use of California native plants and drought tolerant
plants .
CDD/Gubman responded to C/Rawlings that the . City has taken an initial step
with its comprehensive General Plan update which include policies that speak
exactly to those concems. To implement those types of polieies , the City would
be looking to do so through policy rather than by regulation of appropriate plant
material and inappropriate plant materials to ensure that there is conservation of
the existing native landscape and to help revitalize the urban forest and
landscape to be more appropriate to the indigenous character. '
Chair/Barlas reopened the public hearing .
John Taylor responded to Chair/Barlas' question about why tliis particular
species for the landscape and stated that he would have to consult with the
landscape architect to know why.
VC/Fargo said he was curious why that species had been chosen and if there
', might be other selections that would be more appropriate in light of the
', information brought forth by the speaker. Mr. Taylor responded that the applicant
would certainly be open to other species . VC/Farago asked if staff would work
with the applicant to look at other alternatives and Mr. Taylor said there would be
no issue and that he would work with staff on other. possible alternatives .
CDD/Gubman stated that because the City's current Landscape Ordinance is
very complex and contains very stringent provisions mandated by the State of
California , staff has had to enter into a consulting services agreement with a
landscape architecture firm which is reviewing landscape plans and technical
issues that might pertain , including what maximum water budgets are appropriate
for new landscape projects and for the plant materials and soils conditions that
would meet the requirement of the ordinance. The City's consultants are
knowledgeable in both aspects of landscape . design and horticulturai best
practices . and staff would be happy to work with the applicant to come up with
possible substitutes if that is the Commission's direction .
VC/Farago said that with the cost of maintenance and life cycle cost involved with
having this species of tree , it might be worthwhile for the applicant to look at that
issue anyway.
Robin Smith cautioned the Commission that very few landscape architects have
' knowledge of ecology and working with California native plants . There is new
scientific information that is not readily disseminated throughout the landscape
JULY 9 , 2019 PAGE 5 PLANNWG COMMISSION
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 : 01 p . m .
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 23�d day of July, 2019 .
Attest:
Respectfully Submitted ,
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Greg Gubman
, Community Development Director
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Naila Barlas , Chairperson