HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/2020MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
MAY 12, 2020
CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNOR'S LATEST EXECUTIVE ORDER TO STAY AT
HOME, AVOID GATHERINGS AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, THIS MEETING
WAS CONDUCTED TELEPHONICALLY AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, CITY
STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATED VIA TELECONFERENCE.
CALL TO
ORDER: Chair/Mok called
the
meeting to
order at 6:32 p.m.
PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair/Mok
led
the Pledge
of Allegiance.
1. ROLL CALL: Commissioners: Naila Barlas, Mahendra Garg,
Kenneth Mok, William Rawlings, and Raymond Wolfe
Staff Members Participating: Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; James
Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Grace Lee, Senior Planner, May Nakajima, Associate
Planner; and Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
4.1 Minutes — Regular Meeting — April 28, 2020.
C/Wolfe moved, C/Barlas seconded, to approve the April 28, 2020, Meeting
Minutes as submitted. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Garg, Wolfe, VC/Rawlings,
Chair/Mok
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None
5. OLD BUSINESS: None
6. NEW BUSINESS: None
7. PUBLIC HEARING(S):
7.1 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. PL2017-69 —Under the authority of
Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.58, the applicant, Christopher Yoo,
Black & Veatch for Verizon Wireless, requested a Conditional Use Permit to
remove an existing street light pole and replace it with a new small cell wireless
MAY 127 2020 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION
telecommunications facility consisting of one canister antenna and four remote
radio units (RRUs) mounted on a new 29'-3" high street light pole and, related
underground equipment within the public right-of-way on the southeast corner
of Grand Avenue and Golden Springs Drive.
PROJECT ADDRESS:
POLE OWNER:
Public Right -of -Way on Grand Avenue
Adjacent to Golden Springs Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Southern California Edison
2 Innovation Way, 15t Floor
Pomona, CA 91768
APPLICANT: Christopher Yoo
Black & Veatch for Verizon Wireless
5 Peters Canyon Road #300
Irvine, CA 92606
AP/Nakajima ,presented staffs report and recommended Planning
Commission approval of Conditional Use Permit No. PL2017-69, based on the
Findings of Fact, and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the
Resolution.
C/Garg said that since the new pole will be located four feet north of the
existing pole, he wanted assurance that there was a study to make sure the
roadway lighting levels would be the same or better after the repositioning of
the light source.
Chair/Mok opened the public hearing.
Chris Yoo, applicant, said he was speaking in support of the Verizon
application CUP No. PL2017-69 and that Michael Ferrer from Verizon was with
him. He thanked AP/Nakajima for her assistance during this process and
thanked the Commissioners for their time tonight. With respect to C/Garg's
question and concern, there are no numbers available; however, they are
matching like for like with Southern California Edison light. He said
photometric studies can be done if that is required as a condition of approval.
C/Garg responded that he wanted the study done. Mr. Yoo responded that he
would get the information for C/Garg and the Commission as a condition of
approval.
CDD/Gubman explained to C/Garg that the Commission could add conditions
of approval at the time of its motion.
MAY 12, 2020 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION
9.
Chair/Mok closed the public hearing.
C/Barlas said she
was
pleased to know
the
service
would be approved in the
area of the project
and
she is okay with
the
addition
of C/Garg's condition.
C/Wolfe said that while it would not alter his vote to add the condition proposed
by C/Garg, he felt it was unnecessary because he was confident that staff had
addressed that issue during the permit process.
ACA/Eggart offered language for C/Garg's proposed condition of approval.
C/Barlas moved, C/Garg seconded, to approve Conditional Use Permit
No. PL2017-69, based on the Findings of Fact, and subject to the conditions
of approval as listed within the Resolution, with the addition of a condition to
submit a photometric study demonstrating that the illumination level of the new
street light pole is not materially different from the existing, subject to approval
by the Community Development Director. Motion carried by the following Roll
Call vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Garg, Wolfe, VC/Rawlings,
Chair/Mok
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None
PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
C/Wolfe said he hoped the stay-at-home orders would be lifted at some point in the
future although he is hearing that LA County may lag behind other local counties in
the region. He wondered if any effort had been put forth to look at reducing the packet
size or creating an electronic packet which would reduce the need to have staff drop
off packets at Commissioners' houses and reduce copying costs.
STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
9.1 Project Status Report.
CDD/Gubman said that as a follow up to C/Wolfe's question and
recommendation, if any of the Commissioners would prefer an electronic
agenda packet, he would like for them to email him and he will follow up and
make that available to the Commissioners going forward.
CDD/Gubman stated that there are currently two items on the agenda for the
next Commission meeting which is scheduled for May 26ih. Staff will present
MAY 12, 2020 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION
the Capital Improvement Program for FY 2020/21 fora Finding of General Plan
Consistency prior to City Council's action to adopt the budget for the CIP. In
addition, beginning July 1 there will be a change to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regarding traffic impacts. In the past, traffic
impacts to projects have been measured based on traffic congestion and how
much a project results in increases in traffic delays at intersections. Beginning
July 15t that will no longer be an environmental impact under CEQA and
instead, projects will be evaluated in terms of what kind of inducement to
vehicle miles traveled the project will result in, which will be explained at the
May 26th meeting by staff with the assistance of the City 's Traffic Consultant
from Fehr & Peers.
10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
As listed in the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Mok
adjourned the regular meeting at 6:57 p.m.
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 26th day of May, 2020
Attest:
Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Gubntan
Community Development Director
Ke�ok, Chairperson