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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/13/2021MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM 21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765 OCTOBER 13, 2021 CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Rawlings called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1. ROLL CALL: Absent: Commission Wolfe led the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners: Naila Barlas, Raymond Wolfe, Chairman William Rawlings Commissioner Kenneth Mok and Vice Chairman Mahendra Garg were excused. Staff Present : Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; James Eggart, Assistant City Attorney (Telephonically), Grace Lee, Senior Planner; Mayuko (May) Nakajima, Joy Tsai, Assistant Planner; Alfredo Estevez, Information Systems Coordinator; Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator. Also Present: John Douglas, Housing Element Consultant. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: C/Barlas moved, C/Wolfe seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Wolfe, Chair/Rawlings NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Mok, VC/Garg 4A Minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting of 2021. (Continued from September 28, 2021) 4.2 Minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting —September 28, 2021. 5. OLD BUSINESS: NONE 6. NEW BUSINESS: NONE OCTOBER 13, 2021 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION 7. PUBLIC HEARING(S): 7.1 No. PL2019-122 — Under the authority of Diamond Bar Municipal Code Section 22.48, 22.56, the applicant requested an amendment to the previously approved Minor Conditional Use Permit for a 1,600 square foot outdoor dining area at the north (front) and west sides of an existing 3,871 square foot restaurant (Jasmine Grill) to allow hookah service in the existing outdoor dining area at the north (front) side of the existing restaurant (Jasmine Grill). The subject property is zoned Community Commercial (C-2) with an underlying General Plan land use designation of General Commercial (C). (Continued from September 28, 2021) PROJECT ADDRESS: 21130 Golden Springs Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: MHD Marwan Almannini 21130 Golden Springs Drive Diamond Bar, CA 91789 PROPERTY OWNER: Anna and Gary Malkhasian 11534 Dellmont Drive Tujunga, CA 91042 AP/Tsai presented staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Amendment to Minor Conditional Use Permit and variance PL2019- 122, based on the findings of fact, and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Rawlings opened the public hearing. C/Barlas asked how the owner would prevent smoke from infiltrating the outdoor dining area and Mr. Almannini responded that there will not be a barrier between hookah and general food service. The outdoor area will be for hookah service to accompany food service and there will be no hookah service or cigarette smoking allowed inside the facility to accommodate individuals who might find the odor offensive. ClBarlas asked is there a barrier between outside hookah sitting on North side and dining area at West side? To which applicant responded, no. C/Barlas asked how will you address if there is a complaint about smoke coming from the West side? To which The applicant responded that they would request the diners to go inside and have their dinner. OCTOBER 137 2021 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION C/Barlas asked if someone brought their own e - or regular cigarette and want to use it in area designated for hookah, do the owners have any provision or plan for that, the applicant replied that as of now they do not have any restrictions, and if someone wants to smoke their own cigarette etc. while having dinner in the area designated for hookah, they are not planning to object to it. Mr. Almannini responded to Chair/Rawlings how hookah is prepared in a separate area. Chair/Rawlings closed the public hearing. C/Wolfe moved, Chair/Rawlings seconded, to approve the amendment to Minor Conditional Use Permit and Variance PL2019-122, based on the findings of fact, and subject to the conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Wolfe, Chair/Rawlings NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Mok, VC/Garg 7.2 Diamond Bar 2021-2029 Housing Element Update — The City of Diamond Bar has prepared an update to the Housing Element of the City's General Plan for the 2021-2029 planning period. The Housing Element includes analysis of the community's housing needs, opportunities and constraints as well as, policies and programs to facilitate the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of housing for all economic segments of the community. PROJECT ADDRESS: CITYWIDE APPLICANT/LEAD AGENCY: City of Diamond Bar Community Development Department CDD/Gubman introduced John Douglas, Housing Element Consultant, who presented the updated Housing Element report revised to address HCD comments, and recommended that the Planning Commission recommend City Council approval of the Diamond bar Housing Element 2021-2029 update. C/Wolfe stated that because the revisions to the prior draft Housing Element were not highlighted within the latest draft, it was somewhat difficult to follow where HDC's comments were addressed and incorporated. OCTOBER 13, 2021 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION Chair/Rawlings asked if part of the exercise was to increase the likelihood that some of the proposed housing would be built. Mr. Douglas responded that one of the themes in state law is for cities to use their powers to try to encourage and facilitate the production of housing to the extent they can, recognizing that cities play an important role in the housing development process by adopting plans, regulations, zoning, standards, etc, with many other things that must happen before housing is built such as a willing property owner, a developer, a source of funding, etc. Chair/Rawlings commented that public comments were centered around the idea of the Town Center Mixed Use and adjustment including parking structures to make it more economically feasible for a developer to build, for which the city was responsive in attempting to increase the likelihood that housing would be built. Chair/Rawlings asked about the letterthat was submitted to the Commission from the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters about including in the element the idea of local hire and skilled labor and whether this was the right place to include that idea, is a site specific plan a better place, or is it best handled on a policy level with the City Council and Development Code. CDD/Gubman responded that local preference generally comes into play as a policy decision with public works projects, or if development agreements are involved. The Housing Element is not the most appropriate vehicle for such policies which are ultimately guided by the City Council and the limitations of local vendor preference. C/Barlas asked if the City will offer incentives for developers with respect to the Town Center. CDD/Gubman responded that the Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel's recommendations included several incentives for the City to consider, such as establishing an enhanced infrastructure facilities district, a tool that somewhat replaces redevelopment and business improvement districts where increased property values from a new development provide increased sales tax back to the City to be used to invest into Specific Plan areas such as the Town Center, or other types tax incentives. In addition, through state density bonus law, if a developer building housing in the City commits to a certain percentage of their development to be "affordable," developers have a right to build at a density that exceeds the City's zoning limitation that would otherwise be impose on the project. Diamond Bar, through its General Plan, has established that it is seeking opportunities for higher and more affordable housing in keeping with the housing demand for the community and is also seeking to bring more residential into commercial areas to activate them toward achieving more urban amenities. Chair/Rawlings opened the public hearing. OCTOBER 13, 2021 PAGE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION housing demand for the community and is also seeking to bring more residential into commercial areas to activate them toward achieving more urban amenities. Chair/Rawlings opened the public hearing. AC/Marquez stated that as mentioned by Chair/Rawlings, an email was received from Mitchell Tsai on behalf of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, a copy of which was provided to Planning Commissioners. Paul Deibel, speaking telephonically, expressed his support for the Housing Element that establishes commitments to modify the City's Development Code and Standards in the next two years to provide for greater densities and incentives for more affordable housing opportunities in general as well as, in focus areas in particular. Mr. Deibel said he was under the impression that the document would be redlined with respect to responses to HCD's comments and felt that HCD comments called for the sites inventory to include a map that could be distributed to potential developers to show where the units can be found. Chair/Rawlings closed the public hearing. C/Barlas moved, C/Wolfe seconded, to recommend City Council approval of the Diamond bar Housing Element 2021-2029 update. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: BarlasWolfeChair/Rawlings None Mok, VC/Garg PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: C/Barlas was very happy to see the Housing Element move forward and looked forward to improvements in the City. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: CDD/Gubman reported that there is one public hearing item scheduled for the regular meeting of October 26, a Code Amendment to update the Family/Daycare Home regulations to be consistent with recent legislation that modifies state law. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in the agenda. OCTOBER 13, 2021 PAGE 6 PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Rawlings adjourned the Special Planning Commission meeting at 7:27 p.m. The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 26th of October, 2021. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, i/xz' _ Greg Gubman, Community Development Director J'I1 William Rawlings, Chairperson