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Home My WebLink About12/13/2022MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECEMBER 13, 2022 Consistent with State Assembly Bill 361, members of the Planning Commission were present or participated telephonically. Members of the public were encouraged to participate and address the Planning Commission and for those attending in person, face coverings were recommended. CALL TO ORDER: Chair/Wolfe called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Vice Chairman Mok led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: Commissioners present: Naila Barlas, Mahendra Garg (telephonically), William Rawlings, Vice -Chair Kenneth Mok and Chair Raymond Wolfe Staff Present : Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace Lee, Senior Planner; James Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Chair/Wolfe 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None 4. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4.1 Continued Use of Teleconferencing in accordance with Assembly Bill 361 for meetings of the Planning Commission subject to State Open Meeting Laws, 4.2 Minutes of the Planning Commission's Regular Meeting of October 25, 2022, 4.3 Minutes of the Planning Commission's Regular Meeting of November 22, 2022. C/Barlas moved, VC/Mok seconded, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented with C/Garg abstaining on Item 4.2. Motion carried by the following Roll Call vote AYES: NOES: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONERS 5. OLD BUSINESS: None Barlas, Garg, Rawlings, VC/Mok, Chair/Wolfe None None DECEMBER 13, 2022 2 6. NEW BUSINESS: None 7. PUBLIC HEARING(S): PLANNING COMMISSION 7.1 Development Review—PlanningCaseNo.PL2022-78—_Under the authority of DBMC Section 22.48, the applicant and property owner requested Development Review approval to construct a new 2,743 square foot, two-story single family residence measuring approximately 27 feet high with a 583 square foot garage on an undeveloped 11,225 square foot (0.26 acre) parcel on the north side of N. Diamond Bar Boulevard, between Soltaire Street and Highland Valley Road. The subject property is zoned Low Density Residential (RL) with an underlying General Plan land use designation of Low Density Residential (RL). PROJECT ADDRESS PROPERTY OWNER: APPLICANT: 1111 N. Diamond Bar Boulevard Diamond Bar, CA 91765 James Chin Chou 1359 Bentley Court West Covina, CA 91791 Creative Design Associates 17528 Rowland Street, 2"d Floor City of Industry, CA 91748 SP/Lee provided staff's report and recommended Planning Commission approval of Development Review No. PL2022-78, based on the findings of Diamond Bar Municipal Code (DBMC) Section 22.48.040, subject to conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Chair/Wolfe opened the public hearing. Ken Lee, applicant, commended staff and especially, SP/Lee for her tenacity and assistance in helping the owner work through this project. The applicant purchased the property in 2010 and has moved forward to this point with a revised project and to the best of their knowledge, complied with all comments received from the last City Council meeting in 2020 to render this project compatible with the neighborhood. Douglas Garcon said he was concerned about the issue of northbound Diamond Bar Boulevard traffic attempting to enter the residence. DECEMBER 13, 2022 3 PLANNING COMMISSION Felino Bautista (telephonically), 1141 Flintlock, spoke in opposition to the project and cited speeding traffic on the street. Robin Smith (telephonically) commended Planning staff for their work and positive changes toward the redesign of the project. However, this speculative project is, in her opinion, a glaring problem for the community and she believes the site would be better suited for a cell tower. Chair/Wolfe closed the public hearing. SP/Lee responded to C/Garg that drivers proceeding northbound on N. Diamond Bar Boulevard are permitted to make a U-Turn on Soltaire Street from the left turn lane. ChairMolfe explained that per the traffic code, U-Turns are permitted where left turns are allowed unless there is specific signage disallowing the procedure. C/Garg said he would like to see a new sign indicating both a left turn and U-Turn to replace the current signage at Soltaire. SP/Lee reminded the public that with respect to industry standards site distances are assessed using the posted speed limit to determine the minimum requirement and in addition, during the previous public hearing, the applicant's traffic engineer stated that there is sufficient sight distance for a car traveling at 75 mph to react to a vehicle leaving the project site driveway. Chair/Wolfe reopened the public hearing. VC/Mok asked the applicant to comment on whether construction vehicles would be able to park on the project site and Mr. Peng responded that when the site is being developed, it is empty and offers plenty of space for trucks to come in and park. Ultimately, the building coverage is 23 percent of the land which leaves 75 percent of the land available for phasing during construction. VC/Mok commented that the proposed horseshoe driveway dimensions would sufficiently accommodate sanitation, delivery and service vehicles. C/Rawlings said he appreciated the amount of work the owners have done in working with the City. Although he finds the residential zoning to be inappropriate, and does not believe the proposed structure will benefit the City, he does acknowledge there has been substantial work to comply with the City's development standards and he will not oppose the project. Chair/Wolfe closed the public hearing. Following Commissioner's comments, Chair/Wolfe moved, VC/Mok seconded, to approve Development Review No. PL2022-78, based on the findings of Diamond Bar Municipal Code (DBMC) Section 22,48,040, subject to DECEMBER 13, 2022 4 PLANNING COMMISSION conditions of approval as listed within the resolution. Motion carried 4-1 by the following Roll Call vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: Barlas, Garg, VC/Mok, Chair/Wolfe None Rawlings None 8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATION ITEMS: VC/Mok commented that the first Windmill Lighting ceremony was fantastic and he hoped it would become an annual event. The Snow Fest was a wonderful event as well and hoped that event would continue to be held each winter. C/Barlas thanked everyone for being involved in tonight's democratic process and wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas. C/Garg thanked the Planning staff for a fantastic job and wished everyone Happy Holidays. He enjoys working with his colleagues and looks forward to continuing the work next year. C/Rawlings appreciated everyone's feedback on the Public Hearing Item and congratulated the property owner. He said it was wonderful to be at the Snow Fest and wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas. Chair/Wolfe wished everyone Happy Holidays. 9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS: CDD/Gubman stated that there will be no Planning Commission on December 28tn and the Commission will reconvene telephonically on January 10�h, 2023, to readopt A13361. There is a very important Planning Commission meeting scheduled for January 24th which is a joint Planning Commission/City Council Study Session on the Town Center Specific Plan which will be held at the Diamond Bar Center to allow for accommodation of interested members of the public who have been invested in this project and wish to participate in the joint session. On behalf of the Community Development Department CDD/Gubman wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays. 10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS: As listed in the agenda. DECEMBER 13, 2022 5 PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, Chair/Wolfe adjourned the Regular Planning Commission meeting at 7:13 p.m. to January 10, 2023, The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 28'h Day of February, 2023. Attest: Respectfully Submitted, // (( i% t� Greg Gubman, Community Development Director I/V Raymo Wolfe, Chairperson