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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 2009/11/18 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Council Chambers 6:00 p.m.. 276 Fourth Avenue November 18, 2009 Chula Vista, California CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL /MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Members Present: Vinson, Bringas, Liuag, Spethman, Tripp, Felber Member Absent: Moctezuma MSC (Spethman/Liuag)(6-0) to excuse Cmr, Moctezuma„ Motion carried.. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Read into the record by Chair Vinson ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input , CONSENT AGENDA: None PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1.. Public Hearing: PCC 09-48; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit application filed by Lord Architecture on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, for the renovation and expansion of the existing buildings at the St.. Pius X Church and parochial school 6:08:51 PM i I Cmr Bringas recused himself from the dais due to a conflict of interest having served on the Design Review Board that previously approved this application. Background: Richard Zumwalt reported that St Pius Church previously obtained approval for a CUP and Design Review Permit application in 2006 A building permit application was not filed and construction did not commence, therefore, both permit approvals expired after one year. The applicant submitted new applications, which contain minor changes, and upon review of the new plans staff has determined them to be in substantial conformance with the previously approved project. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt resolution PC 09-48 approving the Conditional Use Permit based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained in the resolution, Commission Comments: s:~o:22 Pnn Cmr. Felber expressed concern with on-site traffic circulation and pedestrian safety, He j recommended the use of mirrors be installed to enable pedestrian foot traffic and vehicular traffic to see each other at an intersection where there is a blind spot s:2a:~s PM Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - November 18, 2009 Cmr Spethman stated that the existing church building is a neighborhood icon and would hope that the integrity of the original building design be maintained as much as possible throughout the renovation project 6:38:21 PM Cmr. Liuag recommended a separate driveway entrance on Naples St be installed to facilitate traffic circulation. s:42:2i PM Mr Zumwalt stated that the plans were routed through the Engineering Department and their recommendation was that there be a single driveway and that a bus stop be installed at that location Public Hearing Opened, zosss PM Patty Davis addressed the Commission and stated she's been along-time member of the church; she thanked them for their consideration of the project and urged their approval of the Conditional Use Permit, ~:os:2~ PM Public Hearing Closed„ MSC (Felber/Tripp) (5-0-1-1) to approve resolution PC 09-48 approving the Conditional Use Permit based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained in the resolution, with an additional condition to include the installation of a safety mirror, Motion carried with Cmr. Bringas abstaining. ~:ossa PM 2. Public Hearing: r~~sa Pm PCM 09-25; Consideration of a proposal to adopt an ordinance that would allow the Growth Management Oversight Commission's 2010 Annual Report to be focused on only five of the Growth Management Programs eleven quality of life issues.. Kim Vander Bie reported that this is a consideration of a proposal to adopt an ordinance allowing the GMOC to conduct an abbreviated review for its 2010 Annual Report The existing Ordinance requires the GMOC to prepare an annual report that addresses threshold standards for eleven quality of life issues Due to decreased growth, budget constraints and staff reduction, staff is proposing that the 2010 Annual Report be abbreviated by focusing on only five of the eleven issues In addition, staff recognized that there is an overlap of several months in the review of two consecutive reports and that monitoring for many of the eleven quality of life issues occurs through other channels independent of GMOC review, therefore, staff is also proposing that consideration be given to changing the review cycle to a biennial review (every two years) At their October 8, 2009 meeting, the GMOC rejected the proposed ordinance change and believe it is crucial to do a 2010 report, even if abbreviated, keeping the emphasis on the quality issues where concerns were identified in the 2009 Annual Report and determined that the 2010 report should include Fire, Fiscal, Libraries, Police and Traffic, with the exclusion of Air Quality, Drainage, Parks and Rec ,Schools, Sewer and Water Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCM 09-25 recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance allowing the Growth Management Oversight Commission's 2010 Annual Report to be focused on only five of the Growth Management Program's eleven quality of life issues including: Fire, Fiscal, Libraries, Police and Traffic, Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - November 18, 2009 Commission Comments: As Planning Commission representative to the GMOC, Cmr Felber elaborated on the GMOC's deliberation of staff's proposal, He indicated it underscored the importance to move forward and complete the Top-To-Bottom review that has been in the works since Council directed it be done back in 2003 This review would be the optimal forum in which to consider streamlining the process, reduce costs, eliminate overlapping reviews, consider an annual vs biennial review and develop an effective work-program Cmr Tripp stated that staff's recommendation to have an abbreviated report or go to a biennial review is due to budgetary constraints, yet there is no tangible information provided in the staff report to support this position; he questioned if staff had any information on what is the cost associated with supporting the GMOC ~:2oaa PM Ms. Vander Bie stated that the 2009 Annual Report cost approximately $325,000, half of which went to conducting traffic studies She indicated it took a considerable amount of time to compile that information and apologized for not including it in the staff report. Cmr Spethman stated that he too has served on the GMOC and as a concerned citizen, recognizes that there is minimal control over certain quality of life issues, i e air quality, water and schools, however, the annual analysis of the other issues is critical to the evaluation of where the City headed, therefore, with reservation, he can support staff's recommendation for an abbreviated review for 2010 with a continued yearly review thereafter. 7:2337 PM Cmr Liuag inquired what the ordinance requires in terms of level of detail in its analysis and whether or not there is adequate staffing levels to comply with what the ordinance requires I 7:25:54 PM Public Hearing Opened. David Krogh, Chairman of the GMOC, stated they were concerned with staff's proposal to go biennial The members felt that the decision to go biennial should not be a permanent one, but should be considered on a year-by-year basis After much deliberation, the GMOC determined that the top five issues previously mentioned were of great importance and that the preparation of an abbreviated report should move forward. Mr Crow further indicated that they too asked for costs associated with supporting GMOC and would've liked to have had that information at hand sooner than tonight Lastly, he indicated that although the j amount is high, he is not surprised to learn that the bulk of it goes toward conducting traffic SlUd12S 7:29:49 PM Public Hearing Closed,. Cmr. Tripp stated that when staff is making a recommendation based primarily on budgetary constraints, he is disappointed that the staff report was incomplete in that it did not include a I complete cost analysis to enable the Commission to make an informed decision, therefore, he will not support staff's recommendation. 7ss:as PM Cmr Vinson inquired if the findings contained in the GMOC report is used in obtaining financing or bonding for the City. Mr. Batchelder stated that growth-forecasting, which involves how much building will take place, tax revenue, and property valuation is used in bonding and/or financing. Staff will Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - November 18, 2009 continue to do growth forecasting, which is done independent of the Growth Management Program, but the information also serves to support the GMOC Cmr. Felber stated he is sympathetic with Cmr Tripp's concerns, however, he does not support any further delays or continuances and would urge the Commission to move forward with a decision to enable the rest of the process, specifically the discussions in the Top-To-Bottom review to commence as soon as possible Cmr Liuag stated he can't support excluding six issues from the review and would favor doing an abbreviated review of them, therefore, he cannot in good conscience support staff's recommendation 7:45:39 PM MSC (Spethman/Felber) (4-2-0-1) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCM 09-25 recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance allowing the Growth Management Oversight Commission's 2010 Annual Report to be focused on only five of the Growth Management Program's eleven quality of life issues including: Fire, Fiscal, Libraries, Police and Traffic,. ra~:as PM Motion carried with Cmrs. Tripp and Liuag voting against it. ACTION ITEM: i 3. Nomination of new Vice Chair for FY 09-10.. MSC (Tripp/Felber) ((i-0-0-1) nominating Cmr„ Spethman to serve as Vice Chair of the Planning Commission for FY 2009-10.. Motion carried. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Mr Batchelder presented a memo from SANDAL outlining their intent to move forward with the construction of the Southbay Bus Rapid Transit route that will run from downtown San Diego, through Otay Ranch and onto the Otay Mesa's border crossing Public outreach meetings will be commencing shortly and project completion is anticipated to be in 2012 Meeting Adjourned,. ~:e6:~o PM To a regular Planning Commission meeting on December 9, 2009. Respectfully submitted, Diana Vargas, Secreta to the Planning Commission ;