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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 2009/07/22 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Council Chambers 6:00 p m. 276 Fourth Avenue July 22, 2009 Chula Vista, California CALL TO ORDER: 6:05:27 PM ROLL CALL /MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Members Present: Tripp, Clayton, Moctezuma, Vinson, Spethman, Thompson, Felber INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Read into the record by Chair Vinson APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 24, 2009 MSC (Spethman/Tripp) (6-0-0-1) to approve minutes of June 24, 2009 as submitted. Motion carried with Cmr.. Moctezuma absent for the vote. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input. CONSENT AGENDA: None PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Public Hearing: PCC 08-10; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to i construct and operate a remodeled Corpus Christi Catholic Church, social hall, and a private school at 450 Corral Canyon Road, Applicant: Lord Architecture. Staff recommends that public hearing be opened and continued to a date certain of August 12, 2009. Father Patrick Mulkahey addressed the Commission and expressed the church's desire to obtain the necessary entitlements to move forward with their project. MSC (Felber/Spethman) (7-0) that public hearing be opened and continued to a date certain of August 12, 2009,. Motion carried. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - July 22, 2009 2. Public Hearing: PCC 09-52; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to install, use, and maintain an unmanned Wireless Communication Facility consisting of twelve panel antennas mounted on a 50-ft high antenna structure designed to resemble a pine tree (monopine) and associated equipment adjacent to Cheryl Court between Sesame Street and Paseo Ladera. Applicant: Verizon Wireless. The Commission waived staff's presentation and the public hearing was opened. Public Hearing Opened. No members of the public were present for public testimony Public Hearing Closed. Commission Comments: Cmr Thompson asked what efforts are made to ensure that these facilities share sites with other carriers Director Halbert stated that the City is desirous of co-locating facilities whenever possible and pointed out Condition of Approval #7 in the staff report that reads, "...applicant shall cooperate with telecommunication companies in co-locating additional antennas; Applicant shall exercise good faith in co-locating with other communication companies " Cmr Thompson stated he appreciates the language in the Condition, however, it doesn't appear to have substantial enforcement Director Halbert stated should concerns be raised over proliferation of facilities, particularly in residential areas, we have the ability to have athird-party technical expert determine whether the facility could serve the same purpose by co-locating at an existing facility MSC (Felber/Thompson) (7-0) to adopt Resolution PCC 09-52 approving a wireless ~I telecommunication facility (monopine) consisting of 12 panel antennas and associated equipment. Motion carried„ 3. Public Hearing: 6:27:13 PM PCM 09-14; Consideration of amendments to the Gateway Chula Vista Specific Plan in order to allow educational and training uses, modify the provisions for temporary and accessory uses, and other miscellaneous amendments. The 4..46-acre site is located at the northwest corner of Third Avenue and H Street.. Applicant: Gateway Chula Vista 2, LLC. Background: Jeff Steichen reported that the Gateway Specific Plan was adopted on December 12, 2000, which established design, landscape, and parking standards and defines the type and amount of development permitted within Phases 1 thru 3 of the Gateway redevelopment project. The applicant is requesting an amendment to their Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - July 22, 2009 Specific Plan in order to change the type and distribution of allowable uses within the project area and would allow educational and training uses, modify provisions for temporary and accessory uses and other miscellaneous modifications within the 4.46-acre project site. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCM 09-14 recommending that the City Council approve the ordinance for the Gateway Chula Vista Specific Plan Amendment Commission Comments: There was discussion regarding the reduction to the restaurant square footage and an increase in overall allowable building square footage. Cmr Tripp stated that traffic mitigation measures outlined in the traffic study appear to be intended for implementation at the time of build-out of the Specific Plan. He noted that the intensity level of this project might not warrant implementation of the mitigation measures, and questioned at what point would a substantial conformance review of traffic volumes and operation of the site be triggered Dave Kaplan, Traffic Engineer, stated that after Phase II is completed and with the commencement of Phase III, a traffic study will be conducted for amid-block traffic signal on H St between 3rtl and 4`h for access to Phase III and the entire specific plan, as well as a reassessment of traffic volumes and operation of the site I Cmr Felber stated that locating amedical/technical training school at this location is an excellent choice, and pointed out that a school in the criminal justice field would also be a good choice since the courthouse and law-enforcement complex is across the street Public Hearing Opened. 6:48:20 PM Jim Pieri stated they are allowed cone-time increase or decrease of up to 15% in square i footage and height and they decided not to increase the height, staying within the guidelines I of Phase I & II, and a square footage of 140,000 instead of 155,000, Mr. Pieri stated they are excited about the prospects of partnering with an educational institution, Regarding the reduction of restaurants square footage, he reassured the Commission that every effort was made to market the site as such, but they were I unsuccessful Cmr. Spethman spoke of student mode of transportation and inquired if any thought had been given to the use of off-site parking through a partnership agreement with another entity and shuttling to and from the parking lot to the school Mr Andy Schlafley, of Urban Systems, gave an overview of how their parking and transportation analysis is done using data from SANDAG trip generation rates and the Urban Land Institute parking rates Cmr Clayton stated that with the education venue, ancillary uses such as child care might be warranted and asked if any, consideration has been given to accommodating safety precautions for these type of uses Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - July 22, 2009 Mr. Pieri stated that some training schools do provide within themselves day care services. Their objective is to remain flexible and accommodate the various needs of their tenants and one way of doing that is by providing full-time security within the parking structure. The following individuals were present at the meeting and filled out a speaker slip indicating they were in support of the project, however, they declined to speak during public testimony: Chris Greenlee, Tony Neely, James Reid, Daniel Rosenberg, Tom Axsin, Paula Whitsell, Michael Gorski, Summer Scace, Dave Stanton, Salina Vijarro, Jen Moreno, Flor Peralta, Charles Felkins, Gaby Reyes, James Haug, Anthony Davis, Jose Cortez, voiced his supports for the amendment to the Specific Plan and stated it was vital for the revitalization of western Chula Vista Leo Conde stated adequate traffic analysis was done and concluded that there are no significant impacts; he urged the commission's approval of the project Steve Estes, Executive Director for Third Avenue Village Assoc. read into the record a letter supporting the amendment to the Gateway Specific Plan to allow educational training stated it will lead to future development of this area. Kevin O'Neill stated that amedical/technical training schools is an excellent choice because of the demand for trained professional in this field; he urged its approval. , Ricardo Muro, businessman wholeheartedly supports the amendment because it will bring revitalization to the downtown area by bringing feet to the street Gabe Gutierrez stated this project, specifically the training school, will be a great asset to the community and urged commission to vote for its approval. Deacon Greg Smith at St Rose Lima and member of TAVA reiterated their unanimous support and urged Commission's approval Riner Leal stated this is a no-brainer and allowing the completion of Gateway III is a win-win situation; jobs, training for our own people in medical field, and feet to the street, i Patricia Aguilar representing Crossroads II stated they are not opposed to having a vocation school in Chula Vista and support redevelopment to the extent that it does not impose undue negative impacts on the adjacent neighborhood, however, they do have concerns in the following three areas: additional traffic generation and parking created by the school; the CEQA analysis does not address a ground to planned analysis and does not address current conditions on the ground; and are extremely disappointed that the sit-down restaurant is being eliminated because the original plan for Gateway was sold on the assumption that a restaurant would be added Ms, Aguilar stated they would ask that staff work with traffic engineering to correct the incorrect parking assumptions and faulty CEQA analysis in the traffic report and look at this proposal again once that is completed Steve Power stated that pursuant to CEQA regulations an addendum may be prepared if minor technical changes or additions are necessary. None of the conditions described in State law calling for the preparation of a Subsequent EIR or Negative Declaration have Planning Commission Minutes - 5 - July 22, 2009 occurred and in staff's opinion there are no real changes that would necessitate additional mitigation measures Traffic is negligible and parking has been satisfied, therefore, the addendum is appropriate pursuant to State law. Teresa Acerro stated she is concerned with placing a school in that location, which is a busy corner and is very disappointed that there won't be a sit-down restaurant Lisa Cohen, CEO Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, voiced her support on behalf of their membership who support the Gateway project and change in the Specific Plan She commended the applicant for investing in the development of Chula Vista and being a visionary in siting an educational institution that will train our future workforce in Chula Vista. Earl Jentz address a couple of items of concern in the parking ratios and the way the DDA and resolution are written eliminating the restriction for educational uses. Close Public Hearing.. The Planning Commission expressed an overall support of the project; thought the school use is a good choice for that location; are extremely disappointed about the sit-down restaurant going away and although they would have liked to have seen more in-depth traffic analysis, they are confident the recommended mitigation measures will address them, therefore, they collectively supported the amendment to the Specific Plan. Cmr. Clayton stated that her office is in the vicinity of this project and felt uncomfortable in voting on it, therefore, she recused herself from the dais. MSC (Felber/Tripp) (6-0-1-0) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCM 09- 14 recommending that the City Council approve the ordinance for the Gateway Chula Vista Specific Plan Amendment. Motion carried with Cmr. Clayton abstaining.. Directors Report: • Target project went to City Council and was approved • Anticipate EUC will be before the Planning Commission August 26 • Bayfront Landswap with Pacifica and Port District; the Port Board seta 90-day period for negotiation between the parties; the City has made progress and have excellent working relation with them • Otay Land Development has initiated their GPA process and brought in their begins of their SPA Plans Commission Comments: Cmr Clayton asked that the earlier motion to approve the minutes of June 24, 2009 be redone because Cmrs Tripp and Felber, who were absent for that meeting, inadvertently voted to approve the minutes MSC (Thompson/Moctezuma) (5-0-2-0) to approve minutes of June 24, 2009 as submitted, , Motion carried with Cmrs. Tripp and Felber abstaining.. Planning Commission Minutes - 6 - July 22, 2009 Adjourned to a regular Planning Commission meeting on August 12, 2009. 8:12:31 PM Submitted by, Diana Vargas Secretary to the PI ing Commission