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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 2007/11/28 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Council Chambers 6:00 p..m.. 276 Fourth Avenue November, 28, 2007 Chula Vista, California CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL /MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: 6:08:12 PM i Members Present: Tripp, Felber, Vinson, Bensoussan, Clayton, Spethman Member Absent: Moctezuma MSC (Spethman/Clayton) (6-0-0-1) to excuse Cmr„ Moctezuma. Motion car'r'ied.. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Read into the record by Chair Tripp ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input. 1. Public Hearing: Consideration of the following applications filed by Brookfield-Shea Otay, LLC, to develop 3..9 acre Concordia Lutheran Church site, located at 267 East Oxford Street: • PCZ 07-08; a rezone from the R-1-7 Single Family Residential zone to the R-1-5-P Single Family Residential zone, with a Precise Plan Modifying District; • PCM 08-02; a Precise Plan to establish Precise Plan development standards, architectural and landscape design guidelines; • PCS 07-07; a Tentative Subdivision Map to subdivide 3.9 acres into 24 residential and 2 open space lots, served by a new public residential street„ Staff recommends that public hearing be opened and continued to a date certain of December 12, 2007, MSC (Felber/Clayton) (6-0-0-1) that the Planning Commission open public hearing and continue it to a date certain of December 12, 2007.. Motion carried. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - November 28, 2007 2.. Public Hearing: PCC 08-01; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate a Senior Living Facility at 505 Mount Miguel Road -Spring Hill Senior Living, LLC„ 6:14:16 PM Background: Rich Zumwalt reported that the applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit fora 105-unit senior care facility on 3.1-acre site at the corner of Mt Miguel Rd and Proctor Valley Rd, The Community Purpose Facility (CPF) land use designation for the site was established by the San Miguel Ranch SPA on October 19, 1999, The site is currently occupied by the Home-finding Center and its use has been terminated, therefore, the building is proposed to be demolished. On November 19, 2007 the DRC approved the Design Review Permit DRC 08-01 The project proposes the construction of two buildings, one 3 story building 89 units and a single story building with 16 units, The facility will include a total of 133 beds. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 08-01 approving the Conditional Use Permit based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein. Commission Discussion. 6:33:34 PM Andy Plant, Principal Planner for the applicant, 7946 Ivanhoe Avenue, San Diego stated he was available to answer questions of the Commission. 6:34:29 PM Cmr, Spethman stated that the site has its limitations because of its restrictive size and asked if any consideration had been given to reserving space in the event that future expansion of parking be required should there be a change in use at this location or the majority of residents living independently should decide they still want to drive their own car, Mr Plant responded that the average age of the residents is 85 years old and they rarely drive.. There is a shopping center directly across the street from the facility and the facility would provide transportation to their residents. 6:40:48 PM Cmr, Felber asked how the calculations for the parking requirement were arrived at, 6:41:36 PM Bill Darnell, Transportation Planner with Darnell and Associates stated that he has been conducting parking studies since the 1980's and has witnessed a growing trend with the residents in these facilities not having a need or desire to have their own vehicle., The parking study for this project reflects the parking needs for similar-sized facilities in the region with the same approximate number of staff and residents. 6:45:50 PM Cmr.. Tripp asked the applicant, if the Planning Commission wished to add a Condition of Approval requiring that at least 90% of the residents be 62 years of age or older, would they be able to agree to such a condition. Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - November 28, 2007 Mr. Plant responded affirmatively, but noted that the State already regulates them in that the residents have to be 62 years or older, except under special circumstances where a patient who is young, is in the same condition requiring assisted living as an elderly person in their 80's or beyond 6:49:38 PM Cmr. Spethman stated that he doesn't see the need to impose a condition on age restriction because he is comfortable that the State of California already does that, 6:52:05 PM Public Hearing opened and closed„ 6:52:20 PM MSC (Felber/Spethman) (6-0-0-1) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 08-01 approving the Conditional Use Permit based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein. 3.. PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of the applications filed by IRE Development for three separate parcels totaling 43..6 acres within the existing Eastlake Business Center IL. a.. GPA 07-05; General Plan Amendment to change the land use designation of 16.7 acres at the northeast corner of Fenton Street and Showroom Place from Light Industrial to Retail Commercial b. PCM 07-04; amendments to the Eastlake II General Development Plan (GDP) and Eastlake Business Center II Sectional Planning Area Plan (SPA), and Planned Community District Regulations, Land Use District Map and associated regulatory documents.. c. PCC 05-70; rescind Conditional Use Permit previously approved to establish and operate a Design District on the north side of Fenton Street, both sides of Showroom Place Cmr, Vinson recused himself from the dais for both items #3 and #4 6:57:00 PM Background: Jeff Steichen requested that Item #3 and #4 be heard concurrently as they are related, Mr Steichen reported that this is a request to amend the land uses and development standards for approximately 44 acres of land located on the eastern half of the Eastlake Business Center, The 44 acres have been divided into three properties; Area A, 16,7-acres, the site where the existing Design District is currently located; Area B 17..7 acres, the original sited for Phase II of the Design District, which is currently graded, but vacant; and Area C 9,6 acres located on the south side of Fenton Street, which is proposed for a hotel and office complex that will be discussed later in this presentation, In April 2005 the Eastlake Business Center II SPA was amended to allow approximately 35 acres near the eastern edge of the Business Center to be Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - November 28, 2007 developed as a home improvement/design center. Phase I of the Eastlake Design District, a 234,000 sf building has been constructed on 1.67 acres. Phase 11 consists of 17 7 acres located north and west of the Design District A neighborhood meeting took place on September 12, 2007 to introduce the applicant's development and rezoning proposal Approximately 40 residents and business owners attended the meeting and expressed concerns related to the proposed increase in building height and massing, The applicant, however, was commended for the quality of the proposed development and the recently completed Eastlake Design Center. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution GPA 07- 05 /PCM 07-04 recommending that the City Council adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (IS 07-15) and approve applications based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein 4. Public Hearing: PCC 07-71; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate a hotel at 2430 Fenton Street in the Eastlake Business Center. Applicant: Innkeepers, USA„ I '7:12:15 PM Background: Caroline Young reported that the applicant is requesting a CUP to construct a 5-story 75-foot tall building Embassy Suites Hotel in Area C of the Eastlake Business Center consisting of 156 room/suites with conference rooms, outdoor pool/spa area, indoor fitness center and restaurant/bar for the hotel The existing parcel where the hotel will be located will be subdivided into two different lots. The hotel will be located on the westerly side consisting of 3,76 acres; a four story office building will be located on the easterly parcel. Both of these buildings were approved by the DRC on November 19, 2007. Regardless of the property line, the two lots act as one cohesive design with both of the buildings using the same driveway and parking areas.. They will share the driveways off of Fenton St, and Hitachi Way through an access agreement, The hotel will also be able to use the parking located on the adjacent parcel through a reciprocal parking agreement with the office building The hotel has 163 parking spaces and the office has 433 parking spaces. The hotel will provide nine conference rooms consisting of approximately 8,800 sf of meeting space and a 106-seat restaurant. There will be a total of 50 employees working in staggered shifts, This hotel is being designed as a business hotel that will provide a service that is desired by the surrounding corporate offices who will be able to have their employees or clients stay in the hotel or hold meetings in the conference rooms It can also serve the Olympic Training Center's athletes, visitors and families Currently there are no hotels in the Eastlake area or in any of the planned communities in the east. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 07-71 approving Conditional Use Permit for the hotel, based on the findings and conditions contained therein, and contingent upon adoption by City Council of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, IS 07-15, approval of the SPA Amendment, PCM 07-04 and the i Planning Commission Minutes - 5 - November 28, 2007 adoption of the ordinance amending the Eastlake II Planned Community District Regulation. 7:16:51 PM Commission Questions: 7:29:59 PM Cmr, Bensoussan stated that looking at the conceptual drawings she is concerned with the massive scale and bulk of the office buildings towering over the adjacent single family homes. She would hope that mature landscaping would be utilized to give it some screening.. Jeff Steichen indicated that the drawings are conceptual and were provided simply to give a better understanding of how the site could potentially look like.. Furthermore, any projects that are proposed would have to go through the Design Review process where they would look into the design offsets and scale of buildings, as well as landscaping. Cmr. Benoussan asked if there would be large banquet rooms that could accommodate a wedding or perhaps a prom, I i 7:58:12 PM Cynthia Morgan, Atty. Representing the applicant introduced the representatives from Innkeepers.. Cynthia Morgan stated that there would be 8 conference room that are separated with a retractable wall between them, however, the intent of those conference rooms is for day use as meeting space and they would not be large enough to accommodate large weddings or proms.. Meeting the parking requirements for these large-scale gatherings would also pose a problem 'i 8:02:48 PM Public Hearing opened and closed, i Cmr. Tripp stated that the Eastlake Business Center has struggled to keep its doors opened and intensifying the land uses in that area is crucial to their survival, therefore, although this project will bring with it potentially some traffic congestion, it is hoped that it will also bring vibrancy to that area and create awin-win situation for success in everyone's businesses, Cmr. Spethman echoed Chair Tripp's comments and stated that he believes that the City need to create abusiness-friendly environment in order to attract businesses to establish themselves in Chula Vista I MSC (Felber/Spethman) (5-0-1-1) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution GPA 07-05/PCM 07-04 recommending that the City Council adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (IS 07-15) based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein„ Motion carried. MSC (Felber/Clayton) (5-0-1-1) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 07-71 approving Conditional Use Permit for the hotel, based on the findings and conditions contained therein, and contingent upon adoption by City Council j of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, IS 07-15, approval of the SPA Amendment, Planning Commission Minutes - 6 - November 28, 2007 PCM 07-04 and the adoption of the ordinance amending the Eastlake II Planned Community District Regulation, Motion carried. Director's Report: 8:11:46 PM Nancy Lytle stated that the Planning Commission has been polled and there will be a Special Meeting of the Planning Commission on December 18, 2007 at 5:00 p.m upon which the Planning Commission's recommendation on a zone change and Conditional Use Permit for a High Tech High School wilt be conveyed immediately to the City Council at their regular meeting on the same date at 6:00 p m, ; 8:14:17 PM Commission Comments: 8:14:26 PM Cmr. Tripp passed out some materials he downloaded from the website and the Municipal Code with regard to the role of the Design Review Committee; he requested that the Assistant Planning Director agendize this item for discussion at the earliest Planning Commission meeting.. 8:20:26 PM Cmr, Clayton stated that she hears comments from the community and sometimes even I applicants that come before the Planning Commission stating how long it took them to go through the entitlement process, Based on those comments, in her opinion, she finds it difficult to say that the City is business-friendly She would also like see agendized for , a future meeting a discussion and explanation of the entitlement process I Cmr. Bensoussan stated that she looks forward to having the discussion on the DRC role and responsibility. Cmr. Bensoussan also stated that consideration should be given to expanding the DRC's membership to more than five members because it has been brought to her attention that meetings end up being cancelled due to lack of a quorum; if we want to be establish a reputation of being abusiness-friendly City and keep projects moving forward on track, this is a problem. 8:24:35 PM Adjournment to a regular Planning Commission meeting on December 12, 2007, Submitted by: Diana Vargas Secretary to the Planning Commission