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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/09/2013 Planning Commission MinutesMinutes of the PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 9, 2013 CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL/MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Planning Commission: Spethman Livag Moctezuma Calvo Anaya MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: NIA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE: CITY OF CHULAVISTA 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, CA OPENING STATEMENT: Read into the record by Chair Moctezuma PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were none PUBLIC HEARINGS: Vinson 1. Public Hearing: PCM -1242 Consideration of Amendments to Chula Vista Municipal Code: Title 19 (Zoning Ordinance) related to special events, temporary outside sales and temporary promotional sign permit regulations; and Title 18 (Subdivision Ordinance). Project Managers: Michael Walker, Senior Planner Tom Adler, Land Development Manager Background: Michael Walker gave a brief PowerPoint presentation and presented the following information: In 2009, the Development Services Department initiated a comprehensive review of the City's development review process to develop better customer service by making improvements including streamlining, increasing transparency, improving public access, predictability, and reduce the cost of project review. This resulted in a Process Improvement Program implemented by staff and supported by a citizen Oversight Committee. In 2010 Phase 1 of the Process Improvement Program consisted of various code amendments and policies which have been adopted and implemented. Planning Commission Minutes 2 January 9, 2013 Phase 2 of the program includes Title 19 code amendments for special events, temporary outside sales and promotional signs, and amendments to Title 18 related to administrative procedures for the division of land. A notable change is the special event permit process. The current special event permit limits events to four types; grand openings, change of business ownership, business anniversaries and change of business address. But a variety of other events not currently listed, have been permitted through the special event permit process including, annual events at the Olympic Training Center and various events at Cricket Amphitheater. After much discussion focused on providing greater clarity and consistency to the process, staff recommended that the special event code section be repealed and such events be referred to as minor promotional events and distinguish from major special events. Minor events will continue to be held on private property and would include the events noted above and allow for a variety of other small events such as health fairs and the like. Major special events are events held on public property and /or require two or more secondary permits from other departments and are not typically related to a business. Development Services staff will continue to process minor events. The City Manager's office will continue to process major events, and is considering processing major events held on private property such as the Olympic Training Center. The following are the proposed CVMC Title 19 changes: Section 19.58.380: Special event: • Staff recommends this be repealed because the regulations provided are already addressed in Temporary outside sales and temporary promotional sign code sections, and will eliminate confusion. Section 19.58.370: Temporary outside sales permits per the City Attorney minor revisions were made to this section that are not included in your packet, but are provided to you this evening. Changes include: • approval by the Director of Development Services instead of the Zoning Administrator; • time flexibility for temporary holiday sales; and • Omission of redundant text Signage associated with temporary outside sales and minor promotional events will be regulated by the existing code section for Temporary Promotional Signs. Section 19.60.500(C): Temporary Promotional Sign include: • minor word changes to reflect the changes noted above. In addition to code amendments, improvements for the permit application process were needed and will be implemented including: • Creating better permit tracking through workflow to improve customer service and processing; Planning Commission Minutes 3 January 9, 2013 • Modifying the application form and incorporate a template and handouts providing more information for customers enabling them to submit complete applications and move more quickly through the review process. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt resolution PCM -12 -42 and recommend to the city Council approval of the proposed amendments to Chula Vista municipal Code Title 19 and Title 18. Commissioner's Comments: Cmr. Spethman: Sees a lot of illegal signs in the City and wanted to know how we are going to enforce the new signage ordinance when it doesn't seem like we have staff to enforce what we now have. Director Halbert: • Wouldn't advise the Commission to try to make sure all the laws are being adhered to before adopting new laws that would simplify and improve things for the customer. • The issue of sign enforcement was brought up through the budget process. Staff has been cut to the point that sign enforcement is largely done on a complaint driven basis. • The exception to that are the Main Street, Third Avenue and Broadway corridors. • Thinks that is a different discussion topic and should not really influence whether or not we should enact regulations that simplify the process and make other special events that are not currently covered eligible. Cmr. Spethman: If there are customers not playing by the rules, how can an applicant feel confident when applying when he knows that a large element is non- compliant? Halbert: • What is being presented today is something that makes it easier to apply for a permit and loosens some of the current restrictions. • It is to the individual's volition if he will adhere'to the laws and abide by them. • The laws be updated so they are easier to comply with. Cmr. Spethman had some reservations and perhaps some questions for the attorney, but will wait until the other Commissioners voice their questions /concerns /comments. David Miller, Deputy City Attorney: • The item before the Commission is not about sign regulation. • This item is about allowing outside sales and display of merchandise. • Ttaking out the redundancy in this section regarding sign regulation. • Nothing is changing the sign statutes. Cmr. Livag: In the discussion of the staff report, minor and major events are covered. What part of the statute covers the major events on private property? Planning Commission Minutes 4 January 9, 2013 Michael Walker: • The events that are held on private property are still covered, we're just not calling them special events. • Over time, there have been a lot of events that have applied for permits that cannot be classed in any of the four current categories. • Staff has, in the past, allowed the flexibility of those events that occurred, but all of the statutes are still in place. • The City Manager's office is considering taking on the large events on private property as there is nothing currently in the code for "large, special events ". Halbert: In the case of large event coordination, the City manager's office is trying to coordinate that. We are streamlining the process for day -in- day -out promotional events. There is a special process going through the Continuous Improvement branch to address these large events — which is not part of the current discussion. Cmr. Calvo: Section 19:58:370 — why is it that not more than 6 permits are allowed per year? Walker: Don't know the background, but it has been the code since before he came here. Perhaps it has something to do with temporary permits which have been strung out longer than "temporary" Cmr. Moctezuma: When the holiday sales says without time and permit number limitations. Doesn't it mean that they could keep the holiday sales through January if there are no time limitations? Walker: When they apply there are start and end dates and staff can determine whether it is r easonable. Cmr. Moctezuma: Major events — think waiving fees is very important because they are so expensive. PUBLIC HEARING: No public comments — opened and closed. MSC (Livag /Moctezuma) (6- 0 -1 -0) with Vinson absent — that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCM -12-42 and recommend to the City Council that they approve the proposed amendments to Chula Vista Municipal Code Title 19 and Title 18 OTHER BUSINESS: DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Introduced Patricia Laughlin as the new Planning Commission Secretary. Diana Vargas has been with Economic Development for a year now and has also providing support on Agendas and Planning Commission but is now moving full time to Economic Development. The City is going through some reorganization at the City Manager's level. Scott Tullock will be leaving in February and Gary Halbert is assuming his duties. Planning Commission Minutes 5 January 9, 2013 • Kelley Bacon — former Director of HR & IT has been appointed Deputy City Manager and will oversee HR, ITS, Recreation and Library. • Will be bringing in a new Development Services Director with Halbert acting as Interim until the new person is on- board. • Mandy Mills, the Housing Manager is now in the Manager's office as Manager of Continuous Improvement. • Another issue that has come up is the Urban Core Specific Plan. The Mayor has requested that we develop a work plan. Previously the section regarding re- zoning was pulled and there is a desire to look back on it and do some clean -up on the UCSP. • The Arts Master Plan was done with the General Plan Update, but was never actually adopted. Will be bringing that forward along with some of the other Master Plans. COMMISSION COMMENTS: Cmr. Spethman • Is amazed at the volume and quality of work that is being done with the small amount of staff. Wished the community realized what a great job everyone is doing. Adjournment: To a Regular Planning Commission on January 23, 2013. COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT The City of Chula Vista, in complying with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend, and/or participate in a City meeting, activity, or service, request such accommodations at least forty -eight hours in advance for meetings, and five days for scheduled services and activities. Please contact Diana Vargas for specific information at (619) 691 -5101 or Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) at 585 -5647. California Relay Service is also available for the hearing impaired. Minutes Approved: 02 -13 -2013 SpethmanNinson Submitted by: Patricia Laughlin, Secretary to the Planning Commission