HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-09-28 PC MINS MINUTES OF THE
PLANNING COMMISSION
Of the City of Chula Vista, California
Public Services Building
Council Chambers
6:00 p.m.. 276 Fourth Avenue
Wednesday, September 28 , 2005 Chula Vista, CA
CALL TO ORDER:
Members present: Madrid, Felber, Bensoussan, Hom, Nordstrom, Tripp
Members absent: Cortes
Staff present: Nancy Lytle, Assistant Planning Director
John Schmitz, Principal Planner
John Mullen, Assistant City Attorney III
ROLL CALL/MOTIONS TO EXCUSE
MSC (Madrid/Felber) (6.0-1-0) to excuse Commissioner Cortes. Motion carried.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and MOMENT OF SILENCE i,
APPROVAL OF MINUTES September 14, 2005 ;
6:07:08 PM MSC (Madrid/Nordstrom) (8-0-1-0) to approve minutes with noted amendment offered by
Cmr, Tripp to reflect staff confirming that traffic improvements will be implemented concurrent with
project implementation, and Cmr„ Felber's comment regarding the need to be mindful not to create an
imbalance between multi-family vs. single family neighborhoods. Motion carried.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Read into the record by Chair Madrid ,
ORAL COMMUNICATpNS No public input,
1,. Public hearing: PCC 05-24; Consideration of a modification to an existing CUP fora
trucking operation at 120 Press Lane to removethe restriction on the
south facing doors being open between the hours of 6:00 am to 6:00
pm.,
Staff recommends that public hearing be opened and continued to a date uncertain.
MSC (Nordstrom/Felber)(8-0-1-0) to continue public hearing to a date uncertain. Motion carried..
2.. Public hearing: PCC 05-53; Consideration of CUP for an outdoor seating area at a
proposed taco shop at 1052 Broadway.
Staff recommends that public hearing be opened and continued to October 12, 2005.
MSC (Madrid/Felber) (ti-0-1-0) to continue public hearing to October 12, 2005„ Motioned carried.
Planning Commission - 2 - September 28, 2005
3.. Public hearing: PCS 05-10; Consideration for the proposed conversion of the existing
15-unit apartment complex at 916 Fourth Avenue to 15 condominium
units for individual ownership„ Oak Fourth Development, LCC.
Background: Danielle Putnam reported that the proposal consists of an application for a Tentative
Subdivision Map to convert a 15-unit apartment complex constructed in 1987, into 15 condominium
units for individual ownership.
Exterior upgrades include new stucco color coat and paint, replacing of roof and mail boxes, installing
tot lot and play structures, repair of driveways and walkways, The interior upgrades include new
flooring, replacement of kitchen and bathroom cabinets, tub, showers, and toilets, new interior paint,
new doors and new appliances
The applicant will assist tenants who prefer not to purchase their units by providing relocation
information through a meeting with the City's Housing Office and providing monetary compensation
equivalent to two months rent and their full security deposit refundet
For tenants who wish to purchase their unit, a $7,5000 discount off the price of a comparable unit,
whether upstairs or downstairs, The tenant has the option to accepting the price reduction in the form
of a buyer's credit or as a discount on the firal sale price,
Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCS 05-10 recommending
that the City Council approve the proposed Tentative Map in accordance with the findings and subject
to the conditions contained in the Draft Councl Resolution.
Commission Discussion/Questions:
6:22:17 PM Cmr Bensoussan asked if there is a cap to condo conversions.
John Schmitz responded that currently there is no such policy, however, staff made a recommendation
to Council that before any changes are made to the existing regulations that the City should first update
its Housing Element., If there should be any policy directive in the new Element related to a condo
conversion cap, then those could be implemented through subsequent policies and ordinances.
6:24:35 PM Cmr Madrid stated she is concerned with condo conversions impacting the available rental
market and recommended that there should be a mechanism or trigger by which to gauge when we are
reaching an imbalance and depleting the rental market
Nancy Lytle responded that the background information should be coming to the Commission byway of
the Housing Element,
6:26:15 PM Cmr, Nordstrom inquired what provisions are made to encourage and enable condo-
conversion projects and condominium projects being constructed to comply with a recycling program
John Schmitz referred to Conditional of Approval #8 in the staff report, which requires the applicant to
prepare a waste and recycling plan to the satisfaction of the City's Conservation Coordinator.
Cmr. Tripp commented that the condo-conversion process does not necessarily deplete rental units
because nothing precludes the owner from renting out their unit.
Planning Commission - 3 - September 28, 2005
6:30:43 PM Public Hearing Opened,
Wess Alan, 1619 Emerald Ct Pt , EI Cajon, CA, applicant, stated this is ahigh-quality project that
brings homeownership to individuals and small families who otherwise cannot afford to buy a single
family residence, He thanked the Commission and stated he was available to answer any questions
6:32:00 PM With respect to the site improvements, Cmr. Bensoussan encouraged the applicant to look
into uses that are more environmentally sensitive such as solar heating and tankless water heaters
Mr, Alan responded that they haven't settled on anything yet and are considering various methods.
They are committed to maintaining the affordability of the units, and environmentally sustainable
methods may be cost prohibitive, which will be the determining factor in what they decide to use
6:40:05 PM Cmr Felber asked what determines the top dollar price of a comparable unit
Mr, Alan responded that itwas whether it was a top or bottom unit and the size of the yard for bottom
units
6:43:46 PM Public Hearing Closed.
6:45:12 PM MSC (TripplNordstrom) (5-0-1-0) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution
PCS 05-10 recommending that the City Council approve the proposed Tentative Map in
accordance with the findings and subject to the conditions contained in the Draft Council
Resolution, Motion carried.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Nancy Lytle, Assistant Direcbr reported on the following:
I
• The Beautification Awards Banquet will be held on October 26 at the Olympic Training Center To
accommodate this event, the Regular Planning Commission meeting of October 26 is being moved
to October 19'" and asked that the commissioners email the department secretary with their
availability on October 19'",
• The Commission will be reviewing and makinq~ recommendations on policy changes and revisions
to the Second Unit Ordinance on October 1 J
COMMISSION COMMENTS:
6:48:27 PM Cmr.. Tripp requested that a copy of the Santa Monica case regarding granny flats be
included in the packet when the Second Unit Ordinance comes back to the Commission.
6:49:13 PM With respect togranny-flats, Cmr. Bensoussan stated that it was her understanding that
some jurisdictions are requiring that at least part of the parcel be owner-occupied and this decision was
being challenged in court, She requested that the Commission be briefed on this when this item comes
before them
Cmr. Bensoussan inquired on the completion of the Housing Element,
Nancy Lytle responded that the Housing Element is in the work program of the Community
Planning Commission - 4 - September 28, 2005
Development Department, however, it is her understanding that it will follow in the quarter after the
General Plan is adopted by Council in December.
• Discussion of legislative vs.. quasi-judicial decisions and rules of ex parte contact,
Nancy Lytle gave a Power Point presentation describing the two categories of the types of decisions
the Commission makes in reviewing items, as well as rules governing, site visits, outside contacts and
discussions on matters that the Commission may be considering,
7:13:53 PM Adjourned to the Regular Planning Commission meeting of Octobert2, 2005.
Diana Vargas, Secreta to the Planning Commission
J:\planningldiaNA\09-28-05 Minutes doc