HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRC 1979-01 i
RESOLUTION NO. DRC-97-O1
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA DESIGN
REVIEW COMMITTEE DENYING APPROVAL OF THE SITE
PLAN AND ARCHITECTURE FOR A 246-UNIT
DEVELOPMENT ON 15.2 ACRES IN RANCHO DEL REY.
WHEREAS, a duly verified application for design review was filed with the City of
Chula Vista Planning Department on September 27, 1996 by Craig T. Fukuyama for Rancho del
Rey Investors, L.P.; and
WHEREAS, said application requests approval of the site plan and architecture for a
proposal to build 246 units on 15.2 acres on the south side of East J Street within the Rancho
del Rey SPA III Planned Community; and
WHEREAS, The Environmental Review Coordinator has prepared an addendum to EIR-
89-10, previously prepared for this site .and has concluded that there would be no potential
significant environmental effects not analyzed in the previous documentation associated with this
proposal; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department set the time and place for a hearing on said
application for Design Review and notice of said hearing, together with its purpose, was given
by its mailing to property owners within an area of at least 1,000 ft. of the exterior boundaries
of the property at least ten days prior to the hearing; and
WHEREAS, the hearing was not held at the time and place as advertised, namely
November 11, 1996 at 4:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms 2 and 3 in the Public Services Building,
276 Fourth Avenue but was cancelled due to lack of quorum; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department continued said application for Design Review and
set the time and place for a special hearing by posting such information on the doors of the
Conference Room and Public Services Building, and
WHEREAS, the special hearing was held at the time and place so announced, namely
November 18, 1996, at 4:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms 2 and 3 in the Public Services Building,
276 Fourth Avenue, before the Design Review Committee and said hearing was thereafter
closed, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMITTEE does hereby find, determine, resolve, and order as follows:
1. DESIGN REVIEW FINDINGS
Based on the plans and testimony presented at the public hearing the Design Review
Committee voted to deny the project by a vote of 4-0 with one member abstaining based
on the applicant's plans which failed to meet the City's Design Manual policies as
identified A through D as follows:
A. Pedestrian walkways be provided to link dwelling units with common open
space areas, recreational and support facilities, parking areas and the street.
The proposed pedestrian walkway is inconsistent with the above-referenced
guideline because the walkway is not continuous and links very few of the
dwelling units with the common open space or parking areas. In addition to its
not being very functional, the proposed pedestrian walkway is bordered by plain
wood fencing in some instances and rarely enhanced by adjacent landscaping.
B. Landscape planting shall be used to frame, soften and embellish the quality
of the environment, and shall be in scale with adjacent structures and of
appropriate size and maturity to accomplish its intended purpose.
The proposed landscaping indirect association with the "street scene" is restricted
by proposed setbacks so as to preclude landscaping that would be consistent with
the guidelines listed in "B" above, and the planters proposed for between the
garage doors are too narrow to permit the planting of any significant tree forms.
The separation between buildings must accomodate walkways to dwelling entries,
and consequently only very limited planting areas remain.
c C. That building entrances identify and articulate individual units, providing
distinctive architectural elements, materials and colors to denote entries while
promoting security and privacy.
The floor plans require that all dwelling entries be on the sides of the building,
and on one side of the building there are always two adjacent entries. Thus, not
only is there little identity or individuality expressed architecturally by the
entrances, but individual privacy is non-existent, based upon the limited
separation between buildings and the common walkway serving three units.
D. That internal circulation promote safety, efficiency and convenience, avoiding
conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.
The internal circulation pattern fails to promote safety, but is instead designed to
accomodate an inappropriate density for the product type proposed. The lack of
a continuous pedestrian system creates conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians,
resulting in an inconvenient and potentially hazardous situation for guests and
residents, who must walk along vehicular driveways from parking space to
residence or from a residence to the common recreation area.
III. A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION OF DENIAL SHALL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE
APPLICANTS.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE OF CHULA VISTA,
CALIFORNIA, this 18th day of November, 1996, by the following vote, to-wit:
AYES: Members Rodriguez, Duncanson, Stokes and Spethman
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NOES: None
.ABSTENTIONS: Member Kelly
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Maureen Casper, Secretary