HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1998/08/127:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 12, 1998
MINUTES OF THE
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
Council Chambers
Public Services Building
276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista
ROLL CALL/MOTIONS TO EXCUSE:
Present:
Absent:
Staff Present:
Chair Davis, Commissioners Willett, Tarantino, Thomas, O'Neill
Commissioner Aguilar and Ray
Robert Leiter, Director of Planning and Building
Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner
Ed Batchelder, Senior Planner
Frank Herrera-A., Associate Planner
Edalia Olivo-Gomez, Associate Plan ner
MSC (O'Neill/Willett) (5-0-2) to excuse Commissioners Aguilar and Ray, who called in asking
to be excused because of prior commitments. Motion carried.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT PRAYER
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS:
Read into the record by Chair Davis
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None
PUBLIC HEARING:
PCA 98-08 & PCM 98-37; City-initiated proposal to amend the
Growth Management Ordinance; the Growth Management Program;
and the Threshold/Standards and Growth Management Oversight
Commission Policy, to enact a revised Air Quality Threshold
Standard.
Background: Edalia Olivo-Gomez, Associate Planner, reported that the proposed amendment
to the Air Quality Threshold Standard was a recommendation of the Growth Management
Oversight Commission as part of their annual reporting process. Through this process, the
proposed revisions have been reviewed and conceptually approved by the City Council,
Planning Commission and the Air Pollution Control District.
The procedures within the proposed amended threshold standards have been successfully
applied in spirit as part of the GMOC's 1996-97 annual review. At this time, staff is following
through with the previous City Council and Planning Commission recommendation to finalize
the amendment for final adoption, which requires amendments to the Growth Management
Ordinance, program, and threshold standards policy document.
Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Revisions to the Air Quality Threshold Standard address prior APCD comments that the present
standard is impractical in its call for APCD to review the City's 12-18 month growth forecast
and provide comments regarding that forecast's impacts on current and future air quality
management programs. By law, APCD relies on SANDAG's regional "Series" growth forecasts
for their air quality planning and monitoring efforts, and indicated that they had no practical
basis to evaluate such a local growth forecast. The GMOC and APCD concur that the proposed
revised standard is well-reasoned and forms a workable and logical foundation for annual
progress/compliance reporting on air quality improvement efforts at the local and regional
level.
Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution 98-08/PCM-98-37
recommending that the City Council adopt the Draft City Council Ordinance amending Section
19.09.040J of the Chula Vista Municipal Code and draft Council Resolution amending Section
3.11.1 of the City's Growth Management Program, Threshold/Standards, and Growth
Management Oversight Commission Policy, to enact a revised Air Quality Threshold Standard.
Commission Discussion:
Commissioner Tarantino stated that having served on the GMOC, he witnessed a lot
of undirected discussions primarily due to a lack of guidance and commended staff on
the work they did in tightening up the growth standards because this will facilitate
discussion and give a quantitative measure on what the GMOC is suppose to be doing.
Public Hearing Opened 7:10.
No public input.
Public Hearing Closed 7:10.
MSC (VVillett/O'Neill)(5-0-2) to adopt Resolution 98-08/PCM-98-37 recommending that the
City Council adopt the Draft City Council Ordinance amending Section 19.09.040J of the
Chula Vista Municipal Code and draft Council Resolution amending Section 3.11.1 of the
City's Growth Management Program, Threshold/Standards, and Growth Management
Oversight Commission Policy, to enact a revised Air Quality Threshold Standard. Motion
carried.
°°
PUBLIC HEARING:
Consideration to recommend to the City Council the adoption of the
Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) Concept Plan (PCM-91-08). The
proposed OVRP is located at the southern terminus of the City's
boundary and extends from San Diego Bay to the Otay Lakes
Reservoir, approximately 11 miles.
Background: Frank Herrera-A., Associate Planner, reported that in 1990 a joint staff comprised
of the County of San Diego and the Cities of San Diego and Chula Vista began the process of
obtaining public input and preparing a Preliminary Draft Concept Plan for the formation of the
Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Otay Valley Regional Park. This effort has been guided by a Policy Committee and a Citizen
Advisory Committee (CAC) and has received input from various community groups, park
committees and through public forums. On July 18, 1997, after recommendation by the CAC,
the Policy Committee voted to accept the Preliminary Draft Concept Plan, with modifications
and directed joint staff to proceed to the Planning Commissions and City Council/Board of
Supervisors of each jurisdiction to obtain adoption of the Concept Plan.
The OVRP Concept Plan is a framework plan for the implementation of an 11 mile regional
park extending from San Diego Bay to, and including, the Upper and Lower Otay Reservoirs,
which encompasses salt marsh, riparian and gnatchatcher habitat. To the west, it is contained
by existing urbanization, while the eastern area will soon be changed by planned development.
The Preliminary Draft OVRP Concept Plan is a policy document which provides guidance in
park land acquisition and development and implements the park goal statement by establishing
a boundary, protecting or restoring environmentally sensitive resources and providing
opportunities for recreation and environmental education. The Plan does not preclude
development rights and allows opportunity for private development that could implement the
Plan. The plan contains the framework for a continuous trail system linking the San Diego Bay
with the Otay Lakes Reservoir as well as connection to other regional open space systems. It
recommends staging areas and view points and park areas requiring future study. To allow
flexibility, the Plan is deliberately conceptual and development of park elements will require
future detailed proposals.
A public forum attended by property owners, Councilmember Vargas, Supervisor Cox and CAC
members was held May 17, 1997, in which the preliminary plan was reviewed, and positive
comments were received. On July 18, 1998, the Park Policy Committee consisting of Mayor
Horton, Councilmember Vargas and Supervisor Cox directed ioint staff to take the plan forward
for adoption by the individual jurisdictions. The San Diego County Planning Commission on
December 19, 1997 and the City of San Diego Planning Commission on April 30, 1998
recommended adoption of the Preliminary Plan to their respective Board of Supervisors and
City Council
The Concept Plan is divided into five geographic segments, which include:
1. South San Diego Bay to Interstate 5.
Alternative boundary
Park study area
Open Space/Core Preserve area
Recreation area
Three Trail Corridors
Staging
Viewpoint and Overlook Areas
Interpretive Center
Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
2. Interstate 5 to Interstate 805
Open Space/Core Preserve Area
Six Recreation Areas
Trail Corridors along both sides of the river
Five Staging Areas
Viewpoint and Overlook
3. Interstate 805 to Heritage Road
alternative Boundary
Open Space/Core Preserve Area
Two Recreation Areas
Trail Corridors
Staging Area
Park Study Area
4. Herita_~e Road to Otav Lakes Vicinity
Open Space/Core Preserve Area
Two Recreation Areas
Trail Corridors
Interpretive Center
Park Study Areas
5. Otav Lakes Vicinity
Open Space/Core Preserve Area
Six Recreation Areas
Trail Corridors
Environmental Analysis
Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner presented an overview of the environmental analysis of the
Concept Plan. The MSCP Final EIR/EIS was finaled in January 1997 and was prepared by the
City of San Diego, as lead agency under CEQA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covering
the NEPA coverage on the document. The City of Chula Vista is acting as a "responsible
agency" under CEQA and taking any action related to the MSCP and all discretionary actions
and analysis that are covered under the umbrella of this EIR.
The analysis in the MSCP EIR was done at a programmatic level, as opposed to a project-
specific level and as such, it addresses global environmental issues in consistency with the
preserve planning for the MSCP. In order to implement the Regional Park, it necessitates
subsequent environmental analysis with master plans for the Regional Park.
Planning Commission Minutes - 5 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Mr. Bazzel indicated that there are three non-environmental issues related to the concept plan
they are:
Property Ri_~hts. Staff included policies which address the concern for individual's property
rights for property ownership within the potential boundary of the Regional Park which
include current zoning and General Plan designations still being in effect where an
individual would still have an opportunity to submit development applications to the
corresponding jurisdiction until such time as zone changes or General Plan Amendments
occur.
2. Acc~uisition of Property. Staff included policies in the Concept Plan which clarify that land
acquisition will only be acquired through willing sellers.
Long-term management and ooerational structure of the Park. The ultimate jurisdictional
control and maintenance and operation of the park has not yet been determined, and will
be reviewed in the next level of analysis.
Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt resolution recommending that
the City Council adopt the Otay Valley Regional Park Concept Plan in accordance with the
resolution.
Public Hearing Opened 7:30.
Margaret Vanduche, 266 B Ranch Drive, Chula Vista stated that although she recognizes this
is a conceptual plan, she is concerned with noise impacts because she lives directly in front
of what is designated to be a recreational area.
Rosemary Munoz, 291 Palm Avenue, stated she is concerned with traffic impacts and
children's safety in an already heavily traveled area.
Frank Herrera-A. addressed Ms. Munoz' concerns and stated that the area which she is referring
to is an area that is designated as Open Space with no access to the park and will not be
impacting the neighborhood.
Loretta Munz, 288 Palm Avenue, expressed concern with impacts on the wildlife in the Otay
River Valley.
Duane Bazzel stated that the Otay River Valley area is designated as a strong wildlife linkage
as part of the MSCP and the OVRP also plans to preserve it as a wildlife linkage.
Carl Kurt, 302 Rancho Drive, Chula Vista stated he supports the overall concept plan but
expressed concern with the area's allurement of the homeless and related debris trap.
Public Hearing Closed 7:43.
Planning Commission Minutes - 6 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Commission Discussion:
Commissioner O'Neill commended staff and the various committees and advisory groups,
of which Commissioner Willett was a part of, for the hard work they put into the
preparation of the Concept Plan,
Vice Chair Willett gave a historical overview of the inception of the park concept plan,
when in 1988, then, Mayor Greg Cox and Supervisor Brian Bilbray invited him to lunch,
as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, to discuss the envisioned regional
park stretching from the San Diego Bay through the Otay River Valley to the Reservoir.
MSC (Willett/Thomas) (5-0-2) that the Planning Commission approve Resolution PCM 91-08
recommending that the City Council adopt the Olay Valley Regional Concept Plan. Motion
carried.
3. PUBLIC HEARING: PCM 99-02; Otay Valley Road Name Change.
Bob Leiter, Director of Planning and Building reported that due to additional work that needs
to be done on some of the financial impacts of the project, this item is being canceled and will
be reschedule to a later date.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Re~}ort on Consolidation of Plannin~ and Building Deoartment. Report was considered and
approved by the City Council on August 11, 1998, and a copy of the report was included
in the Planning Commission packet for information purposes.
Commissioner Willett stated that a concerted effort needs to be made to ensure that
adequate dissemination of information be made available to the general public informing
them where to go for services which have changed with the recent department
reorganizations of Parks and Recreation, Planning and Building Departments, and
recommended that the Chamber of Commerce be kept informed of these changes.
Interim staff suooort to Plannin~ Commission. Mr. Leiter reported that he will be the
interim lead advisor to the Planning Commission until such time that the Assistant Director
of Planning is hired, which will be approximately three months. Rick Rosaler is the interim
lead advisor to the Design Review Committee and Duane Bazzel is the advisor to the Parks
and Recreation Commission on park planning issues as well as working with GMOC.
3. City Council Ao[~roved Items.
On August 1 1, Council unanimously approved a proposal to create the Kenneth Lee
Memorial Award for Community Planning that will be part of the beautifications award
program. In addition, SDG&E has indicated their desire to sponsor and endow the
award to pay for the plaques.
Planning Commission Minutes - 7 - Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Temporary paving ordinance
· East Manor Street rezone
· Upheld DRC and Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the office
building project next to the Auto ?lex on Broadway and denied the appeal.
Mr. Leiter reported that the Eastlake Trails SPA Plan and the Otay Ranch SPA I West SPA
Plan will be discussed at the Planning Commission workshop of August 19, and the Draft
FIR's for those two projects will be discussed at the Regular Planning Commission meeting
of August 26.
~)THER BUSINESS
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
· Commissioner O'Neill reaffirmed his desire to have the Planning Commission spearhead the
endeavor to memorialize Ken Lee by naming a park after him.
The Commission and staff wholeheartedly supported the recommendation.
ADJOURNMENT at 8:00 to the next regular Planning Commission meeting of August 26,
1998.
Diana Vargas, Secretary to Plannir~Commission