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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-12-05 PC MINS MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE P'LANNING ,COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA December 5 ,' 1960 A regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista was held on the above date- in the Council Chamber at Civic Center with the following members present: Comstock, Weakland, Stevenson, Harmstead, Adams and Guyer. Absent: Chairman Stewart. Al-so present: Assistant Planner Brown and City Attorney Kugler. In the absence of Chairman Stewart, Vice-Chairman Stevenson presided. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Member Harmstead, seconded by Member Comstock and unanimously carried that the minutes of the meeting of November 21 , 1960 be approved, copies having been mailed to each member. VARIANCES PUBLIC HEARING - Mestler and Raitt - Lot 55 , Cortez Manor No. 2 - 638 Garrett Avenue Reduction in Rear Yard Setback The application was read requesting a reduction in rear yard setback from 20 to 8 feet at the northwest corner of the lot at 638 Garrett Avenue. A plot plan was sub- mitted showing the shape of the lot and the house proposed. The application indicated that the very irregular shape of the lot and the location of guy wires from a power pole restricts the development of the lot. A letter was read from the San Diego Gas and Electric Company stating that the pole and guy wires could not be moved. This being the time and place as advertised, Vice-Chairman Stevenson opened the hearing. It was noted that the other setback requirements are being observed and that the rear yard will have sufficient area to comply with open-space provisions. There being no further comment, the hearing was closed. It was moved by Member Adams and seconded by Member Guyer that the request for reduction in rear yard setback from 20 to 8 feet at the northwest corner of the lot at 638 Garrett Avenue be approved as shown on plot plan and that action be based on the following findings: 1 . There are exceptional circumstances in that the lot is very irregular in shape. 2. The variance is necessary for a substantial property right in that a house suitable for the area cannot be built without a variance. 3. There is no indication that the granting of the variance will be detri- mental to adjacent property or improvements. a The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Adams , Guyer, Comstock, Weakland, Stevenson and Harmstead NOES: none ABSENT: Member Stewart PUBLIC HEARING - Norek and Novak - 245 East Oneida Street - Height Variance The application was read requesting permission to maintain a six foot fence within the setback along Melrose Avenue. A plot plan was submitted, showing location of the fence, house and sidewalk and also showing difference in grade level of the yard to the sidewalk. This being the time and place as advertised, Vice-Chairman Stevenson opened the hearing. The applicants stated that because of the grading of their house and adjacent homes , they cannot have privacy in their home without the six foot fence. There being no further comment, the hearing was closed. Member Adams stated that the lot is above sidewalk level three-feet at one end and approximately 7 feet at the other. He stated that a 32 foot fence within the setback would be 62 feet above sidewalk level at the lowest point and would afford the owners as much privacy as other homes on the same level with the sidewalk. He stated that he can find no hardship to the applicant in either reducing the fence to 32 feet high or in moving the fence to the setback line. The applicants stated that with a 32 foot high fence, people can stand across the street and see inside the house. It was moved- by Member Adams and seconded by Member Harmstead that the application of Norek and Novak at 245 East Oneida Street for permission to maintain a six foot fence within the setback along Melrose Avenue be denied because there are no exceptional circumstances about the property to justify granting a variance and because a variance is not necessary to secure the degree of privacy that other property owners are able to secure. The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Adams , Guyer, Comstock, Weakland, Stevenson and Harmstead NOES: none ABSENT: Member Stewart STREETS AND HIGHWAYS Request for Deferment of Construction of Public Improvements - Francis Young - East "J" Street A letter was read from Mr. Francis Young, asking that installation of public im- provements be deferred until a grading problem is worked out satisfactorily.on property on the north side of "East "J" Street, approximately 400 feet east of Stardust Subdivision. A letter was read from the Engineering Department recommending that the deferment be granted because it would be extremely impractical to install public improvements at the present time. City Attorney Kugler stated that if the Planning Commission finds that deferment is justified, they may defer construction for a specific time or subject to a 30 day written notice from the city. In either event, a lien must be recorded, in favor of the city, in the amount of the cost of 2 - installation of these public improvements. It was moved by Member Guyer, seconded by Member Harmstead and unanimously carried that the Planning Commission finds that it would be extremely impractical to install curb, gutter, sidewalk and shoulder paving on the north side of East "J" Street, approximately 400 feet east of Stardust Subdivision, and that a deferment be granted to Mr. Francis Young for property described in letter, subject to installation of these improvements upon a 30 day written notice from the city. Further, that Mr. Young record a lien against his property, in favor of the city, in the amount to be determined by the Engineering Department as sufficient to cover cost of installation of public improvements. Vacation of Alley - North of Palomar Street Between Trenton Avenue and Industrial Blvd. Assistant Planner Brown reviewed the request for vacation of the alley north of Palomar Street, west of Industrial Boulevard, stating that the petition was signed by all the owners of private property adjacent. He submitted a map showing the alley and ad- jacent lots. Member Comstock stated that the alley could not go any further north because of the San Diego Gas & Electric Company right-of-way and Member Adams stated that the lots all have street frontage so that the alley is not necessary for access. It was moved by Member Harmstead and seconded by Member Guyer that the Planning Com- mission finds that it is good planning practice to vacate the alley, that the alley does not serve as access to adjacent lots and the adjacent property owners have requested vacation of the alley. Further , that the Planning Commission recommends to City Council that the alley, as described in the petition, be vacated. The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Harmstead, Adams , Guyer, Comstock, Weakland and Stevenson NOES: none ABSENT: Member Stewart MISCELLANEOUS School Safety Signs- Moose Lodge The letter from the Moose Lodge requesting permission to install safety signs near the schools was reviewed. Mr. Tom Emmons , representing the Lodge, submitted one of the signs and explained they wish to install them near the approaches to school cross walks. He stated that Dr. Tiffany of the elementary school district is in favor of the program and that he has indicated the Sweetwater Union High School District is also in favor of the signs. Mr. Emmons sketched the location of these signs in relation to the school and also the location of the school safety signs that are required by state law. Member Adams stated that there have been other requests for location of signs on the public right-of-way that were denied and that permission to install these signs might act as a precedent. Member Adams also stated that install- ation of additional signs along streets should be carefully supervised and none . allowed that aren ' t necessary. Mr. Emmons stated that he feels there cannot be too much emphasis placed on safety for school children and that signs of a similar nature placed all over the country by the American Auto Association are performing a needed service. The Planning Commission discussed the aspects of the request related to Planning Commission function and concurred that the Safety Council , Police Chief and Director of Public Works should be asked for recommendations. - 3 - It was moved by Member Comstock, seconded by Member Harmstead and unanimously carried that the Safety Council , Chief of Police and Director of Public Works be requested to submit to the Planning Commission their recommendations as to necessity for signs and placement of signs. Clarification of "Parking Lots" with a Conditional Use Permit in R-3 Zones The Commission continued the matter to the next meeting so that Planning Director Fretz could submit his proposal . December and January Meetings Vice-Chairman Stevenson stated that nothing has been scheduled for an agenda for the December adjourned meeting and in view of the holiday season, perhaps the meeting should not be held. He stated that Planning Director Fretz had reported that the first January meeting will fall on a legal holiday and that due to other meetings scheduled for the Council Chamber , it appears that the January meetings should be held on the third and fifth Mondays - January 16th and 30th - rather than the first and third Mondays. The Commission agreed that the January regular meeting would be on January 16, 1961 . RESOLUTION NO. 198 - Cancelling Regular Meeting of January' 2, 1961 Offered by Member Harmstead, passed, adopted and approved by the following vote, ,,to-wit: AYES: Members Harmstead , Adams , Guyer , Comstock, Weakland and Stevenson NOES: none ABSENT: Member Stewart ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Member Comstock, seconded by Member Guyer and unanimously carried that the meeting adjourn sine die. Respectfully submitted, Audrey Sonehouse Secreta