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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1960-11-21 PC MINS MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA November 21 , 1960 An adjourned regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista was held on the above date, at 7:00 P.M. , in the Council Chamber at Civic Center with the following members present: Stevenson, Comstock, Weakland, Stewart, Harmstead, Adams and Guyer. Absent: none. Also present: Director of Planning Fretz and City Attorney Kugler. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Member Adams stated that the motion recommending change of name for Highland Avenue should have read ". . .that Highland Avenue within the City Limits be changed to North Fourth Avenue". It was moved by Member Adams, seconded by Member Harmstead and unanimously carried that the minutes of the meeting of November 7, 1960 be approved with the above correction. CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS PUBLIC HEARING - Oberschulte, Tam and Kemler - 247 "F" Street - Dental Office Building The application was read requesting a conditional use permit to allow construction and operation of a dental office building on the northeast corner of "F" Street and Del Mar Avenue. Planning Director Fretz submitted a plot plan of the property and a map showing adjacent property cuts and uses. s This being the time and place as advertised, Chairman Stewart opened the hearing. Mr. Don Hartfelder, architect, spoke favoring the application. Member Adams stated that in view of the similar uses across .the street, he feels it is proper to grant the permit, but is not in agreement with setback reductions proposed by the plans for the professional building. There being no further comment, the hearing was closed. It was moved by Member Harmstead and seconded by Member Guyer that the request for conditional use permit to allow construction of a dental building on the property at the northeast corner of "F" Street and Del Mar Avenue be approved based on the following findings: 1 . There will be no damage or nuisance arising from noise, smoke, odor, dust or vibration nor hazard to persons and property from possible explosion, contamination or fire for the reason that these elements are not involved in the characteristics of the proposed use. 2. There will be no hazard from unusual volume or character of traffic. 3. The characteristics of the proposed use are compatible with the neighborhood . and there are presently two other dental offices immediately across from this site. The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Harmstead, Adams , Guyer, Stevenson, Comstock, Weakland and Stewart NOES: none ABSENT: none VARIANCES PUBLIC HEARING - Oberschulte, Tam and Kemler - Reduction in Setback along "F"' Street and along -Del Mar Avenue The application was read requesting reduction in setback along "F" Street from 20 to 6 feet and along Del Mar Avenue from 10 to 2 feet for the purpose of constructing a dental building. Planning Director Fretz submitted a plot plan of the property showing location of proposed building and off-street parking. This being the time and place as advertised, Chairman Stewart opened the hearing. Mr. Don Hartfelder, architect, explained that the building had been designed to fit into the area and to provide maximum parking and access. Dr. Tam stated that the McCausland building on "F" Street is built approximately six feet from the sidewalk. The Commission discussed the parking and access as proposed and concurred that the traffic pattern should remain as shown, with exit onto "F" Street and entrance from Del Mar Avenue. There being no further comment, the hearing was closed. Member Adams stated that the city has just established a policy of five foot setbacks in commercial zones and that he feels variances should not be granted to reduce this further. He stated that he believes the site should retain a ten foot setback 'so that the development will be compatible with residential uses in the area. Planning Dir- ector Fretz stated that he is concerned with maintaining the character of the area as it applies to the newer uses which are predominantly professional offices. Member Adams stated that he does not feel that setbacks should be regulated by need for adequate parking; necessary setbacks should be decided and then building and parking designed to fit the remaining area. If the remaining site is not large enough, then the size of the building should be reduced or a new site obtained. Mr. Hartfelder stated that they cannot pick up the needed footage by reducing the minimum width of driveway onto "F" Street but that they could gain some footage by reducing the building entry width. It was .moved by- Member Stevenson and seconded by Member Harmstead that the applicant be granted reduction in setback along "F" Street from 20 to 14 feet and 20 to 6 feet as shown on plot plan, and along Del Mar Avenue from 10 to 5 feet with the condition that -traffic flow pattern be retained as shown on plot plan and that entrance and exit signs of adequate size be placed on the property. Further that action be based on the following: 1 . There are exceptional circumstances about the property - this is a corner lot with a permit being granted for a dental building and without a reduction in setback, there would be a loss of land which is needed for adequate parking. 2. The variance is necessary for preservation of a substantial property right. 3. The granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to public welfare or injurious to property in the vicinity in that there are other professional buildings in the immediate area with setbacks of comparable size to that proposed. 2 - The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Stevenson, Comstock, Weakland , Stewart, Harmstead and Guyer NOES: Member Adams ABSENT: none Request for Extension of Time - Edna Morrison - 70 "J" Street Mrs. Morrison's letter was read requesting an extension of time on the variance granted to her for division of the property into three lots , the rear two to be served by an easement to "J" Street. Mrs. Morrison stated that she had been unable to use the variance because of Mrd Morrison's death, but now is trying to sell the entire property for development as planned. Mr. Lee Raitt, speaking for Mrs. Morrison, stated that they hope to develop a more adequate turn-around which might be used to develop more land adjacent. Member Adams stated that he did not feel at the time of granting the variance and still does not feel the 12 foot driveway is adequate for two large lots; that the width of the easement should be increased to 18 feet even though the existing house would intrude into the easement. Chairman Stewart stated that there are many similar situations in the city, where lots are exceptionally deep and cannot be developed except in the manner proposed and that the Commission has approved several of them. He stated while 12 feet is not as much width as desired for the easement, it is all that it is possible to get and other 12 foot easements have been approved. Member Stevenson stated that if the 12 foot easement was approved when the variance was granted, than all to be considered now is whether or not the time should be extended. It was moved by Member Guyer, seconded by Member Harmstead and carried that Mrs. Morrison be granted a one-year extension of time for the variance granted to divide the property at 70 "J" Street and build on two rear lots by an easement to "J" Street and that the variance will now expire on December 15, 1961 . Member Adams voted "no". PUBLIC HEARING - Establishing Five Foot Building Lines in Commercial Zones Where They are Now 10, 15 and 20 Feet Planning Director Fretz explained the proposed changes. This being the time and place as advertised, Chairman Stewart opened the hearing. Mr. H. G. McCrea, 225 Garrett Avenue, asked whether there was any thought of widening Garrett Avenue between "E" Street and Davidson Street, stating that the street is very narrow and the average speed down the street is 40 miles per hour. Chairman Stewart stated that he doesn't believe there are plans for widening the street. There being no further comment, the hearing was closed. e Planning Director Fretz stated that building setback lines, as defined in the Zoning Ordinance, should not be used for the purpose of widening streets , but to provide adequate open space. He stated that lines established for ultimate street widening projects, should be established under a separate program. RESOLUTION NO. 197 - Recommending to City Council That Five Foot Building Lines Be Established in Certain Commercial Zones - 3 - Offered by Member Guyer, passed, adopted and approved by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Guyer, Stevenson, Comstock, Weakland, Stewart, Harmstead and Adams NOES: none ABSENT: none STREETS AND HIGHWAYS Request for Exemption from Construction of Sidewalk Along Woodlawn Avenue - Jade Bay Trailer Park A petition was read, signed by adjacent property owners and occupants of Jade Bay Trailer Park, asking that sidewalk not be constructed along Woodlawn Avenue adjacent to the Trailer park, as required at- the time a conditional use permit was granted for construction of the trailer park. City Attorney Kugler stated that the matter is not properly before the Planning Com- mission, that the condition imposed at the time the permit was granted was actually approved by the City Council and cannot be changed without further hearing. He stated that proper procedure would require a new application for Conditional Use Permit to be submitted to be submitted to the Planning Commission and then to City Council . It was moved by Member Comstock, seconded by Member Harmstead and unanimously carried that the petition be filed. Request for Alley Vacation - North of Palomar Street, west of Industrial Boulevard The petitions were read, signed by four property owners, requesting that the alley in Block S of Harborside Unit No. 2 be closed. Member Stevenson questioned the advisability of the Commission making recommendations to City Council if the desires of all the owners of property adjacent to the alley are not known. City Attorney Kugler stated that the ultimate decision will be made by the City Council and they cannot close the alley if it will deprive any property of access. It was moved- by Member Stevenson, seconded by Member Guyer and unanimously carried that the request for alley vacation in Block S of Harborside Unit No. 2 be returned to the applicants with the suggestion that they contact all property owners involved and determine their desires. Request for Vacation of Portion of Hilltop Drive - At Telegraph Canyon Road Planning Director Fretz explained the request which was referred to the Planning Commission by the City Council . The two property owners making the request appeared and informed the Commission that the easterly 40 feet of the easement runs over the rear of their lots. They added that they purchased the lots believing that the ease- ment would be abandoned. Chairman Stewart said he thought that the entire 80 foot easement to the rear of these lots should be abandoned. Member Adams stated he sees no objection to vacating that portion of Hilltop Drive but that he believes the portion to the north might be used in the future as frontage for vacant land to the west. The Commission concurred that this portion of old Hilltop Drive is not needed for access to private property. It was moved by Member Adams and seconded by Member Harmstead that the Planning Com- mission recommend to the City Council that the portion of the old Hilltop Drive right- of-way adjacent to these two lots, as shown on plan, be vacated. - 4 - The motion carried by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Members Adams , Guyer, Stevenson, Comstock, Weakland, Stewart and Harmstead NOES: none ABSENT: none MISCELLANEOUS Request for Approval of School Safety Signs - Moose Lodge The applicants not being present, it was moved by Member Harmstead, seconded by Member Comstock and unanimously carried that the request for location of school safety signs be tabled. Request for Clarification of"Parking Lots" With Conditional Use Permit in R-3 Zone Planning Director Fretz explained that the ordinance now allows a parking lot in an R-3 zone with a conditional use permit but that the ordinance does not define "parking lot". He stated that an inquiry has been received relative to the legality of a condi- tional use permit to allow a parking lot which would be used for storage of automobiles as a secondary lot for an automobile agency. He stated that he believes this is not the intention of the ordinance but asked that the Planning Commission clarify this provision; The Commission discussed the matter and the concensus of opinion was that there should be no intrusion that could later become a commercial use. The Commission directed the City Attorney and the Director of Planning to prepare a resolution for the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Member Harmstead, seconded by Member Guyer and unanimously carried that the meeting adjourn, sine die. Respectfully submitted, Iri e �L2CiG1�� Audrey S onehouse Secreta y