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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1952-12-15 PC MINS MINUTES OF A REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION-OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Held Monday, December 15, 1952 The Planning Commission met in the Council Chamber at City Hall on the above date at 7:30 P.M. with the following members present: Wulff, Longworth, Drew, Stewart, Poulter, and :Smith. Absent: Member Ramage. Also Present:. City Attorney Boyer, City Planner Wagner, and Assistant to City Engineer Wheeler. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Member Smith, seconded by Member Stewart, and carried, that the minutes of the meeting held December 1, 1952, be approved with the following corrections: (1) Member Poulter does .not take authorship for the suggestion that voters be urged to have an opportunity to vote on whether or not Chula"Vista should have more trailer parks and (2). the problems of specific and tangible items, such as sewers, etc.,: which arise when annexations to City are being considered have, in the meantime, been set- tled by the City Council. Member Longworth arrived at this point. ZONE VARIANCES Safeway Stores, Inc., 289 Alvarado (Lot 3, Van Deveer and Merritt Tract), requests permission to use a lot in the R-3 Zone for C-1 use in order to allow access to and from Alvarado Street to the existing Safeway Parking lot which adjoins 289 Alvarado Street to the north; also the use of off-street parking in connection with the Safe- way parking lot. . Atthe Decem ber. l> 1952> .meeting of the Planning Commission., City Planner Wagner was requested to check with Safeway Stores as to the extent of improvements which Safeway is planning to •make to Church Avenue, should it be deeded to the City. In answer, City Planner Wagner read a letter from Safeway Stores which indicated that Safeway is willing to pay their half of the improvements to the extent of 32 feet width and 210 feet length of surfacing and two feet width and 210 feet length of curb and gutter. Mr. Shaver, representing Safeway Stores, clarified Safeway's letter regarding the width of street improvements for which they-would pay; the letter was intended to mean 36 feet of paving width, rather than 32 feet (2 feet on each side for curb and gutter). Mr: Frank Frye, Attorney for Safeway Stores.,- reported that since the December 1 meeting, Safeway was able to obtain a deed from Mr. and Mrs. Smith, dedicating the easterly 210 ffet of Church Avenue to the City. Mr. D.C. Handley, 291 Alvarado Street, appeared to voice objection.to a parking lot with-an outlet on Alvarado because of the street's limited width and the objection- able view which'a parking lot at that point would afford. It was moved by-Member Stewart, seconded by Member Poulter, that the variance be granted for the reasons stated in the application; such variance to become effective when a proposed dedication of 210 feet southerly extension of the existing Church Avenue, beginning at a point approximately 300 feet south of the centerline of "G" Street, has been improved or an adequate bond or cash deposit guaranteeing such -2- improvement has been deposited with the City. of Chula Vista; said motion was carried by the following vote to-wit: AYES: Wulff., Poulter, Longworth, Stewart, Smith NAYS: Drew ABS&IT: Ramage . Vista Square School - The Chula Vista School District requested a setback variance of from 25 to 10 feet for the new kindergarten building. Dr. Lauderbach explained that because of a draw that runs through school proper- ty at Vista Square, less than 5 acres can be put to use. The setback variance is requested in order to increase the play area. The present school buildings do not conform to-either City or State specifica- tions, as it was built during wartime and the need was so urgent for classrooms at that time that building inspections were omitted. As the backs of the buildings are on "G" Street (a potential main thoroughfare), noise, Dr. Lauderbach, claims, is not too great a factor. It was moved by Member Longworth, seconded by Member Stewart, and carried, that approval of the ten foot setback be granted. DISCUSSIONS Future School Planning Dr. Lauderbach needs a new school administration building and has tentative plans _for• location at the southeast corner of "F" Street School property. The doctor reported that, after the State officials who must approve any school building sites examined the "F" Street School site, they refused their approval of a building at that point. The new building should include a library room, shops, space to service and store buses and other facilities. A 3,- 4 or 5 acre plit in a location central to all the District's schools is desired. A new Library Site City Planner Wagner reported that he attended a Library Board meeting, at which was brought up the point that the present library is not up to standard and read a letter-to the Commission from the Library Board asking for aid in the location of a new library. Mr. E. Winn Kinmore, Chairman of the Library Board, appeared before the Commission, and indicated that the Library Board would like to get an expression from the Planning Commission as to where they would like to have the- new library site; also whether or not the Commission would consider its location at the Civic Center. Mrs. Janice Stewart, librarian, stated that it is not so much a question;, of having a new library located at the Civic Center as of having a central location for it. If the present library is to be torn down and a new one erettel on its site, that would mean two moving jobs. Mr. Joe Rindone, Principal of the Chula Vista High School, stated that there are now no public toilets, only one entrance, doors open the wrong way (a fire hazard), and older people object to going up so many steps at the present library. The building -3- is 35 years old; there are cracks in it through which daylight can be seen, and it was- overcrowded for a town the size of Chula Vista as early as five ye ars ago. Member Drew said that when the Civic Center property was first planned, it was intended for the use of local government agencies only, not for federal, county and state facilities. It was moved by Member Stewart, seconded by Member Smith, and carried, that City Planner Wagner do some research work on the exact status of the property where the present library is situated with a view to its possible use and to make tentative plans for a new library location at the Civic Center. He is to present his findings, if ready, to the Planning Commission at the mId-January meeting; otherwise at a later meeting. DISCUSSION .: Civic Center Development Plans City Planner Wagner reported that many people feel that the piece of private property located at the Northwest corner of lith and F Streets would be a good location for the new postoffice. It'was moved by Member Drew, seconded by Member Lon-worth, and carried, that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council that the City obtain Dr. McCausland°s property on that corner before someone else buys it. DISCUSSION - Master Street Plan City Planner Wagner suggested that the Commission meet on Saturday, December 20, 1952, at 1:30 P.M. in front of the Civic Center to make a field trip to examine the center lines of IILn Street, "G" Street Extension and Bonita Road Extension. A map could then be drawn and the first public hearings could be made in January. City Planner Wagner indicated that the City is attempting to get State aid for street improvements, providing it can convince the State of the importance of getting a street through. Discussions on this subject have been held with National City as to a north-south route to State College. Suggested routes included Fairmount Ave. Extension butthe State considered that too close to the Wabash Freeway to be feasible, so 54th .Street is considered the next best route. DISCUSSION - Annexations Country Club Villas #2 - City Planner Wagner informed the Commission that the City Council as approved tentative map with 1200 sq. ft. minimum house size res- trictions. Attorney Boyer is to work with the subdivider's attorneys for the pre paration of annexation of property to City of Chula Vista; its formal request for approval is already on the way. DISCUSSION - Other Long Range Planning Problems Dr. Calvin Lauderbach, who was still present, requested the Commission to con- sider the location of a new school administration building to be located at the northwest corner of )nth Avenue and 'IK" Street (Champ property) for future action. He stated that he thought as long as he was still present they could discuss it and take definite action at a later date if the Commission so approved. Chairman 'M, xl.ff read a letter addressed to the Commission from Dr. Lauderbach, asking for approval of the site. City Attorney Boyer stated that, in his opinion, as long as schoo: were permitted in R-1 zones, there was no need for the approval of the site. City Planner Wagner stated that schools are allowed in R-1 zones if their location is first approved by the Commission. It was moved by Member Smith, seconded by Member Stewart, and carried, that the site for a school administration building at the Northwest corner of Fourth Avenue and "I" Street be approved and that a letter so stating be provided to Dr. Lauderbach if needed. Dr. Lauderbach thanked the Commission for its courtesy and requested to be allowed to return at a later date to discuss future school planning. DISCUSSION - County Planning Zoning Request for a Salvage Yard in Harborside. City Planner Wagner stated that Mr. Lorin W. Deewall contacted him by tele- phone and requested an expression from the Commission as to whether they would oppose a salvage yard operation in Harborside just south of the City of Chula Vista on the west side of the Montgomery Freeway, property known as Blocks Cy D, E, F' L, M, N, and 0 of Harborside Unit #2. Where has been a request for rezoning from R2B (residence district) to M-2 (unrestricted district) for a salvage operation with a minimum capacity of 300 carloads per year. City Planner Wagner stated that a letter from Mr. Deewall was on its way but had not arrived at the time of the meeting. As a result of discussion on this . subject, the motion was made by Member Longworth-, seconded by Member Smith and unanimously carried that the City Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista go on record as opposing any rezoning to -M-2 for salvage operations of any territory extending at least a mile south of Chula Vista as any future expansion in that direction of the city might be adversely affected. City Planner Wagner was instructed to send a letter to the San Diego County Planning Commission, to the attention of Mr. Lorin F1. Deewall, stating the motion and requesting permission to comment on any future requests of such a nature to the County Planning Commission and to offer thanks to Mr. Deewall for his consideration on the present matter. Their letter has been received and an answer sent. DISCUSSION - Planning. Chairman Wulff requested Mr. ?.ay Coyle, Editor of the Chula Vista Star, who was .present at the meeting, in the future to clarify in- the newspaper articles the difference between the two titles of Chairman of the Planning Commission, (or head) and the City Planner. In some cases the City Planner has been erroneously referred to as the head of the Planning Commission,and another correction that should be made is that the City Planner was referred to as the representative of the .Chula Vista Planning Commission on the San Diego County Planning Congress Steering Com- mittee instead of Commission Member Drew. Chairman Wulff further requested corrections on the coverage of an item re- garding the renaming of "Lt' Street to Country Club Lane. Mr. Coyle stated that it would aid him greatly in writing up Planning Com- mission activities if copies of the minutes were sent to him.. City Planner Wagner -4- that copies would be sent but doubted that they would be ready in time for publi– cation. DISCUSSION - Planning. Member Smith, in discussing the City's parking lot at Landis and Center Streets noted the lack of lighting. As a result of discussion on this subject, a motion was made by Member Smith, seconded by Member Drew that the Planning Commission send a recommendation to the City Council that something be done to properly light City parking lots at night. The motion carried by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Members Wulff, Drew, Stewart, Poulter.,-Smith., Longworth. NOES: Member Poulter. ABSENT: Member Ramage. Member Poulter stated that he would prefer to see more street lights than city parking lot lights, as street lights are very badly needed in Chula Vista. ADJOUPIUMT It was moved by Member Smith, seconded by Member Stewart, and carried, that the meeting adjourn at 11:15 P.M. I,uFWSe�L. e-LeSecretary 4 r�