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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1953-01-19 PC MINS r MINUTES OF A JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Held January 19, 1953 The Planning Commission and City.Council met in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on the above date at 7:30 P.M. with the following present: Members Wulff, Poulter, Longworth, Drew, Ramage and Stewart Councilmen present: Mayor Riesland, Halferty, Logan, Dellolfe Absent: Member Smith and Councilman Hobel Also present: City Attorney Boyer, City Planner Wagner and City Engineer Floyd APPROVAL OF MINUTES Planning Commission minutes of meeting of January 5, 1953, were tentatively approved with the following correction: Member Foulter voted ''no" on the Sterbenz- Terry Trailer Court zone variance. Official approval of minutes_ All be made at the next regular Planning Commission meeting on February 2, 1953. PURPOSE OF JOINT MEETING Chairman Wulff explained that the purpose of a joint Planning Commission and City Council Fleeting was an opportunity for the Planning Commission to show the City Councilmen first hand the thinking behind some of the Planning Commission's decisions. A number of items suggested for discussion were: 1. Master Street Plan 2. Trailer Parks 3. Public Buildings Plan 4. Annexations - 5. 1911 Ac t 6. Approval of Minutes of Planning Commission Meeting of January 5, 1953. 7. Development of Central Business District. 8. Discussion of Dr. Kelly Zone Variance 9. Aerial topo maps (discussion) 10. Resolution of State Highway east' of City 11. Off-street parking 12. Planning Department(in City Government) 13. Other items (time permitting) City Planner Wagner expressed the belief that periodical. joint meetings would be advantageous. MASTER STREET PLAN City Planner Wagner, by means of a map, pointed out the proposed routes covered by the Planning Commission field trip held December 28, 1952. The purpose of the trip was to study the most feasibleroutes to be suggested in the Master Street Plan for travel to the east. (a) "L" Street Extension - to follow a line N.E. to East to connect with Telegraph Canyon Road. This route would necessitate the installa- tion of 7 or 8 expensive culverts due to its following and crossing a section of a major drainage area. An alternate route would be a straight line. past the Country Club to connect with'"L" Street and then to Telegraph Canyon Road at Otay Ranch. -2- The alternate route would mean a saving of from 1 to lz miles of highway. However, this would necessitate the removal of three structures: (1) Rocle's Barn, (2) -Rocle's house on Second Avenue and (3) Dr. Skinner's house. on First Avenue. - (b) venue. -(b) "G" Street Extension and Further Investi- The Planning Commission con- gation of "H" Street Extension. sidered the "H" Street extension to be a better plan for making connection with Bonita Road through Rice Canyon than the proposed "G" Street Extension. un Councilman Halferty considered "L'' Street to be/desirable for a through highway, as- it would bring the route through choice residential property. It was agreed that whatever route is decided upon, it should be kept in mind that future planning consider that a highway to the east must be a "work highway" type of development. Mr. J. D. Peters of Peter's Feed Store suggested that Road #7 come into Otay and thence branch out with one road leading to the lower South Bay Area and the other to Chula Vista proper. Councilman DeWolfe suggested going- out "H" Street and then creating a 'IYn - into Telegraph Canyon Road and- also Bonita Road, thus making two highways funnel into the one. Member Stewart brought up the point that traffic is now too heavy on the "Hit Street overpass at certain times of the day and that he felt most of the traffic from the east at this point goes on further south on Montgomery Freeway. Chairman Wulff expressed the belief that the State would not be likely to favorably consider an overpass closer to "H" Street than at 'ILI' Street. Member Longworth wondered if any-consideration had been given to an overpass south of the City Limits of Chula Vista and the Freeway -- possibly at Moss or Naples? Member Poulter believes" that engineering costs and advice.are necessary before conclusive recommendations can be given by the Planning Commission.- In answer, City Planner Wagner stated that very little of the funds set aside for research on this project have been used, and City Engineer Floyd added that the problem at this time is lack of personnel to complete preliminaries. (c) First Avenue Extension - This plan suggests going through National City east of Palm Avenue. (d) 60 Ft. Wide Highway - This plan would route a highway from the east to end up north of the City at the proposed First Avenue Extension. (e) "Ell Street Extension to Bonita Road - City Planner Wagner explained that he is studying two new approaches for this problem. . TRAILER PARKS Councilman DeWolfe told of his accompanying Mr. Thomas prior to the time that the Thomas Trailer Court Zone Variance was requested of the Planning Commission. At that time, it appeared to Councilman Dellolfe that the variance would be granted provided Mr. Thomas would agree to lay curbs and sidewalks on the development. The variance, it followed, was not granted and Councilman DeWolfe wondered why the Plan- ning Commission would turn down this request and grant a similar variance to another trailer court a short time later. . Member Ramage explained that, with respect to. the Thomas variance, a number of families who purchased property adjacent to the tract for which the zone variance was requested were not aware that a trailer park was planned in back of their property, The Sterbenz-Terry variance, on the other hand, was granted, as there was nothing near that tract but other trailer courts -- and the Planning Commission felt that there would be no point in leaving a long narrow strip in an M-1 zone that could obviously be used for no better purpose. Councilman Logan joined the meeting at this point. Chairman Wulff clarified the Planning Commission's line of thinking by stating that it is not the Commission's plan to stop trailer courts in Chula Vista but to have better control .of them. Mayor Riesland mentioned that, at present, no revenue is now coming into the City from trailer parks and would suggest that the proposed ordinance covers fee for each trailer space. This would be necessary in order to provide for the maintenance of sewers, parks, etc. Mayor Riesland stated, too, he felt that it would be far better to have trailer courts in the Oity -than to have federal housing.- Chairman Wulff suggested that action betaken in the immediate future to consider rezoning National Avenue from an M-1 to C-1 or C-2 zone. Member Poulter said the Planning Commission would do all it could to help ex- pedite the proposed trailer park ordinance. Member Stewart indicated that when the average newcomer comes into town, he often starts out -in a trailer, then any type of house he can find and, finally, a more desirable home. Mayor Riesland brought out the point that a tremendous volume of business is created in Chula Vista for the small amount of space occupied by trailers. PLANNING DEPARTMENT Chairman Wulff pointed out that consideration should be given the idea of setting up. the Planning Department as a separate entity apart from the Department of Public Works. Councilman DeWolfe related that, originally, the office of City Planner was set up under the Public Works Department because of its close connection with Engineering. En- gineering's facilities made it an excellent arrangement and the best possible that might be obtained on a limited budget. He expressed a desire to know whether or not a full time draftsman would be required under the proposed set-up and how much it would cost. -4- City Planner Wagner said that the ratio of time, as now in the budget, allots 1/2 time of a draftsman and 1/8 time of a clerk. However, the time allotted for a draftsman is not used to its limits, as the draftsmen are called upon to put the greater part of their efforts into Engineering. City Planner Wagner suggested that a full time clerk would be of greater value to him at this time. Member Longworth left the meeting at 9:48 P.M. OFF STREET PARKING Discussion centered around the suggestion that more off street parking be purchased for National Avenue as well as for Third Avenue. DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT Member Drew, by means of a series of maps, presented a plan for future develop- . ment of Central Business District by gradual stages_. He proposed to have the City purchase the "F" Street School plot and extend the park west across the gulley and on to the Civic Center. Also proposed was to widen Del Mar Avenue between Third and Fourth Avenues. Councilman Logan suggested that the library plot be purchased by the City for off street parking. Member Ramage would prefer to see the park remain at the library site, as it is his belief that business is tending more toward National Avenue. City Planner Wagner indicated that most cities zoning ordinance provides that off street parking be provided for all new buildings by the developers. The general tendency, he said, appears to be to decentralize the business districts. DR. KELLY VARIANCE Councilman Halferty was approached by people who had originally given approval to the Dr. Kelly. variance because_ the building plan, as presented to them, was to have been a much larger project. There are not, however, in favor of the smaller c✓ development as now proposed, as it would not add to nearby property values. Chairman Wulff 'suggested .that City Planner Wagner contact the developers for a clarification of this matter. A portion of the Planning Commission minutes for the meeting of January 5, 1953, regarding the Kelly variance, was read and the wordage, it was felt, could be amended at the next regular meeting of the Planning Commission on February 2, 1953, to include the in rds "and further subject to the development's being completed substantially as shown on the plans submitted to the Commission". Chairman Wulff expressed regret that time would not permit discussion of several additional items on the proposed agenda. It was moved by Member Stewart, seconded by Member Ramage, and carried, that the meeting adjourn at 11:10 p.m. until the next regular meeting on February 2, 1953. 0 Lubille L. Leonard, Secretary