Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 1999/01/11 - - MINUTES OF A SCHEDULED REGULAR :MEETING Resource Conservation Commission Chula Vista, California 6:30 P.M. Conference Room # 1 Monday, January 11, 1999 Public Services Building CALL :MEETING TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Chair Yamada. City Staff Environmental Review Coordinator Doug Reid called roll. Present: Commissioners Bull, Burrascano, Castaneda, Marquez, Thomas, Yamada. It was MSUC (Thomas/Marquez) to excuse Commissioner Fisher as he did not receive notice of the meeting on time; vote: 6-0, motion carried. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: It was MSUC (Castaneda/Bull) to approve the minutes of November 16, 1998; vote 5-0, Commissioner Thomas abstained as she was absent from that meeting. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Negative Declaration IS 99-04 - Drainage Channel Improvements on Tobias Drive presentation by Doug Reid. He explained that the drainage improvement is going in now through the Capital Improvement Program. Thomas asked about adequate fencing. Doug explained that fencing is now required and modified with the subdivision plan. It is already planned to go around the project site. Marquez stated that the report says mitigation is discussed in the biological survey; therefore, the sentence at the end of the top paragraph on page 4, ''No mitigation will be required" should be deleted on the negative declaration. Under Summary of Public Comments, Marquez stated the letter from the Audobon Society discusses earthen channels; however, the City's response does not address these concerns. She suggested the reference to the Audobon Society be removed as a non-response by the City. Burrascano stated her dissatisfaction with the project as it did not attempt to mitigate wetlands. The City says there's no mitigation required but it was already an approved CIP project. It was moved and seconded (Burrascano/Marquez) to not recommend approval of the negative declaration due to many errors which still needed to be rectified; vote 5-1 (no - Castaneda), motion carried. Marquez recommended the following comments be included with the negative declaration: (a) needs to be mitigated for wetlands impacts; (b) delete air quality benefit statement on page 3; (c) discussion of channel design alternatives on page 4 to be other than concrete lining; and (d) response to Audobon Society's letter is not an appropriate..response. She recommended that the report remove its response or respond more appropriately to the Audobon Society's concerns. - .- Resource Conservation Commission Page 2 It was MSUC (BurrascanolMarquez) to move forward with the recommendations as an addendum to Negative Declaration IS-99-04; vote 6-0. 2. Negative Declaration IS 99-13 - Villa Serena Senior Apartments: Thomas asked about public transportation. Doug Reid responded that the project is located in a public facilities area and transportation is adequate. It was noted that the landscape was previously mitigated as part of the Sunbow project. It was then MSUC (BulVCastaneda) to accept the negative declaration; vote 6-0, motion carried. 3. Negative Declaration IS-99-14 - Kiosk Sign Program: The City will initially fund the project and thereafter, private funds will lease space for the proposed signs. Consensus among the RCC is that the signs were not aesthetically pleasing. Negative comments included decorum of the signs, content to advertise the City rather than individual projects, excessive number of signs with no time limit for removal, and the proposed 12' height. A motion was made and seconded (Castaneda/Bull) to accept the negative declaration with the following recommendations: City place cap at 34 signs based on the current development; redesign an aesthetically pleasing sign which promotes the City of Chula Vista; approval by Design Review; vote: 3-3 (ayes - Castaneda, Bull, Yamada; noes - Burrascano, Marquez, Thomas) motion failed. A motion was then made and seconded (Marquez/Thomas) to not approve the negative declaration as it is inadequate in discussion of aesthetics. Vote 3-3 (ayes - Burrascano, Marquez, Thomas; noes - Castaneda, Bull, Yamada), motion failed. Marquez commented she would like the illegal signs taken down. Another motion was made and seconded (Thomas/Marquez) to accept the negative declaration with 20 signs at any one time with continued update of insert panels; (b) sign content promote Chula Vista and color be compatible with greens, browns, and natural wood; (c) approval of style goes through Design Review Committee; (d) propose an 8' maximum height; vote 1-5 (ayes - Thomas; noes - Burrascano, Marquez, Castaneda, Bull, Yamada); motion failed. 4. After a brief overview of the project, it was MSUC (Castanedaffhomas) to recommend approval of a grant application for the Regulation Household Hazardous Waste Disposal; vote 6-0 motion carried. STAFF REPORT: Doug Reid reported for Duane Bazzel that the Subarea Plan for MSCP is on Fastrack and is projected to go forward in the next several months. City will hire consultants, Lois McKinley and Dave Nielson, to look mostly at the proposed University site. RCC requested to have them make a presentation at a future meeting, would like to see their RFP, and further requested that previous RCC minutes with discussion on the MSCP be forwarded to the consultants. - - Resource Conservation Commission Page 3 CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS: Chair Yamada stated that Marilyn Ponseggi will reschedule a presentation meeting on the mitigation monitoring report. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS: Thomas stated her concern with traffic on surface roads near freeway off-ramps that came to a standstill with one lane closed due to construction. She stated that the SPA I West would have less impact on traffic flow if it is built further east. Thomas also asked whether the RCC should update their Statements of project priorities which they submitted to Council over a year ago. Marquez questioned that with developers working on the MSCP, extra consultants hired, and the extra staff needed, why was there still delay? Doug stated the new office is now open to handle just the MSCP. Currently, City and Engineering Departments will consider earthen native vegetation alternatives to drainage linings. Burrascano asked whether the City has reached its 5% take of coastal sage scrub on the project. Doug stated it hit that mark a long time ago and the City is trying to "buy" credit of the take. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned by Chair Yamada at 8:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, EXPRESS SECRETARIAL SERVICES B~~~