HomeMy WebLinkAboutRCC MIN 2001/10/01
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
RESOURCE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
October 1, 2001
Mercy Building Conference Room
430 "F" Street
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Vice-Chair Doug Reid at 6:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL/MOTION TO EXCUSE
MSC (Thomas/Bensoussan) to excuse Chair Charles Bull and
Commissioner Cindy Burrascano. Vote: (4-0)
MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-Chair Doug Reid, Commissioners Teresa Thomas,
Juan Diaz and Pamela Bensoussan
STAFF PRESENT: Maria Muett, Associate Planner
Miguel Tapia, Sr. Community Development Specialist
Linda Bond, Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT: Craig Frederickson, MAAC Project
Jorge Luis Parra, MAAC Project
Roger Caldwell, MAAC Project
Harvey Souza, Village Club Card Room
Michael A. Green, Village Club Card Room
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS
1. IS..Q1-061 - Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee Center (MAAc Project),
1351-1395 Third Avenue
Commissioner Thomas stated that she resides on Second Avenue behind this
project and did not receive a public notice. She asked if she was over 500 feet from
the project? Ms. Maria Muett (Associate Planner) indicated that she probably was
outside the 500-foot radius but would double check.
RCC Minutes - 2 - October 1. 2001
Ms. Muett reminded the Resource Conservation Commission (RCC) that their role
was to determine the adequacy of the environmental document. The project is
located on 5.79 acres at Third Avenue and Quintard Street. The site is currently
developed with a vacant 71,991 square foot building and an occupied 1,164 square
foot Mexican restaurant. The proposed project will consist of a Head Start Child
Development Center, Community Charter High School, Health Services Center (DUI
program), Weatherization Program (administrative office), general construction
training and miscellaneous office space to be made available for lease. The hours of
operation will be from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Total parking spaces upon completion
will be 298, which exceeds the City's parking requirements by 101 spaces.
Mr. Craig Frederickson (MAAC Project, 1355 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91911)
described the building façade, floor plan and landscape in detail. He described the
various programs that would be offered by the MAAC Project inside the facility.
Commissioner Thomas indicated that the environmental checklist did not address
the traffic pattern, lead and asbestos in the air and noise in the back of the project.
The plan does not show entities that will contribute to the traffic pattern such as the
ROP Center and Castle Park Middle School on Second Avenue. The main
recreational area for the children living in this community is the parking lot of the
proposed MAAC Project. In fact, it is the only place for them to play. The Mitigation
does not state that the City will enhance the park and recreation facilities for these
children, and they need to have a place to play. There is space there to have a park
and recreation area, and we need to address that. Is the City going to provide
another area for them?
Ms. Muett indicated that a traffic study was done of all the street segments, and they
are still able to meet the City's threshold standard of LOS 'C'. Vice-Chair Reid
indicated that this project is a non-residential use, so they are not generating any
additional population or taking up any dedicated public park or recreational facility.
The children are trespassing on this property. Commissioner Thomas should direct
her concern to the Parks & Recreation Department.
Commissioner Thomas noted that six parking spaces were going to be removed
from behind the building to make room for trucks. There is a 4-foot high wall there
separating the project and residential that would not mitigate noise. Ms. Muett
indicated that it is an established 6- to 8-foot high zoning wall.
Commissioner Thomas asked if the hazardous waste from previous businesses had
been addressed as well as lead and asbestos. Ms. Muett indicated that these have
been mitigated as stated in the environmental checklist on page 8 under HAZARDS.
MS (Diaz/Reid) to recommend approval. No action.
RCC Minutes - 3 - October 1. 2001
Commissioner Thomas asked to amend the motion to include a solid waste
reduction plan, which means that the project would have to have a recycling
program in place. She would like that to be included in every project, including
business projects.
MSC (Thomas/Bensoussan) that the RCC determine that the Initial Study
is adequate and the Mitigated Negative Declaration be adopted with the
understanding that there be a solid waste reduction plan in place for the
project. Vote: (4-0-0-2) with Bull and Burrascano absent.
2. IS-01-33 - Village Club Card Room, 429 Broadway
Ms. Muett indicated that the existing card room has been operating since 1963. It
predates the City's conditional use permit (CUP) requirements for card rooms, which
are required for all card rooms located in a commercial thoroughfare zone. This
project is zoned CT. In 1996 the City Council adopted modifications to the City's
Gaming Plan. In April 1996 the Village Card Room made a request to modify their
hours of operation. At that time, it was necessary for them to obtain a CUP based on
the City's new Gaming Plan. The CUP was approved with a condition that the permit
was to expire after a period of five years. That was April 24, 2001. The City has
approved several administrative amendments to the CUP since April 1996. The
Village Card Room is the only card room in operation within the City. After the 1996
Gaming Plan amendments, there were card room licenses available in the City
based on per capita population counts. The City Council then took action in
November to cap the number of licenses available to a total of four. Issuance of
more than four licenses would require an advisory vote of the people before
additional licenses could be issued. In January of 2000, the applicant requested of
the City to amend the Gaming Plan again to allow him to purchase the four
outstanding licenses from the City. He would then forfeit two of those licenses back
to the City. The two remaining licenses would be held by the applicant and would be
used by the application as part of a consolidation operation. In September of 2000,
the City Council approved this modification to the Gaming Plan. The project is the
subject of this environmental study and that is to implement the amendment to the
Gaming Plan to accommodate this applicant with up to 12 tables, which is in
conformance with the Gaming Plan.
Ms. Muett indicated that this site consists of two parcels on the corner of Broadway
and Vance Street. Parcel 1 is developed with a 4,972 square foot building. Parcel 2
is a vacant dirt lot. The applicant proposes to expand the Village Card Room from
eight tables to 12 tables and increase the operating hours to 24 hours per day,
seven days a week. The expansion will result in the conversion of the cocktail
lounge to an additional card room area. Eighty-four tandem-parking stalls would be
located on Parcel 2. The existing chain link fence along the eastern boundary would
be removed and replaced by a 5-foot high block wall. This wall will serve as a noise
RCC Minutes -4- October 1 ,2001
barrier for the adjacent single-family residences. A conceptual landscape plan
proposes to landscape Broadway and Vance Street frontages as well as the interior
of the parking lot. For the record, staff did receive one comment letter after the
Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared. They did have concerns with the
alcohol usage and the pulling out from Vance Street onto Broadway. The City is in
support of this project.
Commissioner Bensoussan asked if the two card room licenses that were forfeited
back to the City could be sold to someone else? Ms. Muett responded in the
negative.
Commissioner Diaz inquired about alcohol service. Mr. Harvey Souza (Village Club
Card Room, 429 Broadway, Chula Vista, CA 91910) indicated that there would be
no bar, only a service area that would be restricted to players only. Alcohol would be
available from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. There will not be any daytime alcohol service.
That was part of the trade-off and a requirement of the Police Department.
Commission Bensoussan inquired about security. Mr. Michael A. Green (227 Third
Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910) indicated that there would be 24-hour security. He
assured the Commission that the neighbors would be very happy about that
because this is a bad area.
MSC (Thomas/Bensoussan) that the RCC determine that the Initial Study
is adequate and the Negative Declaration be adopted with the requirement
that a solid waste reduction plan be in place for the project. Vote: (4-0-0-2)
with Bull and Burrascano absent.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW COORDINATOR COMMENTS: Ms. Muett distributed the
Otay Ranch Village Six Draft Environmental Impact Reports and Appendices to the
Commissioners.
CHAIR COMMENTS: None.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Bensoussan stated that she would be out of town for the November 5,
2001 meeting. Vice-Chair Reid stated that he would be out of town for the October 15,
2001 meeting.
Commissioner Bensoussan reported that the Mills Act Workshop was successful. The
RCC can expect a number of designation reports to come in.
Commissioner Diaz suggested that Commissioner Thomas' comment regarding a solid
waste reduction plan be placed on each project. Ms. Muett indicated that staff would get
RCC Minutes - 5- October 1. 2001
some information from the planners and that way staff won't have to bring it back every
time.
Commissioners Bensoussan and Thomas would like to get the agendas when historic
projects go up for City Council approval.
ADJOURNMENT: Vice-Chair Reid adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m. to a regular
meeting on Monday, October 15, 2001, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mercy Building Conference
Room, 430 'F' Street, Chula Vista, CA.
Prepared by:
.~~_/~.L--
Li äa Bond
Recording Secretary
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