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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-25 PC MINS MINUTES OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Conference Room 2&3 6:00 p.m. Public Services Building Wednesday, February 25, 2004 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista ROLL CALU MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Present: Castaneda, Hall, O'Neill, Madrid Absent: Hom, Cortes, Felber Staff Present: Luis Hemandez, Deputy Planning Director John Schmitz, Principal Planner Dave Hanson, Deputy City Attorney I Michael Walker, Associate Planner Lynette Tessitore-Lopez, Associate Planner Miguel Tapia, Sr. Community Development Specialist Ben Guerrero, Environmental Projects Manager MSC (Hail/O'Neill) (4-0) to excuse Commissioners Hom, Cortes and Felber. Motion carried. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT PRAYER INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Read into the record by Chair Castaneda APPROVAL OF MINUTES: February 11, 2004 minutes moved to March 10, 2004 Planning Commission meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 03·51; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for an expansion of an existing beer and wine liquor license to include hard liquor for a retail store located at 72 East "J" Street. Applicant: Horman Razuki Luis Hernandez, Deputy Planning Director explained that further legal review and research is needed, therefore, staff is recommending that public testimony be taken and this item be continued to March 10, 2004. Public Hearing opened. Caroline Bartolonie, opposes the proposal to expand their liquor license to include hard liquor due to the store's close proximity to the middle and elementary school. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - February 25, 2004 She further stated that youth access to alcohol leads to violent behavior, poor academic achievement, and raises the crime rate. She urged the Commission to deny this application. Judy Walsh-Jackson, Associate Director of a coalition called Policy Panel on Youth Access to Alcohol, thanked the Commission in advance for their review of the project, for hearing the public testimony, and for denial of the project. She fully concurs with the comments made by the previous speaker and also urged the Commission to deny the project. Jeremy Jones, 3805 Herbert Street, San Diego, stated he was born and raised in this area, presently employed by South bay Community Services, and is one of the supervisors for the After School Program at Hilltop Middle School. Mr. Jones stated that the store is already a huge attraction to kids that like to loiter around it, leaving the school property. The store also attracts kids from the nearby High School and creates problems with the older kids harassing the younger crowd. Mr. Jones also stated that alcohol is an attraction to the youth and incites them to illegal and destructive behavior, therefore, he urged the Commission to deny the project. MSC (O'Neill/Madrid) (4-0-3-0) to continue public hearing to the March 10, 2004 Planning Commission meeting. Motion carried. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 04-37; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate a health club on the Eastlake Village West site located at the southwest corner of Otay Lakes Road and SR-125. Background: Michael Walker, Associate Planner stated that the proposal is to construct a 45,000 sf full service health fitness facility. The fitness sports clu b includes studio-type work out areas for weight, cardio, and circuit training, racquetball/handball courts, a basketball court, pool, spa. In addition, personalized training and conditioning programs are provided. Club amenities include a kid's club area forchildcare during member's use of the club, as well as locker rooms, showers and sauna. The hours of operation will be from 4:00 a.m. to 11 :00 p.m. seven days a week with the ability to go 24 hours if mandated by customers and/or necessary to compete with other 24 hour fitness facilities. The facility is located in the PA (Professional Administrative Commercial) district. Staff has determined that the project will not be a detriment to the area and is compatible with the existing surrounding uses. It is in a central location accessible to the surrounding residents, employees from the nearby shopping centers and the Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - February 25, 2004 general public. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 04- 37 approving the proposed LA Fitness Center, subject to conditions contained therein. Commission Discussion: Commissioner O'Neill stated that one of the City's goals has been to attract higher wage earning businesses in the area, and although this land use is permissible, he expressed concern with underutilizing an area that could potentially house other professional office use that provides higher wage earning employment. Cmr. O'Neill stated that we strive to design pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and inquired if there were any pedestrian walk-ways leading to this site. Mr. Hernandez responded that there is a trail-system in Otay Ranch that would lead to this facility. Public Hearing Opened and Closed. MSC (Hall/Madrid) (4-0-3-0) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 04-37 approving the proposed LA Fitness Center, subject to conditions contained therein. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 04-20; Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate an unmanned cellular communications facility at 1250 Olympic Parkway. Applicant Cingular Wireless. Background: Ms. Lopez reported that the proposal is to install and operate a cellular facility on the Otay Ranch High School site consisting of six panel antennas attached to a light standard adjacent to the football stadium. The overall height of the existing and proposed light pole is 95 feet, 11 inches and the height of the antenna array would be centered at approximately 81 feet above ground level. Though the facility is stealth in nature, the height of the antennas exceeds the building height allowed and as such requires Planning Commission approval. The proposed facility will fill coverage area gaps in the area and very few non- residential parcels would satisfy the coverage objective for this area. The most feasible alternative site considered for this facility was construction of a mono-palm in the public right-of-way along Olympic Parkway. The high school site was decided upon due to the difficulties in getting a well-designed facility with the necessary height using a mono-palm. Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - February 25, 2004 Staff Recommendation: that the Planning Commission adopt the resolution approving the proposed cellular communications facility. Public Hearing Opened and Closed. There was discussion as to why this proposal came before the Commission and other similar facilities located on other school sites did not. Staff explained that the ordinance requires Planning Commission approval if the height exceeds the maximum height specified in the underlying zone. Furthermore, although the City has no jurisdiction on school facilities, it does have some purview over land use, for example, the school district couldn't arbitrarily decide to site a convenience store on their property, and it's a mutual understanding between the school districts and the City that they're not going to engage in activities that are not school related. MSC (HaIIlO'Neill)(4-O-3-0) that the Planning Commission adopt resolution PCC 04-20 approving the proposed cellular communications facility. Motion carried. 4. ACTION ITEM: Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista Certifying the Program EIR for the 2004 Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for the Merged Chula Vista Redevelopment Project, and recommending that the City Council Certify the Final Program EIR. Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista making its report and recommendation on the Proposed 2004 Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for the Merged Chula Vista Redevelopment Project. Commissioner O'Neill recused himself from this item, therefore, there being no quorum, this item was continued to a Special Planning Commission meeting on March 3, 2004. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: ADJOURNMENT at 7:20 p.m. to a Special Planning Commission meeting on March 3, 2004. Planning Commission Minutes - 5 - February 25, 2004 ~ - Diana Vargas, secret~ning Commission