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HomeMy WebLinkAboutcc min 1998/03/10 RDA MINUTES OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING/WORKSESSION OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Tuesday, March 10, 1998 Council chambers 6:40 p.m. Public Serv,ces Building CALL TO ORDER 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Members: Moot, Padilla, Rindone, Salas, and Chair/Mayor Horton ABSENT: Members: None ALSO PRESENT: Executive Director/City Manager, John D. Goss; Legal Counsel/City Attorney, John M. Kaheny; and City Clerk, Beverly A. Authelet BUSINESS 2. REPORT: TO CONSIDER THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 15,000 SQ. FT., MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL FACILITY INCLUDING A 9,300 SQ. FT. GYMNASIUM AND PARKING FOR APPROXIMATELY 85 CARS As part of the processing of plans for the Otay Recreation Center, Planning staff noticed a public hearing for March 10, 1998 for the Redevelopment Agency to consider a special use permit and design review request for this project; however, it was determined a public hearing is not required. The Redevelopmerit Agency will consider the Design Review Committee's recommendations at their meeting on March 17, 1998. (Community Development Director) Mr. Salomone stated this was advertised that a CUP was required; a CUP xs Ii~t required. It will come back next week. ACTION: Per staff's request, the item was continued for one week. 3. REPORT: OTAY RIVER VALLEY WORKSHOP - The Otay River Valley, east of 1-805, includes the Otay Valley Road Redevelopment Project Area, the Otay Landfill, Whitewater Canyon Water Park, the Universal Amphitheater, and the recently annexed Otay Ranch properties. The workshop is intended to address major development issues, including the character of future land uses, recreational opportunities, and open space preservation. Staff recommends that the Council/Agency consider the issues and provide direction to staff on policy and planning matters. (Community Development Director; Planning Director) Fred Kassman, RDA Coordinator, presented some introductory remarks and some historical facts regarding the Otay River Valley. Duane Bazzel, Principal Planner, made a presentation on the Otay Ranch and the Otay Regional Park. John Goss, City Manager/Executive Director, commented that the purpose of tonight was to be a brain storming session. There will be some people here to express their ideas. What staff would like is for Council to hear their ideas and for them to hear Council's ideas. He stated that with the water park and amphitheater, there is the potential to have a regional recreational/commercial area that can be very positive for the area, the region, and the City. Mayor/Chair Horton asked about the southeast corner of the freeway and Otay Valley Road. Did Vince Davies own this? Mr. Davies responded yes with the exception of the Shell Station and the Telephone Company. Council/Agencymember Rindone asked what was staff's estimate for understanding the useful life of the Otay landfill. RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 2 Mr. Goss stated that at one time it was in the five to ten year category. It has been extended, particularly in the part that was never in the City, which is the eastern side. One of the ideas for the landfill is that it should be tied by pedestrian trails into the regional park, so it is part of the regional park concept. The idea is that when it is covered, filled, and finished, you won't be able to construct an industrial park on it, but there is no reason it couldn't be open space area which could be an adjunct to the regional park. George Krempl, Deputy City Manager, stated the life of the Otay landfill was fifteen years. Council/Agencymember Rindone commented that the land use decisions really become a moot issue other than for an open space or a park since it will not be developed at all. What he was specifically thinking of was the City of Industry took a landfill and created a fabulous hotel. Would that be feasible within land use options. Mr. Goss stated that in his discussions with County staff when it was owned by the County, the answer was no. Addressing Council/Agency were: · John Willett, Chair of the Otay Regional Valley Park Citizens Advisory Committee, stated that he had some concerns regarding some of the chokepoints: (1) the buffer abutting the horse and bike trails; (2) one near the amphitheater parking lot; and (3) there is a piece of property about 250 feet wide and 1800 feet long which we should acquire; if we don't, there would be another chokepoint under the Heritage bridge. The Citizens Advisory Committee does support the park concept before the Council which has been before the San Diego County Planning Commission and approve unanimously. · Rod Davis stated he had the following concerns: (1) Signage -- we need to recognize the fact that our sign ordinance and Caltrans sign ordinance makes it very difficult to do the job we need to do to show people where to go to the water park, the amphitheater, and the auto park. We need to talk about signs that are not on-premise, the use of the one billboard sign that is there because the rules and regulations technically would not allow the water park and amphitheater to use it because they are not in the redevelopment area. This is an issue that we need to deal with. (2) Otay Valley Road, Otay Lakes Road, Otay Mesa Road. The Chamber has not taken a position on renaming the road, but we need to do something to separate these roads. · Josef Sedivec, of Seda Products, Inc., elaborated on a number of problems he has in trying to build his own distribution facility. Mr. Goes stated that we did receive a letter from the owner of the property across from the amphitheater suggesting that we take a look at this as commercial. He was not sure if any of the other property owners had ideas they would like to present or if they want to listen to what Council has to say. Council/Agencymember Rindone commented that the issue of renaming the road was essential, but one that was very difficult for Council to do. It is one of the early preliminary steps that we need to look at. This area is developing in a manner not anticipated a few years ago. Marketing experts would tell you that the first thing you have to do to be successful in business is to be able to have people find your location. Otay Lakes Road and Otay Valley Road are Often confused. He felt that Council needed to provide direction for staff to come back and begin a process for that name change. The earlier that this is done before everything is developed is most appropriate. Mr. Salomone responded that they have had a discussion with the regional director of Caltrans on that issue. He indicated he would give us a cost estimate and timeframe because you would have to change about nine signs on the freeway when you do that. Rod Davis has joined with the auto dealers and people in that area in trying to get an understanding of their needs. The understanding is that the road name has to change. What it will change to is the issue. Staff has begun the process. We need to know how much it will cost because it can be RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 3 significant. We will need to work with the land owners and tenants and then come back to Council with some options. Mr. Goss commented that the property owners further interior on the Otay Ranch property may not be supportive of a name change. · Marco Polo Cortes, Chair of the Otay Valley Road PAC, expressed his concern regarding the impact on Otay Valley Road. They have seen an impact on the road since the opening of the water park, and with the amphitheater opening this summer, he felt this needed to be addressed even before the name change. He was not against the name change, but it was not one of his priorities at this time. Council/Agencymember Moot stated his frustration was the length of time it takes to examine these things. Maybe our directions should be more specific; we had previously decided to change the name of the road, so it shouldn't need to be examined any more; we should come up with options on how to do it. This is something that needs to be done. These people have to advertise their businesses; they are bringing a lot of people to this location. The longer it delays, the more people have to change their advertising. Mayor/Chair Horton asked if Mr. Salomone could give Council a time frame as to when he thinks this will be coming back to the Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Salomone replied he thought a report with options could come to the Agency within a very short period of time if Caltrans provides us with the cost estimate; this is the key. Once we get the information from Caltrans, he felt staff could get a report to the Agency within 30 days. Rod Davis stated that there were two other issues he would like to see addressed: (1) some mechanism to allow the water park and amphitheater to be aDle to utllfze the existing billboard. Obviously, it be difficult to call this a blighted area, but if we could pick up some piece that goes up to Heritage Road which is blighted so we can tie them together, then we could advertise the amphitheater and water park on the one billboard on 1-805 in the City of Chula Vista. (2) If we are going to reach our potential and make this the regional entertainment hub, then we have to talk about a signage program that lets us have some gateway signs coming into the community, such as some reader boards. Mayor/Chair Horton stated she would like to see something developed on Vince Davies' property although the gas station would have to stay there because it is needed in the area. She asked what was the status of PAC Bells property; they have a long-term lease, but how long was the lease. Do they have any intentions of moving. Mr. Kassman replied that their last lease extension expires about 2002-2003. The owner of the property is impacted and would be favorable towards discussing redevelopment with us and perhaps in coordination with something on Mr. Davies' property, we could work with them. But we would have to wait until PAC Bell either voluntarily leaves or until 2002 when the lease expires. Mayor/chair Horton felt this area was a window to the Otay Valley area. It was in the redevelopment area, and we should be focusing on this for some type of retail-commercial. We need the restaurants and businesses that compliment the recreation and the auto park. Mr. Kassman emphasized that we can go a step further; if that area develops with PAC Bell leaving, it will be a very awkward transportation solution on Otay Valley Road. Perhaps another traffic light will be needed in close proximity to the traffic light that Pac Bell put in. This will be very difficult to deal with until the lease expires. Mayor/chair asked if we could go through a process such as eminent domain. Glen Googins, Deputy City Attorney, stated that under limited circumstances that property outside the redevelopment area can be Subject to condemnation to the extent that it is directly tied to a project within the project area. It is not RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 4 something agencies commonly exercise, because it is a tenuous link back to the redevelopment project area. Staff would be happy to look into this. Mayor/Chair Hotton expressed that we needed to; this was a key area. It was the beginning of an area which was emerging into something very beneficial to the City. Maybe we need to focus on how we can accomplish what we want to by combining some of these properties so they will be available for development that would complement what was happening in this area. Mr. Davies stated that the City was negotiating for the SDG&E parcel on Maxwell Road. That would be an excellent location for the telephone company and maybe the City could be instrumental in encouraging them to move. Mr. Kassman responded that we have spoken to Pac Bell representatives several times, and they are adamant about staying where they are. They have a very beneficial lease arrangement. Actually the owner built the property to suit PAC Bell to their specifications. He felt it would be very difficult to get Pac Bell to leave. It would be appropriate for us to recontact them to see what their thoughts are, because it will take them two years to replicate the facility. Mr. Goss stated that we could talk with them, but having seen both sites, he felt it would be difficult to combine both operations on one site. The SDG&E property would have a surplus of office and storage space. The garage area is too small for us already, and we will have to add a couple of bays or more just to accommodate our trucks. However, it would be worthwhile to explore this. Council/Agencymember Moot stated that no one has co~nented on the suggestion that we need to come up with a sign solution. He felt it would be worth giving staff some specific direction to see if we can come up with a solution to that problem even if it is creating a redevelopment area so we can get the signs there. To let people know that the amphitheater, water park, and auto park is out there, is extremely important. Mr. GOSS asked Council would you like to look at some alternatives for liberalizing the sign policy that we have in this area. Council/Agencymember Moot responded absolutely yes. Mayor/Chair Horton stated that she has been working with staff for years trying to accommodate the needs of the auto park, and now the water park, in getting additional signage. There never seems to be any movement. Finally she called in Gary Gallegos, Director of Caltrans, to come down and meet with staff. So we are dealing with the top person in San Diego County. She did not know what we could do in addition to that. If we had the options of changing our sign policy to accommodate them, then why haven't we done it sooner. Council/Agencymember Padilla added that he remembered having this discussion about signage before. It was his understanding that we were in the process of working on a report to Council on exactly what the situation was and what our options were. If Council failed to make that clear, we need to do so now. Mr. Salomone commented that the City did adopt an ordinance in response to Council's direction to allow a reader board sign to be built on I-805. The issue there was that there were not enough dealers in the auto park yet for it to be sensibly financed by the auto park. These things can run a couple hundred thousand dollars plus operating costs and lease payments. It was felt that when the White Water Canyon and the amphitheater came on board, they would all share expenses, and we would work with them to get it done. There are a couple of reasons why it hasn't gone: (1) financial and (2) the location is in the redevelopment area but for the south bound traffic you pass the auto park before the sign is seen. One of the things that the Mayor/Chair asked Caltrans to come back, and the director said he would get back to us, were the locations at Hilltop High School and I-805 at the City-owned parcel at H Street and I-805 and at the lower Sweetwater 54/805 connection if Caltrans would look favorably upon any type of off-premise signage there. In the past, they have said no. RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 5 Council/Agencymember Padilla asked if this was simply an arbitrary policy decision on the part of Caltrans; at what point do you run into the state regulations. Mr. Goss stated his personal view was that it was arbitrary. There are examples throughout the State where the regulations which we are trying to deal with are not administered in the same manner. Council/Agencymember Moot stated that if staff provided Council with the information regarding what the problem is, then we can work on Denise Duchaney, Steve Peace, and Susan Davis. Rod Davis stated that the problem was federal. I-805 is a federal highway. Federal jurisdiction applies 660 feet from the right-of-way of a landscaped freeway. What constitutes a landscaped freeway is completely arbitrary on the part of the Feds because if it is out in the middle of "no place" like Sacramento, it can have all kinds of signs because its a rural setting. We have a landscaped freeway, so we can't have any signs. The State runs the State roads, so we could talk to them about I-54. The Feds are the problem with I-805 and its declaration as a landscaped freeway, except for the area by H Street which is not considered part of the landscape. Council/Agencymember Moot stated that this is the type of information which we do not have. If we had that information, then we have the ability to talk to Federal representatives also. Mr. Kassman stated that in the '80s staff spent a lot of time, effort, and money trying to get rid of all billboards not only along the highways, but in Chula Vista. We have a policy in place and now we seem to be changing it. Perhaps we need a policy change. We have had meetings with Caltrans concerning the whole City regarding putting signs up along the freeway. The Port District has announced that it is putting identification signs adjacent to their property along the freeway. We need to discuss what our policy is going to be. The auto park developers can put up a billboard sign on their own property, although ~t would have to be pretty high to be visible from the freeway. Mr. Salomone stated that we did get some news in our meeting with Gary Gallegos which was that we could put some generic signs out on the freeway such as "amphitheater next three exits." We hope to get those installed prior to the opening of the amphitheater. Council/Agencymember Rindone stated that should be a priority. The last thing we want is to have the amphitheater open and people driving up and down the freeway trying to find it. Clearly that is a direction from the Council that the "green" (generic) signs should be completed before the opening of the amphitheater. Council/Agencymember Moot stated there was only one other issue he had in this area which has to do with the expansion of the auto park. Because of the sales tax revenue that is generated from the type of activity, he would like to see us make a concerted effort to see what options were available to encourage or make possible the expansion of the auto park. Ed Weschey, 580 Auto Parkway, stated he purchased the Chevrolet auto dealership about five months ago. He suggested that if the Council wanted to promote the auto mall and if they want to attract more dealerships, we need to support the auto mall by allowing the name change to include the auto mall an any type of promotions within the City, and actively going after manufacturers and other automobile dealers that have an interest in developing this area. He felt that we could bring another four to five agencies here. Council/Agencymember Moot stated that when we were doing the priorities for the City, we had talked about different councilmembers volunteering to be an omnibudsman. He volunteered to have the Otay Valley area, if the Council agreed. He would be more than happy to try to coordinate all these different ideas and activities to try to be the councilmember responsible that everything we want to RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 6 get done gets done. He felt that this area was a huge potential income generating source for the City. Council/Agencymember Rindone expressed that this was the purpose of why we have a city manager and why we have a council-manager form of government. If you would like to have a champion on the council, there wasn't any reason for not doing that, but he held the city manager and his staff accountable at all times. To have a councilmember serve as a liaison is always helpful. Mayor/chair Hotton stated that we are sending a clear message to staff that this is top priority for the City. We have all recognized for a long time that the auto park will be financially beneficial to the City. If we don't help assist them in getting the proper advertising for this area and continue with the name change, then we were the losers in the end. Regarding the name change, she felt it was also important to preserve the integrity of Otay Valley, so they worked out an alignment that would bring it to the end of the road where it starts to curve and then when SR-125 come through, it will continue on to be Otay Valley Road. Council/Agencymember Rindone stated we spent over a year looking at the priorities of the Council and came up with seven priorities or areas for major improvements. One of them was revenue generating options. This is exactly what the Council was requesting to be incorporated within meeting that specific major area of improvement. · Doug Fuller stated that he welcomed Mr. Moot's comment about spearheading some sort of a committee, whether its official or unofficial. We have been doing this for over twelve years. When you talk about the auto park, we don't have an auto park in Chula Vista. We have the recreation of what we had on Broadway. We have moved from the business area to an isolated area that we are trying to survive in. We have the possibility of an auto park. To get our arms around this issue, he would welcome some sort of a committee that could focus on this issue. · Fred Borst, P. O. Box 2008, E1 Cajon, 92021, stated we needed to focus on doing what is possible to assist Vince Davies in developing his property to help him in making this a gateway to the City. He felt we should also lose the word Otay, because it was too confusing in the area. Mr. Goss stated that the County wanted to make this area next to the landfill residential which doesn't make any sense. The area was industrial with a potential of some commercial. Would Council be amenable to some commercial as well as industrial in the this area. There are some illegal industrial uses down by the regional park. There is a proposal by the property owner to make the area commercial which is right across the street from the amphitheater. Staff would like to look at these. Council/Agencymember Rindone stated yes. Mr. Goss asked if someone would like to be a liaison like we have with the police building. Mayor/Chair Horton responded that Mr. Moot could help. Greg smith urged Council to think before changing the name Otay Ranch because this was going to cost millions of dollars. He did not question that there was a problem today with "otay", but he also knew that the ranch developers are going to be advertising using the word, "Otay". It would be ironic if in five years we wished we had not changed the name of the road. There won't be an exit off I-805 that has the Otay name in it. He felt that as we looked at the alternatives, Council might want to consider that issue. Mayor/Chair Horton stated that she did say that we didn't need to preserve the integrity of the Otay Valley area, so if this is what Council ends up doing, there might be a break at the turn. RDA Minutes March 10, 1998 Page 7 Mr. Smith felt that this might be confusing, like Telegraph Canyon and Otay Lakes Road. Council/Agencymember Rindone stated that we have made that mistake once. The direction that has been given to staff is to look at a name change. That name change might also be Otay Ranch. Council/Agencymember Moot stated that Otay Ranch is just a generic name for seven or eight different land owners. Mr. Goss stated that what his point was is that the perception of otay Ranch might be the same as the people look at EastLake today. In the region, it is a very positive place. Mayor/Chair Horton stated that maybe we address this once we find out what kind of signage we can get for the auto park. This has to be a priority and to come back to Council as soon as possible to see what our options are on Hilltop and the other areas which were identified for signage off I-54 and I-805. Ken Lee stated there was another issue which was the auto recycling area in terms of where we might be going with that. We have industrial land immediately to the east. If we are really trying to encourage quality industrial development, do we see the auto recycling more short-term, mid-term, or long-term. We need to look at that. They are a legitimate business. How does this fit into the picture. Mayor/Chair Horton felt it would be appropriate to phase them out. Council/Agencymember Rindone felt it would be appropriate to direct staff to come back with a review and some options on the recyclers. He felt that staff had already presented that when the leases are up in 2002-2003. He offered a staff referral that the specific question comes back within the next 12-18 months with a recommendation for that. Council/Agencymember Moot also urged staff to contact the owners of these businesses; that business is not what it used to be nor what you think of when you talk about that business. It has become a very sophisticated business generating a lot of revenue. We should not make assumptions that it is not necessarily a desirable business, because some of the current owners of those businesses would dispute that. OTHER BUSINESS 4. DIRa~CTOR/CITY ~a%NAGER'S REPORT(S) - None 5. CHAIR/NAYOR'S REPORT(S) - None 6. AGENCY/COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS - None ADJOUR/qMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Res ectful~~ ~ Au~helet, CMC/AAE City Clerk