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Home My WebLink Aboutrda min 1991/09/19Thursday, September 19, 1991 Council Conference Room 4:00 p.m. City Hall Building CALL TO ORDER 1. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Members Grasser Horton, Rindone, Moore and Chairman Nader ABSENT: Member Malcolm (attending Coastal Commission meeting) ALSO PRESENT: John D. Goss, City Manager/Executive Director; Chris Salomone, Community Development Director/Executive Secretary; Richard Rudolf, Agency Assistant General Counsel; and Berlin Bosworth, Secretary to the Redevelopment Agency 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTE.R: August 6, 1991 and August 20. 1991 MSC (Moore/Nader) to approve the minutes as presented: August 6, 1991 approved 3-0-1-1 with Member Rindone abstaining and Member Malcolm absent; and August 20, 1991 approved 4-0-1 with Member Malcolm absent. CONSENT CALENDAR CONSENT CALENDAR OFFERED BY COUNCILMAN/MEMBER MOORE, reading of the text was waived, passed and approved 4-0-1 with Councilman/Member Malcolm absent. 3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS: None. 4. RESOLUTION 1195 ADOPTING NEGATIVE DECLARATION IS-88-77 AND AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF $114,000 PROM THE LOW-MODERATE INCOME HOUSING FUND TO THE CITY ON BEHALF OF THE SALVATION ARMY APPLICATION TO THE VARIOUS FEE ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SILVERCREST APARTMENTS LOW INCOME HOUSING PROJECT -- The Salvation Army received funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct 75 units for very low income seniors. The Salvation Army has requested that the Agency pay for certain development fees associated with the project. Council adopted Negative Declaration IS-88-77 through Resolution 15975 dated December 11, 1990. On September 3, 1991 the City Council agreed to waive $161,250 for Public Facilities Development Impact Fees. Staff recommends that the Agency adopt Negative Declaration iS_88_77 and appropriate $114,000 from Low-Moderate Income Housing Fund as financial assistance to offset the Sewer Facilities Participation Fee associated with the Silvercrast Apartment project. * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR MINUTES Page -2- September 19, 1991 PUBLIC HEARINGS 5. Public Hearing CONSIDERING LAND USE PERMIT FOR MR. EDWARD CHENG ALLOWING SALE OF USED BOOKS AT HIS PROPOSED BOOKSTORE AT 310 THIRD AVENUE, SIJITE C-II, CHULA VISTA -- Mr. Cheng proposed to occupy one of the suites in Park Plaza at the Village to locate an art gallery and a bookstore. The bookstore will offer new and used books. The art gallery and the bookstore arc allowed uses within the Town Centre I area. The sale of used books requires the Agency's review and can only be allowed through the issuance of a Land Usc Permit by the Agency. The proposed project was reviewed by the Environmental Review Coordinator and was found to be categorically exempt from environmental review. Resolution 1196 APPROVING LAND USE PERMIT FOR MR. EDWARD CHENG ALLOWING THE SALE OF USED BOOKS, WITH CONDITIONS, AT HIS PROPOSED BOOKSTORE AT 310 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE C-11, CHULA VISTA - Staff recommends that the Agency hold the public hearing and adopt the resohition approving the Land Use Permit subject to the following conditions: 1) that tbe storc's stock of used books be limited to less than 50 percent of total stock of books; and 2) that the used books be in good condition and appearance. Community Development Director Salomone noted that becausc of the land use policy in the Town Centre I Project Area, applications that deal with used merchandise require a public hearing. Staff is satisfied that the proposal by the applicant will be of benefit to downtown. Mayor/Chairman Nader asked if there were existing laws to handle an item such as this administratively or does the mere fact of used goods being on the premises required a public hearing. Director Salomone responded that existing law requires this process. He noted that staff is looking at streamlining the permit process and staff is looking at items such as this for authority being given to the Zoning Administrator. Councilman/Member Rindone asked if the Director could give an indication of the timeline for the streamlining permit processing to make recommendations. Director Salomone responded that staff has prepared a document listing 16 items that will need to be addrcssed in expediting the permit processing system; the item will be a major undertaking of the Economic Development Commission and a subcommittee will be formed to review this. At this point staff cannot give a timeline for completion. This being the time and place as advertised, the public hearing was declared open. Edward Chang, P.O. Box 182, Chula Vista, pointed out the cultural benefits of the project: providing a gallery, good reading material at very inexpensive price, and a meeting area. He stated his concern about the percentage of used books to new books and asked that it be made more flexible; Mr. Cheng asked the Agency to review the pementage requirements. Councilman/Agency Member Rindone asked staffhow they calculated the particular percentage. Director Salomone responded the percentage figure came out of the Project Area Committee's discussion. Community Development Specialist Miguel Tapia noted that the percentage was also arrived at by discussions between the applicant and staff. There being no further testimony the public hearing was declared closed. MINUTES Page -3- September 19, 1991 MS (Nader/Moore) to amend Resolution 1196: to strike text in last paragraph, ~50% of total stock of books ~ and replace with 'reading material appropriate to people of all ages ~; and to strike text in top paragraph which reads "The proposed sale of used books....', page 2, 'will limit the amount of used books to be offered and will~. The paragraph will now read: ~... , and because the conditions to be imposed require that the books be in good condition and appearance. ~ Discussion ensued concerning setting standards for quality of the used books. Additional issues raised related to whether there is to be a measurable standard, and should the City either incorporate the standards or not for the Town Centre Redevelopment Area. Councilwoman/Member Grasser Horton noted that the Redevelopment Project Area has not created a mix of use standard. MS (Nader/Moore) to additionally amend Resolution 1196: to strike additional text in last paragraph, "percentage of'. The last paragraph will now read: ~Be it further resolved that the Redevelopment Agency...hereby grants a Land Use Permit, subject to the conditions that the used books to be offered for sale will be limited to rending material appropriate to people of all ages and that the used books be in good condition and appearance, to Mr. Edward Cheng allowing the limited sale of books at.... ~ MSC (Nader/Moore) to approve the recommended changes us presented, 3-1-1 with Councilman/Member Rindone opposed and Councilman/Member Malcolm absent. RESOLUTION 1196 OFFERED AS AMENDED BY MAYOR/CHAIRMAN NADER, reading of the text was waived. Councilman/Member Rindone offered his reasons for voting against the resolution, stating he has no problem even with a book store devoted to all used books, but this amended resolution does not meet with the original goals; and secondly, when staff shares that the applicant had stated that he was agreeable to 50 percent ratio and then staff is willing to waive the 50 percent it makes it appear that there is no standard. In order to maintain the goals of the Redevelopment Agency and in fairness to other applicants who have applied, he could not vote in favor. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Art Stillwell, Salvation Army, noted his appreciation for support of the senior housing project for low-income seniors (Silvercrest). Additionally, he noted his appreciation of staff. ACTION ITEMS None submitted. OTHER BUSINESS 6. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Executive Director Goss presented two informational items: (1) Youth Community Center--the Sweetwater Union High School District delivered a letter in connection with the negotiations the Agency directed to occur; and (2) letter from the Principal of the Hilltop High School requesting assistance in moving the Shinohara House to the Hilltop High School site. 7. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT None. MINUTES Page -4- September 19, 1991 8. MEMBERS' COMMENTS Councilwoman/M[ember Grasser Horton Questions concerning possible costs of units as described in the Information Item, dated September 19, 1991 regarding the Preservation of the City's HUD Section 236 Units. ADJOURNMENT The Redevelopment Agency met in a closed session at 5:03 p.m. to discuss: Acquisition of property at 338 Church Avenue, Raymond Buffington and Barbara Buffmgton, (Parcel #568-334-07) pursuant to Government Code GC 54956.8 ADJOURNED AT 5:11 P.M. to a special meeting of the Agency on Tuesday, October 1, 1991 at 4:00 p.m., (immediately following City Council), Council Chambers, Public Services Building. Respectfully submitted, Berlin D. Bosworth Secretary to the Redevelopment Agency