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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 2007/01/24 MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THECITY OF CHULA VISTA 6:00 p.m. January 24, 2007 Council Chambers 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, CA CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL / MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Members Present: Member(s) Absent: Felber, Vinson, Bensoussan, Tripp, Clayton, Spethman Moctezuma Staff Members Present: Jim Hare, Assistant Planning Director Luis Hernandez, Development Planning Mgr. Jeff Steichen, Associate Planner Michael Shirey, Deputy City Attorney III APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 29, 2006 MSC (SpethmanNinson) that the Planning Commission adopt the minutes November 29, 2006 as submitted. Motion carried. ORAL COMMUNICATION: Mr. Steve Palma addressed the Commission on an item not on the agenda regarding: · His concern with the need to expedite the update of the Zoning Code and Ordinances; · The lack of a pro-active code enforcement program in Southwest Chula Vista, and · The lack of responsiveness on a commitment made from the Code Enforcement Manager to follow-up with Mr. Palma on certain issues. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: PCZ 06-06; Consideration of a request to change from existing R3-P9 (Multi-family Residential/Precise Plan with nine dwelling units to the acre) to IL (Limited Industrial) to allow for an expansion of an existing warehouse/industrial building at 969 Naples Street. Staff recommends that public hearing be continued to a date uncertain. Public Hearing Opened: Teresa Acerro representing the Southwest Chula Vista Civic Association, commended Ann Pease (project manager) for her responsiveness to the concerns raised by the SWCVCA regarding this project. Ms. Pease organized a public-outreach meeting with the surrounding residents and a project representative where many issues and concerns were raised. Ms. Acerro requested that the Planning Commission stand with the community of southwestern Chula Vista to insist that staff bring no project before the Commission until all issues that could Planning Commission Minutes -2- January 24, 2007 negatively affect the domestic tranquility or health and safety of existing residents have been thoroughly dealt with. Additionally, the SWCVCA requests that the zoning of this property not be changed until the General Plan Update conditions for that change are met. Commission Comments: Cmr. Tripp requested that when this matter comes back to the Commission, that staff include in their report what non-conforming rights an older building might have to continue an operation the same as at the time of their operation's inception. MSC (Clayton/Spethman) (6-0-1-0) that public hearing be continued to a date uncertain. Motion carried. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: PCS 05-06; Consideration of an application for the proposed conversion of an existing 124-unit apartment complex to 124 condominium units for individual ownership located at 307 Orange Avenue. Staff recommends that public hearing be opened and continued to February 14, 2007. MSC (Tripp/Clayton) (6-0-1-0) that public hearing be opened and continued to February 14, 2007. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 06-49; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to remodel and expand a two-campus church complex at 2351 Otay Lakes Road and 990 Lane Avenue. Background: Jeff Steichen reported that the Eastlake Community Church submitted an application requesting approval to combine two existing church sanctuaries with a combined seating capacity of 1,127 into a new sanctuary with a seating capacity of 1,458. The application includes a request to increase the childcare capacity from 160 to 210 children and to establish a shared parking arrangement with the Kohl's store. Mr. Steichen stated that the new sanctuary would increase the seating capacity by 321 additional seats, resulting in a total of 417 required parking spaces. Currently, the upper and lower campus provides 370 parking spaces. Based on the increased seating capacity, 47 additional required parking spaces must be provided off-site. Kohl's was built with 41 parking spaces in excess of what the Eastlake Greens PC District Regulations required. Therefore, the ELCC entered into an agreement with Kohl's to utilize the excess parking, plus 9 additional spaces (total of 50) designating these parking spaces as "overflow vehicular parking" for the church. The ELCC conducted a parking analysis of peak hours of operation for the Kohl's store, which determined there is no conflict between both operation's peak hours and could, therefore, accommodate the church's request. The existing parking agreement with Kohl's would be modified changing the designation as "overflow parking" to read "required parking". Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and approving CUP PCC 06-49 based on the finding and subject to the conditions contained therein. Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - January 24, 2007 Public Hearing Opened. Paul Nieto, representing the church, clarified that the agreement with Kohl's is an easement for 50 parking spaces. Mr. Nieto also stated that previously in his career, he was president of The Eastlake Company and they specifically planned The Village Center and Business Center to have shared parking because at the time, it was uncertain what types of uses were going to be there. Pastor Mike Meeks stated he has been the Pastor at Eastlake Community Church for the past 9 years, and gave a historical briefing of the church's growth and building program, starting from a congregation of approximately 100, to the present congregation of over 4,000, with a myriad of program and services that are being provided for the betterment of the community. Pastor Meeks thanked the Commission for their consideration of their proposal and urged their support of the project. David Canales stated he and his family attend and he serves on the Elder Board of the ELCC. He stated that ELCC is a place where one can find restoration and support for many of life's issues, ranging from divorce to substance abuse recovery. Mr. Canales stated that he church's desire to expand its facilities is based on a desire to be able to meet the needs of a growing congregation; he urged the Commission to approve the Conditional Use Permit. Jim Cartmill commended staff for working with ELCC, ensuring that the entitlement process moved forward and as smoothly as possible. Mr. Cartmill stated that based on the resources and services that ELCC provides, he has personally witnessed life-changing experiences for individuals and families; an approval of the CUP comes down to a vote in support of family, faith and community. Emma Lagos stated that ELCC is a place where family and community of every age can come to serve and give back to the community, or a place to come and receive healing and restoration. She urged the Commission to approve the Conditional Use Permit. Manuel Oncina, Architect, stated he was available to answer any question that the Commission may have. Public Hearing Closed. Cmr. Spethman expressed some concern with utilizing the Kohl's store parking as a means by which to meet its parking requirements. Cmr. Spethman inquired if all of the necessary studies had been conducted to confirm that there is no conflict with parking during Kohl's peak hours of operation and during the holidays. The applicant and staff confirmed that the church has conducted a traffic analysis and the findings were that the peak hours for the ELCC do not conflict Kohl's peak hours, which are on Wednesday mornings and Saturdays during the day; Sunday mornings are not one of their peak hours of operation. Furthermore, staff indicated that when the Village Center was being developed, a traffic analysis was conducted, which determined that there were no significant traffic impacts. With respect to the present proposal, the Traffic Engineered determined that the increase in seating capacity did not warrant conducting a new traffic analysis. Cmr. Spethman asked what use is envisioned for the area of the existing sanctuary in the lower campus. Pastor Meeks responded that the area will be designated to be used for children's classrooms. Planning Commission Minutes -4- January 24, 2007 The Commission consensus was that churches are a needed resource that serve the diverse needs of a community, and felt that upon review of the documentation and Conditions of Approval, the necessary findings could be made to support the proposal. MSC (Tripp/Bensoussan) (6-0-1-0) that the Planning Commission adopt resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration and approving CUP PCC 06-49 based on the finding and subject to the conditions contained therein. Motion carried. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 06-25; Consideration of a Conditional Use permit to establish and operate a permanent outside sales and display of merchandise for a forthcoming Home Depot store at 1030 Third Avenue. Mike Shirey, informed the Commission that the City Attorneys Office would like the opportunity to conduct a thorough review of the environmental documents for this project, therefore, is recommending that this item be postponed indefinitely and that the public hearing not be opened. However, if there is someone in the audience that would like to address the Commission on this matter, it is at the discretion of the Commission to allow the testimony to be heard tonight. Teresa Asaro representing the SWCVCA stated that she concurs with Counsel's recommendation to delay the hearing because there are, what they consider, severe environmental impacts to the surrounding neighborhood. Cmr. Tripp inquired if the public hearing was duly noticed; if so, he expressed a concern with postponing the hearing. Cmr. Tripp further stated that if a project is duly notice, and the environmental documents are accurately prepared in a timely manner, he is concerned that delays in the process will send a wrong message to the business community in an area of the City that needs redevelopment. MSC (Vinson/Clayton> (5-1-1-0) that the Planning Commission continue this item to a date uncertain. Motion carried with Cmr. Tripp voting against the motion. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Assistant Director Hare reminded the Commission of the upcoming GMOC tour on January 2yth. Additionally, Mr. Hare stated that he is working on scheduling an orientation/Procedures Planning Commission Workshop on March 21st. Adjournment to a regular Planning Commission meeting on February 14, 2007. ~ Diana Vargas, Secretary to t