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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1973/02/26 MINUTES DF A REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORI~IA February 26, 1973 Tile regular adjourned meeting of the City Planning Commission of Chula Vista, California was held oil the above date beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the fol- lowing members present: Rice, Nacevicz, Chandler, Rudolpil, Whitten, Wilson and Swanson. Absent (with previous notification): Ex-officio member Miller. Also present: Director of Planning Peterson, Assistant Director of Planning Williams, Associate Planner Lee, Director of Public Works Cole, Assistant Director of Public ~orks Robens, Environmental Review Coordinator Reid and Assistant City Attorney Blick. The pledge of allegiance to tile flag was led by Chairman Rice, followed by a moment of silent prayer. At the Chairman's request, Assistant Director of Planning Williams introduced Mr. D. J. Peterson, the new Director of Planning, ~ho was welcomed by the members of the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MSUC (Whitten-Rudolph) The minutes of the meeting of February 14, 1973 be approved as mailed. Chairman Rice called for oral communications and none were presented. PUBLIC HEARIIiG: Consideration of Environmental Impact Report for Fairwa)~ Downs, Inc. Assistant Director of Planning Williams advised that at a meeting on February 15, 1973 of the staff with the consultant preparing tire Fairway Downs Environ- mental Impact Report, it was concluded that detailed analysis was needed on the effects of tire existing and the proposed development on the Sweetwater River flood plain. The County is currently conducting a flood plain/flood way analysis oil the Sweet~ater River, and Mr. Williams recommended the hearing be continued to mid-May when the County report will be completed. MSUC (Chandler-Whitten) Consideration of the Environmental Impact Report for Faim~ay Downs be continued to May 21, 1973. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont.): CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - Request to construct a heli- stop on the site of hospital complex, south ~f TelegraPh Canson Road, east of the extension of Brand~wine Avenue - Communits Hospital of Chula Vista Assistant Director of Planning Williams advised that the Administrator for the Chula Vista Community Hospital needed further time to communicate with other 2/26/73 board members regarding whether or not they wish to pursue the request to construct a helistop, since the staff was recommending relocation of the facility; and a continuance of this matter to March 19 had been requested. MSUC (Whitten-Macevicz) The public hearing on the request by the Community Hospital of Chuta Vista for a conditional use permit to construct a helistop on the site of their hospital complex, south of Telegraph Canyon Road, east of the extension of Brandywine Avenue, be continued to the meeting of March 19, 1973. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont.): CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - Request to operate halfway house for recuperative patients from hospitals - 380 Broadway - Harold J. Drinkwine Associate Planner Lee pointed out the location of the existing motel at 380 Broadway in the C-T zone where the applicant has requested permission to use the northerly portion (consisting of some 26 units in three structures) of an existing motel as a residential care facility for recuperation of psychiatric patients from hospitals. The motel structures form three sides of a large parking area which opens onto Broadway. A common dining area and kitchen are planned for the premises with additional units being used for offices and a recreation room. The adjacent zoning is C-T and R-3 with a motel to the south, a motel and mobile homes to the north, mobile homes to the west and a service station and wholesale grocery to the east. Mr. Lee reminded the Commission this hearing had been continued from the meeting of January 8 to allow the staff time to obtain sufficient information to properly evaluate the proposal. Mr. Lee noted that care is to be provided for approximately 38 mentally ill adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who come from locked facilities and have been characterized as "passive schizophrenics" (not outwardly violent but requiring regular medication to maintain mental and emotional stability). They have been released by their doctors as able to care for themselves under supervision, and the length of their stay would be determined by a psychiatrist and the facility staff. Residents would be allowed freedom of movement, with permission for shopping, shows, and family outings, and organized and super- vised outside activities, such as bowling, dances, etc. Mr. Lee stated the proposed staff for the facility consists of a board of advisors and a board of directors, with 24-hour supervision provided by an executive program director, his associate, a recreational therapist, four day counselors, three night counselors and a practical nurse, with a consulting staff including a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical doctor, and a registered nurse on call. Administration and operations are to be handled by Mr. and Mrs. Drinkwine, a receptionist, two business office personnel and an assistant cook. Mr. Lee reported that the Planning staff had contacted the Comprehensive Health Planning Association and the State Department of Public Licensing and had been able to verify that the facility requires licensing by the State Department of Social Welfare, classified as a residential care facility for adults. The requirement for licensing was passed late in 1971 with minimum standards (for -3- 2/26/73 administration, personnel, resident reception, resident care, safety and buildings and grounds) and regulations adopted in May, 1972. The Dep~rtment of Social Welfare indicated no project similar to this facility has been licensed, but two applications for facilities offering care for released prisoners are being processed. Mr. Lee advised that because the State of California is phasing out state mental hospitals, patients are being released into this residential care type of facility; and while the licensing agency is not necessarily a direct con- cern to the City, the staff would be hesitant to recommend approval of any use which is licensed by the State using vague standards which would preclude the use being compatible with adjoinin§ land uses. They feel that approval of this facility would be in direct conflict with the Zoning Ordinance which has excluded residential land use from the more intensive commercial zones, and believe it should be located near commercial services but would not be com- patible with typical thoroughfare commercial uses located directly on a major road which provides for the most intense possible commercial uses. This being the time and place as advertised the public hearing was reopened. Burton Shamsky, III North Acacia, Solana Beach, attorney for the applicant, advised that he had only recently been retained by Mr. Drinkwine and would like an opportunity to consult with the staff prior to a public hearing and requested a continuance. MSUC (Whitten-~ilson) The public hearing on the request by Harold J. Drink- wine for a conditional use permit to operate a halfway house for recuperative patients from hospitals at 380 Broadway be continued to the meeting of March 19, 1973. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont.): A. Consideration of Environmental Impact Report for Sports World B. Amendment to General Development Plan for Sports World - Dr. Leonard Bloom Assistant Director of Planning Williams indicated Mr. Reid would make the presentation on the Environmental Impact Report and that once the EIR was com- pleted, the staff would need a minimum of two weeks to complete the General Development Plan for consideration by the Commission. Environmental Review Coordinator Reid, for the benefit of the people in attend- ance, reviewed the structure of an EIR and its function in the planning process. He advised that members of the staff and the applicant's consultants were present to answer questions raised by the public or the members of the Commission. Mr. Reid said the Environmental Control Commission had moved to acknowledge receipt of the report and had said they could not state whether or not it is acceptable but, in light of the City's Environmental Review process, it is in accordance with those standards. They had some concern over areas of air -4- 2/26/73 pollution, drainage, the earthquake fault transversing the property, traffic, sewer, schools and a general increase in population. Mr. Reid noted the various modifications which had been made in sections of the report on traffic, noise, air quality, cost-revenue, school facilities, sewers and energy requirements, and summarized tile positive and negative impacts included in the report, stating that the analysis and findings provide an adequate evaluation of the environmental impacts of the proposed project so that a decision on ~hether the requested modification of the general development plan for this planned community zone could be made. He recommended the Draft EIR for Sports $¢orld be adopted as the City's EIR, subject to the inclusion of all public input and the minutes before tile Planning Commission and the Environ- mental Control Commission as an appendix to the report. Assistant Director of Public Works Robens reported that in recent discussions with the State Division of Highways their Design Engineers had indicated the possibility of the advertising date for the construction of the portion of 1-805 between Telegraph Canyon Road and the Sweetwater River area being advanced about 8 months to April, 1973, bringing the completion of the freeway to January, 1975 rather than the Fall of 1975. In the event that does not occur, the construction would be set back about two months. Assistant City Attorney Blick wished again to call attention to the purpose of the EIR being to provide factual information with regard to the environment, that it is not a means for grantin§ or denying a project but a tool for evalu- ating the environmental factors and aid in making a decision. This being the time and place as advertised the public hearing was reopened. Dr. Leonard Bloom, 3003 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, the applicant, commented on the reasonableness of what had been said thus far. He stated that it had been approximately two months since submission of the original EIR and over $100,000 had been spent to obtain the information contained in the present version. He understood no further information had been requested by the staff, but expressed willingness to provide any which might be considered necessary. He hoped the Commission would find the EIR adequate for acceptance and asked what the staff recommendation had been. Assistant City Attorney Blick commented as to the adequacy of the EIR from a legal standpoint and that it satisfied all the requirements demanded by the law and the Friends of Mammoth Supreme Court Decision. Environmental Coordinator Reid noted that although he had recommended approval in his memo to the Commission, he felt it ~ould be well to wait until the testimony had been completed so that if there were any further modifications~ they might find it acceptable to adopt a report with a series of conditions. Peter Watry, 81 Second Avenue, cited several specific areas of the report which he considered to be obviously in error, and traffic and drainage questions which he had asked and had not had answered, and again requested a continuance of the hearing for two weeks to give the public further time in which to study the EIR modifications. -5- 2/26/73 Assistant Director of Public Works Robens noted he had advised the City Manager's office that he recommended Dr. Watry call the Public Works office or come in and he would verbally supply traffic and drainage information in detail, as it had not yet been formalized in writing from the working papers. Eugene Coleman, 1670 Gothan~ Street, said he had made no effort to analyze the EIR in the short time available, but was concerned that this and the EIR's of several smaller subdivisions now under consideration were involved in the entire environment of Chula Vista, and urged that the hearing be continued in order that the public and the staff might consider the total impact of these projects. Jeannie Hermanson, President of the South Bay League of Women Voters, stated the League has taken no position on whether or not Sports World should be developed; however, they are concerned regarding the effect on the Chula Vista area of 4300 housing units for upper-middle and above income groups, believing these already to be in oversupply, and would like to see some low and moderate income housing considered. She believed the public facilities section of the EIR should be rewritten to reflect the true situation. She suggested that Express bus lanes into the arena-shopping complex be considered as a method of alleviating traffic problems and special loading areas be designed to further enhance the ease, comfort and convenience of those using public transportation. Esther Lassman, 264 Rogan Road, presented a detailed criticism of the projected traffic situation for the entire development and the surrounding area and characterized as highly inaccurate the facts and figures contained in the EIR. The meeting recessed at 8:42 p.m. and reconvened at 8:58 p.m. Michael McQuillen, 4425 Vista Nacion Drive, asked for a clarification of the legal opinion concerning the EIR, inquiring if the Commission approved this report would they be accepting as factual all the numerical data contained in the report? Assistant City Attorney Blick replied that it would be impossible for the Com- mission to verify all the data; the law requires simply that the City adopt a reasonable assimilation of the facts regarding the environmental impact of the proposed project. He said the Commissioners have the burden of looking at these facts as they are presented, at a report that has been recommended by the staff and to make a determination on whether or not the City will accept this report as its own. It is the City's report, not the applicant's, although the applicant supplies a substantial amount of the information contained in it. The requirement of an EIR is purely statutory. Mr. McQuillen questioned the veracity of the data contained in the report regarding the present and projected traffic on Bonita Road and Lynwood Drive, and commented in some depth on the traffic noise which could be expected on Lynwood Drive. Cary Wright, 242 East "J" Street, remarked upon the many hours spent by the citizens in acquiring data in the effort to help plan their City and felt they ~ere entitled to more time for reviewing the EIR and requested a continuance of the hearing. - 6- 2/26/73 Carol Smith, 87 "F" Street, requested that more time be granted to consider the earthquake problem, schools, increased population and to evaluate the commercial area and its impact. Kathryn Moore, 1134 Tobias Drive, Chairman of the South Bay Citizens Planning Committee, asked that the EIR be rejected because of the traffic problems and air pollution which would be caused by the development, and recommended that the City Council be requested to ask the Comprehensive Planning Organization to do a study on the development. James W. Hodges, 3232 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, attorney representing the Citizens Concerned for Chula Vista in opposition to the proposed development, requested further time for evaluation of the data contained in the EIR. Diane Barlow, representing Citizens Coordinate Century 3, House of Hospitality Balboa Park, San Diego, explained they were a 600-member regional citizens organization concerned with the environment of San Diego County, numbering among their membership many professionals who donate their time and professional services. She said they had evaluated the Sports World EIR and considered it inadequate and detrimental to the environment. She reported marketing analysis shows San Diego County confronting a seriously overbuilt housing market, but believed there may be a real need for low-income housing located within econom- ically integrated communities, and continued with detailed criticism of the following items covered in the report: traffic, air pollution, population growth, green belts and parks, fire hazards, wild life habitat, hiking trails, grading, tax revenue, schools, sewers, solid waste disposal and economic expansion. Lob Crane, 3723 Cienega Drive, Bonita, wondered where all the well-meaning citizens got their endless list of information, since the staff had thoroughly studied the report and approved it, and if any consideration had been given to the proposed alternate site of the project, which is just north of the site under consideration and would have practically the same affect on the Chula Vista environment. Irma Morris, 114 Third Avenue, representing a group of 1300 people who have signed a petition in favor of the arena, requested approval in concept of the project. Clemens Napier, 666 Gilbert Place, believed many statements in the report were not factual. He noted that the arguments and testimony of the citizens of Chula Vista were preponderantly against the arena and felt that government bodies should be sensitive to the feelings of the people. Bill McLendon, 751 Nolan Avenue, spoke in favor of the project as an interested sports' spectator, and remarked that if the effort expended by the citizens in opposing the project had been used to get Sacramento to build roads in this area, the traffic problems would be greatly diminished. The Commissioners gave consideration to the many questions some of them wished to submit to the staff for further clarification and felt more time was needed for additional examination and evaluation of the EIR. -7- 2/26/73 MSC (Whitten-Rudolph) Consideration of the Environmental Impact Report for Sports World be continued to a special meeting on March 12, 1973. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Members Wbitten, Rudolph, Macevicz, Chandler and Rice NOES: Members Wilson and Swanson ABSENT: ['lone Dr. Leonard Bloom observed that only one side of the question had been heard. He said his consultants, professionals licensed by the State, who had done the work and provided the information for the Report, had listened to the criticism of lay people, amateurs, whose opinions were not based upon their professional experience, without an opportunity of refuting it. He pointed out that profes- sionals run the risk of losing their licenses if the information they provide is incorrect. Assistant City Attorney Blick replied that the purpose of continuing the hearing was in order that the rebuttal might be heard and the consultants questioned regarding the facts they had presented. Dr. Bloom stated he felt it was not a matter for public hearing, but a staff matter and more would be accomplished if the consultants were to meet with the staff in the Planning office and discuss the questions. Chairman Rice commented it was necessary to feel satisfied with the information presented; casting no reflection on the integrity of Dr. Bloom's consultants or doubt upon the quality of the staff, questions had been raised and he thought they would be remiss if some of these areas were not again explored to make sure they had adequate information. Assistant Director of Planning Williams pointed out it would also be necessary to continue the hearing on the General Development Plan. MSUC (Macevicz-Whitten) Consideration of amendment to the General Development Plan for Sports ~orld be continued to March 12, 1973. The meeting recessed at 10:28 p.m. and reconvened at 10:42 p.m. Cl~airman Rice announced that Member Chandler had asked to be excused because he was not feeling well. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont.): Consideration of Standards for Planned Unit Develop- ments and revisions to Zoninq ~r~inance MSUC (Rudolph-~bitten) Consideration of Standards for Planned Unit Develop- ments and revisions to Zoning Ordinance be continued to the meeting of March 5, 1973. -8- 2/26/73 Commission Comments Chairman Rice asked if there were any comment which the new Director of Planning might care to make. Mr. Peterson mentioned that Mrs. Rudolph had discussed with him during tile recess the possibility of a Commission Work Shop meeting on Sports World and he said that such a meeting certainly would be beneficial to him if the members of the Commission felt they might like to have one. Members of the Commission agreed they would all benefit from a Work Shop and set 6:00 p.m. on March 7th as tile time when most of tile Commission members would be able to attend. ADJOURNMENT MSUC (Whitten-Macevicz) The meeting be adjourned at 11:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ b~oda Scholl Acting Secretary