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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1978/11/08 MINUTES OF A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA November 8, 1978 A regular business meeting of the City Planning Commission of Chula Vista, the above date beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the following · ' s.on California was ~eld essutti, R. Johnson, G. Johnson, O'Neill and W~ll~ members present..Pr · · · · missioner Smith: Also present. Absent (with previous notification). Com Coordinator Reid, Director of Planning Peterson, Environmental Review Administrative Assistant Boyd, City Engineer Lippitt, Assistant City Attorney Harron, and Secretary Mapes. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Vice Chairman Pressutti, followed by a moment of silent prayer· APPROVAL OF MINUTES MSUC (R. Johnson-Williams) The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of October 25, 1978 be approved as written· ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Acting Chairman Pressutti called for oral communications and none were presented. 1 Considera~ uest for_va, ca?~of,~? f6ot ~eas~men~ 6n lot 8, · ~Park Director of Planning Peterson reported that a request has been received for the City to vacate a l0 foot drainage easement in the Sweetwater Industrial Park in order to permit construction of an industrial building on the lot. The easement contains a pipe to handle the runoff water of a four acre area to the east of the applicant's property, and there is a need to take care of that flow of drainage· The solution to meeting this need which has been proposed by the applicant and accepted by the Public Works Department is to design the building to allow the pipe to remain in its existing location and be protected from structural stress by virtue of the building design, and to provide a means to handle the flow of water over the parking lot if the pipe should fail to carry the water· Findings to support a recommendation of approval of the request are contained in the written report to the Commission. Acting Chairman Pressutti questioned the wording of the fourth finding,which he felt seems to be a condition for approval--requiring that the owner accept all liability for damage to their property. City Engineer Lippitt explained that the owner's acceptance of the liability protects the City and thereby becomes justification for approving the request. In response to a question from Commissioner Williams, Mr. Lippitt advised that it would become the owner's responsibility to rep~i~ the pipe if the need arose or to allow the water to continue to flow across the parking lot to a city drain- age structure in Press Lane. The parking lot has been graded to handle such flow. -2- November 8, 1978 MSUC (G. Johnson-O'Neill) Based on the findings in the staff report the Commission recommends that the City Council approve the vacation of the 10 foot drainage easement on Lot 8 of Sweetwater Industrial Park. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: EIR-79-3 - Residential component, Town Centre Redevelopment Plan Environmental Review Coordinator Reid reported that this Environmental Impact Report is being prepared and processed for the Redevelopment Agency, who will consider approval of the residential component of the Town Centre Plan. Comments on the report have been received from the Environmental Control Commission and the Regional Water Control Board. These comments will be included in the EIR but do not require response. Mr. Reid advised that the EIR was prepared by Toups Corporation and that Mr. Larkin of that firm will present the project description and findings of the report. Tom Larkin, project manager for the environmental studies group at Toups Corporation, reported that the project would consist of 205 dwelling units on 6.3 acres; 130 units would be developed in two, three, and four story structures adjacent to Memorial Park closer to Third Avenue. Mr. Larkin advised that three major issues were addressed in the environmental impact report. The first was a transportation analysis which indicated approxi- mately 1230 average daily trips would be generated by the residential component to be distributed on the existing major streets in the vicinity. In the future that would be approximately four per cent of the total traffic on the streets and is considered to be an insignificant impact. The second issue discussed was the noise from mobile source emissions.' An area approximately 80 feet wide along Fourth Avenue would be subject to noise of 60 decibels, but the insulation for residential structures as required by the State Building Code would reduce interior noise to acceptable levels. Thirdly, portions of the site are subject to inundation during a 50 year flood. The project could be protected from this by construction of a berm to prevent flooding of the underground parking and landscaping. As pointed out in the EIR, public services are available to adequately serve this development, and the developer will be required to pay school fees and park fees. Commissioner Williams questioned the lack of response to the written comment from the Regional Water Quality Control Board which related to the capacity of the sewage treatment plant. Mr. Larkin pointed out that problem is outside the jurisdiction of the City since it is not the capacity of the Chula Vista system that is questioned. The City of San Diego has initiated steps to resolve the problem of the capacity of the sewage treatment plant. A -3- ~"lovember 8, 1978 Acting Chairman Pressutti opened the public hearing, and as no one wished to speak, he declared the public hearing closed. MSUC (R. Johnson-G. Johnson) The Commission certifies that EIR-79-3 has been prepared in accordance with CEQA subject to the inclusion of revisions contained in the staff report. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: PCS-79-~ - T~n?t~e subdivis_ion..ma, fo~_c~Qmini~m conversion of Vista Towers, Fourth Avenue and -~S-~-~-~et, ~y Investors Director of Planning Peterson noted the application proposes the conversion of an existing 39 unit apartment complex into condominiums. The property is located at the northwest corner of Fourth Avenue and D Street and the development, constructed in 1968, consists of three 3 story structures connected by stairways and walkways. Twelve of the units are one bedroom and 27 are two bedroom. Since this project was constructed prior to the comprehensive revision of the zoning ordinance adopted in 1970, it was constructed at higher density than presently permitted in the R-3 zone. Present standards would permit 33 units instead of the 39 units which exist. Mr. Peterson advised that on the previous night the City Council placed on first reading the ordinance establishing standards and regulations for condominium projects as previously recommended by the Planning Commission. The Council also declared a moratorium on the approval of final subdivision maps until the effective date of that ordinance. He felt it is possible this development will have a problem with meeting one or more of those standards. He suggested that the Commission may approve the tentative map based on consistency with the General Plan, but before it goes to the Council for final approval the applicant would be obligated to show conformance with the newly adopted standards. Acting Chairman Pressutti suggested this map should be tabled or continued until the Commission can review it for conformance with the newly adopted standards which eventually must be met if the proposal is to receive final approval. Mr. Peterson advised that due to time constraints established by State Law, a continuance by the Planning Commission should have the concurrence of the applicant. This being the time and place as advertised, the public hearing was opened. Acting Chairman Pressutti asked if the applicant would address the question of continuing this hearing. Wayne Lill, engineer for the applicant, expressed the opinion that the map is in conformance with existing ordinance and requested that the Commission approve the tentative map and send it on to the City Council. Lillian Graham, speaking on behalf of the tenants of Vista Towers apartments, read a statement which pointed out the hardship that would be inflicted on the tenants if the units are to be sold, since 80% of the tenants are retired persons, on,a fixed income and unable to buy a condominium. She asked that a decision be delayed so the issue can be given further study. W. D. Seiss, pointed out that many of the residents of this complex must live -4- ~ November 8, 1978 on a bus line to have transportation. He asserted that converting apartment buildings to condominiums does not alleviate the housing problem, it compounds it and makes it worse. If these tenants move to another apartment there is no guarantee that it will not also be converted. He felt the City Council should look into this matter and see the number of senior citizens are living in the apartments proposed for conversion and make an effort to help them. As no one else wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. The Commission further discussed the possibility of continuing this hearing. Mr. Peterson suggested that rather than continuing the hearing the Commission could deny the map on the grounds that it does not fully conform to existing ordinance regulations. Assistant City Attorney Harron suggested that as an alternative the Commission could determine if the applicant would concur with a continuance rather than denial by the Planning Commission. Acting Chariman Pressutti reopened the public hearing and asked the applicant's representative if he would agree to a continuance, rather than risk a possible denial. Mr. Lill responded that he would still request the Commission to take action on the matter at this time. The public hearing was again closed. MSUC (O'Neill-G. Johnson) Based on nonconformance with the zoning ordinance regulations, the Planning Commission recommends denial of the tentative subdivision map for Vista Towers. Assistant City Attorney Harron advised that this map will be forwarded to the City Council with the Planning Commission recommendation for denial. 4. Report on Industrial Park Director of Planning Peterson discussed the written report, prepared at the request of the Planning Commission, on the development and existing conditions at the Otay Industrial Park. He pointed out that some of the uses are operating with staff approval under the jurisdiction authorized by the Council in approving the subdivision map. Those uses which required the construction of major buildings have been approved through the Precise Plan procedure. He reported there should be some improvement in the installation and maintenance of land- scaping, as the result of recent approvals given in the area but this is still a problem. The staff will continue to pursue this problem. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Responding to a question from the Commission, Director of Planning Peterson reported that the study session next week will include a discussion of the significance of the designation of a street as a scenic route and a discussion of sign regulations and guidelines established through the application of the p Modifying District. 5- ~ November 8, 1978 Mr. Peterson called attention to the 5:00 p.m. starting time for the study session, to be followed by a dinner session. He also reported that the City Council has named Mr. Virgil Stevenson to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission. Mr. Stevenson formerly served on the Commission for six years and left in 1966 due to business obligations. COMMISSION COMMENTS Acting Chairman Pressutti expressed an interest in the upcoming League of California Cities dinner meeting and was advised to have the secretary make his reservations as desired with the City Clerk. Con~nissioner O'Neill asked if the Director of Planning could furnish some information on the Callahan Task Force at the next study session. ADJOURNMENT Acting Chairman Pressutti adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Helen Mapes Secretary