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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1979/01/10 MINUTES OF A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA January 10, 1979 A regular business meeting of the City Planning Commission of Chula Vista, California was held on the above date beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the following members present: Smith, Pressutti, R. Johnson, G. Johnson, O'Neill, Williams and Stevenson. Also present: Supervisor of Current Planning Lee, Environmental Review Coordinator Reid, City Engineer Lippitt, Senior Civil Engineer Daoust, Community Development Coordinator Boyd, Assistant City Attorney Harron, and Secretary Mapes. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Chairman Smith, followed by a moment of silent prayer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MSUC (R. Johnson-Stevenson) The minutes of the meeting of December 27, 1978 be approved as mailed. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairman Smith called for oral communications and none were presented. 1. Consideration of request for vacation of Open Space Maintenance Easement in lots 44 through 56, Rancho Robinhood Subdivision Current Planning Supervisor Lee reported that when the Rancho Robinhood Subdivision was approved, the City secured an open space lot on the south side of Surrey Drive and also an open space maintenance easement at the rear of ll lots which are adjacent to the Allen School Site. At that time it was contemplated that a park would be developed west of Allen School. The Council later decided not to acquire that site for a park and Rancho Robinhood Unit 2 was constructed in that area. It was originally planned to install uniform landscaping on the open space main- tenance easement, which was comprised of a slope bank, but as the lots were sold the homeowners expressed their preference to individually landscape and use the slope as part of their lots. The homeowners were contacted by mail and were unanimously in favor of having the easement vacated by the City. MSUC (R. Johnson-O'Neill) The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the vacation of the Open Space Maintenance Easement in lots 44 through 56 of Rancho Robinhood Subdivision. 2. Consideration of final EIR-79-6 for BaS Boulevard Redevelopment Project Environmental Review Coordinator Reid noted that while the public hearing was held and closed, there had been written comments on the EIR which required response, so consideration of the final EIR was scheduled for this meeting. The comments and response have been incorporated into the EIR. The major issues of marsh impact, traffic and sedimentation are discussed in the staff report and it is recommended that the EIR be certified. -2- January 10, 1979 In response to a question raised by Commissioner O'Neill, Mr. Reid advised that it is recommended that temporary sedimentation basins be provided above the marsh lands during the construction period. It is felt the quality of run-off in this area will be improved by the development project. MSUC (O'Neill-R. Johnson) The Commission certifies that the final EIR-79-6 has been completed in compliance with CEQA and the Environmental Review Policy of the City of Chula Vista. 3. PUBLIC HEARING (Cont.): Tentative subdivision map for Chula Vista Tract 79-14, residential development in Town Centre Project Area Supervisor of Current Planning Lee noted the location of the site located east of Fourth Avenue, between Center Street and Memorial Park, which is slightly over 6 acres in size and proposed to be subdivided into three lots of approximately 2 acres each. Portions of Center Street, Madrona and Landis will require vacation, and such requirement is a recommended condition for approval of the tentative map. Mr. Lee advised that the Redevelopment Agency has approved the master plan for the Town Centre Focus Area, which included approval of this area for residential development. Approval of this subdivision map will allow the sale of individual units to be constructed thereon. Lots 1 and 2, the western two-thirds of the development, will be developed with 64 units each with approximately 80% of the parking to be located below grade. Although plans for lot 3 are not as far along as for the other two, it is contemplated there will be approximately 75 units on that lot with 90% of the parking underground. A 45 foot wide pedestrian easement between lots 1 and 2 will serve to connect Memorial Park with the civic center. Mr. Lee briefly reviewed the six conditions recommended in the report, which deal with vacation of streets, street improvements, utilities, sewer and storm drains. In response to a question from Chairman Smith, Mr. Lee advised that as shown on the map, vacation of a portion of Center Street would permit two way traffic on the westerly segment of the street, with one way traffic proceeding to Garrett Avenue. Street vacation plans have not been finalized and will be brought to the Planning Commission for approval at a future meeting. Chairman Smith questioned the advisability of approving the tentative map without definite information on the streets to be vacated. City Engineer Lippitt pointed out that since vacation of streets is a condition of the tentative map, that condition must be met before a final map can be approved. Commissioner O'Neill commented on the findings of consistency with the various elements of the General Plan, noting that they all contain a rather positive statement, except the one about the Housing Element which addresses the needs of the low and moderate income persons. He suggested that the finding should be more forthright and instead of saying," will address" it should say "has been addressed" and then give the reason for noncompliance with the requirement of providing housing for low and moderate income persons. -3- January 10, 1979 Chairman Smith suggested that the questions were getting into the area of public hearing testimony, and declared the public hearing open. Douglas Boyd, with the Community Development Department, discussed that department's concern with housing for low and moderate income persons. He reported that the~ty Council has recently approved an application with the County Housing Authority for 100 units of scattered site housing. In addition, they are working under the Community Development Block Grant program in an attempt to secure a $1 million loan to pursue housing for low and moderate in- come persons. Commissioner O'Neill asked if there is still a chance that some of that housing may be included in this redevelopment project area. Mr. Boyd advised that issue had been discussed by the City Council and Redevelop- ment Agency and it was their wishes that such housing not be included in the 128 units planned for the initial stage of this development. As no one else wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. Chairman Smith again expressed concern over approving the tentative subdivision which is contingent upon the vacation of certain public streets, before the street vacation has been considered. City Engineer Lippitt cited as a precedent case the subdivision map for Morgan- Gardner which required the vacation of Hilltop Drive. The hearing for the street vacation was held almost a year after the tentative map was approved by both the City Council and the Planning Commission. That vacation was a condition of approval of the map and if the street hadn't been vacated, the subdivision map could not have been approved. He further pointed out that many conditions are placed on a tentative map which must be completed before the final map is approved. MS (Pressutti-R. Johnson) The Commission recommends that the City Council approve the tentative subdivision map for Chula Vista Tract No. 79-14, subject to the six conditions set forth in the staff report. In discussion of the motion Commissioner O'Neill suggested adding a seventh condition to require the provision of low and moderate income housing within this redevelopment area. Mr. Boyd was asked to comment on the possibility of including low and moderate income housing in this development. Mr. Boyd explained that the low and moderate income housing programs in which the City is now participating is called Section 8 use, which means that the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides a rental subsidy for apart- ment units. He further pointed out that under the scattered site program there are restrictions as to the total number of units per site and the total number of bedrooms per site. He could not assure, without further research, whether it would be possible to have two or three units in a project of this size made available for that type of subsidy. -4- January 10, 1979 Commissioner Pressutti expressed the opinion that there should be some private sector commitment to arrange prices on some housing that would permit some moderate income family to purchase, without subsidy, housing in some of the areas being developed. He noted this would require a greater range in housing prices rather than having all of a development in the 100 to 200 thousand dollar bracket. Mr. Boyd advised there are several schools of thought as to how housing should be provided to low and moderate income persons. He felt it is a matter of seman- tics--but an important one--whether housing is provided for low and moderate income persons, or low and moderate cost housing is provided. He indicated it is the general thinking in most municipalities that quality housing should be provided for low and moderate income persons, which requires a subsidy of some sort. Commissioner G. Johnson pointed out that if low cost housing is constructed, it may be purchased by high income people and then sold for a good profit, so there must be some control to assure that it goes to low income people. Commissioner Williams asked about a possible conceptual commitment to provide low and moderate income housing under a redevelopment project. Mr. Boyd advised that a requirement that 20% of the tax increment generated within a redevelopment project be used toward housing for low and moderate income persons was enacted by the Montoya legislation. That legislation was not passed until after the Bayfront Redevelopment area and the Town Centre I Redevelopment area was created; therefore, thereis no legal obligation on the part of the Agency to provide low and moderate income housing through tax increments from those redevelopment areas. The Town Centre II Redevelopment area was created after the Montoya legislation; however, no tax increment provision was included for that area, so again, there is no legal obligation to provide low and moderate in- come housing out of that redevelopment project. In response to a question from Chairman Smith, Mr. Boyd advised that Section 8 housing is privately owned residential units where the prospective tenant, a low or moderate income person, works out an arrangement with the property owner to permit the use of the Section 8 certificate in that rental unit. The tenant then pays a percentage of his income to the landlord and the Department of Hous- ing and Urban Development pays the remainder to the landlord. Such an arrange- ment is a part of a lease agreement. It was moved by Commissioner O'Neill, seconded by Commissioner Williams, that the motion on the floor be amended by adding a seventh condition that: Provision shall be made for the inclusion of low and/or moderate income housing in this redevelopment area. Commissioner Stevenson expressed concern that it might not be possible to meet that condition and the tentative map would then be wiped out and plans would have to start over again. -5- ~onuary 10, 1979 Commissioner G. Johnson suggested that such a condition should be more specific by indicating the number of units of low and/or moderate income housing to be included, and whether the City should buy such units, or what program would be followed. The motion for the amendment failed by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners O'Neill and Williams NOES: Commissioners G. Johnson, R. Johnson, Pressutti, Smith and Stevenson ABSENT: None The original motion to recommend approval of the tentative subdivision map carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Pressutti, R. Johnson, G. Johnson, Smith, Stevenson and Williams NOES: Commissioner O'Neill ABSENT: None Commissioner Pressutti suggested that the Planning Commission adopt a resolution urging the City Council to consider incorporating low and moderate income housing into this plan and any other plan that comes before it. In discussing this proposal the Commission agreed that such a resolution should be specific as to the minimum size of projects that would be required to include low or moderate income housing and the percentage of units of such housing. Commissioner O'Neill volunteered to draft such a resolution for Commission Discussion and consideration at the next study session, January 17. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Supervisor of Current Planning Lee called attention to the announcement of the Planning Commissioners Institute sponsored by the League of California Cities to be held in Monterey on February 21-23. Funds have been budgeted for three Commissioners to attend this institute. Commissioners R. Johnson, O'Neill and Stevenson indicated their interest, but could not make a definite commitment to attend at this time. It was noted that reservations should be made by February 1 for those who are able to attend. Mr. Lee also called attention to monthly League of California Cities dinner meeting scheduled to be held in Chula Vista on Thursday, January 18. All Commissioners are urged to attend. Commissioners Pressutti, G. Johnson, R. Johnson and O'Neill requested reservations; the other Commissioners will advise later. COMMISSION COMMENTS Chairman Smith read the following letter received from Mayor Hyde: "On behalf of the City Council I want to thank you and your Commission for your invaluable service to the City this past year. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at some mutually convenient time this month to discuss any matters of concern to your Commission. If this is agreeable, please phone my secretary, Patricia Wesp, for an appointment." -6- January 10, 1979 Chairman Smith expressed uncertainty as to whether the Mayor wished to meet with just the Chairman, or with the entire Commission, but noted that he asked about matters that concern the Commission. Mr. Smith suggested that if anyone has matters of concern, notes should be taken so that he can relay those concerns to the Mayor. It was agreed that this be further discussed at the study session. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Smith adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Helen Mapes Secretary