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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1982/10/27 MINUTES OF A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA October 27, 1982 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. in the City Council Chambers, Public Services Building, 276 Fourth Avenue. Commissioners Present: R. Johnson, Pressutti, Green, Shipe, G. Johnson and Cannon Commissioners Absent: O'Neill (with previous notification) Staff Present: Principal Planner Lee, Assistant City Attorney Harron, Secretary Mapes The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Chairman R. Johnson, and was followed by a moment of silent prayer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES HSUC (Green-Shipe) The minutes of the meeting of October 13, 1982 be approved as written. Commissioners Pressutti and R. Johnson abstained from voting on the motion due to absence from that meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairman R. Johnson called for oral communications and none were presented. 1. Consideration of request for extension of tentative subdivision map for E1 Rancho del ReS #6, Chula Vista Tract 80-5, Gersten CompanS Principal Planner Lee advised that with regard to the first three agenda items there have been no physical changes which would affect the findings for approval of the tentative maps. It is, therefore, recommended that E1 Rancho del Rey #6 be extended for two years, and Bonita Vista and Carabella each be extended for one year, as requested. The two latter subdivisions would be eligible for another one year extension upon request. MSUC (G. Johnson-Green) The Commission approves a two year extension of the tentative subdivision map for E1 Rancho del Rey #6, Chula Vista Tract 80-5, so the map will remain valid until November 27, 1984. 2. Consideration of request for extension of tentative subdivision map for Bonita Vista, Chula Vista Tract 80-12 - Vista Bonita Partnership rlSUC (G. Johnson-Green) The Commission approves a one year extension of the tentative subdivision map for Bonita Vista, Chula Vista Tract 80-12, so the map will remain valid until October 29, 1983. -2- October 27, 1982 3. Consideration of request for extension of tentative subdivision map for Carabella, Chula Vista Tract 80-13 - E Street Ventures MSUC (G. Johnson-Green) The Commission approves a one year extension of the tentative subdivision map for Carabella, Chula Vista Tract 80-13, so the map will remain valid until December 10, 1983. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC-82-10 - Request for modification of conditional use permit to delete limitation of the alcoholic beverage display case area in mini-market/service station at 407 "E" Street - Thrifty Oil Company Principal Planner Lee reported that in January of this year the Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the conversion of the Thrifty Oil Company station to a retail market/self-service operation. One of the conditions of approval limited the area of display for alcoholic beverages. The applicant appealed that condition to the City Council, however, the Council denied the appeal. To date, the proposed remodeling for conversion of the station has not occurred and the applicant has filed a new request to increase the permitted display area to five doors, or approximately 12½ feet. The plans as proposed show a total of 35 feet width of cooler doors for display of all products, so the requested area for display of alcoholic beverages is a little over one-third of the total cooler space. In the past the Planning Commission has placed a limit on the amount of space used for the display of alcoholic beverages in market/service station business. It is felt that the issue of selling gasoline and alcoholic beverages at the same site is not necessarily a land planning issue and limiting the amount of area permitted for display will not influence a person in drivin§ under the influence of alcohol. It is recommended that the Commission approve the request and allow the increased display area. Mr. Lee affirmed that beer and wine would be the only kind of alcoholic beverage sold at this site. In response to a question from Commissioner Shipe, Mr. Lee explained that the recent practice of converting service stations has been a gradual thing. The initial conversions in Chula Vista used only the office space of a service station to provide snack food items and soft drinks for the convenience of motorists. Later requests included the conversion of lube bays to expand the market operation and include the sale of beer and wine. In approving those requests the Planning Commission limited the amount of space that could be devoted to the display of alcoholic beverages. There is now a question as to whether the Planning Commission should control this aspect of the business operation. Since the City Council denied the appeal by this company earlier this year, if the Planning Commission approves the request at this time, the City Council will be notified of that action. This bein§ the time and place as advertised, the public hearing was opened. Peter D'Amico, construction manager of Thrifty Oil Company, advised, in response to a question from the Commission, that the coolers are also used for the display of milk and other dairy products, lunch meat, and so forth. He reported that during the past four or five days they had petitions available for their customers to indicate support or disfavor with the proposed remodeling and the sale and -3- October 27, 1982 display of alcoholic beverages in the space covered by five cooler doors. They received 1,123 signatures in favor and two against. Commissioner Shipe questioned why they are now asking for cooler space represented by five doors when their original request was for four doors. Mr. D'Amico advised that their survey of similar operations led to the request for the increased space. Commissioner Green suggested that the Planning Commission take this opportunity to get out of the business of telling the applicants how much space to use for this purpose and leave that to their own judgment in running their business. Commissioner Shipe affirmed that economic times are forcing businesses to seek other markets. Many service stations have had to find ways of generating additional profit in order to stay in business and there seems to be a trend in combining the sale of gasoline and min-markets. He felt the difference in display area is immaterial. As no one else wished to speak, the public hearin~ was closed. MS (Green-Shipe) The Commission modifies conditional use permit PCC-82-10 to remove any restriction on the space used for the display of alcoholic beverages. The motion carried by a vote of 4-2, with Commissioners R. Johnson and G. Johnson voting "no." 5. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC-83-8 - Conditional use permit to establish video arcade at 678 "E" Street in the C-T zone - Kamiar Simantob Principal Planner Lee noted the proposed location within an existing shopping center on the south side of "E" Street just west of Broadway, anchored by the Big Bear market. The applicant wishes to lease a 15' x 50' store to have 20-25 video games and two pool tables. The staff concluded that the 15 foot width would not accommodate both the pool tables and video games and recommends the deletion of either the two pool tables or some of the video games. Although this is a well travelled street, the building sets back some distance from the street, which makes it a less than ideal location from a surveillance standpoint. At other game centers some problems have resulted from young people gathering outside of the establi]shment, particularly if they are somewhat isolated. The conclusion reached is that a properly managed center that complies with conditions is an acceptable land use in a shopping center. It is recommended that this application be approved subject to 7 conditions relating to the operation. This being the time and place as advertised, the public hearing was opened. Jack Dardashti, representing the applicant, affirmed that they will have adult supervision in the arcade at all times while it is open. He expressed concurrence with all of the conditions recommended, specifically agreeing to the deletion of the two pool tables. He indicated they would start with less than 20 machines but would hope to work up to that number. Commissioner Cannon expressed concern about the noise incurred by the machines and the players, and whether the walls are sufficiently landscaped to avoid disturbing adjacent tenants. In discussing that concern, the Commission concurred that the second condition, relating to disturbance or problems from -4- October 27, 1982 the operation of the center provides a means of abatement of such problem. It was suggested that if the applicant feels this could be a problem, he should have a measurement taken of the noise level that could be transmitted through the walls, to determine if additional soundproofing should be installed before he begins occupancy. Commission R. Johnson pointed out that in a center of this type, the awner has to protect all of his tenants or he will lose them. As no one else wished to speak, the public hearing was closed. MSUC (Pressutti-Shipe) The Commission finds that this proposed use will have no significant environmental impacts and adopts the Negative Declaration issued on IS-83-9. MSUC (Pressutti-Shipe) Based on the findings stated in the report, the Commission approves the request for a conditional use permit, PCC-83-8, to establish a video game center at 678 "E" Street, subject to the seven conditions enumerated in the report. 6. Consideration of appeal of Design Review Committee's denial for a monument si§n in Bonita Centre East - Security Pacific National Bank Principal Planner Lee displayed slides and a rendering of the sign, 8½ feet high, approximately 25 sq. ft. in area, proposed to be located at the extreme northeast corner of the Bonita Centre East site. This center was completed about two years ago, with the exception of the freestanding bank building located in the south- west corner of the site, which has just been completed. A coordinated sign program was approved for the center, which included identification signs containing only the name of the center to be located at each of the two entrance drives. Identification signs for the individual business would be located at the front of the building. The bank buildin§ at the corner has a separate monument sign which was approved last year by the Design Review Committee. Last month the Design Review Committee considered the request by Security Pacific National Bank to erect another monument sign at this center. The applica- tion was denied and that action was appealed to the Planning Commission. Mr. Lee reported that the center presently has six businesses, none of which has identification other than the building frontage; for that reason, it is recommended that this request be denied. He also pointed out that while Security Pacific has an attractive sign, it is not coordinated with the rest of the center; whereas, the Home Federal building and monument sign follow the design of the center. If it is demonstrated that individual businesses in the center need identification at the street, it is recommended that such identification be incorporated into the signs identifying the name of the center. The owner has not agreed to that proposal. Chairman R. Johnson called for comments from anyone in the audience. Jim McKenzie, representing Security Pacific National Bank, contended that their request is submitted as a modification to the approved precise plan, which the owner of the center has authorized them, by letter, to do. He also asserted they feel there is some discrimination if one bank at the center is permitted -5- October 27, 1982 a freestanding sign and Security Pacific is not. He pointed out their operation involves the leasing of three or four tenant spaces within one of the two buildings comprising the center. Margot Chapman, Glendale, Calif., Marketing Officer for Security Pacific National Bank, contended that without a sign comprised of their adopted graphics they will not be identified. Their survey has shown that 50 per cent of the new accounts opened in a branch are the direct result of people driving by and seeing the sign which identifies the bank. The Commission discussed the signing at this center and at Bonita Centre to the west of Otay Lakes Road. It was the general consensus that Security Pacific needs identification that is visible from the street, but other tenants in the center have the same need. An overall sign program to meet that need would be preferred rather than individual signs by various businesses. MS (G. Johnson-Cannon) Based on the findings set forth in the staff report, the Commission denies the appeal for a freestanding monument sign for Security Pacific National Bank at Bonita Centre East. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners G. Johnson, Cannon, Shipe and R. Johnson NOES: Commissioners Green and Pressutti ABSENT: Commissioner O'Neill MSUC (Green-Cannon) The Commission directs that a letter be sent to ADMA Co., signed by the Chairman of the Commission, requesting that if they desire to have any tenant identification signs adjacent to the street, they submit a new overall sign program for review by the Planning Commission. COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner R. Johnson advised that he will be out of town and will miss the next meeting or two. ADJOURNMENT Chairman R. Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m. to the meeting of November 10, 1982 at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, e en Mapes, ecre ary