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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Comm min 1996/02/14 MINUTES OF A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA Council Chambers 7:05 p.m. Public Services Building Wednesday, Febmar~ 14, 1996 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista ROLL CALL COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Tuchscher, Commissioners Davis, Ray, Thomas and Willett COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Salas and Tarantino STAFF PRESENT: Principal Planner Griffin, Assistant City Attorney Moore PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Tuchscher led in the pledge of allegiance to the flag and a moment of silent prayer. MOTION TO EXCUSE MSC (Ray/Willett) 5-0 to excuse Commissioner Tarantino (prior commitment) and Commissioner Salas (illness). APPROVAL OF MINUTES MSC (Willett/Thomas) 5-0 (Salas and Tarantino excused) to approve the minutes of the Planning Commission meetings of November 8th, 15th, and December 13, 1995. Several Commissioners complimented staff on the minutes and the staff report. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS Chair Tuchscher reviewed the composition of the Planning Commission, its responsibilities and the format of the meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None PC Minutes -2- February 14, 1996 ITEM 1: PUBLIC HEARING: PCM-96-15: REQUEST TO EXTEND HOURS OF OPERATION FOR GASOLINE SALES ONLY AT 1498 MELROSE AVENUE IN THE C-N NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL ZONE - Texaco Refining and Marketing, Inc. Principal Planner Griffin presented the staff report and recommended approval, noting an amendment to Condition B that the hours of the service bay would be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Commissioner Thomas asked if circumstances would change with the construction of the mini- market to allow 24 hours. Mr. Griffin replied that there was a pending application to establish a mini market onsite. If the applicant wished to extend the mini market hours, it would have to be considered separately. At Commissioner Ray's request, Mr. Griffin confirmed that the hours for gas sales would be 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. Service bay hours would be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They were currently allowed service from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Commissioner Willett stated that he had visited the site, and concurred with staff that there had been a gmat improvement with the lighting. Regarding truck loading, them was more noise coming from across the street from the 7-Eleven than from the diesel truck. He could find no one in objection to the hours. The people he had talked with asked that something be done with the 7-Eleven. Commissioner Willett concurred with the comments in the staff report. This being the time and the place as advertised, the public hearing was opened. Michael Radecki, 1460 Nolan Ct., CV 91911 discussed CEQA and how it is used. He stated that Texaco had taken measures to correct the concerns of the residents. The measures were that of a good neighbor and were appreciated. Staff had recommended approval of the request with several provisions; they were acceptable as proposed with the exception of the 5:00 a.m. start. He requested that the gas sales hours start at 6:00 a.m. Mr. Radecki asked that should Texaco request to operate a mini-mart, they should conform to the default C-N zone hours, and that both the residents and the City would be able to evaluate the appropriateness of extended business hours on the merits of the new business. Susan Radecki, 1460 Nolan Ct., CV 91911 felt the 5:00 start was too early; 6:00 would be preferable. She asked for reasonable assurance that the City would monitor the compliance with any new stipulations imposed on the business. She asked the Commissioners to consider the cumulative impact of projects. She was concerned about Texaco staying open until midnight and the weekday traffic from the amphitheater which may have some adverse effects on that corner. Philip Schanberger, 4901 Morena Blvd. #304, San Diego, representing Texaco, showed slides of the station lube bays, lighting under the canopy, landscaping, and the cleanliness of the site. He asked that the Commission approve the 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. hours so they could capture business travelers. Texaco had shown good faith effort to address concerns of the neighbors. In addition to offering their site for community meetings, they had meetings with the Police PC Minutes -3- February 14, 1996 Department and joined in the Community Watch and Business Alert; they had offered their site to schools for charity carwashes; they would be available to answer questions. They had addressed the noise issue and lighting, and were developing rubber pads to lie next to the sump lid to further eliminate noise. He commended Steve Griffin on his helpfulness. Carol Hensley, 6407 EastLake Drive, SD, marketing consultant for Texaco, shared some sales reports with the Commissioners, which broke down the sales per hour at a similar location. She noted there was a need in the area for early morning hour sales; she was willing to work with the community and would take calls from them directly regarding any concerns they had at any time. Answering Commissioner Ray, Ms. Hensley said the table showed total sales of gasoline and inside sale products. Ms. Hensley requested approval of the three-hour extension of business hours. They felt there was a need and that it would be beneficial for the community as well as Texaco. No one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was declared closed. At Commissioner Willett's request, Principal Planner Griffin indicated on the map the location of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Radecke. Chair Tuchscher stated that he appreciated the time and the effort of the Radecke's to be at the meeting and to care about the neighborhood. He also felt Texaco had proven to be good neighbors to the Radecke's and the community, and complimented them on the landscaping. Commissioner Ray asked for a clarification on the general rule exemption per CEQA. Chair Tuchscher stated that he assumed this project was looked at in the same manner from a procedure standpoint that all other similar applications would be. Attorney Moore concurred. Commissioner Thomas, assuming the mini market would be built within the year of this conditional use permit, asked the hours of the mini market. Mr. Griffin stated that one of the conditions in this request was that the Zoning Administrator, with notice to the neighborhood, would determine if there had been any problems. If there were any continuing concerns that could not be resolved, it would probably be forwarded to the Planning Commission in one year's time for review of the extended hours. The mini market would be an entirely separate conditional use permit. They would be permitted the hours from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. MSUC (Ray/Willett) 5-0 (Commissioners Salas and Tarantino excused) to approve PCM-96-15, approving extended hours of operation for gasoline sales only at 1498 Melrose Avenue in the C-N (Neighborhood Commercial) zone, with a text change on Item B under Conditional Grant of Permit Conditions changing the hours from 8:00 to 5:00 restricting the hours of the bay service. PC Minutes -4- February 14, 1996 Commissioner Davis stated that she was very pleased with what she had seen from Texaco and the progress they had made. She had also visited the site and talked with the neighbors, and they felt it was a good compromise from what had been requested before. Commissioner Ray said that if the Radecki's felt there were some continuing problems, they should call the City with each infraction so they could build up a case file during the next year. Principal Planner Griffin concurred, and stated that the City would try to address those immediately, and Texaco would, as well. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Mr. Griffin noted there would be a dinner workshop the following Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Rooms 2/3. The subject would be Otay Ranch. Mr. Griffin stated that four Commissioners would be attending the Conference on March 20, 1996. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS MSUC (Ray/Davis) 5-0 to cancel the Planning Comnfission meeting of March 13, 1996, because of lack of agenda items. Commissioner Davis noted that the Council had voted to delay the residential care facility 119 days. Brian Bilbray had introduced federal legislation to deal with the issue. Commissioner Thomas asked for the status of the Broadway Homes project. Mr. Griffin stated it had been approved, but no application had been made for a building permit. ADJOURNMENT at 7:43 p.m. to the Workshop Meeting on February 21, 1996, at 5:30 p.m. in Conferences Rooms 2/3, and to the Regular Business Meeting of February 28, 1996, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Nancy P~pley, ~ecr~ary Planning Commission (m:\home\planning\nancy\pc96min\pc2-14.min)