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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-10-10-63-Regular MeetingQ '11-6 I,5W CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY MINUTES OF GENERAL PLAN STUDY MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS CONFERENCE ROOM THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1963 The City Council of the City of Downey held a study meeting on the.proposed General Plan on Thursday, October 7, 1963, at 4:30 o'clock P.M., in the Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, Downey, California. PRESENT: Councilmen: Corbin, Skinner, Morton, Temple ALSO PRESENT: Oren L. King, City Manager Sherman Griselle, Director of Planning Jack E. Gilliam, Principal Planner Don Robison, Administrative Assistant Mayor Corbin opened the study meeting and called upon Mr. Griselle to summarize the thirteen areas reviewed during the study meeting held on Monday, October 7, 1963. Mr. Griselle complied with this request, and also stated that five areas were held over for restudy. It was moved and seconded and so ordered that the General Plan study meeting minutes of October 7, 1963, be approved as written. Mayor Corbin stated five areas were still before the Council for review and he called upon Mr. Griselle to explain them. Mr. Griselle stated Area #2 concerned the north side of Eleventh Street between Birchdale and Brookshire. He said the Council requested a restudy to determine if these lots could feasibly be shown in a parking category to serve as parking for the proposed professional office and medical uses fronting on Florence Avenue to the north of these properties. There followed a discussion and it was deemed feasible to show the north side of Eleventh Street in a parking and buffer, category to be developed in conjunction with the proposed professional- office - medical area to the north which fronts on Florence Avenue, provided access to the proposed parking area on the north side of Eleventh Street is from Florence Avenue and individual development plans include a solid wall along the north side of Eleventh Street. Mr. Griselle stated Area #3 concerned both sides of Dinwiddie Street between Old River School Road and Rio Hondo Drive. He said the Council requested a restudy to determine if this area could feasibly be put into a medium density category if alleys were developed at the rear of the lots on both the north and south side of Dinwiddie. He distributed a map which showed an alley pattern with 20' alleys at the rear lot lines of the properties on both the north and south sides of Dinwiddie. A discussion followed and it was deemed feasible to place both sides of Dinwiddie west of Old River School Road in a medium density residential category, provided an adequate standard alley system was first developed as a means of secondary access in this area to reduce future traffic congestion on these long blocks. Mr. Griselle stated Area #5 was bounded by Stewart and Gray Road on the north; the rear property lines of the properties west of Susan Street on the east; the proposed County golf course on the south; and the City limits on the west. He said the Council requested a restudy to determine if this area could feasibly be putin a medium density category. i/7 1£j8 A discussion followed and it was deemed feasible to place this area in a medium density faddettial category, provided a parking and buffer area was placed along the east side to protect the residences on the west side of Susan Street. Mr. Griselle stated Areas #9 and #10 were bounded by Downey Ave- nue on the west; Iowa Street on the north; Dolan Avenue on the east; and the alley and rear lot lines of properties on the south side of Texas Street. He said the Council requested a restudy to determine if this area could feasibly be put into a high density residential category. A discussion followed and it was deemed feasible to put this area into a high density residential category, provided bdlding code and zoning regulations were amended before development actually took place to assure that any high -rise apartment developments would be high -type construction or three•ttory walk -up type. It was also suggested that a parking and buffer area be placed on the south side. Councilman Skinner stated he wanted to encourage high -rise apartment development in Downey provided it was not "crackerbox* construction or three -story walk -up type. Councilman Morton said he wanted it specifically understood that any commitment he made for high -rise apartment areas was based upon the building and zoning regulations' being revised to provide for first - class high density residential buildings. He said Downey welcomed good high -rise development, but he could not recommend any high -rise apartment areas if they were permitted to develop into low quality walk -ups. It was the consensus of the Council that the building and zoning codes should be reviewed and revised as necessary to permit only first - class apartment buildings in all areas designated for high- density apartment development. Mr. Griselle stated Area #11 was bounded by Stewart and Gray Road on the south; an existing apartment building on the west; the rear lot lines of properties on the north side of Stewart and Gray Road; and generally the east property line of the first property east of LaReina Avenue. He said the Council requested a restudy of this area to determine if a restudy of this area to determine if a medium density category would be feasible. A discussion followed and it was deemed feasible to put this area into a medium density category, provided LaReina Street became a standard city street. Mayor Corbin stated that thisconcluuded the review on the five areas requested for restudy. He asked Mr. Griselle if he had any other matters to discuss with Council. Mr. Griselle stated Area #13 which was on both sides of Imperial Highway and was bounded on the east by the San Gabriel Flood Control Channel; on the south by the rear lot lines of properties on the north side of Adoree Street; on the west by Woodruff Avenue excluding the commercially zoned corner; on the northwest by Woodruff Junior High School; and on the north about 700' north of Imperial Highway which the Council considered feasible for a medium density residential category at the .--. October 7, 1963, General Plan study meeting, should contain a buffer and parking area along the north boundary line to protect residential properties to the south. A discussion followed and it was considered feasible to place this area in a high density residential category with a parking and buffer category along the south portion of the areas to protect the residential properties to the south. //-.p ISO Mr. Griselle stated that since some changes to the General Plan were considered feasible by the Council which would alter some of the statistics in the General Plan Report he was requesting permission of Council to make any statistical changes in the General Plan Report necessary to reflect the changes made by Council. He said no policy changes could be made, but statistical changes would be necessary to re- flect the dwelling unit and population data which would now be greater due to increased areas recommended for apartment use. It was the consensus of the Council that the Planning Department be given authority to make nedded statistical changes in the General Plan Report, provided no policy changes were made. Mayor Corbin asked if there were any general comments from Councilman. Councilman Skinner stated that he had reconsidered Area #12, and believed that the Blue Star Nursery property and the properties to the east should remain in a general commercial category. There followed a discussion and it was deemed feasible to place the Blue Star Nursery property and the properties to the east in a general commercial category. Councilman Skinner stated that the industrial area south of Telegraph Road and west of the residential properties on the west side of Rives Avenue should have a parking and ]duffer category along its east sides. A discussion followed and it was deemed feasible to place a parking and buffer category on the east side of this industrial area to protect the residential properties to the east. Mayor Corbin asked if Council desired to transmit these changes to the Planning Commission at the next Council Meeting. It was the consensus that the General Plan should be put on the next Council agenda for further action. There being no further business to come before the Council the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned at 6:30 P.M. ATT S City Cle Mayor