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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 08-16-17MINUTES REGULAR MEETING DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 6:30 P.M. Chairman Rodriguez called the August 16, 2017, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:31 p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh called roll. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Jim Rodriguez, District 5, Chairman Miguel Duarte, District 1 Patrick Owens, District 2, Vice Chairman Steven Dominguez, District 3 Matias Flores, District 4 COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney David Blumenthal, City Planner Monica Esparza, Associate Planner Mary Cavanagh, Secretary PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Director of Community Development Aldo Schindler briefly discussed the topic raised at the previous Planning Commission hearing pertaining to the Commission's request to modify the process for notifying the public of Planning Commission hearings. He said staff will return with options to review with the Commission at a later hearing. PRESENTATIONS: None. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL: None. Chairman Rodriguez called for a break at 6:40 p.m. due to technical difficulties with the video. The meeting was reconvened at 7:01 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. PLN -17-00072 (Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit): Chairman Rodriguez opened the public hearing for PLN -17-00072 and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication. Associate Planner Monica Esparza presented the request to construct a new 1,785 square -foot Starbucks Cafe, with a drive-thru and an outdoor patio, on property located at 7966 Florence Avenue, Ms. Esparza reviewed the zoning, surrounding commercial uses, site plan, landscape plans architectural design, and the applicant's proposal to demolish the former Walgreen's pharmacy building. The Commissioners discussed the following with staff: 1) the architectural design; 2) ingress and egress of the site with a request for center line markings in the driveways of the shopping center; 4) the photometric plan including increasing foot-candle levels; and 5) hours of operation (4:30 a.m. to midnight seven (7) days a week). Correspondence: None. Disclosures: Commissioner Dominguez disclosed that he walks by the subject site daily. Commissioner Duarte and Chairman Rodriguez stated they have driven passed the subject site. Applicant, John Hopkins, Bristol Development Partners, reviewed their recent Starbucks development project on Imperial Highway in Downey. He agreed to the conditions of approval and the Commission's request to revise the lighting plan. The Commissioners questioned the location of the second ADA (American Disability Act) parking space shown in the site plan. Mr. Hopkins explained the second ADA space is van accessible for a future EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station which is a new CALGreen Building Code Requirement. If they were to place both spaces in front of the cafe, they would have lost one standard parking space due to the layout of the parking lot and would not meet their parking requirements. Applicant, Architect Barney Michaels, Greenburg Farrow, clarified only one ADA parking space is required; the second space is van accessible for a future EV charging station which is a new California Building Code requirement, however, they will not be installing the charging station at this time. Mr. Michaels confirmed there is no ADA accessible route from this space due to the layout of the site. Unfortunately, they are not able to move the van accessible ADA parking space to the front of the cafe due to its size being larger than standard ADA parking spaces, which would cost them one standard space and result in their not meeting their overall parking requirements. The Commissioners continued discussing options for moving the second space to the front of the cafe with staff and concluded it was not a viable option for this site. Public Comments: Armando Herman discussed ADA parking regulations. Staff gave recommendation to the Planning Commission to approve the request for a Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit (PLN -17-00072). Chairman Rodriguez closed the public hearing. The Commissioners spoke in favor of the project and added the following conditions of approval: 27) The applicant shall place delineating marks at the driveways along Florence Avenue and Paramount Boulevard to distinguish ingress and egress onto the site. 28) The parking lot to the south of the building shall maintain a minimum average of three (3) foot-candles. It was moved by Chairman Rodriguez, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and passed by a 5-0 vote, to adopt Resolution No. 17-3029, thereby approving (PLN -17-00072), with added conditions as stated. Chairman Rodriguez called for a break at 7:56 p.m. and called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. NON -AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: Armando Herman discussed various topics relating to equal opportunities for realtors, the City's General Plan, and parking density. -2- CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: 2. 17-00092 2016 General Plan Annual Progress Report) It was moved by Vice Chairman Owens, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and passed by a 5-0 vote, to approve the Consent Calendar. OTHER BUSINESS: 3. Early Planninq Commission Review of Projects Chairman Rodriguez opened the discussion of Early Planning Commission Review of Projects. The discussion began at the June 21, 2017 meeting, which Vice Chairman Owens was not able to attend. He said the goal of this discussion is to find solutions to obtain information earlier for better understanding of upcoming projects. Vice Chairman Owens discussed the need for more time and information which he believes would result in better decision making. An example of this would be the Imperial Highway and the proposed Biomedical Overlay Zone; if this type of information prior was made known in advance of any upcoming projects, such as the recent Starbucks on Imperial Highway, he would have a better understanding of the project and of the uses that would be best suited for the area. He believes having more time and information would result in better decision making. Chairman Rodriguez commented on the need for more time when reviewing larger documents, such as development agreements, or any other specialized documents or contracts that require a better understanding. He expressed the need for education of the details long before they see the project. He researched other Planning Commissions in the State and used the City of Costa Mesa for comparison, which he found to be similar in size to the City of Downey. He discussed their Planning Commission's practice to hold a 30 minute pre -meeting before every Planning Commission meeting to chat. At the end of each meeting, the Community Development Director would advise the Commissioners of the projects to be presented at the following meeting. He said as citizens, their knowledge is limited in understanding Planning related documents such as a Specific Plan and would require months to study, rather than a few days. Vice Chairman indicated it is the Commission's job is to work in concert to deliver the outcome without too many hiccups and reiterated his interest in having more time to review every item. Commissioner Dominguez expressed discontent that the Chair was not ready to present his concerns that he was to discuss and asked that he move forward with them or discuss at another meeting. Chairman Rodriguez said he wants information earlier, education, and if staff is on board with that he would have to come back with that. Director of Community Development Schindler asked for clear direction from the Chair, as the information he requested was given to him some time ago, and the remaining information is already listed on the website. City Attorney gave the Commissioners direction on working with staff in obtaining information for project research. Commissioner Dominguez conveyed his concerns with Commissioners asking for information that may cause bias and put the Commission in legal jeopardy; he added it is not the Commissions role to be a Planner. Commissioner Flores recalled discussions from the June 21, 2017 meeting, the points that some of the Commissioners agreed to discuss as to what they would like to see in terms of large projects, specific -3- projects, and others, such as the Biomedical Zone. Today's meeting was to hear back from staff; if the Chair's had given notice that the concerns had changed he would have prepared differently for this meeting. He said he does not share his concerns of the Chair and is ready to discuss them. He is prepared to hear comments staff regarding the concerns discussed at the previous meeting that Vice Chair Owens was in line with today. He suggested returning in three months to discuss the new concerns presented. Getting into new specific examples and new items at this point is not fair to the Commission, and was not the reason for todays' meeting. It was his understanding that Vice Chair Owens was going to give his comments and they would be input to the report that staff would create for the Commission. Chairman Rodriguez asked for staff's input for the next meeting. Director of Community Development Schindler understood that at the conclusion of the last meeting was that staff's direction was a study sessions were appropriate for large Planning Initiatives that have an overarching effect on the entire city. An example of this would be the Medical Overlay Study that staff was working on, the Imperial Highway study, and other projects that may have an overarching effect on the entire city. Chairman Rodriguez stated there is no disagreement with staff; however, there is still some question as to what is a large project. He gave examples of hotel, a 400 -unit development, or anything similar to the KB Homes project. Vice Chairman Owens opined that anything over 16 units would be of high importance. City Attorney recalled that Chairman Rodriguez was going to bring back criteria for study sessions for today's meeting. Chairman Rodriguez agreed to return to another meeting for discussion and closed the discussion. STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Director of Community Development Schindler reported invitations were sent to the Commission for the Grand Openings of the Rock & Brews Restaurant, and the Olson project on 3rd Street and La Reina. ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Rodriguez adjourned the meeting at 8:54 p.m., to Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at 6:30p.m. at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of December, 2017. Jifjo7Rodriguez, Chairman ty Planning Commission I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Minutes were duly approved at a Regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on this 20th day of December, 2017, by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Rodriguez, Owens, Dominguez and Duarte NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: COMMISSIONERS: Flores None Mary Ovanagh, Secre ary City Planning Commission -4-