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CC - 11-15-94 - Adjourned Meeting• 6 MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED MEETING ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL AND ROSEMEAD PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 15, 1994 APPROVED CI I l 3 / ~9C D DATU BY-_ The Adjourned Meeting of the Rosemead City Council and the Rosemead Planning Commission was called to order by Mayor Bruesch and Chairman Lowrey at 7:05 p.m. in the Conference Room of City Hall, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California The Pledge to the Flag was led by Mayor Pro Tern Taylor The Invocation was delivered by Councilmember Clark ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: Present: Councilmembers Clark, Imperial, Vasquez, Mayor Pro Tem Taylor, and Mayor Bruesch Commissioners Breen, Loi, Ortiz, Vice-Chairman Ruiz, and Chairman Lowrey 1. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS Dolly Leong, 9554 Ralph Street, Rosemead, requested that her appeal of the project at 8445-8463 Mission Drive be heard before the City Council at the earliest possible date. Frank Tripepi, City Manager, responded that Mrs. Leong's appeal will be heard at the December 13, 1994 Council meeting. Mayor Bruesch stated that this evening's meeting will begin with a report from staff, then a question period for the Council and Commissioners, followed by a general discussion. Mr. Tripepi reviewed the agenda packets which consisted of site maps, photographs of existing planned development projects, projects with street sizes, and development comparison sheets. Vice-Chairman Taylor inquired about the photographs he requested of the three houses on Marshall Street. Mr. Tripepi responded that they would be taken the next day. Mayor Bruesch commented on the residential/commercial mixed use as outlined on Exhibit "A", and that there are approximately 350 potential residential sites available for development. R-3. Councilmember Clark asked if the zoning for the residential/commercial mixed use was Peter Lyons, Planning Director, responded that a lot of those areas are zoned commercial, but under the General Plan they can be developed for residential or commercial. Residential homes would be zoned R-3. Mayor Bruesch questioned what the benefits of an R-2 or R-3 would be versus a P.D. zone and why would a developer opt for a P.D. when more units can be built on an R-2 or R- 3. Mr. Lyons responded that with the current P.D. standards, the developer would not get any more density with a standard subdivision versus a P.D., as the underlying density of the zoning in an R-1, R-2 or R-3 cannot be exceeded. CC 11-15-94 Page #1 Mayor Bruesch asked if under the proposed amendment of 4500 square feet a lot, a developer, under R-2 or R-3, would benefit from an extra unit, and would this cause the City to lose control over the design and development of the project. Mr. Lyons stated that the developer may be more inclined then to build apartments versus owner-occupied subdivisions. Councilmember Clark stated she is not in favor of a blanket 4500 square-foot lot, and that, traditionally, the City has been against apartments and in favor of single family homes. Ms. Clark stated further that toaftow the 4500 square feet in an R-3 lot would encourage apartment buildings. ` impose Mayor Bruesch, for discussion purposes, stated that the P.D. gives the Commission and Council control over the individual units and overall design of a project. Councilmember Clark stated that in an R-2 zone, the Commission and Council will also lose the ability to have a final say and to work with the developer. By losing the extra unit, this may cause the developer to develop non-owner-occupied houses. Ms. Clark stated that she is in favor of keeping the P.D. as it is. . Councilmember Clark commented further that everyone should keep in mind that we are in favor of larger yards and evaluating each project on its own merit. Councilmember Imperial stated that he agrees with Councilmember Clark and that we are building "blight". Mr. Imperial explained that with a 10' or 12' backyard and three or four families living in a house, the garage and backyard will become filled and spill over into the front yards. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor commented that a solution needs to be worked out where there is breathable space. Chairman Lowrey stated that the P.D. is workable as is, and the problems are with the setbacks. Councilmember Clark asked if the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) needs to be discussed again, to determine whether it is stringent enough, as illustrated by Dolly Leong's project. Mr. Lyons responded that Ms. Leong's project meets the FAR requirements. Mayor Bruesch stated that if the lots are too large, then the homes will be larger and, thus, not be affordable. Mayor Pro Tern Taylor stated that this is happening now. The average four bedroom home is 2,000 square feet with a 12' backyard on an R-1 lot that has restrictions. A family with three or four children will have no where to play and yard areas will be cluttered. Councilmember Imperial commented that quality homes need to built with enough yard space. Mayor Bruesch inquired about the Regional Comprehensive Plan's projected housing potential for Rosemead and the legality of it. Mr. Lyons responded that a draft update of the Housing Element was completed last Spring. The State Housing Community Development agency said, informally and unofficially, that the plan was workable. Peter Wallin, City Attorney, pointed out that the City is required by law to adopt a Housing Element that states how the City is going to meet the housing needs as identified by the regional assessment. Mr. Wallin stated further that Rosemead's regional housing needs assessment is 42 units of very low income, 60 units of low income, 138 units of moderate income and 22 of high income. The Housing Element has to be very specific in identifying potential sites. Failure to do so can result in a freezing of all development in the City if a lawsuit is filed challenging the City's failure to adopt a Housing Element. CC 11-15-94 Page fit Councilmember Clark asked how can a developer be forced to build the various types of income housing. Mr. Wallin responded that all the barriers have to be identified. Mayor Pro Tern Taylor stated that all this conversation is contradictory to the housing requirement. The developers will see a PD in an R-3 zone and question the City's high density housing plan and the accusation would be that the City deliberately did this to stifle apartment development. Mr. Taylor stated further that he would like to see less bureaucracy involvement in Rosemead. Mr. Taylor also mentioned that it is not feasible to sell a $250,000 house with a 12' backyard and that the community and buyers are being shortchanged. The buyers have no choice but to buy a large house with a small backyard. Mayor Bruesch emphasized that quality development without increasing density is an ongoing concern. Mayor Bruesch stated that the question before the Commissioners and Council is if the P.D. remains as it is now, will that give them more control over density rather than adopting a P.D. with a 4500 square foot lot minimum. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor gave an example of large single family residences on lots varying in square footage from 6,000 to 4,500 to 3,000 square feet within a few blocks of each other and that the homes are basically selling for the same prices. Mayor Bruesch reiterated that the Council has the ultimate decision as to lot and yard size and that the P.D. is an additional tool for design standards. Commissioner Ortiz stated that the P.D. gives consistency and control in planning and organizing the developments but 90% of the developers want to build to the very limit of the property. Dolly Leong, 9554 Ralph Street, Rosemead, stated that she is in favor of the P.D. zone. Juan Nunez, 2702 Del Mar Avenue, Rosemead, stated that the P.D: zone needs to be clarified. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor stated that the community is being undermined by developing properties with no open spaces. After further discussion, a motion was called for by the Mayor. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM TAYLOR, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL that staff be to directed to maintain the current P.D. with 20' setbacks and to maintain as close as possible 4500 square foot lots. Vote resulted: Yes: Vasquez, Clark, Bruesch, Taylor, Imperial No: None Absent: None Abstain: None The Mayor declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Chairman Lowrey thanked the Council for calling the meeting. Councilman Imperial recommended thatthe Council and Commissioners meet every six months to ensure that communication remains open. CC 11-15-94 Page N3 II. MATTERS FROM OFFICIALS A. COUNCILMEMBER IMPERIAL 1. Stated that the parking in parking lots and businesses need to be remedied. Mr. Lyons stated that a ratio parking is being drafted. Mayor Bruesch agreed that regulations need to be tightened. Councilmember Imperial and Mayor Bruesch named several problem parking areas. B. MAYOR BRUESCH 1. Displayed the t-shirt for the kids Fishing Derby in January. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None IV. ADJOURNMENT There being no further action to be taken a his time, th ting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled 4r Novem, r 22, 1994, at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted: City Clerk ' CC 11-15-94 Page #4