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CC - 09-22-09 - PC & CC joint MeetingMinutes of the Joint CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING September 22, 2009 OFFICIALS PRESENT: Mayor Margaret Clark, Mayor Pro Tern Gary Taylor, Council Member Sandra Armenta, Council Member Polly Low, and Council Member Steven Ly. OFFICIALS PRESENT: Chairwoman Diana Herrera, Vice-Chairman William Alarcon, Commissioner Nancy Eng, Commissioner Joan Hunter and Commissioner Victor Ruiz OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Manager Allred, Assistant City Manager Hawkesworth, City Attorney Montes, Community Development Director Saeki, Director of Finance Brisco, Director of Parks and Recreation Montgomery-Scott, Economic Development Administrator Ramirez, Deputy Public Works Director Marcarello, and City Clerk Molleda. 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE None 2. GENERAL PLAN UPDATE STUDY Community Development Director Saeki introduced the Sub-committee that involved Mayor Clark, Council Member Low and staff. Principal Planner Bermejo presented a power point presentation with the Sub-committee's findings. Ms. Bermejo reviewed major topics discussed which included, what is Mixed Use Development, Sub-Committee's Analysis, Mixed-used benefits, Mixed-used concerns, Sub-Committee's recommendations and proposed amendments to the General Plan for the City. Brian Lewin - expressed concern on how the staff report stated, it projected approximately 61,700 people living in the city by 2025. Mr. Lewin stated that he projected about 80,000 people by 2025. Also, commended staff for the proposed height standards because he felt they are inappropriately too high under the current plan. Mayor Pro Tem Taylorasked about a wall at a 45 degree angle figure starting for a property line on page 13 of the presentation. Principal Planner Bermejo replied that the slide of the presentation on the figure was not reflecting the municipal code of the city but it provided an example of what a variable height would look like. Also, added that the City currently uses a 20 degree set back. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor stated that it would be a 6 ft wall at a 20 degree angle on a property. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2009 Page 1 of 4 Brian Lewin - suggested an idea to deal with parking issues by taking the current mixed-used standards and decreasing the square footage requirement resulting in additional parking spaces. Mayor Clark and Planning Commissioner Eng asked what the zoning designations from the nodes 1 through 4 shown on the map of the presentation. Principal Planner replied that they were all R2 zoning. Council Member Low stated that the zoning does not change even though the plan changes. Mayor Clark clarified that the current General Plan stated 45 units per acre, and the Sub-Committee is proposing 60. Ms Clark added that some of the areas, there are projects that are proposed or have already been approved but are not built yet, so the city cannot change the designation on some of them. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor asked for clarifications on page 2 of the staff under mixed used, there are three locations on the north and south side of Garvey Avenue between, Charlotte Avenue and Walnut Grove that is considered mixed-use. However, the map shows it as commercial and Willard Avenue would be the break off point. Community Development Director Saeki replied that the map was showing accurate. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor inquired about page 25 of the presentation. Garvey Avenue has 3 Y2 miles of business front, why a section in between the purple and pink, color is yellow as a residential area. Community Development Director Saeki replied that the yellow section is a mobile home park. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor asked if any zones were going to change in the zoning code. Community Development Director Saeki explained that zoning had not changed and that the presentation shows how the proposed amendment would change the land use designation; within a two year period, the city would have to bring the zoning code with conformity with the General Plan. Major Clark added that the yellow section acts as a buffer zone for the 60 units neighboring. Plus mobile home parks provide low income housing. Council Member Low stated that no zone change has happened for that mobile home park, it has remained the same. Planning Commissioner Alarcon agreed on Mr. Lewin's previous comments about the parking issues. Council Member Ly asked about the senior housing on Garvey Avenue, on what are the dwelling units on that location. Community Development Director Saeki stated that he was not sure about the exact number at the moment but assumed it was about 72 units. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2009 Page 2 of 4 Council Member Armenta commented that zoning had to be hand in hand with the General Plan to be able to work. Planning Commissioner Eng reiterated that parking is an issue that should be addressed as well as traffic congestion issues. Mayor Clark asked staff to research how other surrounding cities are dealing with parking and traffic congestion issues. Mayor Pro Tem Taylorasked if Mr. Lewin was talking about changing the square footage requirements on the commercial parking or the residential parking. Brian Lewin - stated it was mainly commercial parking requirements. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor stated that a developer could have three exceptions, such as parking exceptions and choose two other. Planning Commissioner Ruiz asked if the architect designs its development where either less commercial and more residential they would still meet those requirements. Council Member Low thanked Mr. Ly for appointing Mayor Clark and herself on the Sub-Committee. Ms. Low explained that it gave both of them an opportunity to work together and share their vision. Council MemberLythanked the Sub-Committee and staff for dealing with the General Plan issues. Mayor Clark proposed a field trip for Council and Planning Commissioners around the city to observe how the new proposed General Plan will fit the city. Council Member Low asked staff to see how other cities compare and operate in relation to development. Mayor Pro Tem Taylor reiterated that he had not received any compliments on the building on Mission and Rosemead Boulevard. Also, added that he was leery that a developer may come to the city and want to raise the heights of a project. City Attorney Montes stated that a developer would have to meet the requirements for the applicable percentage of affordable housing and then would have to seek as one of your variations the height. But as you will see when you move forward with this process and development standards are brought forward and if you are going to go that high you are going to need deviation on a lot of the city's standards and you are limited to three. Council Member Lowcommented that she had learned on the project on Mission and Rosemead Boulevard was that you need to put your project in the right place, not just because the location is on mixed-used designation it will work. Council Member Armenta stated that it was important to know that two people who had two different ideas can come together. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2009 Page 3 of 4 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled to take place on September 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Margaret Glgrk Mayor ATTEST: Gloria Molleda, City Clerk Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes of September 22, 2009 Page 4 of 4 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS. CITY OF ROSEMEAD ) I, Gloria Molleda, City Clerk for the City of Rosemead, do hereby certify that the minutes of the joint meeting for City Council and Planning Commission meeting of September 22, 2009 was duly and regularly approved by the Rosemead City Council on the 13th of October, 2009, by the following vote to wit: Yes: Armenta, Clark, Low, Ly, Taylor No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Gloria Molleda City Clerk