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CC - Minutes 11-09-10 - SpecialMinutes of the Joint City Council and Planning Commission Special Meeting November 9, 2010 The special joint meeting of the Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission was called to order by Mayor Taylor at 5:04 p.m. in the Rosemead City Council Chamber located at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California. OFFICIALS PRESENT: Mayor Taylor, Mayor Pro Tern Ly, Council Members Armenta, Clark, and Low. OFFICIALS PRESENT: Chairman Alarcon, Vice - Chairwoman Eng, Commissioners Herrera, Hunter and Ruiz OFFICIALS PRESENT: City Manager Allred, City Attorney Richman, Assistant City Manager Hawkesworth, Community Development Director Wong, Director of Finance Brisco, Director of Parks and Recreation Montgomery- Scott, Economic Development Manager Ramirez, Public Works Director Marcarello, and City Clerk Molleda. 1. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None 2. ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE WORKSHOP Principal Planner Bermejo reviewed the staff report. Roger Mobley - Vice - president of Civic Solutions gave a powerpoint presentation which addresses the Zoning Ordinance, General Plan, Draft Housing Elements, and State and Fedaral Laws. He stated that Civic Solutions reviewed the existing Zone Ordinance and found that somethings were lacking or needed to be included, such as the feasibility to find information. Mr. Mobley stated that there were no logical patterns, page numbers, table of contents, graphics or diagrams summarizing information quicker. Also, the Zone Ordinance needed a clear review development process, there is a design ovelay section that is not clear and the updated zone will give the City control over the development that reflects what the community is looking for. Mr. Mobley stated that provisions that are to be added will have more contemporary planning and in addition there are twenty implementations measures mentioned in the General Plan which needs to relate to the Zone Ordinance to provide directions for changing or updating issues like mixed used industrial commercial designations, R -2 and R -3 zones that need to reflect the General Plan. He mentioned that the City expressed interest in adopting green building guidelines or standards that deal with energy efficiency, recycled materials, and water efficiency. Also, Mr. Mobley talked about housing elements with specific directions to be included in the zone ordinance per State and Federal Law that deals with special needs housing, single occupancy, affordable housing and senior housing. City Manager Allred asked Mr. Mobley if a Design Review Committee would be incorporated in the zoning code. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Special.loint Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010 Page I of 5 I Mr. Mobley - replied Civic Solutions would like to define a design review process, and suggested an informal in house committee could review that process. City Attorney Richman clarified that the meeting was not a public hearig but a study session inwhich any public comment would be taken prior to there being a decision by City Council. Juan Nunez - asked about single room occupancy units and what requirements have to be met when people have trouble with the law. Mr. Mobley - replied that there are no provisions specifically addressing single room occupancy in the zone ordinance. City Manager Allred suggested that single room occupancy is something the City should look at when approximately 22,000 prisoners are being released from prisons. Mr. Nunez - asked who would be responsible to bring up to code a home that is rented. City Attornery Richman explained that to bring up to code a home it would apply to certain number of units, such as four units and would not affect a single family unit. Mr. Mobley - stated that reasonable accomodation requirements applies anywhere a person with disabilities might be denied access when renting a property. He mentioned the City needs to set a process which allows somebody to apply or ask for reasonable accomadations and the draft housing element needs to address that issue. Brian Lewin — suggested that City Council establish guidelines for bathroom versus bedroom ratio. He stated that a recent project approved on Ramona Avenue will likely become a boarding house and will encourage transient occupancy in residential zones. Also, he asked City Council to consider increasing levels of parking requirements for uses within mixed used projects versus outside mixed used projects to prevent residential spill over. Mr. Lewin spoke about the hazardous material generating from auto maintenance shops along Valley Boulevard and Garvey Avenue and suggested City Council to look into his concerns. He also added that updating the zoning ordinance will address non - conforming issues and recommended Council to consider a provision for non - conforming businesses to make modifications under non - conforming guidelines to grant specific permission for specific modifications to be in compliance. Daniel Garcia — expressed concern with the updated zoning code regarding disability issues. Mayor Taylor explained that the requirements for disabilities called for four units or over in a lot to follow a different regulation for ADA (Americans with Disability Act). He asked Mr. Garcia if he had received any complaints for Rosemead residents. Mr. Taylor stated that staff has tried to do everything they can to help residents needs. Mr. Garcia - asked if the city has issued any letters to residents about forming a committee. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010 Page 2 of 5 Mayor Taylor explained it is a routine matter with County Agencies and State Agencies and asked staff if the City offers information at the Community Centers. City Manager Allred confirmed the City has an ADA compliance policy inplace that is required by law; however, there are no regulations that require the City to have a commission or an advisory board in place. City Attorney Richman stated the discussion should only be what is on the agenda. City Manager Allred explained to Mr. Garcia that the presentation addressed zoning updates and updated provisions on disability. Council Member Clark asked for staff to conduct a survey of surrounding cities regarding the issue of mansionazation and address units per acre on their floor area ratio to see if the City of Rosemead is compatible. She also commented on the idea of a Desing Review Committee because it will ensure a project will fit the neighborhood and the City can mitigate the process. City Manager Allred stated that staff recently reinstated a Desing Review Committee because it was inactive for a number of years. Council Member Clark excusd herself from the meeting at 5:51 p.m Mayor Pro Tem Ly asked for two things to be addressed on the updated zone ordinance. First, the retention or expansion of professional office space. He explained that America is becoming a service type industry and hopes that Rosemead is competitive in offering development to create more jobs. Secondly, Mr. Ly inquired about the home based businesses and how it will be defined in the updated zoning ordinance. Council Member Armenia stated she received an anonymous letter from a resident addressing concerns about flag lot creation which will put more people to live on one lot and impacts on neighborhood density and parking. Planning Commissioner Ruiz stated that the Planning Commission addressed the same issues and another resident expressed concern with parking. Mr. Ruiz explained the current code states a property cannot be divided but the person has to be allowed when they have followed all laws and regulations. Planning Commissioner Eng stated that updating the zoning code would preserve the family oriented community and it should have flexability and be conductive towards seniors. Mrs. Eng commented on Mr. Mobley's presentation that the new code is more organizational and administrative and suggested technology be incorporated in the development process. Council Member Low stated she had received comments from businesses expressing concern because the current zoning code does not make sense, directions are not clear, and the process is convoluted. Mrs. Low suggested the City provide a list on what is expected from applicants as well as making the code consistent to be more business and resident friendly. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes ofNovemher 9, 2010 Page ,3 of 5 Mayor Taylor recessed the specialjoint meeting at 6:01 p.m. to open and receses the Community Development Commission and City Council regularjoint meeting. Mayor Taylor recovened the City Council and Planning Commission special joint meeitng at 6:02 p.m. Mayor Taylor stated in regards to home businesses, that Council is protecting the low density, R -1 and R -2 zones. He reiterated that when residential offices are established, parking becomes an issue due to an increase of cars driving by. Mr. Taylor stated that on Valley Boulevard, Temple City Boulevard, Las Tunas Boulevard and in Arcadia there are a number of buildings for lease which is indicative of the economy. Mayor Pro Tem Ly agreed with Mr. Taylor and added that is why Council should look into the home base business issue. He stated that the home base business issue should be included in the City's Municipal Code to better regulate it. Mr. Ly added the City consistently protects the quality of life of the community and that is why Council has fought mixed use projects and considering flag lots. He asked staff to look into the housing issue when updating the zoning code. Mayor Taylor asked staff to look into the mixed use project on Mission Drive and Rosemead Boulevard on the southwest comer. The commercial ground floor and condo type use development has been there for approximately three years and asked for a report on why it's not succeeding. Mayor Pro Tem Ly commented that Council is working on the downtown project, however the Planning Department's priority at the moment was the General Plan Amendment and now is the Zoning Ordinance update. He assured that soon Council and staff will start discussing the downtown project to be more conclusive to families and residents. Council Member Armenta asked if staff will incorporate the downtown area issue into the Zoning Ordinance update. Principal Planner Bermejo replied that staff was finalizing the draft documents and was in the process of implementing both the standards and development standards for the downtown; it will take place concurrently with the zoning code update. Mrs. Bermejo added that the timeline would be based on feed back from the Planning Commission and City Council. Once a draft document is produced, there will be a future study session for comments and additional feedback from both Planning Commission and City Council before adopting the zoning code. Mayor Taylor asked when the draft review would be scheduled for Principal Planner Bermejo replied staff was looking to debut the draft document in February Mayor Taylor commented there are primarily three mixed use areas on Temple City Boulevard and Valley Boulevard on the northeast corner, also on Walnut Grove and Valley Boulevard on the southeast corner. Principal Planner Bermejo stated the mixed use areas were on Temple City and Valley, the downtown civic central area, east end of Garvey Avenue and River, and west of Walnut Grove and Garvey Avenue east of the Edison right -of -way. Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Special Joint Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010 Page 4 of 5 Mayor Taylor asked if both sides were the right -away or just east of it Principal Planner Bermejo replied it's on both sides of Garvey Avenue to the north end just east of the Edison right -of way. Mayor Taylor suggested that area could be a trial area to have mixed use with higher densisty and reiterated that he did not want to have a design overlay. Principal Planner Bermejo stated that the mixed use residential commercial topic would not be touched while updating the zoning code; staff is proposing to focus on sections of the code. Mayor Taylor asked if the entire zoning code was going to be update. Principal Planner Bermejo replied the General Plan designated the nodes and in May the City Council adopted mixed use regulations that are currently in effect. Planning Commissioner Eng stated that staff should be directed to prepare a draft and Planning Commission and City Council should discuss the development issues. City Manager Allred stated the feedback has been helpful and will provide guidance for the draft. Planning Commissioner Ruiz expressed concern that a neighbor mention that if there is a mixed use unit, the concern would be the height. He added that the adjacent lots should not exceed certain amount of feet because of privacy issues. 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6:14 p.m. and reconvened back to the Community Development Commission and City Council joint meeting at 6:14 p.m. i LM�M Coup 2A • / ATTEST: Gloria Molleda City Clerk Rosemead City Council and Planning Commission Special.7oint Meeting Minutes of November 9, 2010 Page 5 of 5 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 special minutes of November 9, 2010, were duly and regularly approved and adopted by the Rosemead City Council on the 8t' of February 2010, by the following vote to wit: Yes: Armenta,Clark, Low, Ly, Taylor No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Gloria Molleda -City Clerk -