Loading...
PC - 02-04-08CITY OF ROSEMEAD PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 4, 2008 CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the City of Rosemead Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Lopez at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Rosemead City Hall at 8838 East Valley Boulevard, Rosemead. Chairman Lopez led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Lopez delivered the invocation. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Bevington, Cam, and Vuu, Vice - Chairman Kunioka, and Chairman Lopez ABSENT: None EX OFFICIO: Everling, Gonzalez, and Yin EXPLANATION OF HEARING PROCEDURES AND APPEAL RIGHTS: City Attorney Yin explained the public hearing process and the right to appeal Planning Commission decisions to the City Council. 2, PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Jim Flournoy residing at 8655 Landis View Lane stated that most of the Planning Commissioners received copies of the Engineering Geology Review that Tania Gonzalez did for the city. Mr. Flournoy said the three projects currently under construction have the Planning Commission's interest because they are all under Conditions of Approval. He stated what Tania did was only the first half of the review; she did the engineering geology final. He said what she did is the bare minimum of what needs to be done. He stated it then goes to a geotechnical engineer to make sure that the liquefaction calculations are done properly. Mr. Flournoy continued to say two of the projects are so bad that no one can review them because there's nothing there to review. He said a lot of people didn't want this to stop and they need response. So far there has been no response, he said. The response is required if we are going to meet the minimum state law. He stated the city cannot waive the requirements; they need to be complied with and at this point, some people don't understand that. I am more confident with projects that have been approved, several which have been done recently with this Planning Commission, he said. Because the city was notified that there were problems back in July and they did nothing about it. He stated it's going to play out a little more. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting: February 4, 2008 Page 1 of 7 City Planner Everling stated that they held a meeting today which he, Mr. Flournoy, Assistant City Manager Brian Saeki, Jim Guerra, the City's Building Official, and a representative of the Arroyo Group attended. He stated they discussed issues that came up with these projects. He stated the city is involved in fixing the problem. Mr. Flournoy stated they just want it to go away without addressing the issues. City Planner Everling said they are going to have Jim Guerra send these responses from Tania at Earth Consultants International and their recommendations to project owners and ask them to reply. Mr. Flournoy stated that's what was decided, but it's not what some people wanted to do. City Planner Everling stated right, but that's what, as a group, we've decided was the next step. Chairman Lopez questioned how to go back on projects are already done. He questioned City Attorney Yin about the rights they have? He also stated he did not want to interrupt projects that have been approved and asked how we can stop them. City Attorney Yin stated that he did not want to commit to anything. He stated if we need to do something drastic we'll have to discuss it. City Planner Everting stated one of the issues they talked about was if one of these projects were non - compliant, they would have to go back just to complete a liquefaction report. He said after making these projects do their liquefaction reports, then they would look at making actual structural changes to the projects that are currently under construction, even though it might be expensive. He continued stating that it would be better while they're under construction as opposed to being finished and having to go back in. Mr. Flournoy stated the rules for granting a building permit does not authorize the violation of any law. He stated the court says this can't be waived which allows the liability to go on forever. He said that if 10 years from now the property owner needs a report for their insurance, if it can't be produced, then the owner is liable. He clarified that he was not an insurance agent, but said the city should be careful. He said there is a lot of progress with projects that are being done, but that some that have been built need to be fixed. Chairman Lopez said they are looking into this matter. Mr. Flournoy then expressed how pleased he was with the ongoing progress. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting. February 4, 2008 Page 2 of 7 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. T entative Parcel Map 068773 — 4800 Delta Avenue and 8417 Mission Drive Presentation: City Planner Matt Everling Staff Recommendation: APPROVE Tentative Parcel Map for two (2) years and ADOPT Resolution 08 -03, subject to the conditions outlined in Exhibit "B ". City Planner Matt Everling made his presentation for Tentative Parcel Map 069924, and stated representative Matthew Flake was available for questions. Matthew Flake residing at 1329 Walling Avenue, Brea, CA 92821, stated City Planner Everling summed the proposal up nicely and if there were any other questions he would answer them. Vice - Chairman Kunioka stated the proposal seems so straight forward and was wondering if there was something they were missing. City Planner Everling stated he doesn't think they're missing anything. He stated the infrastructure and zoning are in place and the General Plan Land Use Designation was approved in 2006. He stated the zoning designation is Planned Development. Vice - Chairman Kunioka questioned if the Zoning or General Plan was being changed. City Planner Everling stated under the Subdivision Map Act, it's considered a reversion to acreage and is exempt under CEQA so there isn't a need for any Environmental Review. He said it's categorically exempt. Commissioner Bevington stated this should have been done long ago. Mr. Flake stated he was surprised to learn there were twenty -seven (27) separate parcels. Chairman Lopez opened the public hearing to those IN FAVOR of this application: None. Chairman Lopez opened the public hearing to those who wished to OPPOSE the application. None. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting: February 4, 2008 Page 3 of 7 Chairman Lopez asked if anyone else would like to speak. None. Chairman Lopez closed the public hearing to the public and opened the public hearing to the Commissioners. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BEVINGTON, SECONDED BY VICE - CHAIRMAN KUNIOKA TO APPROVE TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 069924. Vote results: YES: BEVINGTON, CAM, KUNIOKA, LOPEZ AND VUU NO: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE Lopez declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR — These items are considered to be routine actions that may be considered in one motion by the Planning Commission. Any interested party may request an item from the consent calendar to be discussed separately. A. A pproval of Minutes — January 23, 2008 Chairman Lopez asked for a motion for approval of the other items on the Consent Calendar. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER VUU TO WAIVE CONSENT CALENDAR. BEVINGTON, SECONDED BY FURTHER READING AND ADOPT Vote results: YES: BEVINGTON, CAM, LOPEZ, AND VUU NO: NONE ABSENT: NONE ABSTAIN: VICE - CHAIRMAN KUNIOKA Chairman Lopez declared said motion duly carried and so ordered. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting: February 4, 2008 Page 4 of 7 5. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN & COMMISSIONERS Chairman Lopez questioned if Cal Trans had been contacted to clean up all the area along the freeway. City Planner Everling stated he contacted Joanne Itagaki, the City's Traffic Engineer, and was waiting for a response from her. Chairman Lopez stated along the fence, there is trash. City Planner Everling stated there's a city entrance sign with graffiti on it. Chairman Lopez stated that we need to get that cleaned up. Vice - Chairman Kunioka questioned about a meeting dealing with a school. He stated that residents had commented on trucks idling along Earle Avenue. Chairman Lopez stated correct. It was regarding the Daycare Center along Earle Avenue. City Planner Everling stated it was on our last agenda. He said he met with Don Anderson from our Public Safety Department and they're looking into that. Chairman Lopez mentioned Cal Poultry on Garvey Avenue. City Planner Everling stated on the issue with Cal Poultry, they're discussing sending a unit out to issue tickets to people who are double parked in the street. He stated he did some research and he believes the City is in a process of amortizing Cal Poultry. He continued stating that eventually in time, they'd eliminate that business from the city because it's too intense of a use to be where it's located. Vice - Chairman Kunioka questioned if Cal Poultry was the chicken farm. City Planner Everling stated Don Anderson is well aware of the problem. Vice - Chairman Kunioka questioned about any new developments for Wal- Mart's Conditions of Approval. City Planner Everling stated it's in review. He said there is an issue with Conditions of Approval 41 that deals with a flashing yellow beacon. He continued stating he knows the Traffic Commission made a request for that beacon to be placed although the Traffic Study didn't warrant that. He said that item is going to be presented at a future City Council Meeting and that the city will have to pay for it. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting.: February 4, 2008 Page 5 of 7 Commissioner Bevington stated he doesn't care if the Traffic Commission wants it or does not want it; it is a condition. He stated he doesn't see any way that this should be presented to City Council. He continued stating, if we want it, it's our Traffic Study, and the city has to pay for it. Wal -Mart is subject to a lot of conditions, he said, and this is one of them and they shall do this. He stated at some time a Traffic Engineer said it should be done. He said a lot of people are going to war on that one. Vice - Chairman Kunioka stated he understands money had to be put in escrow that is just sitting there which can't be spent for anything else other than traffic beacons and lights. He also questioned if there was any consideration to knock compressor noise away from the neighboring condominiums across the street. City Planner Everling stated he thinks they should do it. Commissioner Bevington stated he signed up for the UCLA Planning Commission Training. He expressed how pleased he was with this experience. He stated there was a total of four speakers. The first speaker discussed traffic and how areas should get together and synchronize their signals. He said looking at the General Plan, in about 10 years almost every street will be operated at F level. He stated the second speaker discussed parking and how it's designed. He said they talked on the theory that people should walk more. The third speaker presented on how to make sidewalks more pedestrian friendly and attractive, he said. Also, they discussed traffic signal coordinating and the whole works on where to make your sidewalk theories more attractive, he stated. The fourth speaker discussed the idea of a "Green" community. He stated the whole idea is how nice it would be to "green" the outside atmosphere. The speaker stated that so much time is spent in enclosures such as home and the work place, that there are several groups that set out programs where grants are available to promote this idea. He continued to state that it was a very worth while meeting. Chairman Lopez stated there are two meetings a year. He said they are really informative meetings, dealing with things in our community. He gave an example stating the product of widening a street will allow traffic flow, but once people figure out there's another route, within a year and a half, there will be twice the congestion as before. He then questioned how real this will be for the City of Rosemead. If you get a chance then go to these meetings he said. The two highlights, he stated, were the "Green Effect" and synchronizing traffic signals. He stated that modernization of cities like Old Towne Pasadena and Santa Monica came by using parking meter revenue to help revamp these cities. Some cities like Calabasas, he stated, have structures outside the city for buses and trolleys to bring people into the city to make it a more "walk- able" city. He also said expos are important and that there's not one city that doesn't have the same problems Rosemead has. He finished by stating that everyone is looking at their General Plan, the way it was, and how to modify it. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting: February 4, 2008 Page 6 of 7 6. MATTERS FROM THE PLANNING SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF City Planner Everling stated he's in the process of setting things up for the 2008 Mini Expo in Sacramento at the end of March, and asked if any of the Commissioners were willing to attend'. The Planning Commissioners expressed their interest. Attorney Yin stated he would advise the Planning Commissioners to take a look at the City's Reimbursement Policy. He then questioned what day the next Planning Commission Meeting would be held on since the next meeting date was on President's Day. Commissioner Vuu stated he will be absent for the next Planning Commission Meeting because he will be out of the country on vacation. 7. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Lopez adjourned the Planning Commission Meeting at 7:39 p.m. MOTION BY VICE - CHAIRMAN KUNIOKA, SECONDED BY CHAIRMAN LOPEZ to ADJOURN UNTIL THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. M E /AG Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting: February 4, 2008 Page 7 of 7