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PC - Minutes - 10-21-19 Minutes of the PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING October 21,2019 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chair Eng at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE—Chair Eng INVOCATION—Commissioner Berry ROLL CALL—Commissioners Berry,Tang,Vuong,Vice-Chair Lopez and Chair Eng STAFF PRESENT: City Attorney Thuyen, Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim, Planning & Economic Development Manager Valenzuela, Associate Planner Lao, and Commission Secretary Lockwood. 1. EXPLANATION OF HEARING PROCEDURES AND APPEAL RIGHTS City Attorney Thuyen presented the procedure and appeal rights of the meeting. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE None 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. DESIGN REVIEW 19.06-Gia Nguyen has submitted an application for a Design Review to construct a new two-story, 3,504 square feet single-family dwelling unit, with an attached three-car garage. The granting of a Discretionary Site Plan and Design Review is required for any dwelling unit to be constructed that equals or exceeds two-thousand five-hundred (2,500)square feet of developed living area. The subject site is located at 9316 Steele Street (APN: 8594-007-018) in the Single-Family Residential (R-1)zone. PC RESOLUTION 19-11 - A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA,APPROVING DESIGN REVIEW 19- 06, PERMITTING A NEW TWO-STORY, 3,504 SQUARE FEET SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT, WITH AN ATTACHED THREE-CAR GARAGE. THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED AT 9316 STEELE STREET (APN: 8594-007-018), IN THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL(R-1)ZONE. STAFF RECOMMENDATION-It is recommended that the Planning Commission ADOPT Resolution No. 19-11 with findings(Exhibit"A"),and APPROVE Design Review 19-06,subject to the 37 conditions. Associate Planner Lao presented the staff report. Chair Eng asked the Planning Commission if there were any questions or comments for staff. Commissioner Tang asked how an applicant takes advantage of the additionalfive percent floor area and what elements are included in that. 1 Associate Planner Lao replied in order for an applicant to gain a five percent bonus FAR, they can do certain design incentives that would enhance the design of the home. She added in this case, the applicant is proposing to recess windows,keep mature trees,and use natural architectural materials such as stone or wood which enhances the design of the home. They are also using interlocking pavers, which breaks up the hardscape and this is applicable to all homes,so even if a Design Review is not applied for,they can request an increase. Commissioner Tang asked if an applicant wanted to incorporate only three of these items would they still qualify for a five percent FAR bonus or would it be just a ratio of five percent. Associate Planner Lao replied within the city code, each element has a percentage assigned to it, and all of this adds up to five percent. She added if they only wanted three then it would not add up to five percent. Chair Eng asked if the current standards require garages to be placed at the rear of the property, because this garage is located in the front of the property. Associate Planner Lao replied yes, the garage is located at the front of the property, but it is placed sideways, and it looks like part of the house and if you are facing the property, you will not see the garage door. She explained that there is an incentive if the garage is placed in the rear of the property and is not visible,which applicants can use. Chair Eng stated most of the homes are single-story in this neighborhood, but there are other two-story homes. She asked staff if information is available on what the square footage of those two-story homes are. Associate Planner Lao replied that staff conducted a site visit and there are ten two-story homes within the vicinity. She added they range from anywhere from 2,600 square feet to the largest one being 3,297 square feet. Chair Eng stated those were her questions and asked the Planning Commission if there were any further questions. None Chair Eng opened the Public Hearing and invited the applicant or representative to the podium. Eric Tsang, Designer for this project stated he is available for any questions the Planning Commission may have. Chair Eng welcomed Mr. Tsang and asked if this development will be owner-occupied. Eric Tsang replied yes, and stated the owner is also present. Chair Eng asked if the Planning Commission had any questions. , Vice-Chair Lopez commented that the design of the home is very nice. Commissioner Tang commented he agrees, it is nice, and his client must be happy with the design. Chair Eng commented she likes the Wok room and asked if there is anyone else wishing to speak on this item. None Chair Eng closed the Public Hearing. She asked the Planning Commission if there were any follow up questions or comments for staff. None 2 Chair Eng asked for a motion. Commissioner Tang made a motion, seconded by Vice-Chair Lopez, to ADOPT Resolution No. 19-11 with findings and APPROVE Design Review 19-06,subject to the 37 conditions. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Berry, Eng, Lopez,Tang,and Vuong Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: None Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim stated the motion passes with a vote of 5 Ayes and 0 Noes. He explained the 10-day appeal process and reminded the applicant to remove the onsite Public Hearing Notice. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR PC Minutes 9-16-19 Vice-Chair Lopez made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Vuong, to APPROVE PC Minutes 9-16-19 as presented. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Berry, Eng, Lopez,Tang, and Vuong No: None Abstain: None Absent: None Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim stated the motion passes with a vote of 5 Ayes and 0 Noes. 5. MATTERS FROM STAFF None 6. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIR&COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Vuong asked staff if there have been any changes on the RHNA numbers. Planning & Economic Development Manager Valenzuela replied yes, a Fourth Methodology has been put together, which combines all three proposed methodologies, and explained the numbers are now going from 2,000 to 4,000 to about 3,000. She added it has not been finalized and the Council will vote next year. She added recommendations are currently being made and will be voted on as it is a long process, but staff will know for sure by October 2020. Vice-Chair Lopez asked Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim for an update of the mixed-use shops on Garvey Avenue. He stated they are empty and asked if any businesses have expressed interest. 3 Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied that staff is working with the property owner with the uses on the property. He added the property owners are having difficulty filling in the vacancies and it is a combination of different factors. Vice-Chair Lopez stated the mixed-use units on Mission Drive were unoccupied for some time before they were filled, but eventually were occupied. He expressed concern that the current mixed-use projects are not getting tenants and asked if they should just be utilized for the housing aspect instead of retail. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied on one or two of the properties,the developers and property owners have considered that idea, but it is a little more complicated than just saying let's use it for residential. He added that the units were built for a specific purpose, so the construction aspect of it is not residential developed, but there is also zoning code elements like the density. He explained if the property is already maxed out in density, converting it into residential uses will further intensify that type of activity. He also said it is a complicated issue, but staff has been discussing this with the property owners, and the property owners are trying to do their best to fill those units. The City has also been marketing those properties as well. Vice-Chair Lopez stated it will be nice to get the units filled because the Planning Commission voted to approve this with the concept that tenants were ready to move in. He referred to Delta Avenue and Garvey Avenue and asked staff what the status of that corner project because it seems to be taking a long time. Planning &Economic Development Manager Valenzuela replied that the owner anticipates completing the project by the end of January 2020. Vice-Chair Lopez thanked staff and commented that it is very close to being completed. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim stated that is an example of where the city, staff, and the developer/property owner has been in contact in working with various issues. He added one of the issues was in the construction phase of it staff needed provide the property owner with more flexibility in terms of the inspection services, phasing the inspections, because this is a fairly decent size project. Vice-Chair Lopez thanked staff and asked if the Garvey/Delta Avenue project was also a mixed-use project. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied yes. Chair Eng asked if the current Municipal Code prohibits boarding homes or single-family homes renting out rooms. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied that last year City Council adopted the Short- Term Ordinance to address that issue. Chair Eng asked if that prohibits property owners from renting out individual rooms. Planning &Economic Development Manager Valenzuela replied it prohibits short-term rental. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim stated that a definition was added for a Boarding House too and with a permitted use list also. Chair Eng asked if that is not permitted. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied it is not permitted in the residential zone. 4 Chair Eng stated she has heard rumors that Redevelopment is coming back and asked staff if that is accurate or has it been discussed. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied there has been discussions throughout since redevelopment was removed about bringing some type of redevelopment back. He added about two years ago the CRIA and EIFD bonding, those two mechanisms were approved. He stated the Governor recently signed something or is in one of those process of one of those bonding mechanisms. It might have been the EIFD and one of them had a voter requirement to issue bonds and there is some level of discussion to bring redevelopment back. Chair Eng commented that they need too, especially if all these mandates are made on cities, because financially especially for the size of the City of Rosemead, we just don't have the resources to be able to do it on their own. She added she hopes they continue to develop that because it is a much-needed tool in terms of revitalization and housing issues. She stated her last item is that in regard to mixed-use developments and asked if the City/Building Division is experienced or has the skill base in terms of inspecting mixed-use developments, because they City has not had to many of them. Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Kim replied yes, they do, and explained the Building Inspectors go through certification processes and there are different levels of certifications (residential, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and commercial). He added the Building Division services is contracted out in full,so if there is a level of inspection that is required the company themselves would be able to tap into their resources. He stated the building official is also certified,carries a higher level of expertise of certifications,and he would step in and do the inspections that would require a greater level of experience and expertise. He explained for larger scaled projects, there are more special certification processes necessary such as if concrete, welding, and added there are a lot of different levels for inspections. Chair Eng thanked staff for the clarification and stated that was one of her concerns when moving forward with mixed- use developments because it does require a certain level of expertise. 7. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm The next regular Planning Commission meeting will be held on Monday, November 4,2019,at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers. Nancy Eng Chair ATT T: nn Rachel Lockwood Commission Secretary 5