Loading...
PC - Minutes - 05-17-21Minutes of the PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING May 17, 2021 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chair Lopez at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Commissioner Tang INVOCATION — Commissioner Leung ROLL CALL — Commissioners Berry, Leung, Tang, and Chair Lopez STAFF PRESENT — City Attorney Thuyen, Chair Lopez, Director of Community Development Frausto-Lupo, Planning & Economic Development Manager Valenzuela, Assistant Planner Wong, and Commission Liaison Huang 1. EXPLANATION OF HEARING PROCEDURES AND APPEAL RIGHTS City Attorney Thuyen presented the procedure and appeal rights of the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS There being no comments, Chair Lopez opened and closed the Public Comment period. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. DESIGN REVIEW (DR) 20.09 — Dung Ly has submitted a Design Review application, requesting to construct a new two-story, 3,204 square foot single-family dwelling unit with an attached three -car garage at the rear of the lot with an existing single-family dwelling unit. 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 4314 Encinita Avenue (APN: 8592-013-048) in the Single -Family Residential (R-1) zone. PC RESOLUTION 21.05 - A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, APPROVING DESIGN REVIEW 20-09, PERMITTING A NEW, TWO-STORY, 3,204 SQUARE -FOOT SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT, WITH AN ATTACHED THREE - CAR GARAGE ON A LOT WITH AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNIT. THE SUBJECT SITE IS LOCATED AT 4314 ENCINITA AVENUE (APN: 8592-013-048), IN THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONE. STAFF RECOMMENDATION - It is recommended that the Planning Commission ADOPT Resolution No. 21-05 with findings and APPROVE Design Review 20-09, subject to the 27 conditions. Assistant Planner Wong presented the Staff Report. He recommended that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 21-05 with findings and approve Design Review 20-09, subject to the 27 conditions. Assistant Planner Wong noted the following two typos in the Staff Report: 1. On Sheet A-2, the square footage is incorrectly identified as 3,327 sq ft. The correct square footage is 3,204 sq ft. 2. The powder room on the first -floor plan is labeled incorrectly on Sheet A-1, it should be labeled as a bathroom. He added, on May 17th, 2021, staff received a public comment concerning the existing single-family dwelling unit and that it Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2029 Page 1 of 4 has been converted into a duplex. Staff contacted the property owner to inquire if the existing single-family dwelling unit was subdivided. Per the property owner, it was not. Since the owner was unable to coordinate an inspection today due to tenant notification, staff has inputted a CRM (Citizen Request Management) request with the Code Enforcement Division to investigate the public comment. Chair Lopez opened the Public Hearing, Commissioner Tang asked staff if the existing building is being demolished and if new construction will be built Assistant Planner Wong responded no, the single-family home in the front is proposed to remain the same. The applicant would be building a new single-family dwelling in addition to the existing property. Commissioner Tang referenced the first floor of the site plan, commented that it was a bit odd to place a bedroom in the dining and kitchen area. He addressed his concern on how its drawn out; the garage is being tucked inside, and the bedroom looks like an outlier on the first floor. He asked if this is the way the applicant wanted the design and if the Commission can provide feedback to them on the flow of the floor plan. Assistant Planner Wong explained that he had discussed the project with the designer, and he can elaborate more in terms of the layout. He stated the bedroom does have a connection to the side door of the single-family dwelling. Commissioner Tang said he thought it was odd that it was designed that way and deferred his question to the designer Chair Lopez questioned what a great room was Assistant Planner Wong responded that the great room is typically involved as a supplemental common area such as a den or a family room. There being no further questions from the Commissioners, Chair Lopez welcomed the designer to speak. Designer Ricardo Maciel explained the reason one bedroom was added in that location on the first floor is for a resident that has trouble using the stairs, so they can have easier access to a bedroom downstairs. He added, if someone needs to use a wheelchair as they get older, it is always good to have a bedroom downstairs. He stated he has completed two-story home projects where they have converted part of the living room into a bedroom. In this case, Mr. Maciel incorporated a design with a bedroom there, so they do not need to make such changes in the future. Commissioner Tang stated he was not completely satisfied with the answer and noted his parent's two-story house has a bedroom downstairs, but it flows nicely on the first floor the way it was designed; whereas this seems a bedroom was added wherever space was available. Mr. Maciel stated it was ideal to place the bedroom in the back corner behind the garage. He added that they do not want the room near other living areas such as the kitchen or in the front next to the entrance, but rather have it tucked behind. They will still have easy access to the backyard and the side. Commissioner Tang stated it feels a little off, but if this is what the applicant desires, then it is okay. There being no further questions, Chair Lopez closed the Public Hearing and opened the Public Comment period. Director of Community Development Frausto-Lupo read the following public comment received via email from Larry Bivins: Subject: Corrections to NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, paragraph 2 (CASE NO.: DESIGN REVIEW (DR) 20-09) Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2021 Page 2 of 4 Within the description in the 2nd paragraph, here lies the error: quote..." on a lot with an existing single-family dwelling unit." This is the error made in the NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: That single-family dwelling unit at 4314 Encinita Avenue is now two units in one: an apartment in the front part of the unit and another apartment in the back part of the unit. The single-family dwelling unit has been converted from a single-family dwelling unit into two conjoined units for more than a year, which begs the question: how many apartment units will the proposed 3,204 square foot structure be converted into — 2 or 3 or 4? Respectfully submitted, Larry Bivins, Rosemead Director of Community Development Frausto-Lupo stated Mr. Bivins submitted a second email, but the content was the same. Commissioner Tang asked if both units will be owner occupied? He noted that staff inquired on inspecting the existing house, however, due to tenancy notification, staff was unable to conduct the visit. Assistant Planner Wong replied that is correct. The front unit is occupied by a tenant and per the discussion he had with the designer, the rear unit will be occupied by the property owner. Chair Lopez added that the question about the bedroom was answered which makes a little more sense as far as the location of it; it could be questionable, but it does not mean its anything other than a downstairs bedroom. He stated he is more concerned about the front house; if they made it into a duplex, then it raises the question what they would do to the back house. He also added that he wished an inspection was already completed, so that part could have been ironed out. Commissioner Berry stated even if that is the case, Code Enforcement will address that issue and ensure proper compliance is taken care of. ACTION: Chair Lopez made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Berry, to: ADOPT Resolution No. 21-05 with findings and APPROVE Design Review 20-09, subject to the 27 conditions. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Berry, Leung, Lopez, and Tang Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: None Roll call vote resulted in 4 Ayes and 0 Noes. Director of Community Development Frausto-Lupo explained the 10 -day appeal process. CONSENT CALENDAR A. PC MINUTES 04-05-21 Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2021 Page 3 of 4 Commissioner Berry made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tang, to approve PC Minutes 04-05-21 as presented. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Berry, Leung, Lopez, and Tang Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: None Roll call vote resulted in 4 Ayes and 0 Noes. MATTERS FROM STAFF Director of Community Development Frausto-Lupo reminded Commissioners the next Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2021. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIR & COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Tang thanked staff for a well-written minutes for the month of April. Commission Liaison Huang said thank you. Commissioner Berry added he hopes everything will be back to normal soon. ADJOURNMENT Chair Lopez adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. ATTEST: /J Angelica Fr usto-Lupo Commission Secretary Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of May 17, 2021 Page 4 of 4 Daniel Lopez Chair