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Home My WebLink About1952-10-06MINUTES HUNTINGTON BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION Council Chamber, City Hall Huntington Beach, California Monday, October 6, 1952 Chairman Schryer called the meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Huntington Beach to order at 1:30 o'clock P.M. Commissioners present: Schryer, Pyles, Davis, Stang, Kettler Commissioners absent: Hinshaw, Tunis Others present: City Attorney Bauer, City Engineer Overmyer, City Clerk Henricksen Public Chairman Schryer announced that this was the Hearing hour the Planning Commission was called to meet in order to hold a public hearing on a petition for con- ditional exception and requested the Secretary to read the legal notice of public hearing. Variance- The Secretary read the legal notice of public Or.Co. hearing published in the Huntington Beach News Sep - Ceramic tember 25, 1952, relative to the City Manning Com- Tile Mfg. mission holding a public hearing at the hour of 1:30 Co. o'clock P.M. on the 6th day of October, 1952, for the purpose of considering a -petition for conditional exception to regulations of the districting ordinance to permit an addition to and improvement of existing facilities, improvements to be constructed on Lots 25 and 26, Block 602, Vista Del Mar, Knoll Section, City of Huntington. Beach, and that all interested persons are invited to attend said hearing to express their opinions for or against granting the proposed condi- tional exception. The Secretary reported that postcard notices were mailed to the owners in the immediate vicinity of the location upon which the improvements are con- templated to be made. The Secretary also read a petition signed by property owners living in the immediate vicinity of the proposed improvement opposing any expansion or building on to the Orange County Ceramic Tile Yianu- facturing Company at the corner of Alabama and Frank- fort Streets and said petition signed by 27 property owners. Chairman Schryer asked if there was anyone in the audience that wished to express their opinion in regards to the hearing on the petition for conditional exception as read by the Secretary. The following property owners appeared before the Planning Commission and opposed the improvements requested by the Orange County Ceramic Tile Manufac- turing Company at 201 Frankfort Street, Huntington Beach, and presented the following objections: 1. That a variance had been given upon a property that had a frame building on it prior to the zoning ordinance being adopted in the City of Huntington Beach, and that during World War III expansion was permitted. 0 Page #2. Minutes - Oct. 6, 1952 C 2. A variance was given to Orange County Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Company to expand the plant for manufacturing ceramic tile. 3. The original operations of the Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Company presented many hazards, such as loose tile and manufacturing debris left in the alley and noises from a compressor setting in the open. 4. Many complaints were made and no cor- rections or improvements made by the plant management. 5. Much white dust created and deposited on properties in the adjacent vicinity. 6. Loading and unloading from the plant obstruct the traffic in the streets and cars are parked in front of property owners adjacent to the plant, permitting no space for property owners to park their own cars. 7. Due to the ceramic tile manufacturing operations property will depreciate in the area. 8. Adjacent property owners would rather see the present vacant lots, that con- templated improvement is to be made on, be kept for parking purposes. Property owners that appeared before the Planning Commission and opposed the expansion as follows: Frank C. Marter Benjamin Minger Eader Bender William Lewis Frances Bender Mrs. C. L. Hawes Mrs. Albert Watkins Mr. W. S. Duff appeared before the Planning Commission and stated that he has known the nature of the operation in the present building for nine years, and that many improvements have been made and most of the objectionable features as reported by those opposing the application have been corrected and that he lives only 200 feet away from the present plant and that the expansion planned will be an improvement and provide work for many local people, and as a prop- erty owner has no objections to the expansion of the plant. C. B. Sturgeon, President of the Orange County Ceramic Manufacturing Company, appeared before the Planning Commission and stated that he has not realized that the plant has been such a detriment in accordance with the people addressing the Com- missioners and to alleviate all doubt in the minds of the Commissioners invited the Board to come to the plant and check into all of the objections that were presented. The Secretary read the following communica- tion filed by D. G..Higgins, Fire Chief: "Unless certain changes listed below are made within the present plant of the 1 LI • 11 • 0 Page #3. Minutes - Uct.6, 1952 Orange County Tile Company to alleviate the present fire hazard and unless the proposed addition to the plant is constructed and placed in operation to the complete satis- faction of this department I hereby request the allowance of a variance to enlarge the plant at 201 Frankfort Street be denied." 1. Remove the drying room from the west side of the kilns. Allow 4 feet clearance from kilns to any flammable surfaces. 2. Cover the drying room easterly of the kilns with fire resistive materials. 3. Remove the cockloft in the new section of the present plant. 4. No kilns to be installed in the pro - Dosed new addition. 5. Install at least a one hour wall between the present kiln room and the storage and office rooms. 6. Cut down the size of openirig between sections of the plant and install metal fire doors. 7. Enlarge all aisleways in the building to a minimum of 3 feet. 8. No stock or material to be stored within 3 feet of the ceilings. 9. All future work to be done in accordance with the building code and good fire safety practices. • 1 • Commissioner Davis asked about the changes as listed in the Fire Chief's letter. Fire Chief Higgins appeared before the Com- missioners and explained the present problems at the plant and stated that they have complied with all the laws and not violating any laws, although there are numerous desirable changes that he has recommended in the plant and their present manufacturing setup do not have the space to make these desirable changes and that the expansion will allow them to have a better fire protection and regulation as required by the present City fire regulations. Fire Chief Higgins also requested that the Commissioners give serious consideration, for inclusion, that if a request be recommended for approval to the City Council that it be subject to the requirements as outlined in the letter read by the Secretary. William Gallienne, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the Commission and stated that the Chamber of Commerce has been criticized to a great degree because of the lack of other types of small industry other than the oil industry in the City of Huntington Beach, and this type of manufacturing and plant that the Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Company is carrying on is a most desirable one and affords a gread deal of employment to local people and results in a large payroll that is very desirable. 0 Page A. Minutes - Oct. 6, 1952 There being no further discussion forthcoming in regards to the application for conditional exception by the Orange County Ceramic Tile Manufacturing Com- pany, -Chairman Schryer declared the hearing closed. There being no further business the Planning Commission of the -City of Huntington Beach adjourned until 1:00 ofclock P.M. Friday, October 10, 1952. W. L . S CH ER Chairm n N L. HENRICKSEN Secretary �L • 1 • 1 CI 0