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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-10-05APPROVED 10-19-76 MINUTES HUNTINGTON BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION Council Chambers, Civic Center Huntington Beach, California TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1976 - 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Parkinson, Finley, Slates, Boyle, Shea Commissioner Gibson arrived at 7:30 P.M.. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Newman had an excused absence. NOTE: A TAPE RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS ON FILE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OFFICE. CONSENT CALENDAR: ON MOTION BY PARKINSON AND SECOND BY FINLEY THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1976, WERE APPROVED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Parkinson, Finley, Slates, Shea, Boyle NOES: None ABSENT: Gibson, Newman ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None SCHEDULED ITEMS: ZONE CHANGE NO. 76-21 Applicant: Ronald Montgomery Zone Change No. 76-21 is a request for a change of zone on an approxi— mate 3/4 acre site located on the southeast corner of Warner Avenue and Leslie Drive. The request is for low density residential zoning (R-1) . John Cope stated that he had nothing to add to the information con- tained in the staff report. There was a discussion on the area which this zone change encompassed. The public hearing was opened. As there was no one present to -speak on this application, the Chairman closed the public hearing. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Shea inquired if the applicant was aware of the odor presently existing in the area. John Cope stated that the applicant was aware of it and was having a soils analysis made. Mr. Cope further stated that,the applicant was also aware that the area was a sensitive archaeological site. ON MOTION BY BOYLE AND SECOND BY PARKINSON ZONE CHANGE NO. 76-21 WAS APPROVED WITH THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, October 5, 1976 Page 2 1. The subject site is designated Land Use Element of the Genera residential -planned development designation. as low density residential on the Plan and the proposed low density zoning is consistent with such a 2. The subject site is oriented onto a major arterial highway which produces access problems, and contains topographic features which result in building design constraints. The "Planned Development" suffix will allow -for development flexibilities necessary to offset such deficiencies. AYES: Parkinson, Finley, Slates, Shea, Boyle NOES: None ABSENT: Gibson, Newman CODE AMENDMENT NO. 73-31 - "NEW SIGN ORDINANCE" John Cope stated that the Planning Commission at its meeting of April 20, 1976,approved the above referenced code amendment. The matter was then transmitted to the City Council with a joint study session being held on May 25, 1976, between the Council and Commission. During this meeting, representatives of the Sign Committee expressed some concerns about various sign requirements for the commercial districts. The Council therefore requested the staff to meet and confer with the Sign Committee in an effort to resolve the differences. The public hearing was opened. Arden Berg, representing the Chamber of Commerce Sign Committee, addressed the Commission and stated that the Committee would recommend adoption by the Planning Commission of the Code Amendment. The public hearing was closed. John Cope stated that should the Code Amendment be approved the letter of transmittal to the City Council would be brought back to the Planning Commission prior to submittal to City Council. Commissioner Parkinson stated that he intended -to vote in opposition to the Code Amendment. He felt that the previous sign ordinance which was adopted by the Commission was a reasonable one and that the Com- mission found itself involved in a situation where constant pressure was coming in from a particular interest group. He further stated that he did not feel the proposed changes are in the best interest of the com- munity as a whole. Commissioner Boyle stated that he would also oppose this code amendment on the basis that he felt the changes requested, which are in excess of 100% in height and an increase in almost 100% in the sign area, really destroy exactly what he felt should have been accomplished in the previous code amendment. He stated that he was not pleased with the end result and felt that much time had been spent with many compromises made. -2- 10/5/76 - PC Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, October 5, 1976 Page 3 Commissioner Shea stated that she was in favor of the code amendment. She stated that the requests were made on behalf of the business community and people who rely on signs for their livelihood. Commissioner Finley ascertained that the sign code had not actually been heard at a public hearing by the City Council but rather at a joint study session, at which time the City Council had referred it back to the Planning Staff to meet with the Sign Committee and work out differences. She stated that she concurred with Boyle and Parkinson and felt that the sign ordinance she had voted on previously still reflected her reasoning and that the one presently before the Commission did not. A MOTION WAS MADE BY SLATES AND SECONDED BY SHEA TO APPROVE CODE AMENDMENT 73-31. VOTE: AYES: Slates, Shea NOES: Parkinson, Finley, Boyle ABSENT: Gibson, Newman THE MOTION FAILED. Chairman Slates sated that he would be willing to change his vote to denial to allow the Code Amendment to be transmitted to the City Council. ON MOTION BY BOYLE AND SECOND BY PARKINSON CODE AMENDMENT NO. 73-31 WAS DENIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Parkinson, Finley, Slates, Boyle NOES: Shea ABSENT: Gibson, Newman USE PERMIT NO. 76-43 - APPEAL TO APPROVAL Applicant: William D. Hanshaw Appellant: Ben Kanter The request is to permit the establishment of a partable ice facility in conjunction with an existing liquor store on the east side of Goldenwest Street, approximately 120 ft. north of Warner Avenue. Chairman Slates gave a brief background of the application. Acting Secretary Palin stated that he had no additional information to add to that contained in the staff report. He stated that John Cope would pass out a brochure showing the architectural treatment of a similar vending machine. The public hearing was opened. -3- 10/5/76 - PC Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, October 5, 1976 Page 4 Mr. Kanter, Appellant, addressed the Commission and stated that the applicant had built his structure approximately two and one-half years ago and at that particular time did not follow appropriate procedures. He -stated that he was discussing putting a temporary structure on the lot that is` -approximately 1/3 the length of the exist- ing structure. He felt that it created an unfair business advantage and it is detrimental to'the City.�.He stated that theoretically anyone could place vending machines that were 24 ft. iri length which would actually outsize the buildings. He further stated that the pro- posed structure is to be placed'on'"the prop'erty'line,-'arid that this may violate fire regulations. Bob Walderman, President of the Igloo Ice House Company, addressed the Commission and stated that all of their buildings are completely fireproof and have the Los Angeles building code approval and electrical testing laboratory approval. He cited.the fact that the appeal date was supposed to be up August'25,.1976,,and,the appeal was received by the Planning Department on September 7, 1976. He stated that the Staff tried to call Mr. Kanter and he was supposed to have his reasons for appeal into the Planning'Department by September 28, 1976, and they were received September 30, 1976. He further stated that insofar as a 24 ft. building on the lot was concerned, it was approved by the Building Department, and he could not see this as being an unfair business practice. The public hearing was closed. Commission discussion ensued. Acting Secretary Palin stated that a similar structure,had been approved on Hamilton between Brookhurst and Bushard, also at,an earlier date one had been approved on the north side of McFadden. He stated that the screening and landscaping require- ments, however, had been more stringent,on the structure approved on Hamilton Street. He'further stated that although thi's was a portable structure,_it,would be conditione'd'to have'' -landscape screening and the structure itself would have to be the same color with'similar materials used as that contained on the permanent structure. ON MOTION BY PARKINSON,AND SECOND BY.FINLEY APPEAL TO USE PERMIT NO. 76-43-WAS DENIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Parkinson, Finley, Slates, Boyle NOES: Shea ABSENT: Gibson, Newman Commissioner Gibson arrived,at 7:30 p.m. Chairman Slates complimented John O'Connor, Deputy City Attorney', on his memorandum on the status of state property. REDEVELOPMENT PLAN: MINOR AMENDMENTS Monica Florian addressed the Commission and stated that as a result of new redevelopment legislation which was signed into law at the end -4- 10/5/76 - PC Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, October 5, 1976 Page 5 of September, a few amendments,to the plan would be necessary which would not change in -any way the intent of the downtown redevelopment plan nor feasibility for implementation. She stated that the amend- ments -specify some particular limitations in regard to financing and capital improvements. Commission discussion ensued. A MOTION WAS MADE BY GIBSON AND SECONDED BY BOYLE TO AMEND PREVIOUS PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO INCLUDE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND TO INCLUDE AS AN ATTACHMENT A SUMMARY OF RECENTLY ADOPTED REDEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION AND PENDING LEGISLATION. VOTE: AYES: Parkinson, Finley, Gibson, Slates, Shea, Boyle NOES: None ABSENT: Newman MISCELLANEOUS: John Cope stated that the City Council at a recent meeting,in response to a letter from Leonard Wright, requested that a subcommittee be formed to work with the Planning Staff on the feasibility of low cost housing in Huntington Beach. Commissioners Boyle, Finley, and Parkinson agreed to serve on this subcommittee, with Chairman Slates to serve as an alternate -in any one of the Commissioner's absence. There was a discussion on the bus tour with October 30,'1976, set as a possible date. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS: Commissioner Finley stated that there would be a meeting of League of Women Voters in the civic center this Saturday. The topic of discussion will be the redevelopment law. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M. 0 J mes W. Palin -Charles Gibson Acting Secretary Vice Chairman -5- 10/5/76 - PC