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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-08-15APPROVED MINUTES HUNTINGTON BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION Council Chambers, Civic Center Huntington Beach, California TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1978 - 7:00 P.M. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Higgins, Finley, Cohen, Paone, (Commissioner Stern arrived at 7:20 P.M.) COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Russell, Bazil NOTE: A TAPE RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS ON FILE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OFFICE. CONSENT CALENDAR: ON MOTION BY COHEN AND SECOND BY PAONE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR WERE APPROVED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: MINUTES OF AUGUST 1, 1978 MINUTES OF AUGUST 8, 1978 RESOLUTION NO. 1234 - RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR PLANNING DIRECTOR AYES: Higgins, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Russell, Bazil, Stern ZONE CHANGE NO. 77-29 - REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION ON MOTION BY HIGGINS AND SECOND BY COHEN ZONE CHANGE NO. 77-29 WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE APPLICANT DOES NOT CONSENT TO PD DESIGNATION AND NO LETTER OF WITHDRAWAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE'PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Higgins, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Russell, Bazil, Stern PUBLIC HEARINGS: SPECIAL SIGN PERMIT NO. 78-6 APPLICANT: William A. Baca This is a request for a 24 square foot internally illumigated wall sign to be located at 720 Pacific Coast Highway. Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, August 15, 1978 Page Two Monica Florian addressed the Commission and discussed the allowable square footage of the wall sign and the amount of encroachment into the setback requirements. She informed the Commission of hardship as presented by the applicant. Commissioner Paone expressed concern of setting a precedent for nonconforming signing along the coastline. Ms. Florian stated that each application is reviewed individually and that a Special Sign Permit must show certain unique circumstances. In this case, 24 square feet of signing proposed is less than the overall signing allowable by the Code. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Baca, the applicant, was present and addressed the Commission. Mr. Baca stated that he has explored many avenues of signing and has worked with the Planning Department to come up with the best possible signing for his establishment. Mr. Baca further stated that signing was very important for advertising his establishment. He stated that the Coastal Commission would permit no other signing than that proposed. The public hearing was closed. Commission discussion ensued. Commissioner Paone indicated that he was in favor of the proposed sign but was also concerned about the erection of a future sign on the proposed site. Commissioner Finley was also concerned about setting a precedent, but stated that each case would be decided upon on its individual merits. Commissioner Higgins pointed out that if the applicant chose to use a freestanding sign (allowed by code) that the square footage would exceed that sign as presented. ON MOTION BY HIGGINS AND SECOND BY COHEN SPECIAL SIGN PERMIT NO. 78-6 WAS APPROVED WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITION BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: 1. Applicant is prohibited from erecting additional freestanding or wall signs at this location. AYES: Higgins, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Stern, Russell, Bazil Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, August.15, 1978 Page Three Commissioner Stern arrived.' CONDITIONAL EXCEPTION NO. 78-39 - APPEAL APPLICANT: Lowell Romberg APPELLANT: John Thomas This is an appeal to Board of,Zoning Adjustments' approval of an 18 foot encroachment into the required 50 foot front yard setback and a 486 square foot encroachment into the sight angle requirement located on the west side of Bolsa Chica Street, 300 feet north of Heil Avenue. Dave Eadie addressed the Commission and reviewed the staff report as well as the findings of the Board of Zoning Adjustments.on this application. The public hearing was opened. Mr. Lowell Romberg, applicant, addressed the Commission and stated that he had bought the property for the purpose of building a self - operated car wash. He stated that the car wash will be owner -operated and that employees working within will be family. He assured the Commission that he would construct as good a car wash as possible. He was aware of the small lot and, therefore, requested that a hard- ship be considered. Gloria Abraham of Performance Realty addressed the Commission. She stated that it would be nearly impossible'to construct anything on -this lot outside of a car wash. She further stated that this lot will not present a safety hazard and that the proposed decor will complement the surrounding neighborhood. Also, the surrounding property owners have voiced their approval to the proposed project. The public hearing was closed. Commission discussion ensued. ON MOTION BY STERN AND SECOND BY HIGGINS THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUSTAINED THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS' APPROVAL OF CONDITIONAL EXCEPTION NO. 78-39 AND DENIED THE APPEAL WITH THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: FINDINGS 1.- The size and shape of the subject lot and its relationship to the surrounding property impose a hardship in siting improvements on the site. 2-. The commercial area which abuts and surrounds this legally constituted lot was not required to agree to reciprocal easements for parking and access with the subject property, and the owner has refused to allow such reciprocals to be created at the present time. This effectively locks the property into a design taking its access only off Bolsa Chica Street. Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, August 15, 1978 Page Four 3. The relatively open construction of a car wash facility will have less adverse effect on the sight angle from and into the surrounding property than might a solidly constructed build- ing located within the code -required setbacks. 4. The granting of the Conditional Exception will not constitute a grant of special privilege. 5. The granting of the Conditional Exception will not be mater- ially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to property in the same zone classifications. 6. The granting of the Conditional Exception will not adversely affect the General Plan of the City of Huntington Beach. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL: A. TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF BUILDING PERMITS: 1. The conceptual site plan received and dated June 5, 1978, shall be the approved layout, subject to all conditions imposed upon Use Permit No. 78-41. AYES: Higgins, Stern, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Russell, Bazil ZONE CHANGE NO. 78-10/NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 78-73/TENTATIVE TRACT NO. 10462/CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 78-17 Zone Change No. 78-10 is a request to rezone property from C2 to R1, Tentative Tract No. 10462 is a request for an 8 lot subdivision, and Conditional Use Permit No. 78-17 is a request for redesigning of parking facilities, construction of classroom facilities, and future construction located on the east side of Magnolia Street, approximately 70 feet north of Mediterranean Drive. Dave Eadie addressed the Commission and stated that the applicant had submitted a letter to the Planning Department requesting a continuance of the aforementioned applications to September 6, 1978 in order to comply with the City's request for adjacent property owners consent to the revisions recently incorporated in the map. The applicant stated that he felt that consent to the revisions can be obtained in that period of time. The public hearing was opened. [i Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, August 15, 1978 Page Five Mr. Richard Derby addressed the Commission and stated that he was unable to attend the September 6, 1978 meeting and wished to be heard presently. Mr. Derby stated that he owned lot 38 adjacent to "A" Street. Mr. Derby felt that R1 property was the most com- patible use for the proposed area, but was opposed to the latest radius at curb line proposed by the developer. Mr. Derby urged the Planning Commission to reconsider the first proposal by the engineer for a shorter radius at the corner due to the present plan taking too much of his front yard. The public hearing was continued to September 6, 1978. ON MOTION BY STERN AND SECOND BY HIGGINS ZONE CHANGE NO. 78-10/ NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 78-33/TENTATIVE TRACT NO. 10462/CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 78-17 WERE CONTINUED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 6, 1978 BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Higgins, Stern, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Russell, Bazil DISCUSSION ITEMS: Mr. Palin informed the Commission that the City Council requested a joint study session between City Council/Planning Commission on August 21, 1978 at 6:30 p.m. prior to action by Council on General Plan Amendment 78-1. RESOLUTION NO. 1235 A resolution of intent regarding rezoning and development policies in the Garfield-Goldenwest Area. Mr. Jim Palin addressed the Commission and presented revised terminology to the resolution clearing its intent. Some concern was expressed as to when the resolution of intent would be appro-- priate and Commissioner Stern voiced concern over this resolution being used on existing well -designed industrial property. Mr. Palin reiterated that this was only a resolution of intent and wording could be changed. Concern was also expressed regarding the amount of fourplexes being built along Garfield Avenue and that R2 would allow fourplex development. The Planning Commission directed staff to analyze this resolution of intent further and report back to the Planning Commission. Minutes: H.B. Planning Commission Tuesday, August 15, 1978 Page Six COMMISSIONER ITEMS: Commissioner Paone addressed Special Sign Permit No. 78-6 (earlier acted upon by Commission). Mr. Paone felt that the Ordinance Code could be altered to meet the requirements of the Coastal Commission in matters of signs along the Coast. He felt that all businesses similar to the one addressed in Special Sign Permit No. 78-6 should be given equal consideration for signing. Commissioner Stern inquired about the status of the Local Coastal Program.Citizens Advisory Committee. He requested to be -placed on the mailing list for all material,sent to the Committee. Mr. Palin then suggested that all members of the Planning Commission be placed on the mailing list for Local Coastal Program Citizens Advisory Committee material. PETITION REGARDING ZONE CHANGE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA The Planning Commission received a letter and petition from Patti Jewett requesting the Planning Commission to initiate a change of zone in the general area bounded by,Third Street, Walnut Avenue and Lake Street from C3, General Business, to R2, Medium Density Residential. Staff was directed to analyze and report on the possibility of rezoning said property. - ADJOURNMENT: ON MOTION BY HIGGINS AND SECOND BY FINLEY, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO A STUDY SESSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 21, 1978 - 6:30 P.M. BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Higgins, Stern, Finley, Cohen, Paone NOES: None ABSENT: Russell, Bazil /A 5A Jiffmes W. Palin Ruth Finley Acting Secretary Chairman :gc 1