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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-01-20APPROVED 2/17/88 MINUTES HUNTINGTON BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 20, 1988 - 7:00 PM Council Chambers - Civic Center 2000 main Street Huntington Beach, California PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE P P P P A ROLL CALL: Pierce, Livengood, Silva, Leipzig, Schumacher A Higgins A. CONSENT CALENDAR: A-1 GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE NO. 88-1 APPLICANT: Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy REQUEST: Wetland restoration on 25 acres of property. LOCATION: Bounded by Pacific Coast Highway, Brookhurst Street, Talbert Flood Control Channel, Santa Ana River. SUGGESTED ACTION: Approve General Plan Conformance No. 88-1 with findings. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY SILVA, TO APPROVE GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE NO. 88-1 WITH FINDINGS, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED B. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None C. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS C-1 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO, 87-37/CONDITIONAL EXCEPTION (VARIANCE) NO. 87-77/NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 87-43 (CONTINUED FROM 11/17/87 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING) APPLICANT: EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH Conditional Use Permit No. 87-37, Conditional Exception (Variance) No. 87-77 and Negative Declaration No. 87-43 was originally continued from the October 6, 1987 Planning Commission meeting to the October 20, 1987 meeting due to insufficient public notification. The applicant subsequently requested continuance of the public hearing to November 17, 1987, to allow their architect to be present at that meeting. On November 17, 1987, staff forwarded a staff report to the Commission analyzing the proposed project and recommending denial due to the potential impacts from the project on the surrounding residential area. The applicant again requested continuance of the item to January 20, 1988, to attempt to address staff's concerns. Conditional Use Permit No. 87-37 is a request to remodel and expand an existing church facility (Evangelical Free Church) and to develop a 117 space off -site auxiliary parking lot to accommodate the additional parking demand. Conditional Exception (Variance) No. 87-77 is a request to permit the church addition to have a 10 foot front yard setback in lieu of 15 feet, which would be consistent with the existing church. Conditional Exception (Variance) No. 87-77 also includes a request to construct a bus garage in the southeast corner of the auxiliary parking lot with no setback along the rear and southernmost interior side yards. The zero foot bus garage setback is proposed in lieu of providing a 5 foot setback. The church site is located at 1912 Florida Street (on the east side) adjacent to, and north of the Wycliffe residential quarters. The auxiliary parking lot is also located on the east side of Florida Street and is adjacent to, and south of, the Wycliffe residential use, approximately 250 feet south of the church site. ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: Pursuant to the environmental regulations in effect at this time, the Department of Development Services posted draft Negative Declaration No. 87-43 for ten days. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve Negative Declaration No. 87-43, Conditional Use Permit No. 87-37 and Conditional Exception (Variance) No. 87-77 as amended by staff, with findings and conditions of approval. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -2- (9972d) THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Due to the number of Planning Commissioners absent the applicant requested that the public hearing and action on the request be continued until the nest meeting scheduled for February 2, 1988. There were no other persons wishing to speak for or against the project. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LEIPZIG, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO CONTINUE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 87-37, CONDITIONAL EXCEPTION (VARIANCE) NO. 87-77 AND NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 87-43 TO THE FEBRUARY 2, 1988 MEETING, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED C-2 CIRCULATION ELEMENT AMENDMENT NO, 88-1 IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO, 87-52 APPLICANT: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH Circulation Element Amendment No. 88-1 is a request to amend the Circulation Element of the General Plan by reinstating Main Street as a primary arterial between Yorktown Avenue and Garfield Avenue. The primary arterial designation was removed from Main Street in 1976, in favor of extending Lake Street from Yorktown to Garfield. In 1979, however, the City Council decided to delete the Lake Street extension and retain Main Street as an arterial connector. The primary arterial status was never restored on the Circulation Plan, however. Restoration of Main Street's arterial status between Yorktown and Garfield Avenues is required in order for the City to be eligible for the Arterial Highway Funding Program, and to close a gap in the City's Circulation Plan. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve Negative Declaration No. 87-52 and adopt Resolution No. 1388 and recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution amending the General Plan as proposed by Circulation Element Amendment No. 88-1. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED There were no persons present to speak for or against the request and the public hearing was closed. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -3- (9972d) A MOTION WAS MADE BY SILVA, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO APPROVE NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. 87-52 AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1388 AND RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE GENERAL PLAN AS PROPOSED BY CIRCULATION ELEMENT AMENDMENT NO. 88-1, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED C-3 SPECIAL SIGN PERMIT NO, 87-17 APPLICANT: HUNTINGTON BEACH SIGN CORP. Special Sign Permit No. 87-17 is a request to raise an existing seven foot high monument sign to a height of 15 feet. Maximum sign height allowed by S.9610.5 of the Huntington Beach Ordinance Code is 7 feet but the Planning Commission may grant a special sign permit to allow greater height subject to findings according to S.9610.7. The sign is located on the northwest corner of Algonquin and Davenport adjacent to Huntington Harbour Mall. The gas station/car wash on the site is being remodeled and the applicant is proposing to renovate signage as well to allow greater visibility for traffic at the corner for safety reasons. ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: The proposed project is exempt Class 11 Section 15311(a) from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. COASTAL STATUS: The project is located in the coastal zone but is exempt pursuant to Section 989.5.3 because it is an existing structure. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Deny Special Sign Permit No. 87-17 with findings. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Mel Shapiro, owner of car wash, stated that the reason he applied for a special sign permit to raise the height of the sign was because residents from surrounding neighborhoods had complained to him that his sign was a safety hazard. He said that to raise the height of the sign would cost him $10,000 and that he mainly wanted it on the record that he had tried to be a good neighbor. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -4- (9972d) There were no other persons present to speak for or against the request and the public hearing was closed. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO DENY SPECIAL SIGN PERMIT NO. 87-17 WITH FINDINGS, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED FINDINGS FOR DENIAL: 1. The existing sign at a height of 7 feet does not obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic visibility because it is located behind the required 25 foot corner cutoff (site angle) area. 2. Strict compliance with Section 9610.5 of the Huntington Beach Ordinance Code (Sign Code) will not result in a substantial hardship to the applicant. 3. Granting of Special Sign Permit No. 87-17 for a 15 foot high sign would constitute a special privilege inconsistent with limitations upon properties in the vicinity. 4. Exceptional circumstances do not apply that deprive the subject property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the same zone classifications. 5. Based upon Police Department accident reports (out of 11 traffic accidents reported at the intersection of Algonquin and Davenport over a 3-year period only one report noted that the driver said he had trouble seeing on -coming traffic due to the sign), Public Works Traffic Division's evaluation of the sign and Community Development's investigations, a significant site visibility problem at the intersection due to the sign does not exist. C-4 CODE AMENDMENT NO 87-16 - TELEPHONE BOOTH SIGNS IN PUBLIC RIGHTS -OF -WAY (CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 5, 1988 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING) APPLICANT: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS Code Amendment No. 87-16 is a request by the Public Works Department to amend the Sign Code in order to bring its language in to conformance with the Municipal Code. The Fire Department has requested that a provision be added allowing advertising panels on telephone enclosures within the public right-of-way. At the last PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -5- (9972d) meeting, the Planning Commission had several concerns about the proposal and requested that the specific locational requirements and approval process appear in the code. In addition, the Commission wanted to retain authority over the location of all such structures. ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: a. Approve Code Amendment No. 87-16 with findings and recommend adoption by the City Council. b. Recommend that the City Council amend Chapter 12.36 of the Municipal Code to regulate placement of public service items with advertising and establish the review and approval process. C. Direct staff to process an amendment to the Downtown Design Guidelines to specify policies related to telephone enclosures and their design and placement. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Jodie Faerce, representative from GTE, spoke in support of the code amendment and made herself available to answer any questions. There were no other persons present to speak for or against the code amendment and the public hearing was closed. Steve Parker, representative from the Fire Department, suggested that the item be continued until a complete Commission was present. A revised finding was suggested that revisions to the code would encourage installation of public telephone booths with no cost to the City and will help possible time delays for reporting necessary emergencies. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO APPROVE CODE AMENDMENT NO. 87-16 WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMEND ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL, RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AMEND CHAPTER 12.36 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE PLACEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE ITEMS WITH ADVERTISING AND ESTABLISH THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS, AND DIRECT STAFF TO PROCESS AN AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES TO SPECIFY POLICIES RELATED TO TELEPHONE ENCLOSURES AND THEIR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig NOES: Silva ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None A MOTION TO APPROVE A CODE AMENDMENT MUST HAVE FOUR YES VOTES - AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUED TO FEBRUARY 2, 1988 MEETING PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -6- (9972d) A MOTION WAS MADE BY PIERCE, SECOND BY LIVENGOOD, TO RECONSIDER THE MOTION TO APPROVE CODE AMENDMENT NO. 87-16, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO APPROVE CODE AMENDMENT NO. 87-16 WITH FINDINGS AND RECOMMEND ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL, RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AMEND CHAPTER 12.36 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE PLACEMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE ITEMS WITH ADVERTISING AND ESTABLISH THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS, AND DIRECT STAFF TO PROCESS AN AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDELINES TO SPECIFY POLICIES RELATED TO TELEPHONE ENCLOSURES AND THEIR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL: 1. Revisions to the language of S. 9610.4(o) will eliminate possible misinterpretation of terms. 2. Revisions to S. 9610.4(o) to allow advertising panels on public telephones within the public right-of-way will encourage the installation of public telephone booths with no cost to the City and will help reduce possible time delays for reporting necessary emergencies. 3. Revisions to S. 9610.4(o) will create a new source of revenue for the City. 4. The revisions will be beneficial to the general health, welfare, safety and convenience of persons residing, working, or visiting the City. 5. The revisions will not create a use detrimental to property values or improvements in the City because adequate review of each proposed location by the Planning Commission is assured and specific locational criteria will be adopted as part of Chapter 12.36 of the Municipal Code. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -7- (9972d) 6. The revision to allow advertising on telephone booths in the public right-of-way will be consistent with the General Plan, particularly the Coastal, Circulation, and Community Facilities Elements. By establishing locational criteria and by prohibiting advertising panels within the Downtown Specific Plan area (Coastal Zone), and within the adopted landscape corridors, the Municipal Code provisions are consistent with the Coastal Element, which does not allow signs displaying information unrelated to an activity or service available on -site. C-5 CODE AMENDMENT NO. 87-11 - PARKING STRUCTURES (CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 5. 1988 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING) APPLICANT: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH On January 5, 1988, the Planning Commission made a motion to approve parking structure design standards for commercial projects only. This motion failed by a three to two vote, which resulted in an automatic continuance of the item. Since the January 5, 1988 meeting, staff has followed the direction of the Planning Commission and revised the draft ordinance. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve Code Amendment No. 87-11 with findings and recommend adoption by the City Council. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED There was no one present to speak for or against the code amendment. Since there was not a complete Commission present it was suggested that the code amendment be continued to the February 2, 1988 meeting. However the Draft Ordinance was discussed and the following straw votes were taken for further clarification of the ordinance. A STRAW VOTE MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO NOT DELETE THE REDUCED AISLEWAY STANDARD FOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS LES THAN 20 UNITS IN SIZE UNDER (a) - PARKING SPACE DESIGN AND AISLEWAY, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None STRAW VOTE MOTION PASSED L PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -8- (9972d) A STRAW VOTE MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY LEIPZIG, TO DELETE (C) - MINIMUM VEHICLE CLEARANCE HEIGHT, AS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None STRAW VOTE MOTION PASSED The Commission stated that they felt diagonal parking should be allowed consideration under a special permit request. It was also suggested that staff analyze an additional section requiring additional points of ingress and egress and additional ramps between floors for any parking structure with greater than 100 stalls. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LEIPZIG, SECOND BY SILVA, TO CONTINUE CODE AMENDMENT NO. 87-11 TO THE FEBRUARY 2, 1988 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED D. ITEMS NOT PUBLIC HEARING D-1 ONE-YEAR EXTENSION - CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO, 86-58 APPLICANT: TAIT & ASSOCIATES Tait & Associates, acting in behalf of Arco Petroleum Products Company, is requesting a one-year extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 86-58. Conditional Use Permit No. 86-58 is a request to alter an existing gas station by adding a canopy and gas pumps at 18972 Beach Boulevard, along the Garfield Avenue side of the property. Conditional Use Permit No. 86-58 was approved by the Planning Commission on January 21, 1987. The applicant has indicated to staff that a one-year extension of time is necessary because of difficulty in executing an irrevocable driveway easement between Arco and adjacent easterly property owner that complies with Condition of Approval No. l.b of the subject conditional use permit. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve one-year extension of time for Conditional Use Permit No. 86-58. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -9- (9972d) A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY SILVA, TO APPROVE A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF TIME (UNTIL JANUARY 21, 1989) FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 86-58, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED D-2 RESOLUTION NO. 1389 - DOWNTOWN CUL-DE-SAC DESIGN STANDARDS APPLICANT: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH A request to adopt design standards for cul-de-sacs proposed for certain numbered streets terminating at Pacific Coast Highway within the Downtown Specific Plan area. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve Resolution No. 1389 for cul-de-sac designs and recommend adoption by the City Council. Design issues were discussed by the Commission. The Commissioners felt that the City should maintain the landscaping within the cul-de-sacs for uniformity. They also felt that the City should make a determination immediately as to what streets will be cul-de-saced and to approve through the public hearing process when presented to Council. They directed staff to put the adoption of design standards for specific streets on the pending items list. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY SILVA, TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 1389 TO SUBMIT TO CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC CUL-DE-SACS THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED D-3 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROGRAM REPORT Due to the increase in citizen complaints and community concern regarding the deterioration of residential, commercial and industrial areas within the City, the Planning Commission formed an Ad Hoc Committee to study code enforcement within the City of Huntington Beach. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 =10- (9972d) The Committee has completed its review and has prepared a report outlining the issues and problems associated with code enforcement. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the Ad Hoc Committee report, the operations manual and direct staff to forward this item to the City Council for discussion and final approval. A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY PIERCE, TO APPROVE THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROGRAM REPORT WITH MINOR REVISIONS AND FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION AND FINAL APPROVAL, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED D-4 PLANNING COMMISSION BY-LAWS A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY SILVA, TO APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION BY-LAWS, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED E. DISCUSSION ITEMS E-1 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 83-24 (AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT) - Applicant: Mola Development - Portofino Cove (77 units at end of Countess Drive) and CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO 84-19 (AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENT) - Applicant: Mola Development - Pierhouse Project (105 units at Pacific Coast Highway and 12th. Street) E-2 WATERFRONT PROJECT TIME LINE Project time line was presented and a study session scheduled for the February 2, 1988 Planning Commission meeting at 5:45 PM. PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -11- (9972d) F. G. H. PENDING ITEMS Additional follow-up was requested on the Oldworld Festival Hall and the problems at the McDonnell -Douglas site. The following items were added to the Pending Items list: 1. Signal at Slater and Springdale - requested a master plan for the installation of signals. 2. City Dump Site at Adams and Brookhurst - only 30 days left before the site is cleared or a conditional use permit is applied for. 3. Follow-up on crosswalk on corner of PCH and Warner (requested at time of conditional use permit for service station at the PCH/Warner site) 4. Correction of signal at Warner and Algonquin 5. Floating boom in channel along Warner creating trash/debris to flow into harbor. 6. Left hand turn improvements at Warner and Bolsa Chica. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS The Commission requested that the Committee and Sub -Committee list be updated at the next meeting. They also requested that the Bolsa Chica Traffic Impact Study be distributed to the Planning Commission. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ITEMS The Commission was informed that the Pending Items List will be referred to as "Planning Commission Inquiries" going ahead. The Pending Items List will be a list of new applications/entitlements pending action by the Planning Commission. Ll PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -12- (9972d) 1 I. ADJOURNMENT A MOTION WAS MADE BY LIVENGOOD, SECOND BY SILVA, AT 9:30 PM, TO ADJOURN TO THE JOINT STUDY SESSION (PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL) AT 6:00 PM, MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1988, TO A 5:45 PM STUDY SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1988, ON THE WATERFRONT PROJECT, AND THEN TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1988, AT 7:00 PM, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE AYES: Pierce, Livengood, Leipzig, Silva NOES: None ABSENT: Schumacher, Higgins ABSTAIN: None MOTION PASSED MINUTES APPROVED: OIL Mike Adams, Secretary Victor Leipzig, C air n PC Minutes - 1/20/88 -13- (9972d)