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PC MINS 20180123 Approv /13/18 CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 23, 2018 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman James at 7:08 p.m.at the Fred Hesse Community Room, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Leon led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. ATTENDANCE Present: Commissioners Bradley, Emenhiser, Leon, Nelson, Tomblin, and Vice Chairman James. Absent: None Also present were Community Development Director Mihranian, Assistant City Attorney Gerli, Special Counsel Lopez, RF Consultant Mike Afflerbach via telephone, and Senior Planner Seeraty. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was unanimously approved as presented. COMMUNICATIONS City Council Items: Director Mihranian reported that 1) at the January 16th meeting, the City Council received a presentation on the draft Portuguese Bend Landslide Feasibility Study and reported that public comments are being accepted by staff until Friday, February 2nd, and that the new rules of procedures were adopted by the Council that apply to all City commissions and committees; 2) the City Council will have a special meeting on Tuesday, January 30th at 6:00 p.m. to begin interviewing applicants for the Planning Commission; and 3) the Planning Commission's recommendations regarding amending the definition of short-term rentals will be considered by the City Council at its February 6th meeting and the Green Hills annual compliance review will occur at that meeting as well. Staff: Director Mihranian reported that Mike Afflerbach, the City's RF consultant, will be participating in tonight's meeting by telephone; the League of California Cities will hold its annual Planning Commissioner's Academy between April 4th and 6th in Monterey, and late correspondence has been distributed. Commission: None COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda item): None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2017 P.C. MINUTES Approved as presented 2. APPROVAL OF THE JANUARY 9, 2018 P.C. MINUTES Approved as presented CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. MAJOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY PERMIT ASG NO. 37: Northside of Ridgegate Drive / Crown Castle (AB) Director Mihranian presented the Staff Report with a power point presentation that described the proposal to install two 21.4" panel antennas to a 24' tall replacement streetlight pole to accommodate a wireless telecommunication facility with associated mechanical equipment. Vice Chairman James opened the public hearing. Stephan Garcia, the Applicant, stated Crown Castle is requesting a continuance and need additional time to review designs and location and recommends approval of staff recommendations. Katrine Otsuki, spoke in opposition of the location of the cell tower and the proximity to homes in the area. Harmon Jahanbarkesh, spoke in opposition of the location of the cell tower and believes the installation would reduce property value. Vice Chairman James closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes January 23,2018 Page 2 Commissioner Nelson moved, seconded by Commissioner Leon, to adopt the Staff recommendation to continue the public hearing to a date uncertain in order to allow the Applicant to continue exploring an alternative site for the proposed wireless facility at the intersection of Ridgegate Drive and Highridge Road, on a vote of 6-0. 4. MAJOR WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY PERMIT ASG NO. 44: Armaga Spring Road adjacent to 28642 Meadowmist Drive (AB) Director Mihranian presented the Staff Report with a power point presentation that summarized the original project presented at the October 10th meeting and the request to install a wireless telecommunication facility with related mechanical equipment to a 25.9' tall replacement streetlight pole on Meadowmist Drive. He described the project at the revised alternative location along Armaga Spring Road. A conversation ensued among Commissioners and Staff regarding the proposed Shroud, coverage area, the Applicant's coverage objective, and the design of the proposed wireless facility. Vice Chairman James opened the public hearing. Stephan Garcia, for Crown Castle addressed questions and reviewed a late correspondence power point presentation. A conversation ensued among Commissioners and Staff regarding the proposed location and coverage area. Jeff Calvagna addressed the Commission with his opinion of the proposed coverage area and his interpretation of the Applicant's RF analysis. Dr. Steven Gold spoke in favor of the wireless facility due to very poor reception in the area and a public safety concerns. Vice Chairman James closed the public hearing. Commission discussion ensued regarding the design and location of the proposed facility. The Commission expressed an interest to have the project moved to a streetlight pole adjacent to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church's parking lot or across the street from the Church. Commissioner Bradley moved, seconded by Vice Chairman James, to continue the public hearing to a date uncertain to allow the Applicant additional time to explore relocating the wireless facility closer to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, on a vote of 6-0. Planning Commission Minutes January 23, 2018 Page 3 5. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, VARIANCE, GRADING PERMIT, SITE PLAN REVIEW, AND MASTER SIGN PROGRAM (CASE NO. ZON2017-00030): 28300 S. Western Ave. / Chase Bank. (AS) Senior Planner Seeraty presented the Staff Report with a power point presentation. She noted that the request is to demolish the existing 5,501ft2 vacant restaurant building (former Coco's restaurant) and to construct a new 4,131ft2 Chase Bank building with 1,563yd3 of associated grading, roof-mounted mechanical equipment above 16' in height, a refurbished existing parking lot with new landscaping, lighting, and related site improvements, and a Master Sign Program to allow various types of on-site signs including allowing the existing monument sign to remain. Senior Planner Seeraty addressed questions from the Commission regarding the height and other structures in the Shopping Center. Vice Chairman James opened the public hearing. 16 Speakers addressed the Commission regarding the proposed application with parking concerns and landscaping concerns. One of the main concerns from many of the Westmont Plaza tenants who spoke was that the driveways into the shopping center from Western Ave and Westmont Drive would be converted to one-way driveways, from two- way driveways. Once Staff informed the tenants that this was not the case, many of them had no additional concerns. Other concerns included the resulting number of parking spaces, the length of the construction, and potential effects on the existing traffic flow within Westmont Plaza. Bob Superneau: Introduced himself as being with Stantec Architecture for Chase Bank and stated he was in agreement with Staff's recommendation. He believes the proposed parking lot configuration is a good design and improves circulation. Jeffrey Adelman: Discussed the design of the reconfigured parking lot, the shopping center's CC&Rs, and alternative parking lot proposals. Discussion ensued between the Commission and the City Attorney regarding the CC&Rs and the City's degree of immunity to discretionary acts. James Flanagan: As the attorney for the owner of the Westmont Plaza, he stated that his client is opposed to the proposed as it relates to the parking lot design. He stated that the Applicant should comply with all existing easements, and clarified that the agreement is not a CC&R but a Declaration and Restriction of Grants and Easements, which states that the easement for parking, ingress and egress requires "integration" and "mutual benefit". James Kanq: Stated that he believes that the number of parking spaces have been decreased by 10 spaces and referred to a diagram, which was passed out to the Planning Commission Minutes January 23, 2018 Page 4 Commission. He also stated that the new parking design has limited ingress and egress access. Aaron Swerdlow: He stated that the project results in a 33% reduction in building area, an increase in on-site parking, and improved on-site circulation. He believes that the project complies with the CC&Rs, and that the neighbor doesn't want the center to change. Discussion ensued between the Commission and Mr. Swerdlow regarding the neighbor's opposition to the project. Dr. Kevin Cavlor: Indicated that he supports the project and believes it will improve the overall appearance and circulation of the shopping center. Fernando Gallarzo: Expressed support of the project and was in agreement with the comments raised by Mr. Swerdlow. Theresa Sardisco: Expressed general support for improving the shopping center and wanted an assurance that parking and circulation will not be impacted. Massoud Shirazian: Stated that his main concern is if the driveway will become one way versus the existing two way driveway. He added that there is an existing parking problem. Eddie Mendoza: Expressed his concerns with the project as it relates to parking and potential impacts to existing infrastructure along Western Avenue. Noha Shehata: Indicated her concerns with the duration of construction and how the project would impact parking and vehicular circulation. Nahi Alziefalla: Expressed concerns with the on-site circulation particularly regarding delivery trucks and first responders. Enrique Santana: Expressed a concern with the design of the driveway from Westmont Avenue. April Sandell: Raised concerns about the project scope and its potential impacts to the existing infrastructure along Western Avenue. Mary Skinner: Expressed a concern with the ingress and egress off Westmont Avenue. Juliet Nguyen: Stated her concerns focused on the two-way driveway and the number of available parking spaces. Vice Chairman James closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes January 23, 2018 Page 5 Discussion ensued among Commissioners, Staff, and Applicant pertaining to the CC&Rs, the design of the parking lot, ingress and egress, grading to support the parking lot, and possible modifications to the draft Conditions of Approval. Commissioner Emenhiser moved, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to adopt P.C. Resolution No. 2018-04 approving a Conditional Use Permit,Variance, Grading Permit, Site Plan Review, and Master Sign Program to demolish the existing 5,501ft2 vacant restaurant building (former Coco's restaurant) and construct a new 4,131ft2 Chase Bank building with 1,563yd3 of associated grading, a refurbished existing parking lot with new landscaping, lighting, and related site improvements, including signs, a legal non-conforming lot coverage of 77%, and roof-mounted equipment above 16' in height, with an added condition requiring the parking lot landscape planter along the Western Avenue driveway to be redesigned to create an integrated parking lot approved by the Director of Community Development, on a vote of 6-0. Director Mihranian stated that there is a 15 day appeal period. CONTINUED BUSINESS None NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS None NEW BUSINESS None ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS 6. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON JANUARY 30, 2018 Director Mihranian stated that this meeting is scheduled to start at 5:00 PM with a Closed Session. The January 30, 2018 pre-agenda was approved. 7. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018 The February 13, 2018 pre-agenda was approved. Planning Commission Minutes January 23,2018 Page 6 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:21 P.M. For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to: http://rpv.granicus.com/MediaPlaver.php?view id=5&clip id=3018 Click on the agenda item number on the video. Planning Commission Minutes January 23,2018 Page 7