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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Min 1987-04-15 SEAL BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION AG~~DA . C1 ty Counc11 Chambers ,.- 211 Eighth Street Seal Beach, California - %'he Seal Beach Planning Commission meets in session every first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. If you wish to address the Commission on any particular public hearing .item, the Cha.irman w.ill call for public test1mony first for those .in favor of the project, and second, for those who art! not .in favor. When you see that the speaker's position in the center of the room .is unoccupied, step up to the m.icrophone and when recognized by the Chairman, speak directly .into the m.icrophone by first stat.ing your name and address clearly and distinctly for the records. State your business as clearly and succinctly as possible and then wait a moment to see .if the Commiss.ioners have any questions .in regard to your c:omments or questions. If there are no other questions or comments, return to your seat so that the next person may address the Comm.ission. If you w.ish to address the Commission on matters other than pUblic hearings, the agenda provides for that time when the Chairman asks for comments from the public. Address the Commission in the same manner as stated for public hearings, always stating your name and address first. PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA April 15, 1987 Next Resolution #1457 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2 . Roll Call 3. Consent Calendar A. Plan Review 3-87 1622 Ocean Avenue 4. Public Hearings 5. Scheduled Matters e A. B. Report on In-Lieu Parking Program Update on Amendment to Hellman Specific Plan 6. Oral Communications from the Audience At this time, members of the public may address the Commission regarding any item within the subject matter of the Commission provided that no action may be taken on off- agenda items unless authorized by law. 7. Staff Concerns A. Air Force Reserves Center Tour 8. Commission Concerns 9. Adjournment Agenda Forecast: May 6, 1987 -CUP 2-87, Variance 3-87 901 Ocean Ave. (Haley) -CUP 4-87 500 Pacific Coast Hwy. (Kim) May 20, 1987 -CUP 3-87, TPM 87-132 222 7th Street (Shaddox) -CUP 5-87 143 Main Street (Schuman) -Variance 4-87 104 Princeton Circle (Atwood) . e PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 15, 1987 The Seal Beach Planning Commission met in regular session on Wednesday, April 15, 1987 at 7:36 p.m. Commissioner Covington led the Salute to the Flag. ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Jessner Commissioners Covington, Suggs Commissioners Rullo, Sharp (excused) Absent: Also Present: Edward Knight, Director of Development Services CONSENT CALENDAR A. Plan Review 3-87, 1622 Ocean Avenue Commissioner Covington moved to approve consent calendar; Suggs seconds. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Covington, Jessner, Suggs None Rullo, Sharp Motion Carried Commissioner Covington suggested the Planning Department examine the adjacent home to 1622 Ocean as the covered entry obscured the side yard access. e PUBLIC HEARINGS There were none at this time. . SCHEDULED MATTERS - A. REPORT ON IN-LIEU PARKING PROGRAM The Director of Development Services reported the City has been using an interim in-lieu parking program to help promote revitalization in the Old Town area along Main Street. Currently there have been approvals for a total of 124 in-lieu spaces. The businesses are charged a nominal fee of $100 per space per year and the funds have been placed in a special fund. Recently the Commission approved a variance for a property on Main Street that adds 16 more spaces bringing the total to 140 spaces. Staff expressed two concerns regarding this program: l)that the City does not have a permanent program in place and the number of i- lieu spaces continues to grow and 2) the Coastal Commission review of the City's in-lieu parking variances appears not to recognize the in-lieu program or approve projects that utilize it. Knight explained it is hoped that Council will allocate funds in the 87/88 budget to study the parking program. In the interim, staff is recommending that the City not utilize the in- lieu program as an option to approve parking variances in Old Town area. It was indicated an applicant could still apply for a variance but the option of using the in-lieu program would not be considered in the review of the variance. This moratorium would continue until the Council allocates funds and a permanent in- lieu program is adopted or, if Council does not allocate funds, staff will designate research and analysis efforts to chart the parking space assets in Old Town and balance the in-lieu spaces -2- e with available spaces in Old Town. This quick study could determine if the in-lieu spaces could be partially offset by existing facilities. Commissioner Covington felt Council should make a decision to fund this study for the following reasons: l)as adequate parking should be available during the summer season as that is when merchants do most of their business to subsidize the winter months, 2) the City would receive increased sales tax revenues, 3) that the commercial property value could be decreased by less sales occurring and 4) that vehicles could encroach upon the neighboring residential areas in order to use merchanst on Main Street. Knight indicated that staff would not deny applicant for applying for a variance, but would recommend to applicant that the in-lieu program is not available as an option, therefore lessening the likelihood of approval. To clarify the in-lieu program itself, Knight explained the i-lieu plan was a temporary measure to allow for parking until a permanent solution is found. The participants entered into an agreement with the City to pay a fee of $100 per space per year knowing that should a permanent parking solution for the City be implement, that the cost may increase. The temporary in-lieu funds are set aside toward whatever the parking solution may be: a parking garage, underground parking, etc. e Mitzi Morton, 153 13th, felt there would be a backlash on a businessowner who wants to expand and can no longer have the in- lieu program available to them. She also indicated that Council may approve Commission denial of variance 'applications, thus exascerbating the parking situation without requiring participation in the in-lieu program. Mrs. Morton felt the old parking task force should be restarted to review this problem as it was to be only temporarily disbanded. Jerri West, 1201 Electric, explained the task force was disbanded because staff was to survey the existing parking on the alleys of Main Street to see how that area could be more efficiently utilized. The task force was to be reinstated when the results of that survey were known. Mrs. West, as a former parking task force member, would consider reinstating the committee. Bruce Stark, 204 Ocean, reported that the Orange County Register indicated that cost of building parking lots in Orange County (including land acquisition) would be $2000 per parking space. Mr. Stark felt that $100 per space requested from in-lieu participants could not cover and parking costs. Commissioner Covington stated that the annual in-lieu fee was never intended to cover the cost for any parking lot nor subterranean or multi-level parking garage but was to contribute toward the eventual solution (a solution which has yet to be determined by the City Council). The Commissioners agreed the parking issue should be addressed as soon as possible. Commissioner Covington requested some additions and corrections to the in-lieu staff report as follows: 1) the second paragraph on page 2 to include a sentence that conveys the comment that the City continues to be responsible for requiring those entities that make significant contributions to parking problems to be responsible for helping to solve it; 2) In the last paragraph to add "the staff would make potential e -3- e applicants thoroughly aware of the challenges they face in proceeding to request a parking variance without having an in- lieu program to support that request; and 3) last page, correct the "of" to "if" and insert "partially be" in front of "offset". He also requested staff detail the reasons why allocation of funds for this study would return to the City an on-going benefit as well as relieving some of the problems that local residents near Main Street would incur; ie. , lost business, lost business property tax, lost sales tax, infringement on residential property tax. Chairman Jessner moved the Commission recommend that a permanent in-lieu program be investigated nd that the Council allocate funds for this as soon as possible. Jay seconds. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Covington, Jessner, Suggs None Rullo, Sharp Motion Carried e SCHEDULED MATTERS - UPDATE ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO HELLMAN SPECIFIC PLAN Mr. Knight updated the Commission on the status of the Specific Plan for Hellman. . He indicated a notice of preparation for the Environmental Imparct Report was issued to all the responsible agencies, Commission members, Council members, and EQCB and interested groups. The EQCB held a scoping session to detail their environmental concerns. The next step in the environmental review process is the preparation of a draft EIR. Staff anticipates that the first draft will be completed by mid-May. Mr. Knight then reviewed the various components of the site plans, as follows: The portion that is being considered under the Mola Development is the major development portion of the Hellman Specific Plan site. This portion is approximately 150 acres. The Hellman Specific Plan is 225 acres extending to Westminster Blvd and joining along the San Gabriel Channel. Those areas of the Plan that are not shown will remain the same as the 1979 plan performed by the Planning Center. Hellman anticipates oil production in those areas for at lease 20 more years. The other 150 acre portion would have a public road beginning at Pacific Coast Highway past the State lands parcel extending into the site up to a club house that will also be looking at a road connection going north to Westminster and another emergency private access road. There will be 113 single family homes, approximately 35-50 foot wide frontage, starting at 2700 square feet and going to 3200 square feet. They will be luxury-type homes begining at the $300,000 range. 660 condominimums are proposed, three stories, with parking underneath. 'They will range from a bachelor unit of 550 square feet up to a 2 bedroom unit of 990 square feet. The remaining portion of 108 acres would have an l8-hole golf course with club house and driving range. There are water features in the golf course that also satisfy wetlands requirements of California Fish and Game Dept. Recent studies have shown in the Gum Grove Park area that the grading can be done in such a way that the majority of the eucalyptus trees can be preserved which gives the City the e -4- e option whether to accept Gum Grove Park in its present state or consider some percentage figure of park acquisition where you can either take all of Gum Grove or some portion of Gum Grove. The City is undertaking a study of this Grove to show the present condition of the trees to be included in the EIR. Other aspects include 66KV lines that hopefully will be underground or relocated. Staff and Mola Development and SCE are studying the possibility of having a shorter more direct route into Rockwell with the possibility of having all these lines removed. This property has extremely high liquefaction problems, which in case of an earthquake the ground loses; its stability. The condominums, therefore, will be supported by piles driven undergound and filled with absorbent fill to alleviate that concern. All homes will be built to withstand a major earthquake. According to the 1980 census, the homes should house approximately 3.5 persons per single family home and approximately 1.5 person per condominum unit. The consultant will be using the old environmental report as historical data. Covington pointed out the previous plan had a 28 acre park, a substantial sum of money to be donated to the City towards the development of the park, retainment of GumGrove, wide corridor that connection Seal Beach Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway so as to provide access. Covington felt a comparison of the old plan versus this new development was necessary, detailing both the advantages and disadvantages of each plan. Covington suggested staff look at options under which the golf course property would forever remain in that usage so that at some future date it would not suddenly turn into a 9-hole course. e ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Bruce Stark, 204 Ocean Avenue, asked for clarification of planning area 10. According to Knight, the City has the option of retaining Gum Grove park. Under the Quimby Act, the development company is required to have 8-9 acres of parkland. The City can accept it as land, fees or some combination thereof. Covington pointed out the original plan kept Gumgrove ~ark and another 13 acre park. STAFF CONCERNS Tour of the Armed Forces Reserve Facility - Mr. Knight suggests selecting dates for the tour and adjourning to that date. Thursday April 30, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. COMMISSION CONCERNS Commissioner Covington suggested the Commission receive a copy of the proposed Seal Beach Pier Restaurant Lease. Mr. Suggs requested Mr. Sharp be excused from this meeting due to illness, Covington seconds. e AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Covington, Jessner, Suggs None Rullo, Sharp Motion Carried -5- . Chairman Jessner indicted he received a letter from the Seal Beach Cable Foundation expressing their appreciation to the Commission for allowing the foundation to cablecast the Commission meetings. The Foundation believes this coverage was successful in informing the public and is prepared to continue funding for this coverage and urges the Commission to approve permanent coverage of meeting. Chairman so moves, Commissioner Suggs seconds. AYES: ABSENT: NOES: Covington, Jessner, Sharp Rullo, Sharp None Motion Carried ADJOURNMENT TO APRIL 30 AT 9:00 A.M. AT THE AFRC FACILITY At 9:30 p.m.,Commissioner Covington moves to adjourn the regularly scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission of April 14, 1987 to an adjourned meeting of April 30, 1987 at 9:00 a.m. LJ2 TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE PLANNING e -