CITY OF ALHAMBRA ALHAMBRA CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 2, 2015 AGENDA REGULAR MEETING - 7:00 P.M. City Council Chambers 111 South First Street CALL MEETING TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: JOHN LODGE, President MARY LOUISE BUNKER SUZI DUNKEL-SOTO DEBRA MORENO GARCIA JEFF MALONEY THOMAS MALONEY. Vice-President ROSS MAZA MARIA D. MURRAY GARY TSE FLAG SALUTE: Led by President Lodge CONSENT AGENDA (Item 1): All items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered by the Commission to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless a citizen or Commissioner requests otherwise; in which case, the item will be removed for separate consideration. Items placed on the Consent Agenda include smaller scale projects, projects which do not require variances, and ministerial matters (minutes, resolutions, etc.). 1. MINUTES February 17, 2015 Recommended Action: Commission review and approve as submitted the Minutes of the February 17, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Alhambra Planning Commission. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 2. COMMERCIAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT CP-15-1 & CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CU-15-2 2800 West Valley Boulevard Applicant: Ricky Liu This is an application for a Commercial Planned Development Permit and Conditional Use Permit to remodel an existing 12 unit motel. Seven of the units will be enlarged for a total expansion of 822 square feet and seven new covered parking spaces will be provided to replace seven enclosed garages on an approximate land area of 19,522 square feet located in the Valley Boulevard Specific Plan zone. 1
Recommended Action: Pending public testimony, adopt Resolution 15-4 approving Commercial Planned Permit CP-15-1 and Conditional Use Permit CU-15-2 subject to the Conditions of Approval. 3. RESIDENTIAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT RP-15-1 411 North Curtis Avenue Applicant: Mihoko Sakamoto & Philip Huang This is an application for a Residential Planned Development Permit to add a 795 square foot first and second story addition to an existing duplex, to add an attached four car garage and to demolish the existing rear unit addressed as 411½ North Curtis Avenue on an approximate land area of 7,550 square feet located in the R-3 (Multiple Family Residential) zone. Recommended Action: Pending public testimony, adopt Resolution 15-5 approving Residential Planned Development Permit RP-15-1 subject to the Conditions of Approval. DIRECTOR S REPORT: At this time the Director of Development Services, or his/her designee, will provide updates on projects, programs or events within the City and make announcements as deemed necessary. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: Citizens wishing to address the Commission on any matter within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission not on the Agenda may do so at this time. Please STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS CLEARLY for the record. Please note that while the Commission values your comments, pursuant to January 1, 1987 amendments of the Brown Act, the Commission cannot respond nor take any action until such time as the matter may appear as an item on a forthcoming agenda. COMMISSION ORALS: Each Commissioner at his discretion may address the Council and public on matters of general information and/or concern, including announcements and future agenda items. ADJOURNMENT: The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Alhambra Planning Commission will be held on Monday, March 16, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., in Alhambra City Hall Council Chambers, 111 South First Street, Alhambra, California. NOTICE: AGENDA ITEMS: Copies of the staff reports or other written documentation relating to each item of business described hereinabove are on file in the offices of the Development Services Department in City Hall, 111 South First Street, Alhambra, California, and are available for public inspection during regular 2
office hours, which are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Should any person have a question concerning any of the above agenda items prior to the meeting described herein, he or she may contact the Development Services Director either in person at the Department offices, or by telephone at (626) 570-5034 during regular office hours. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: If you require special assistance to participate in any City meeting (including assisted listening devices) please contact the Development Services Department at (626) 570-5034. Notification of at least 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. APPEALS: Any person wishing to appeal any decision of the Planning Commission to the City Council may do so by filing an appeal in writing along with the appropriate appeal fee to the Development Services Department in City Hall within 10 calendar days of the Planning Commission decision. The appeal period for items on this agenda expires at the close of business on March 26, 2015. Meeting Rules and Regulation Section 2.24.060 of the Alhambra Municipal Code provides for the Planning Commission to establish and enforce its own rules and regulations for its meetings. The Planning Commission uses those rules and regulations established by the Municipal Code and implemented for use by the City Council. Addressing the Commission: Any person wishing to address the Commission during the meeting must complete a Speaker Request Card and submit it to the Secretary. When called upon by the President, please step to the podium and give your name, address and organization or other party you represent, if any, in an audible tone of voice for the record. Remarks are limited to 5 minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Commission as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than the Commission and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Commission, without the permission of the President. No question shall be asked a Commissioner except through the President. Standards of Decorum: Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the Commission shall be forthwith, by the President, barred from the meeting. Persons Authorized to be Within Rail: No person, except City officials, their representatives, and newspaper reporters, shall be permitted within the rail in front of the Council Chamber without the express consent of the Commission. 3
MINUTES ALHAMBRA PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting February 17, 2015 ROLL CALL: The Alhambra Planning Commission met on February 17, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Alhambra City Hall. Members present: Bunker, Dunkel-Soto, Garcia, J. Maloney, Maza, Lodge Members absent: Also present: T. Maloney, Murray, Tse Tara Schultz, Assistant City Manager/Director of Development Services, Scott Lee, Principal Planner CONSENT AGENDA: ITEM 1: Minutes of January 20 Lola Armendariz noted a correction to the Minutes. She clarified that her comments should reflect her opposition to an access easement to Granada Park from an adjacent proposed private development. Commissioner Lodge also noted a correction that he had discussed with staff earlier in the day. A quote attributed to him was in fact made by Commissioner J. Maloney. MOTION Commissioner J. Maloney moved to approve the Minutes of January 20 as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Bunker, the motion carried with the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Bunker, Dunkel-Soto, Garcia, J. Maloney, Maza, Lodge None T. Maloney, Murray, Tse HEARINGS: ITEM 2: Commercial Planned Development Permit CP-14-10, Conditional Use Permit CU-14-9 & Variance V-14-14 301-307 West Main Street Applicant: Ginextech Company, Inc. Request: This is an application for a Commercial Planned Development Permit, Conditional Use Permit and Variance to establish a 5,637 square foot restaurant with beer service and a juice bar in three adjacent commercial lease spaces previously used as a restaurant, an office and a retail store with a reduced number of parking 1 (02/17/15)
spaces in a portion of an existing commercial building located in the Commercial Planned Development zone. Staff Recommendation: Approval Milt Chow, property owner s representative, was available to answer questions. Commissioner Bunker commented on the sharing of the dining room and asked how the management would control who gets served beer. Commissioner J. Maloney concurred and stated that the management should be vigilant in checking identification and monitoring customers. Mr. Chow noted that the ABC requires training for all employees. Commissioner Bunker clarified the location and duration of the parking survey and also asked when the applicant expected to open the restaurant. Mr. Chow answered that the applicant hoped to open the business by July. Commissioner Garcia stated that she has patronized L & L Barbecue in the past, has not seen beer sales in other locations and asked why beer sales were being requested here. Mr. Chow stated that there were other branches which sold beer, but was not familiar with the percentage of outlets selling alcoholic beverages. Commissioner Garcia asked when the Casita de Zen would be open. Ms. Schultz stated that this was expected within a few months. Commissioner Garcia clarified the parking survey results, noted that the survey ended at 3 PM, noted the potential for high parking usage between 3 and 5 PM and asked if increasing the survey hours had been considered. She recommended that adequate signage be provided to direct customers to the parking lots. Ms. Schultz noted that the Alhambra Pacific Plaza had extra parking spaces also, that had not been mentioned in the staff report. Commissioner Maza inquired about the number of extra parking spaces at the Alhambra Pacific Plaza. Ms. Schultz estimated the number of spaces at around 50, but did not recall the exact number. Commissioner Dunkel Soto concurred with her fellow Commissioners regarding the parking and signage. She believed that the business would be successful Commissioner J. Maloney commented that due to the location of the proposed establishment among many recent and future residential developments, many people may walk to the location. Additionally, persons living independently would most 2 (02/17/15)
likely be of drinking age. He liked the openable windows proposed by the applicant, as they would make the business more welcoming to pedestrians, which he thought was very important in this location. Commissioner Garcia realized that there were limitations to staff availability, but suggested that evening parking surveys would be helpful in evaluating these types of requests in the future. Mr. Chow noted that with the new parking structure on North First Street, there was also a possibility that visitors could park there and explore the downtown area on foot. MOTION Commissioner Bunker moved to adopt Resolution 15-2 approving Commercial Planned Development Permit CP-14-10, Conditional Use Permit CU-14-9 and Variance V-14-14 as recommended by staff. Seconded by Commissioner Garcia, the motion carried with the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Bunker, Dunkel-Soto, Garcia, J. Maloney, Maza None Lodge T. Maloney, Murray, Tse ITEM 3: Residential Planned Development Permit RP-14-10 1800 South Date Avenue Applicant: Nelson Peng Request: This is an application for a Residential Planned Development Permit to add a 927 square foot two story addition to an existing single family residence on an approximate land area of 6,588 square feet located in the R-1 (Single Family Residential) zone. Staff Recommendation: Approval Alan Peng, property owner, explained the need for the project to accommodate his growing family. His parents also lived in the residence. He commented that the second story had been set back from the front to minimize the street impact. Patrick Chiu, project designer, observed that the house currently lacks character. The proposed design adds more Spanish design features and will improve the appearance of the house. Commissioner Garcia commented that the project was a good one that fit well in the area. Commissioner Maza concurred and supported the project. Commissioner Dunkel-Soto inquired about the second story windows on the side and rear elevations and noted overviewing concerns. Mr. Peng noted that the neighboring properties had awnings and patio covers and that it would difficult to view the adjacent properties. He also noted that he was friends with the adjacent neighbors and would feel uncomfortable looking into their yards. Mr. Chiu added that the 3 (02/17/15)
window sizes were dictated by the emergency egress requirements in the Building and Fire codes. Commissioner Bunker thought the plans were appropriate for the area and also supported the project. Commissioner Lodge asked about the Public Works condition PW4, which required resurfacing of the street. Ms. Schultz stated that this condition would be up to the Public Works Department to impose. Typically, this type of condition was intended to address cuts in the street to accommodate undergrounding of utilities and upgraded water service or meters. The resurfacing of the street would smooth out any cuts which had been made. MOTION Commissioner Bunker moved to adopt Resolution 15-3 approving Residential Planned Development Permit RP-14-10 as recommended by staff. Seconded by Commissioner Maza, the motion carried with the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Bunker, Dunkel-Soto, Garcia, J. Maloney, Maza, Lodge None T. Maloney, Murray, Tse DIRECTOR S REPORT: There were no items to report. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: COMMISSION ORALS: Lola Armendariz requested clarification on the preparation of the January 20 minutes. Were these for an upcoming or past Council meeting. She was informed that the minutes were for the Council meeting of February 9. Mrs. Armendariz commented that the speaker for Item 2 had not identified himself and no one had asked him to do so. Finally, she requested that periodic reviews for all bars on Main Street should be resumed, including listings of calls for Police service. There were none. 4 (02/17/15)
ADJOURNMENT: There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:53 PM to Monday, March 2, 2015 at 7:00 PM. John Lodge President ATTEST: Scott Lee Principal Planner 5 (02/17/15)