MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MOBILE HOME RENT MEDIATION BOARD 2929 Tapo Canyon Road August 20, 2014 Simi Valley, CA 93063 I. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Simi Valley was called to order at 6:31 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, California. II. III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Commissioners McGuigan, Bibb, and Hodge and Chairperson Rice Vice Chairperson Santino IV. PUBLIC STATEMENTS Sigrid Bremer spoke as an advocate for ARC of Ventura County. She expressed concerns about the sidewalks and the safety of their clients in wheelchairs. Ms. Bremer asked the Planning Commission for its assistance in resolving this safety issue. V. CORRESPONDENCE None VI. DECLARATION OF CONFLICT No member of the Commission declared a conflict of interest. VII. APPROVAL OF AGENDA It was the consensus of the Commission to approve the agenda as submitted. VIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 6, 2014 It was the consensus of the Commission to approve the minutes as submitted. IX. CONSENT CALENDAR None
Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Minutes - Page 2 August 20, 2014 X. CONTINUED BUSINESS None XI. NEW BUSINESS A. PUBLIC HEARING 1. GPA-94 and SP-S-7, AMD. #23, 2900 Madera, LLC: A request to amend the General Plan Land Use Map and West End Specific Plan to change the land use and zoning designations of a 6.31 acre site from Industrial to Business Park; and approval of a Negative Declaration Location: Staff Contact: 2900 Madera Sean Gibson (805) 583-6897 The Commission had no ex parte communications to report. Senior Planner Sean Gibson gave a brief PowerPoint presentation of the staff report and was available for questions. Commissioner Hodge inquired if the warehouse is part of the project and if the existing office spaces are conforming uses. Mr. Gibson confirmed the warehouse is not part of the project and the existing businesses are conforming. Mr. Gibson also stated the request to change the land use and zoning designations is to allow additional types of office uses. Commissioner Hodge asked if there would be a parking issue if a parking structure was not built. Mr. Gibson confirmed parking would be adequate without additional parking. Chairperson Rice opened the public testimony portion of the hearing. Denise Davis, Vice President of Younan Properties, spoke about the project and was available for questions. Chairperson Rice closed the public testimony portion of the hearing. Commission Comments: There were no comments from the Commission. COMMISSIONER MCGUIGAN MOVED THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. GPA-94 AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT NO. SP-S-7 AMD #23, AND THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION THEREFOR Commissioner Bibb seconded the motion.
Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Minutes - Page 3 August 20, 2014 AYES: Commissioners McGuigan, Bibb, and Hodge and Chairperson Rice NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: Vice Chairperson Santino There is no Appeal period for the General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan Amendment. The items will proceed to the City Council with the Planning Commission s recommendation. 2. TP-S-673, Community Rebuild Asset Holdings, LLC: A request to subdivide a 0.76-acre parcel into three single-family parcels; and determination of exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act Location: Staff Contact: 1801 Oak Road Tom Preece (805) 583-6897 Chairperson Rice stated he spoke with the Developer by phone and visited the site. No other Commissioners had any ex parte communications to report. Senior Planner Tom Preece gave a brief PowerPoint presentation of the staff report and was available for questions. Commissioner Bibb asked why there was not a Neighborhood Council meeting for this item. Mr. Preece stated due to comments from concerned neighbors in attendance during the Administrative Staff hearing, the item was referred directly to the Commission. Chairperson Rice opened the public testimony portion of the hearing. The Applicant s Representative, Jerry Hovell, expressed appreciation to staff for their guidance and preparation in processing the map and stated the Applicant accepts the conditions as written in the staff report. Mr. Hovell also mentioned he and the Applicant held a meeting with the neighbors to hear their concerns and answer questions. Commissioner McGuigan inquired about the builder. Mr. Hovell stated the builder generally constructs up to two homes at a time and is the current owner of the house. Commissioner Bibb asked what kind of houses would be built. answered that has not yet been determined. Mr. Hovell
Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Minutes - Page 4 August 20, 2014 The following citizens submitted speaker cards in support and did not wish to speak: Guy J. Shamis, Simi Valley, CA Gregory Hebner, Los Angeles, CA The following citizens submitted speaker cards and spoke at the meeting: Lawrence Brody, Simi Valley, CA (comment only) Bradley Cox, Simi Valley, CA (comment only) Curtis Atwell, Simi Valley, CA (in opposition) Gary Bright, Simi Valley, CA, (in opposition and submitted a letter from Ralph & Diane Hurst) Peggy Bright, Simi Valley, CA (in opposition) Bobbi Cox, Simi Valley, CA (in opposition) Citizen concerns included privacy issues, increased traffic, and removal of oak tree. Mr. Hovell addressed the citizen s concerns regarding orientation of the proposed houses and removal of the Oak tree, and submitted photos of trees from the arborist s tree report to the Commission. He also stated a gate outside the fire turnaround would help mitigate the effect of traffic on the mobile homes, and addressed concerns of the existing fence along the north property line, if a wall was built. Commissioner Hodge asked Mr. Hovell how he envisions the gate. Mr. Hovell stated he envisions a remotely activated gate and the benefit of the gate would be to reduce the effect of headlights on the mobile homes. Chairperson Rice asked if the property line where the existing fence is located has been surveyed. Mr. Hovell confirmed there is no record of a survey. The following citizens spoke again. Lawrence Brody, Simi Valley, CA Bradley Cox, Simi Valley, CA Curtis Atwell, Simi Valley, CA Chairperson Rice closed the public testimony portion of the hearing. Commission Comments: Commissioner Bibb expressed concerns about the property line not having been surveyed, that the street is not wide enough for fire department turnaround, and the removal of the Oak tree. Mr. Preece responded the City arborist reviewed and approved the tree report and inspected the tree on site, and the fire department turnaround is adequate per the Fire Department requirement of 20 feet.
Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Minutes - Page 5 August 20, 2014 Commissioner Bibb asked who is responsible for the proposed new driveway. Mr. Drury responded it would be an agreement among the property owners determined by the easement, and would be a civil issue not involving the City. Commissioner McGuigan felt it would have been helpful if the tree report and the Fire Department conditions were included in the staff report. Mr. Preece stated the parcel map meets the Fire Department s access requirements; therefore, no conditions were needed. Commissioner McGuigan also stated he would like to see a 6-foot wall on the north portion of the property conditioned and would like to see a 100-foot wall along the east property line adjacent to Oak Road. Mr. Drury stated if Applicant is in concurrence, then the wall can be conditioned as such. Commissioner McGuigan stated he could not support the project as he felt Condition B-5 is not adequate. Mr. Drury stated that Public Works staff and Fire Department determined the access is adequate. Assistance City Attorney Caceres concurred with the findings in the staff report as drafted. Commissioner Hodge asked for clarification on which property line has not been surveyed. Chairperson Rice re-opened the public testimony portion to allow Mr. Hovell to respond to Commissioner Hodge s question. Mr. Hovell stated the property line in question is the line that divides the Cox s property and the Applicant s property, and the fence in relation to the property line has not been surveyed. Chairperson Rice closed the public testimony. Commissioner Hodge also expressed concerns about traffic on Oak Road and access for a fire truck. Chairperson Rice agreed with staff findings and would like to see a block wall built if applicant is willing to, would like to condition a certain type of wall, and condition certain type and size of trees. Chairperson Rice re-opened the public testimony. Applicant Gregory Hebner indicated they would be willing to install a block wall on the part of the property they are responsible for along the east property line adjacent to Oak Road.
Mobile Home Rent Mediation Board Minutes - Page 6 August 20, 2014 Chairperson Rice closed the public testimony portion. It was the consensus of the Commission to continue the item to a date uncertain to allow staff additional time to address the following Commission s concerns: the increased traffic, ultimate size, timing and who pays for improvements, the conditions to be met, and the use of Oak Road; information from Fire District on the turnaround and whether parking is allowed at the turnaround; the future use of the property; and, issues with the property survey line and tree report. B. OTHER None XII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS A. STAFF None B. COMMISSION None C. MOBILE HOME RENT MEDIATION BOARD None XIII. ADJOURNMENT The regular meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Simi Valley was adjourned at 8:11 p.m. The next scheduled Planning Commission meeting is September 3, 2014. Minutes Prepared by: Darlene Wright