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01-25-1965 - Regular Meeting - MinutesX i 0 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA January 25, 1965 The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Snyder at 7:35 P.M. in the West Covina City Hall. Councilman Heath led the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Rev. John Reid of the Community Presbyterian Church. ROLL CAT.T. Present: Mayor Snyder, Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath Others Present: Mr. George Aiassa, City Manager Mr. Robert Flotten, City Clerk & Admin. Assistant Mr. John Q. Adams, Public Services Director Mr, Harry Co Williams, City Attorney (from 8:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.) Mr, Dwight Newell, Acting City Attoreny (from 9:30 P.M.) Mr, Harold Joseph, Planning Director APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 21, 1964 - Approved as submitted as follows: Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that the Minutes of December 21, 1964 be approved as submitted. December 28, 1964 - Approved as corrected as follows: Councilman Krieger: On Page 29, the Minutes reflect that I seconded a resolution which had to do with the Irwindale resolution and I did not second that resolution. I voted against it. Councilman Heath: I believe I voted for that reso- lution and I will go on record as seconding it. Motion.by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that the Minutes of December 28, 1964 be approved as corrected. January 11, 1965 - Approved as corrected as follows: Councilman Krieger: I would call attention to Page 37, a statement made at the bottom of the page attributed to May Pro Tem Nichols commencing with the words, "Mr. Krieger". This statement was made by me and directed to Mr. Ebinero Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that the Minutes of January 11, 1965 be approved as corrected. January 13, 1965 - Approved as submitted as follows: Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that the Minutes of January 13, 1965 be approved as submitted.. 0 C, C. 1/25/65 CITY CLERK'S REPORTS Page Two TRACT NOa 27416 LOCATION: South side of La Puente ACCEPT STREET IMPROVEMENTS ON Road between Forecastle CERTAIN -STREETS IN TRACT Avenue and Flemington Pickering Enterprises, Inc. Drive. APPROVED Engineer's report submitted. Accept street improvements on certain streets in Tract No. 27416. Retain full bond amount until completion of tract. Staff recommends acceptance. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to accepti�the-engineer's recommendation and accept these streets in Tract No. 27416 for maintenance, and to retain the full bond. RESOLUTION N0. 3086 Elks West Covina Lodge #1996 ADOPTED Mayor Snyder: The City Clerk presented: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ACCEPTING A CERTAIN WRITTEN INSTRUMENT AND DIRECTING THE RECORDATION THEREOF" (Grant .of easement ® Board of Directors, Elks West Covina Lodge 1996.) Hearing no objections, we will waive further reading of the body of the resolution. Councilman Heath: When we discussed this there was a possibility that Wescove Place would travel westerly and turn north. The drainage is in a south- westerly direction. Therefore, we could not drain this water out on California Avenue. It would have to come out on Merced. Where would ..the permanent easement be? Public Services Director, Mr. Adams: If Wescove does not continue through to California we do have a storm drain now being constructed in California and we could pick up for Wescove and tie into the drains that will be constructed. The easement would have to go through private property. If a development comes in they would have to develop the easement. Councilman Heath: I feel this easement proposed here is a permanent easement and I think we should regard it as such. Would you like to hold this up for a re -recommendation? City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: I think it's too late. Councilman Krieger: I would suggest we accept it on a temporary basis. If it must be made permanent I.am quite sure they will always be willing to accept the money and give us the permanent easement. -2- i Co Co 1/25/65 'RESOLUTION NOQ 3086 - Continued Page Three Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, that said resolution be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Mayor Snyder Noes: Councilman Heath Absent° None Said resolution was given No. 3086. WEED ABATEMENT - 1963 LOCATION: A portion of Lot 100 APPROVE REFUND OF WEED of E. J. Baldwin's ABATEMENT ASSESSMENT second subdivision of APPROVED Rancho La Puente. Accept Engineer's report. Approve refund in the amount of $123.10 for weed abatement assessment covering Parcel 9, Page 007, Map Book 8467, to Charles R. and Barbara H. Tucker. Authorize Finance Director to make refund from Account 832. Staff recommends approval. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that the Director of Finance be authorized to refund the sum of $123.10 to Charles R. and Barbara H. Tucker in accordance with the report of January 18, 1965. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Noes: None Absent: None DANCE PERMIT REQUEST Jim's Water Wheel Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: (Read letter dated January 25, 1965 directed to the City of West Covina requesting to appear before the Council at their adjourned meeting of February 1, 1965 and signed by Brown and Cianchetti by Sam Cianchetti, Jr.) Councilman Jett: I think this gentleman at the Water Wheel is making every possible effort to re-establish the business there. I think he is making an effort to prove he wishes to do what is right and I don't think we should attempt to cause this man any further trouble or harrassment. I think he has the right to expect fair treatment and I. for one, would go on record to say I would not object to his renewing his dancing permit. • Councilman Heath: I feel somewhat the same way. I think this would be a good time for him to prove what type of operation he can run. I would not be against issuing a temporary license. -3- Co Co 1/25/65 Page Four DANCE PERMIT REQUEST (JIM'S WATER WHEEL) - Continued Councilman Krieger: The only question I would have is one of timing. If I understand the chronology correctly Mr. Lotito's dance permit came up for renewal on December 31st. Apparently the Chief of Police refused a renewal at that time and here we are on January 25 and they are asking for an interim permit and wish to appear at our meeting of February 1st, to explain what has been happening with the A.B.C. Board. If they have allowed 25 days to pass without asking for the interim permit I see no reason why we cannot wait at our grace an additional few days to determine the full status of this matter. Mayor Snyder: It seems to me the reason for holding up this permit will be discussed at the hearing on February lst. Councilman Nichols: It is my understanding of the ordinance as written that the authority for these matters is vested in the Chief of Police unless there is a formal appeal to this Council. I do not interpret this letter as constituting an appeal from a refusal to issue a license but rather an.administrative extension for a short period of time. It would be my understanding of this that this is a matter that would not require Council action. City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Under Section 4111 they want to appeal to the Council. All they want is to be able to operate between now and the time they appeal so we don't shut them down. Only the Council can grant this interim period. Councilman Nichols: City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: Councilman Krieger: Police Chief Sill: Councilman Krieger: Is there a recommendation from you or one of your staff? The Chief of Police has no objections for this short period. Chief Sill, do they have a permit at the present time? No. How is this an extension? This is an issuance of an interim permit. Motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded by Councilman Heath, that the Council authorize the Chief of Police to issue a temporary license, cabaret license, to Jim's Water Wheel to extend to February 1, 1965. Councilman Krieger: To your knowledge would this have any evidential value before • the A.B.C. Board at their hearing tomorrow? Police Chief Sill: I can't answer that. I wouldn't be able to evaluate it. I am not familiar with A.B.C. hearings. (Mr. Williams entered the chambers at 8:00 P.M.) Action on Councilman Nichols' motion: Motion carried. (Councilman Krieger voted "NO".) -4- e Ca Ca 1/25/65 Page Five 'DANCE' PERMIT REQUEST (JIM'S WATER WHEEL) - Continued City Manager, Mr, Aiassa-. I would like the following to be included in the motion-. "Should the Council so order it should be made clear to the applicant and placed.in the record that such delay is a matter'of grace and operates without prejudice to either side with respect to any subsequent administrative or legal -..proceedings, Councilman Nichols-. I will accept that amendment to my motion, Councilman Heath: I will accept it as the second, Action on the motion as amended: Carried, (Councilman Krieger voted "No",) SCHEDULED MATTERS PROJECT NO, C,O,6516 LOCATION-. Cameron Park site, COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER BLOCK WALL Bids received in office of. City Clerk, 10-.00 A.M., January 21, 1965, The bids received are as follows-. AERO LINE FENCE 8 MASONRY $510.00 bid bond $ 5,082,21 SOUTHEAST CONCRETE PRODUCTS $596,10 cash, ck, 59961,00 Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that the contract be awarded to Aero Line Fence 8 Masonry on Project No, C,O,6516 on the basis of their low bid items for a total estimated amount of $5,082.21, and that the Mayor and the City Clerk be authorized to execute the agreement. Motion passed on roll call as follows-. Ayes-. Councilmen Jett, Noes-. None Absent-, None HEARINGS Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder DISTRICT A'11-61-2 Hearing of protests or objections SANITARY SEWERS to the change of work in Assessment CHANGE OF WORK HEARING District No, A911-61-2, Barranca Avenue, Virginia Avenue, and Other • Streets and Rights of Way, as described in said plan and specifications; set for hearing this date by Resolution of Intention to Change Work No, 3066, adopted by the City Council on December 28, 1964, Mayor Snyder-. This is the time for the hearing of objections to change work, -5- 4�. Co C. 1/25/65 Page Six D'I'STRICT`A111-61-2, SANITARY SEWERS Continued. Mayor Snyder: Mr,, City Clerk, do you have the affidal.vit's of publication? City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: Yes. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, to receive and file the affidavits. Mayor Snyder: Mr. City Clerk, have you received any,written protests or objections against the doing of the proposed work? City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: No protests received either oral or written. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that since there are no protests, either written or oral, that this hearing be closedo RESOLUTION NO. 3087 Assessment District A111-61-2 ADOPTED Mayor Snyder: The City Clerk presented: "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA ORDERING CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS OF THE WORK TO BE DONE IN ASSESSMENT DISTRICT Ae11-61-2, BARRANCA AVENUE, VIRGINIA AVENUE, AND OTHER STREETS AND RIGHTS -OF -WAY" Hearing no objections, we will waive further reading of the body of the resolution. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said resolution be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows.: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: None Absent: None Said resolution was given No. 3087. • 6 I • Co Co 1/25/65 HEARINGS - Continued Page Seven VARIANCE N0,, 520 LOCATION: Easterly of Pass and Home.Savings 6 Loan Assoc. Covina Road at Amar. APPROVED Request to permit cluster housing and with (1) reduced front yards, (2) reduced side yards, (3) reduced PRECISE PLAN.NO'o 422 rear yards, (4) reduced net lot Home Savings 6 Loan Assoc. area, (5) increased ground APPROVED coverage per lot, (6) reduced size of units, and (7) reduced and internal driveway width, in Zone R-2; approved by Planning TRACT NO, 23292 Commission Resolution No. 1718. Home Savings.& Loan Assoc. Called up by Council on December 14, HELD�OVER- 1964; appealed by Home Savings 6 Loan Association and by Homeowners Association on December 1-8, 1964. City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: Request for approval of precise plan for multiple family housing approved by Planning Commission Resolution No. 1719. Called up by Council on December 12, 1964; appealed by Home Savings 6 Loan Association and by Homeowners Association on December 18, 1964. Request for 353 Acres - 1157 Lots - Area District I. approved by Planning Commission on December 2, 1964.. (Read Planning Commission Resolution No. 1718.) Councilman Krieger: Regarding Item No. 4, is this in fact the conditions on this variance upon the vesting or reversion of title? I understood there was to be no reversion of title in this variance. Planning Director, Mr. Joseph: This matter came up at the Planning Commission. This was imposed on the previous similar types of developments such as this. If it is necessary, it will be done. It was -left at the discretion of the City Attorney to work out the legal ramifications of this. This is subject to the City Attorney°s approval. Mr. Graham Ritchie: Planning Director, Mr. Joseph: Mayor Snyder: 0 We agreed to that condition. (Read Planning Commission Resolution No. 1719 and gave brief summary of the matter.) Mr. City Clerk, do you have any written communications on this matter? -7- • C. Ca 1/25/65 Page Eight HOME SAVINGS 8 LOAN ® continued City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: I only have the letters of appeal. The appeal of the Home Savings and Loan Association refers only to item No. 6 in Variance 520, and this appeal refers also to Item No. 7 in Precise Plan No. 422. I have just been handed a telegram directed to Norman Snyder in favor and signed by Mr. Mendoza of the Cement Local No. 627, I also have a telegram signed by Carpenters Local Union No, 769 in favor of this matter. This is a letter directed to West Covina City Council dated January 28 from the Homeowners Association in opposition and the East Hills Homeowners Association, I have a letter from the Building Material and Dump Truck Drivers in favor of this matter. Councilman Nichols: This letter just quoted from the Building Material and Dump Truck Drivers is addressed to the Mayor and carbon copies were sent to Councilmen Jett, Heath and Krieger and I would like the record to show there are five Councilmen in the City of West Covina if the Dump Truck Drivers are interested, City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: I have one letter from the West Covina Homeowners Federation signed by C. W. Dowding,, Chairman, requesting a referendum for the people to vote upon this application. Mayor Snyder: IN FAVOR This is the time and place for the public hearing. Mr, Graham Ritchie: The action of the Commission boils down to a couple of things. They approved basically the precise plan and the variance. They imposed a condition on the precise plan of the first phase subject to the conditions they imposed that we could submit precise plans on phases two and three of the first increment as long as we did not exceed the standards established for the development. We presented the precise plan for phase one and the Planning Commission imposed those conditions and indicated they would permit us to develop in accordance with those conditions. There were many conditions we might have quibbled about but we accept the conditions as imposed with one exception and the one exception is the condition that says that no single family house, no one unit may be less than 950 square feet; secondly, that at least 50% of the units that are built must be at least 1200 square feet in size, We have submitted a proposal for distribution of unit sizes. This was in the original staff report. This reflects the original request for unit size distribution that they could be permitted to develop on this property. The Planning Commission had this before them and we assumed if there were going to be any substantial modifications that we might at least be consulted to find out if it in any way conflicted with our plans or made it impossible to develop but the Planning Commission with rather short conversation and consideration made a motion that no unit should be less than 950 square feet and half of them would be over 1200. The proposal we have does no great violence to the standards of development you have in this City, Based upon our studies which involve consideration of grading, street alignments, lot sizes, we came up with two variations of lot sizes C, C, 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS 8 LOAN m Continued Page Nine and this was all part of the planning that took approximately a year and a half to ultimately develop. We'have been striving for something we could economically market and some variation in houses in an attempt to meet the needs of all of the people we expected to purchase property within this development, We really feel the distribution you see before you is not inconsistent at all.with what you have at the present time in West Covina or even with the standards which the Planning Commission had in mind when they attempted to impose this 950 and 1200 condition, We prepared two charts to show you how close we are to the conditions imposed by the Planning Commission, (Presented charts and explained same,) 65% of the units will be above 1200 square feet, 35% of them will be 945 square feet, 'We don't feel that the right of the applicant to invest his own money and experiment with 18 one -bedroom .homes is an unreasonable request considering it is our money and it is our development. As long as we do no violence to the health, peace and safety powers of this City or the standards of development of this City we do not believe we are building something that falls below that standard, These unit sizes were planned to fit certain available construction materials that would be more economical to us than going to other construction materials or odd size timber cuts that might run us more money, We don't feel we are out of line with what West Covina now has, There was a question about the storage of boats. We have guest parking areas and they would be available for that type of parking. Each unit has a two -car garage and there is space for them to store a boat or trailer in their garage, There was also a question about what degree of privacy is being made available to people. Each of these homes will have a private patio in connection with it and we feel that that is a degree of privacy that is of great benefit. As far as density is concerned, I have another chart, (Presented chart and explained same,) I think there are more usable areas in the Home Savings and Loan addition to spread these 2,260 people over than there would be in the City of West Covina to spread the 67,000 persons over because we have no lost land in that area, I think if you compare grosses you can readily see we are not in any way out of line with the standards you have experienced in West Covina, will be happy to answer them, If you have any questions, I Mr, William Pereira: I think the Planning Commission's action in setting a minimum of 950 square feet per dwelling unit makes the construction of one -bedroom units impractical. It may appear that the elimination of 18 units is a small matter, It is an important matter to the small group who may be searching for this specific type of home, We are consistently and diligently striving to create a fine residential complex. We feel that successful master planning must take recognition of a wide range of human desires and correlate them with sensitivity and the end product must be a fine environment in which all components are combined in rich living, I urge you to consider this 950 square foot minimum, ME Co Co 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS & LOAN ® Continued Page Ten! Mr,, Hersh Evans, I am the vice president of the. Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, area district of E1 Monte. I am here asking that you do grant this variance to the Home Savings and Loan Association for them to build these homes to eliminate some of the unemployment situation ..we have in the building construction trades, particularly in this area. We have an enormous amount of people living in this area in the building construction trades. IN OPPOSITION Mrs, Mildred Farnsworth I am speaking as a representative 2104 East Cameron Avenue of the West Covina Homeowners _West Covina Federation and as an individual homeowner. I wish to speak in opposition to the precise plan and the zone variance. West Covina has been referred to as the City of Beautiful Homes. I believe a city should always be defined in terms of its people. West Covina is a City of happy, reasonably satisfied homeowners and in contrast to what the .gentleman from Home Savings may think about the citizens of this City, many people made the change to primarily single family residential community to get away from the noise, confusion and constant proximity to others which characterizes multiple dwellings. In the recent municipal election the people of this community in unprecedented numbers asserted their satisfaction with West Covina as a family -type community and they rejected any move toward changing its character as such. They still feel that way and the same people still live here. The term "family -type community" cannot be taken lightly for we are just that. We have a very low drop -out rate in our schools. We average a bare 2% compared with the national average of 25%. It is a commentary on the type of family life which develops in a community primarily devoted to single family dwellings. A great number of our residents commute long distances to come home to an area where it is quiet. We believe the General Plan stresses the single family house on the single family lot. You are being asked to approve a precise plan which will duplicate the high density multiple dwelling conditions most of us came to West Covina to avoid. Home Savings and Loan is offering a plan whereby multiple dwellings will outnumber single family residences by a three -to -one ratio. What evidence can be offered to support the need for this overwhelming growth in multiple units? The facts are that it is almost impossibe to pass by any apartment house in the City which does not have a "Vacancy" sign. According to the San Gabriel Apartment House Owners Association the multiple dwelling vacancy rate in this City is 20 It should be obvious that the people • who wish to live in West Covina prefer individual homes and not the type of dwelling which is represented in multiple zoning. How can Home Savings and Loan hope to make its program salable to people who are accustomed to the high residential standards of West Covina? The fact of the matter is that these are apartment -type structures sharing a common wall, built end on end, row on row, not too unlike some of the tenament areas in the large cities of the east. I believe the people of the City of West Covina are opposed to this. ®10® Cc Cc ' 1/25/65 Page Eleven HOVr 'SAVINGS & LOAN - Continued Although no need for this type of development can be established, let us consider what possible advantages might be claimed for this project,, Much has been made of the common green area.and its recreational value,, This is an unfenced, unsupervised play area and it is as far as 600 feet away from some of the dwelling units, well beyond observation from the window. I would not.permit my youngsters to play under such conditions. Even for older children there are recreational problems,, There is a 7% grade,, Where are the activity areas? In postage -stamp patios and a town house slightly larger than my garage This can hardly be considered an improvement over the traditional backyard. I object to the use of the term "town house",, I think to the average person the term "town house" connotates a concept of luxury well beyond the limits of most of us and I think you will all agree that structrues that run under 950 ....square feet could hardly be considered luxurious. As far as I'm concerned this is misleading and I would like to remind members of the Council that corporations in some areas of business which seek to mislead the public are considered to violate the law,, We are told Home Savings and Loan represents a unique treatment of land advanced in its thinking,, The fact is that for this area this is an experiment admittedly by the gentleman from Home Savings and Loan,, If this development fails the worse which can happen to Home is a series of tax vi-ite-offs but to the City of West Covina failure can mean a slum of major proportions with all of the problems of police and fire protection.' health, public assistance, et cetera, which are attendant thereon -- a monument to poor judgement. We suggest as you consider this precise plan you ask yourselves these questions? Is there a genuine need for this type of development in the City? We challenge Home Savings and Loan to prove.this,, What could this type of development do for our community? Nothing good and potentially much damage. Is this plan in the best interest of the City as defined in the General Plan? We submit that it is not. Is this what the people of West Covina want? The answer is "No". If your replies to these questions concur with ours we believe you will reject the variance and the precise plan as proposed by Home Savings and Loan and retain the high type of residential standards of the City of West Covina,, Mr,, Chuck Dowding I am Chairman of the West Covina 1605 South Belmont Homeowners Federation,, I would West Covina like to initially read into the record a letter from our Planning Director, Hal Joseph, to the City Manager, subject Home Savings and Loan: "The proposed hearings on the Home Savings and Loan precise plan, variance, are set before the City Council on January 11, 1965,, The Planning Commission has made certain conditions on the proposal which are deemed to be totally acceptable,, On Tuesday, December 15, I talked to Graham Ritchie, Dick Harbour and Ray Widmark, who represent Home Savings and Loan,, They were advised by this office to prepare a revised precise plan showing all the conditions imposed by the Planning Commission They said they could not prepare such a plan and an appeal was to be taken to the City Council,, This is to advise you that unless Home Savings and Loan prepares such an amended plan the Council will not have the opportunity to see an illustration of what the Planning Com- mission approved,, This may make the Council evaluation more difficult," E? 0 Co Cc ' 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS 6 LOAN - Continued Page Twelve I am very sympathetic to that point of view. It makes my job very difficult, too, because I am appealing the precise plan that was passed by the Planning Commission with certain conditions and I am not in a position to really evaluate it because the evidence is not here tonight o I have a further problem and that is with the precise plan that we.are talking about. I don't think the City has a precise plan and I would like somebody on the City .staff to define in terms of our ordinance what is our precise plan here tonighto The ordinance has some very specific requirements with ...respect to the precise plan and I want to know what it is so I can talk to itc City Attorney, Mr,, Williams: Mayor Snyder: Councilman Jett: Councilman Heath: Mayor Snyder: Planning�Dir:ector, Mr. Joseph: plan. The drawing that was originally Commission was this one (indicating). one referred to as phase one happens to Commission and it is blown up. This is up to you. This is nbt the purpose of the hearing. What is the desire of the Council? I think we have a precise plan before us. There is no question in my mind. We have the Planning Commission's action on it. Mr. Joseph, would you give us the requirements of a precise plan? (Read section of code relating to required showing of a precise submitted to the Planning Along with the tract map and the be the same.as was before the Mr. Chuck Dowding: Tonight a new set of figures was introduced on the unit size. Originally in the report there was one set of figures. Then at the Planning Commission hearings unbeknown to the public, another set occurred and now we have a third set tonight that does not correspond to the set given to me by the Planning Director. This has characterized this application right through. I was most concerned on Mr. Ritchie's remark about the second and third -phase. They don't want to be completely tied to the second and third phases and our ordinance says a precise plan in every detail is supposed to be supplied. In my opinion, the procedures here have been illegal. (Presented renderings and explained same.) At all times they have claimed in terms of their town house development that they were in effect developing single family hones, they were not developing apartments. I want to show you just the way the market has developed here in West Covina in the past four years. We took through 1961 and 1964 every subdivision and plotted the area of the units, well over a thousand. The smallest unit recorded is 1183 square feet and there are about 60 of them in the Pickering Tract. All others exceed this number. (presented charts and explained same.) -12- S LJ 'Cc Ca 1/25/65 HOME 'SAVINGS & LOAN - Continued like to address to the Council,, own devices,, These are questions questions we are interested in, Page Thirteen I have a few questions I would They can answer them through their that I would like to ennumerate, In terms of the golf course, the golf course shown on the General Plan amendment shows a box -type relationship with single family homes in the middle,, The precise plan course shows a different -relationship. We wonder why,, Regarding the Little League park, we don't quite understand why this is not a general park,, We would like to know why specifically a Little League park,, This empty spot shown on the precise plan right in the middle of the precise plan, this is not part of the precise plan but it seems to me a little discussion of what the developers have in mind there would help us make a better decision, Mayor Snyder: Mr,, Chuck Dowding: that that will be R-1 for all time blow up does not correspond to the case where the original submittal submittal and no public notice was Right now there is R-1 on the property you mention,, I understand that. If the developer would like to say that would be interesting. This original submittal. This is another doesn't agree with the amended made of it,, In my opinion, the representative government has been on trial since Home Savings and Loan came in, We have an Area District I, 7500 square feet. Now we are asked to accept some 4600 some square feet, when you distribute all the green area around each unit. Look at the parking storage that Mr. Jett brought up, In our average R-1 home we have a two -car covered garage, a driveway up to the garage and we have storage space on the street. If you add this up you are going to have room for anywhere from six to nine cars without impeding traffic flow,, What do you have in this complex? You have two plus point something. This is a subversion of our West Covina standards and we are very disappointed that Home Savings and "Loan would come up with something like this, In answer to the labor man's concern about this development, we are very sympathetic to his point of view. The only reason we are here is we want to maintain West Covina's standards and we would like to proceed to develop the property on that.basis,, Mr, Ed LaBerge What concerns me is not the 20510 Rancho San Jose Drive merits or the demerits of the entire development but the procedure that is being followed here, I have been here quite a few times before you and I am amazed that a development of this kind can be put in a area of this kind with this many variances. I take issue with the gentleman who spoke about the year and a half of preparing plans in that he wasn't aware of the changing tempo of the City of West Covina and their Planning Department, I have been very aware of it for the last two years, I am amazed that the Planning Commission has approved a project of this magnitude with six variances where they had ample acreage to reduce the number of units and fall into the R-2 catagory, There is plenty of time to throw this, back at Home Savings and have them redraw the plan so they don't need all these variances. This is going to establish a precedent for other developers in the area who will come in with the same plea as to reduced size of units, -13- U Co Ca , 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS & LOAN 'Continued Mrs. Marjorie Gaines 914 West Barbara West Covina statement to read before this Council,, Page Fourteen My portion of the Federation's presentation is actually Charles Anderson's. He was unable to be here tonight but gave me his "I would like to make it quite clear that as a home owner and as a representative of the homeowner group in opposition this opposition is not for the sake of contrariness,, We believe in a philosophy of surburban western living,, Over 60,000 people were lured to West Covina by this philosophy -- a fine community of single family residences. In a short space of time we saw this headed for disaster by a previous City Council,, I firmly believe it is either inherent in man or middle class man has been inculcated with a.desire to acquire a home of his own,, The Home Savings plan is not palatable to the majority of the West Covina citizens. "During World War II our family was fortunate enough to qualify for and gain dwelling space in a housing project,, This had row housing and common greens. Because of clever architectural design and planting of shrubs and trees this project avoided the appearance of a military barracks. The inhabitants were a fair cross section of people who tried to make the best of the situation and yet this situation became more and more undesirable because westerners are not accustomed to this communal -type dwelling. The common goal of almost every family was to accumulate a stake so they could move away,, Why? Usually the little disruptive things which can occur in a neighborhood center around children,, "In our present neighborhood disagreements can be quickly countered by sending the children to the other end of the block or they can play in their own yard. With row housing when you step out of your house you are automatically in everyone's yard,, "Let us not experiment with an idea which is far from new. Let us not be the proving ground for saving in home building for Home Savings and Loan,, It is already a provable economic fact that great savings will accrue to the builder and can likewise be demonstrated that people become more volatile and unstable when packed too closely together,, The small owners find themselves involved in a struggle against a billion -dollar organization. We look to you to protect and defend our way of life. "The homeowners will be grateful in your vote in opposition to this fantastic increase in density for our City." Mr. Ralph Goldstein I am very deeply disturbed by 1546 Cameron Avenue this whole concept that has been West Covina introduced by Home Savings and I don't go along with it. They show 1320 feet, 1360 feet, but these are four -bedroom homes,, I don't want that in West Covina. Mr,, Dowding has given you what the standard is, what has been done up to date. These fall so far below that that any reasonable person can see that at a glance. The last development in a city should be the finest and this is not that. They have no right to expect not to have any conditions. They know what the R-2 ordinance says. They went right ahead on their own without any basis or thought given to our zoning and requirements and asked -14- C, Co * 1/25/65 Page Fifteen HOME SAVINGS 8 LOAN - Continued for variances,, You have a duty as Councilmen not to just pass things. There are ways to bring a matter of this importance to the public and get their approval. This is a new housing development, a new concept that involves an area one-half or one-third the size of the present City, This is too much dismissed with a few people getting up here and talking, I say something of this significance should be submitted to the people by referendum and you have that perfect right and duty in a situation like this. They are not coming in here asking for a minor variance which you can grant or not grant, Every violation of the existing zoning laws that you worked so hard to put into effect -- if they want this much variation_, let them to go the people. If not, it is going to the people by referendum and this is not a threat to the.Council but I think we are beyond the point of just talking nicely, I am speaking practically, We all know you have coming up on the next election your civic improvement thing -- Councilman Krieger: I don't see any relevance to this issue. We have a precise plan, a variance and a tract map before us. Bonds have nothing to do with this, Mr, Ralph Goldstein: I will withdraw from that discussion, I think we have to be practical, too, and I think if you are going to allow this pre- cise plan to come �n it must be done with the minimum restrictions put in by the Planning Commission, If you are going to put it in why not put it in with a limitation of a small first phase as Councilman Krieger first suggested when the zoning matter was up? Why can't they go ahead and develop onthis--this Rm2 on a small experimental basis? They said they had to do it all at one time but I say they have 165 acres of golf course, so many acres of R-1 and the acres of R-2 and multiple will allow them to do just about everything. If you are going to allow a precise plan tonight, limit it to a small section for this R-2 and that is the only thing that should be allowed. They say they have 11,20 per acre average gross. I am not interested in gross; I am interested in what is going on with this R-2, They are going to have 3,000 people living in 54 acres of town houses. If you divide that up, that is 60 persons per acre. Is this single family residential? I say it is not and I don't want to see this in West Covina, There is one answer they haven't come up with. If they are appealing and don't want this minimum size unit, are they going to accept it if you require it of them? (Mr. Williams left the chambers at 9:30 P,M, Mr, Newell entered the chambers at 9:30 P.M,) • REBUTTAL Mr, Graham Ritchie: If we had developed this thing the way it was originally zoned by the City Council and we had gone in there with bulldozers and carved up the hillside and built the R-1 and developed it on 7500 on up to 14,400, we would have come up with a total of 59782 dwelling units. What we have done is tried to get some imagination into this development, tried to preserve some of the topography that exists -15- C. Ca 1/25/65 'HOMEE'SAViNGS 6 LOAN - Continued Page Sixteen there and we have decreased the density that we were originally granted by this City Council. We have spent a good deal of time in planning to try to come up with something a little bit different. We have done it in complete concert with the staff and the Planning Commission and the Council and we have tried to keep you informed as we have gone along as to what this development was going to be. I think we have dealt in good faith throughout and I think we have kept all of the bargains and agreements we have ever made and I think you have every ..reason to think we will continue to do so. We feel it is a good development and it is unfortunate that some people think it is slums. Aside from -Mr. Dowding, who I. recall has been very willing.to,.plan other people._!s.property for them, I represented the clients -who .owned property -:on Glendora Avenue and after- the City spent.,good money to -get studies -by D;,;M.J.M. and after your staff reviewed that -study, everyone was surprised to find stilla third study presented for Glendora Avenue, Councilman Krieger: Along the same contexts we are not discussing Mr. Dowding or his past performance. We are discussing a precise plan and a variance. Mr. Graham Ritchie: You are correct. I am saying this: We have met all the requirements of your Police Department, your Building Department, your Health and Safety Department, your Planning Department; we have met all of the requirements that would protect this City. We have attempted to work within the framework of your zoning laws and your building laws and we have conceived a plan we think is workable. We are willing to invest our money in that plan. We think we have a right to have some little area in which we can do our own planning. We appreciate the effort of others to try to tell us what will sell and what will not sell. Within the limits of what is reasonable and consistent and within -the limits of what is safe and proper under your existing laws we think we have some right to try to be original, to try to experiment with our own money, to try and derive a profit based upon our own originality as long as we don't do any violence to the basic concepts of this City. We don't feel this plan does violence to the basic concept of this City. There has been a continual effort to take one phase of the first increment and compare it and this phase of this increment is one of the densest proposals we have. As we go north the density decreases and there is a deliberate effort to distort what we are trying to do here. I think the only valid comparison is to develop a general plan so you would be able to compare the entire development with the entire City. Unfortunately, that General Plan was not adopted but in our minds we are developing consistent with it and when you draw meaningful comparisons they have to be in terms of the total proposal. We are not adding to the overall density of the City. We do have one phase of one increment which is, if you compare it to all of West Covina, is denser. These are not meaningful comparisons at all. We are talking about an overall development and it should be treated that way. If we meet these standards and we make a bona fida attempt to do something useful with this land then I think we should be afforded the opportunity to take some of the risks ourselves and not have the entire thing in terms of aesthetics, in terms of economics, in terms of the,type of people who will live in these houses dictated by other people who would plan our property for us. I think we have presented to you a reasonable precise plan. -16- C,, Co ' 1/25/65 H0'ME­SAVTNGS 6 LOAN - Continued Page Seventeen I don't think we are doing any- thing illegal here as has been suggested,, We are not dealing with a plot of land that will take 180 units,, We are talking about 1800 acres of land,, There has to be some give and take. We need variances because you don't have a zone that considers a total development of 1800 acres, On the precise plan, although we feel wehave complied with your ordinance, we don't feel it is practical to precise the entire thing at this time and it has been .the advice of your City Attorney to me that it is not necessary to do so. All we are asking this Council is to allow us the flexibility to develop this thing with some degree of flexibility. We arq asking you to permit the development based on the distribution of unit sizes .which have been before you for'a long time and which are not new evidence in any way. We have worked long and hard to come up with this and I think we did have the right to expect a little more from the Planning Commission than just two minutes'considera- tion of this and that is really all that happened. After a long discussion of the entire precise plan and variance somebody said they didn't like the unit sizes and someone said "let's set them" -- Mayor Snyder: this during the 15 minutes that you spend a great many hours considering to correct that impression, The Planning Commission and the Council don't only consider are appearing before us,, We these things and I would like Mr,, Graham Ritchie: They had a mass of material and I am sure that they read it all but for the first time in the last couple of minutes in the consideration of this proposal, this new proposal was advanced to us. If it had been advanced to us prior to the Planning Commission hearing we would have explained to the Planning Commission why -we couldn't possibly live with that mix of unit sizes. It wasn't explained until after the Planning Commission hearing was closed. We got trapped by the very nature of the proceedings. The hearing was closed. We were left with no alternative but to appeal, There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed, councilman -Heath. Mr, Ritchie, in your rebuttal you stated something concerning the density of your development if developed in R-1 versus this present plan. Could you refresh me on that? Mr, Graham Ritchie: If we build under the existing zoning it permits a total of 59782 houses,, Based upon the same formulas for occupancy we produce 212971 persons which is approximately 1,500 more than the number of persons that are proposed based upon this proposal which involves 69684 units but overall fewer people per unit. Our population is 209262. Mayor Snyder: That is if you build the rest of the 1800 acres according to the General Plan you proposed? -17- C,, Co 1/25/65 Page Eighteen HOME SAVINGS 6 LOAN - Continued Mr,, Graham Ritchie: That's right,, Councilman Nichols: Mr,, Ritchie, something I have not understood from the very beginning and I think it is germaine, is Home Savings and Loan 'going to actually cause this development to come into being by their own direction? That is, are they going to do the construction of this project? Mr,, Graham Ritchie- They are going to do the subdivision,, They are going to loan the money for the construction and they are, presumably, going to have it built by general contractors but they will subdivide the entire property,, Councilman Nichols- They will have control of the titles until such time as they are sold to individuals? Mr,, Graham Ritchie- They must until 500 of them are sold,, Councilman Nichols- Does Home Savings intend and have they stated to you their intent to maintain such direct control over the total development of the entire 1800 acres of this.property that they hold presently in the City of West Covina? Mr,, Graham Ritchie- They intend to develop the entire development,, They will not sell off portions of it and they are going to be there holding the paper on what they have sold for many, many years to come,, Councilman Nichols- I know they will be holding the paper,, They will be doing the entire subdivision of all 1800 acres? Mr,, Graham Ritchie- That's right,, Councilman Krieger- How about this Condition No,, 4 on the variance about which I asked the Planning Director, the reversion of title? Mr,, Graham Ritchie: There won't be a reversion of title because it isn't that kind of a condominium,, They will build it themselves. If there is any reversion it will be back to them. This is fee title. As a practical matter if there is a default the title comes back to Home Savings and Loan and they then are going to be subject to paying the assessments for the shares against that -property -for the maintenance of that common • area We will work out something satisfactory to Mr,, Williams or his office,, Councilman Krieger: Do you feel by the nature of the topography and the size of the development that this constitutes the satisfaction of the requirement, for a showing of variances to exceptional or extra- ordinary circumstances? s.. I Ca Ca ' 1/25/65 HOME' SAVINIS 6 LOAN - Continued Mr, Graham Ritchie: Mayor Snyder: have been other developments the City,, Page Nineteen I think so,, I think you have a very exceptional and extra- ordinary piece of land here,, We have no zone to fit this type of development. There built under this variance procedure in Councilman Krieger: As I understand it in effect this Variance No,, 520 requests seven variances from our R-2 zone,, Mr. Joseph, perhaps you can elaborate on this,, As I read the material and perused the precise plans it is difficult for you state to us what precise variance requests are,, For example, front yards in a R-2 require 25-foot setback,, Are you in a position to say in what way except from nothing to something the front yard is being varied in this precise plan? They are asking for a reduced front yard. Assuming that it is adopted as a R-2 zone they are required to have.a 25-foot setback,, As you look at this it varies all over the place and this appears to be true with reduced side yards except where it has a common wall and has no side yards at all. When we talk about reduced rear yards this varies according to the particular structure in mind,, Reduced net lot area, this varies also, does it not? Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Councilman Krieger: of a minimum lot area of 7500 specifically in R-2 ordinance,, Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Councilman Krieger: Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Councilman Krieger: Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Yes,, We have in our R-1 ordinance a requirement in Area District I square feet but we have no requirement That's correct,, Is this all Area District I? Yes,, We have a minimum requirement of lot area of 7500 square feet? That's correct,, Councilman Krieger: And this varies on the structures being developed,, Then we have increased ground coverage per lot and if we are talking about it as R-2, our maximum ground coverage is 30% but in this you could only generalize,, It would depend upon the structure,, Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: That's right,, Councilman Krieger: On the reduced size of units we have had a great�,,,deal of testimony;-.:Now9 reduced internal driveway width, this appears to be the difference between 25 and 20 feet,, Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Each structure would lie on a lot,, The lots can get as low as twenty odd feet by seventy odd feet and the structure fits on the small lot, -19- C. cc 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS 6 LOAN Continued Page Twenty Councilman Heath- I think there should be something brought out here. Typical of a condominium you usually require a lot equal to the size of the building or with a six-inch side yard, front yard or back yard, six inches or three feet. Planning Director, Mr. Joseph- Condominium is a one -lot sub- . -division covering the entire piece of property and you sell the air rights. Councilman Heath: What they are doing is putting a lot here under this house the same as a condominium. Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Generally speaking, that is correct. The lot would contain the house, a parking space, a patio area, and very little else. Councilman Heath: In the County they go six inches outside of this all the way around or three feet. I don't think it is fair to compare a lot under one of these structures against an area district lot. Mayor Snyder: In the one other similar application did we have all these variances? Planning Director, Mr. Joseph- The one that comes to mind would be the Towne House and this is a similar application as they asked for. Councilman Krieger- Going specifically to this question of density to arrive at a computation, it seems that individuals appearing before us decide where they want to go and then uses a nechinism to get there. More importantly, if I understand what we are trying to do, we are trying not to take just the physical improvement itself and compare it to the acre on which it is constructed but to take the town house and the common green area and the private driveway area and total up the acreage of the superblock and determine from that by the number of units to be constructed in essence what the density is. Planning Director, Mr. Joseph- That is true. Councilman Jett: In going back to the size of the unit, I wonder what the difference is between what is required in Area District I and what is requested. In your discussion was there any distinction made between the two -bedroom and the one -bedroom or did you discuss this at all? • What was the reason for the 950 minimum square footage unit? Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph- I think it has been brought out fairly well. The Planning Commission stated that one of their primary concerns in this project was the dwelling unit size. The Commission determines that in this area of the City they felt that the dwelling unit size of 950 square feet which would have been imposed in the area if it had stayed single family was the minimum size dwelling unit they wanted to see on this land. The resolution doesn't say 950 square feet. They were -20- I • C, C, 1/25/65 ,HO'ME' SAVINGS 6 LOAN Continued Page Twenty -One specific that it shall be the minimum permitted in R-1, Area District I, They wanted to assure a minimum size of dwelling consistent with the area and the area district in which it had been placed, Councilman Jett. - Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: Councilman Jett. - Had this been discussed prior to this last meeting? We discussed it previously in our report in October, Was it ever discussed in any of the meetings? Planning Director, Mr, Joseph.- I can't say that it wasn't; I'm sure it was, To the depth that it was, I can't say without referring back to the Minutes, Councilman Jett.- At what point should we determine the size of the unit is my question. In my opinion, thinking ofa one -bedroom versus a two or three -bedroom, that this could certainly have a bearing upon the size of the total unit. I can't see why we would require them to build as big a one -bedroom house as we would require them to build a two -bedroom house. I think it is reasonable to assume that someone might want a one -bedroom, Councilman Krieger.- Mr, Ritchie, can you explain the differences between your feelings between the analysis of floor area and what -- Mr, Graham Ritchie.- Someone did a chart and didn't do it correctly. The difference is in the number of unit column and they prepared the chart from a previous suggested distribution of units but your "a", "b", "c" types still average out at 945 square feet, The balance would average out at 1210 instead of 1205, Councilman Krieger.- There is no relative difference between this chart we have been given tonight and the chart that appears in the Planning Commission's memo of December 4, 1964, is there? Mr, Graham Ritchie.- No, Councilman Jett.- Apparently 67,000 population was based on the General Plan projections for 1970. Did that take into consideration additional annexations? Planning Director, Mr, Joseph.- No, Councilman Jett: I don't know how much undeveloped land we have in the City at the present time or how nearly this will ultimately come to our ultimate development; however, in your opinion would this 10% per acre versus ll,2 per acre in the Home Savings development, is that an accurate figure? -21- Co Co 1/25/65 HOME SAVINGS 6 LOAN Continued Page Twenty -Two Planning Director, Mr. Joseph: Based upon the information at our disposal, it is. This is a reasonable estimate based upon statistics from the U. S. Census based on dwelling unit habitation. Councilman Jett: There was a question tonight as to the validity of this being a precise plan. Mr. City Attorney, is there any question, in your opinion, as to whether this is or is not a precise plan? Acting City Attorney, Mr. Newel: Mr. Williams discussed this matter with you. If the increment is going to be similar all throughout the precise plan can so limit it. This fills out the requirements of a precise plan in my opinion relating to the first increment. Mayor Snyder,. Mr. Ritchie, how large are your patio areas and if an owner wants a larger patio area is it available to him? Mr. Joseph Bell: All units have one patio; half of the units have two patios. The size is a minimum of ten -by -ten and up from there. There couldn't be a great deal of increase. Mayor Snyder: Mr. Joseph Bell: Mayor Snyder: Do you have a separate utility system for each unit? At this point, the answer is yes. Parking other than that in the garage -- Mr,, Joseph Bell: There are two -car garages enclosed for every unit and in addition in the first phase of the first increment which has been precised more than another, there are 126 open spaces for guests and for storage use such as boats. Mayor Snyder,. Is there any restriction on the common area not being buildable without an additional precise plan? Mr. Joseph Bell: These lots will be in fee. Mayor Snyder: Any further building or design of the common area will require a further precise plan? Planning Director, Mr. Joseph: There is a certain amount of ground coverage that must be maintained. If they put a building on the property this would decrease the amount of open space and the Planning Commission resolution stated that if this is done we have to report back to the Planning Commission in writing of any such change in the precise plan for their review before it is done. -22- Cc Cc ' 1/25/65 HO"ME''SAVING.S 6 LOAN ® Continued Mayor s nyder-. Page Twenty -Three Mr. Dowding, how many homeowners groups are in your federation? Mr. Chuck Dowding-. Sevens Mayor Snyder-. How many of these seven voted by authorized representative and according to the bylaws to support your presentation? Mr, Chuck Dowding-. All of the federation members have been polled many -times on the presentation. Mayor Snyder-. Are you the authorized represerita® tive to vote? Mro Chuck Dowding: Yes. Mayor Snyder-. You drew a chart in comparison with minimum and average floor sizes and this comparison was made with those subdivisions recently built.in West Covina. Did you include in these figures any subdivisions in the County or La Puente or any neighboring cities surrounding this development? Mr..., Chuck Dowding: this distribution significantly and weighting.of the neighborhood. This The Pickering Tract is in there in its entirety and weights that reflected West Covina's is all West Covina information. Mayor Snyder-. There is no information in there as to the size of some of the developments around this area in other cities? Mr. Chuck Dowding-. Mayor Snyder. - in the County and La Puente and in one size of 19000, et cetera. Nothing but West Covina. I have some figures here from developments surrounding the lot size is 6,380 with a unit Councilman Krieger-. With respect to discussion, I would like to make the following remarks and I will attempt to keep this suoO-inct because I can't believe this Council has lived with this matter so long without each of. us drawing some impressions as to how we feel about this. I was struck by a remark Mr. Ritchie made saying they intend to develop the first phase of the first increment first and then they may not wish to be tied to it. • Philosophically I feel somewhat along the same lines. With respect to the zoning which is up for adoption tonight, the Council is well aware of the statements that I made with respect to the granting of the entire zone change to R®2 as it effected the first increment. Basically, I think we are faced here with the variance and the precise plan with a philosophical question having to do with what we are familiar with, the conventional grid pattern or the checker- board approach as contrasted as was presented to us as having merit, the superblock. I would be in favor of a controlled experiment in R®2 as I expressed to the Council when the zoning was before us. -23- I is Ca'C, 1/25/65 Page Twenty -Four HOME'S'AV?NGS 6 LOAN' Continued I am still in favor of a controlled experiment because that, to my way of thinking, is the only way in which this concept can be fully tested objectively by each of us, I would like to further comment with respect to the variance and the precise plan, I intend to maintain as much consistency as it is humanly possible to do in weighing these matters and therefore with respect to the variance and the precise plan I will be in favor of and I will vote to approve the variance and the precise plan as it applies only to the first phase of the first increment and as. originally proposed by the applicant with respect to minimum require- ' mentso. More specifically, to extract from the resolution of the _.Planning Commission and the conditions imposed by the Planning Commission the.minimum square footage per unit and the minimum of 500 of the units be in.excess of 1200 square feet again in specifically in favor of the first phase of the first increment upon the conditions of the Planning Department with the exception of the minimum dimentions, Councilman Heath: Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: Councilman Heath: You are talking now of that upper section? The only blow up before us. For point of clarification,, are you in favor of the Ra-1 development? Councilman Krieger: The R®1 development is not before us in either of these matters, The variance is confined to the R-2, Councilman Heath: Most of the variance covered on this precise plan is level but there is some of it which is rolling and rough and must be leveled off. Economically the only way they could develop the terrain was to do all of it at one time and also to do their construction econo- mically they would like to do it all at one time, I think we should keep this in mind because it is working an additional hardship on the people, I believe there should be a test made to see if this project is going to go. It is adjacent to 1600 acres which these people own and I don't think they will put something in here knowingly that would ruin the other acreage, In light of the fact of the terrain and how it must be leveled and worked I don't see how we can limit it on one small section, As far as my feeling is concerned on this precise plan and variance I feel that the imposition of 950 square feet minimum is a hard thing to live with especially on a one -bedroom home, However, I would agree with the Planning Commission on this. On the 1250 square feet as specified by the Planning Commission I believe I would go along with this recommendation, also, It seems the biggest controversy we have is concerning density and from the evidence presented here tonight the statements against the density are reversed, They have testified that the density will be lighter under this plan than it would develop under R®1. My feeling would be that we uphold the recommendations of the Planning Commission 1000, Councilman Jett: In your opinion do you feel a one -bedroom house should be equally as large as a two -bedroom house? ®24- C,, C,, 1/25/65 Page Twenty -Five HOME SAVINGS & LOAN - Continued Councilman Heath: No,, Mayor Snyder: I think the biggest bone of contention here is the density involved,, I have spent many hours pouring over this problem, have met with both sides regarding this problem with supposedly new evidence,, I don't feel I was ever presented new evidence, only a different way of looking at the figures. Much was made over the fact there was a great increase in multiple on the General Plan but little point was made.that these large percentages were confined to a very small increment of the total being discussed and therefore did not have that much.effect on the total picture, of not only this development but the City as a whole,, I think the more you look at these figures on density the more you become confused and you have to look at the whole picture,, I think the figures arrived at here tonight indicate that this development in total is comparable with the City of West Covina,, In every analysis I can make this leads me to believe that the zoning this density proposes is in line with the General Plans and the goals of the City of West Covina,, I do not feel that this is out of line with the General Plan but in fact supports it,, Getting to the discussion of need for this type of development, I would like to say that this may appear to.be an experiment but I don't feel it is. This type of planning had been advocated by many leading planners throughout the country who desire to break away from the old boring grid pattern and find a way to make better use of the land, housing available to all family types with regard to size, -and age and economic level of the family. I think this type of planning tends to develop housing which is versatile enough to fill the needs of all these family types as well as to fill the needs of the individual desires and still allow the individual to have individual home ownership which is of ,uch quality and value that it is liquid enough so people -may sell and move on as their needs change,, In other words, it is in their interest to maintain the quality of this type of development; it is in the developer's interest to maintain the quality of this develop- ment, I would like also to point out that Southern California, not only West Covina, but the whole of Los Angeles County, could not have been built without the savings and loan and other lending institutions,, The people from the lowest laborer are now able to buy a home and buy a home of good quality, a'home that is liquid as stock is liquid and maintains its value,, These people have not built Southern California for the purpose of building slums and I don't buy that argument that anybody is intending to build a slum here. It is in their interest to build a quality development,, I think it is in their interest to build for permanence and I think it is in their interest to build a balanced city,, I think this is what they intend to do,, This plan has been supported by the Planning Commission, the Planning staff; the conditions have been set down and approved by all the City departments9 there have been other home owners groups who have spoken out in favor of this plan and I think it is in conformance with the good planning principles and again with the General Plan of the City of West Covina,, I couldn't, with good conscience, do anything but say that I feel that this plan, if developed as proposed here, is a good one,, -25® k` Ca C. 1/25/65 Page Twenty -Six H011E SAVINGS 8 LOAN Continued Getting down to the point of the minimum size in the first increment, I think to allow the developer that flexibility of design to be'able to appeal to the different groups he hopes to attract in this development that he should be able to build according to this schedule as laid out here (indicating). The area of the 808 square footage and 978 square footage is in the minimum number of units and I do feel there is a need for this type of unit if. balanced against.the whole plan. If it can be done I would like to confine it to the first phase of the first increment. .Councilman Jett: I think we are fortunate in having a developer who has as large a tract of land as this and will be the one and only developer ..in that parcel of land. We have watched the City of West Covina grow up.under a diversified number of ownerships and we have not had one large owner to develop a large enough tract to bring in the business, the multiple dwellings and everything and I think this is going to be something that is really planning something over-all and not just one or two little units. Councilman Nichols: The first testimony I heard about the Home Savings and Loan development involved some statements that pointed to the real motivation for this type of development in my mind in any way, the gentleman who testified said it would mean less streets and less utilities, less of this, less of that, In.short, less,co.st to the developer and more profit to him and I say I am all for the free enterprise system. I don't challenge the motivation of any Councilman or question their sincerity of decision. It has been .stated primarily that the objection seemed to be based on density. I think they are there but I think the strongest objection I have is simply that I object to the concept of this type of housing for the City of West Covina, I want to go on record on that. I feel obligated to go on record'�to that effect tonight without making,a big production of it. Perhaps I will be proved wrong in the future; perhaps somebody else will. I could not do otherwise than state the basis for my objection. One final point. Again we see here tonight the rather unusual situation of many many Minutes being given to testimony relative to the request for not one variance but for multiple variances and practically no discussion about these variances. Only one brief question was asked of Mr. Ritchie and that was regarding these reduced side yards, et cetera, did he feel they met the requirements of a variance and he said he did. I do not feel this applicant meets the requirements for a variance. Councilman Heath: Move that Variance No. 422 be approved subject to the conditions as stated in Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1718. Councilman Jett.- I couldn't go along with that on the size of the units. Mayor Snyder: The motion dies for lack of a second. -26- Cc Cc ' 1125/65 'HOME SAVINGS 8 LOAN ® Continued Page Twenty -Seven Councilman Heath: Move that Variance No,, 520 be approved subject to the conditions imposed in Planning Commission Resolution No. 1718 except Conditions No, 6 and 7, and in accordance with Exhibit No. 1 and the schedule contained thereon of the first increment,, Councilman Krieger: I would offer.an amendment to the motion as to restrict the approval of the variance to the first phase of the first increment only and to modify each and every condition of the Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1718 as may be inconsistent therewith,, Councilman Heath-, Councilman Jett: Action on Councilman Heath's motion: Nichols voted "no",,) I will so amend the motion and accept the amendment,, Itwill second the motion with the amendment. Motion carried,, (Councilman Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that Precise Plan of Design No,, 422 be approved subject to the conditions listed in the Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1719 except Conditions No,, 7 and 8,.and in accordance with Exhibit No,, 1 and the schedule contained thereon.of the first increment, the first phase thereof,, Councilman Krieger: Is your motion restricted to the first phase of the first increment approving the precise,plan with all the conditions of the Planning Commission except Conditions No,, 7 and 8 and all other conditions inconsis-±.ent therewith being the restriction of the first phase of the first increment; is that right? I made that part of my amendment to your earlier motion because there are certain other conditions that refer to streets that aren't in the first phase of the first increment,, Councilman Heath-, This precise plan on the board contains three units of R-2,, In the R®2 is all of the three parts part of the first phase of the first increment? Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Councilman Heath: Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: Councilman Heath: Councilman Jett: No,, This chart only applies to that one small section on the top? Yes,, I will accept the amendment. The second will accept the amendment,, Action on Councilman Heath's motion as amended: (Councilman Nichols voted "No",,) Motion carried,, -27- r� • Co C, ' 1/25/65 h'OXE 'SA'ZINGS 8 LOAN Continued Councilman Krieger,, On to before we can act on _it consistent with matters? Page Twenty -Eight the tract map isn't this going require certain revisions our action on the earlier two Planning Director' Mr,, Joseph: I believe it would,, Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that Tract No,, 23292 be held over to the regular meeting of the Council on February 8, 1965 with the hearing closed,, Councilman Nichols: I want to make a personal comment directed to those Eof you in the audience who are here and who spoke in opposition to this matter this evening,, I think most of you are aware that I have_ throughout the entire course of this matter remained in opposition to this application,, .I have spoken like a losing Dutch uncle to my fellow Councilmen but .I have detected, although I didn't choose to go with it, a considerable effort on the Council's part to make this development very restricted and limited in .its initial stages here tonight and I think I can speak to you in good conscience as one who has for many months upheld the concepts of West Covina as you and I have come to know it and would hope to see it continued and I would only say to you that I hope that any of you who are remaining greatly concerned about this matter will give great and serious thought to the implications that are involved in any further discussions that you may have in respect to seeking petitions and attempting to bring this matter to a referendum in West Covina at this particular time,, I could not with this modi- fication of the first increment as phase one only, even though I do not support it, I could not in all good conscience personally support a referendum until I could determine what the development of this initial phase is I felt I should go on record so that as the group leaves tonight there can be no misunderstanding of my own attitude in the past, my attitude now and my attitude in the future,, VARIANCE NO,, 524 Firestone Tire 6 Rubber Co,, DENIED and PRECISE PLAN NO, 430 Firestone Tire 6 Rubber Co,, DENIED LOCATION: Southeast corner of Glendora and Walnut Creek Parkway between Walnut Creek Parkway and Valinda Avenue,, Request for permission to vary Zone C®1 to allow an automotive service center to be placed therein and request for non- conforming signs, denied by Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1741; request for approval of precise plan of design for gasoline -service station, automotive service center and automobile supply store, approved by Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1730, Both cases called up by Council on 12/28/64, IME 'Ca Ca 1/25/65 Page Twenty -Nine "FIRESTONE TIRE 6 RUBBER COMPANY Continued City Clerks Mr. Flotten: Notice of^this public hearing appeared in the West Covina Tribune on January 14, 1965 and 25 notices were mailed to property owners in the area,, Also, the mention'of a gasoline service station should be omitted.. (Read Planning Commission Resolutions No,, 2741 and No. 1730.) Mayor Snyder: City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: this application. Mayor Snyder: The Council has Mr,, City Clerk, have you received any written communications? I have a letter from Dr. Moser and he is in opposition to copies of this letter. This is the -time and place for the public hearing. IN FAVOR Mr. Harry F, McHugh We have been before you before,, 1228 West. Placentia We desire to construct a Fire® Fullerton stone facility as shown on the precise plan that was approved by the Planning Commission with the deletion of the service station facilities. This is not unlik& hundreds of Firestone -stores operating in like communities and shopping centers throughout America. This is not a service station; this'is not a garage; this is a store and automotive center. This is in a"commercial zone but bound on one side by a C®3 and to the rear -by R-4 which is separated by a parking lot. We don't intend to sell anything that is not permitted in service stations and other retail stores which are permitted in Cm19 one of which is directly across the street from this location. We feel this installation will be an asset to this community. Mr. Thomas H. Carver If you have any questions we Trippet, Yocum and Ballantine will try to answer themo Planning Commission Resolution No. 1470 granted a variance to Mobile Centers, Inc, located on the south side of Garvey between Azusa Avenue and Juniper Street and the grounds on which the variance was granted were "The applicants believe the -uniqueness of their operation would permit such use to exist in the Cml area. Following a full public hearing the Planning Commission believes that this type of repair center is somewhat unlike the normal repair garages. The applicants did supply the Planning Commission with information which supported their contention that the proper grounds for a variance have been met. The Planning Commission believes that it would not be unreasonable to permit this use in this location." We believe that it would not be unreasonable to permit our use in this location. It has less effect upon surrounding areas than a full garage,, It is primarily in its present form a retail operation, The decisive vote by the Planning Commission was cast by a member who had not heard the evidence and was not proper in our estimation,, Mayor Snyder: I believe the Commissioner had access to the evidence as presented. -29- Ca Cc 1/25/65 Page Thirty PIRI=ONE TIRE 8 RUBBERCOMPANY Continued Mra Thomas He Carver- —There was no opportunity to read the testimony that was presented. There was not'a transcript, The Government Codes Section 11571(a) is very specific in speaking of administrative agencies that no member that did not hear the evidence may vote on the decision and we believe that under that rule and under the general rule of due process of Morgan vs. U.S.Wag which I am sure the City Attorney is familiar with, 298 U.S. 468 .the one who decides must hear and in this instance there were only four members deciding who heard the evidence. Councilman Krieger. We have a reporter and the tape. Do you have positive knowledge that the Commissioner who cast his vote did not listen to the tape or read the Minutes? Mr,, Thomas H. Carver. The Commissioner that cast the deciding vote did absent himself from the hearing room at the second session. As to that I was a witness. Councilman Krieger. Can you answer my question? Mr. Thomas Ho Carver. As L.recall he stated he did not hear the evidence because it wouldn't make any differencebecause he would vote against it anywayo That is Mr. Gleckman,, Mayor Snyder- Do we have the Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting where this was decided? Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: Mr., Thomas H. Carver. and this was not contested. No transcript was made in any way. I'll get them. That is my recollection. We raised this point at the meeting statement was made that he read the The proposed store is essentially a retail operation. We feel it would be to the credit of the City of West Covina. It is compatable with the operations across the street. We believe it would be an asset. There is a precedent established and to deny the exception we submit would be unreasonable and would deny the applicant and other interested parties the rights to which they would be entitled under the zoning ordinance. Mr. Thomas Morton We are not making an issue of 10413 Volty Avenue the proceedings before the Downey Planning Commission, whether or not they were in order at this time is not a question here. We are bringing to you what we think is a proper subject for the variance that has been requested. We believe the`General Plan that has been adopted by your City should be followed but like general plans in every city they are subject to change and variation. I believe in the earlier session you mentioned that the General Plan had been adopted in 1962 and you have had two or three years to operate under it. In our City we have this problem before us where variances are requested and granted. We are the type of community -store I think you would like in West Covina. This is _30® • Co Co 1/25/65 Page Thirty -One FIRESTONE TIRE 8 RUBBER COMPANY Continued not something that will be detrimental to the area. It is not something that will be detrimental to the forward program of your General Plan There is ample buffer between our location and the adjoining property. There is a parking lot to the rear which would be ample buffer plus the distance between the property line and our building which would be further buffer. There would not be noise, no commotion of any sort that would create a problem for the doctors involved in this area. This variance is a proper subject matter; it is in accordance with the.development of your downtown area and while it may deviate from your General Plan to some extent your General Plan is a guide and I would recommend that you look at what we _propose quite seriously. Mayor Snyder: Mr. Newell, no matter how the Planning Commission voted and whether one vote counts now or not, this is a separate hearing and all of us here are hearing the evidence and we can vote here. Acting City Attorney, Mr. Newell: If you are going to rule that Mr. Gleckman could not properly vote, nothing happened in the Planning Commission and they .are not properly here and they have to take it back. Councilman Krieger: Reading from the Minutes of December 16, 1964, Mr,, Thomas Carver on Page 10 made the following statement: "May the record show that the applicant observes that one of the Commissioners was not present during the entire discussion on this matter. I believe as a`matter of record he is not therefore qualified to vote at.this time. I am referring to Mr. Gleckman. "Commissioner Gleckman: I appreciate the comments and in no way will it reflect on my opinion. I don't think testimony given or opinions given by the other Commissioners would influence me or my decision in any way, I have read all of the Minutes in this case. I have read the letters and I was here for the first hearing, I feel quite qualified to speak on this matter for the simple reason that it has been a point of interest to me, too, I do feel that the City of West Covina, as far as I'm concerned, in this particular location, . ." and the rest refers to his comments on the evidence. Mayor Snyder: It appears to me Mr. Gleckman was here during the presentation of the evidence and read the evidence and the discussion' is not evidence and he was able to vote. Mr. Thomas H. Carver: I believe that the reference was to a prior meeting of November 18 and the record will show at that time Mr. Gleckman was absent and you have the Minutes of November 18, testimony was taken and the proceeding was closed. Mr. Gleckman was absent on November 18th. Mayor Snyder: But he did say he read the evidence, Mr. Thomas H. Carver: He stated he read the Minutes which is not the same as the transcript and not the same as hearing the evidence. -31® • C, C, 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Two FIRESTONE TIRE 6 RUBBER COMPANY - Continuted ,Mayor Snyder: We have an opinion from the City Attorney that this does allow him to vote, He does say he read the Minutes and the evidence of that meeting which means he reviewed the evidence and was acquainted with it, Acting City Attorney, Mr, Newell: And he would therefore be entitled to vote, Mayor Snyder: It would be the Council's ruling that the Planning Commission acted properly. There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed, Councilman Heath: As I understand this, this is a retail store. In looking at the precise plan there are doors in the front and doors in the back. I trust if this station is installed you will do the business that I expect you to do which would be a tremenous volume and I believe in the installation of each tire there is a removal of the wheel where you use the pneumatic wrenches, I don't feel this could be classified as quiet, do you? Mr, Thomas.Morton: Yes, I do, We have the same type stores in other locations and in areas much more detrimental noisewise than this particular area would be, -In our own City we have a major hospital that abuts a major parking lot including a movie theater as well as a major service station and we have had no complaints from that type of operation, It only -.takes at most three or four seconds to take off a bolt of a wheel and using a pneumatic gun it makes very little noise, Councilman Krieger: I have a recollection of this coming before us in the form of a unclassified use permit and there was some query on the Council's part as to what the primary use of this was. It was the feeling of some of us that you may call it something else but in fact it was an automotive repair center and this was the primary use and not a gas station, There Was vehement protestation of this point and that it was basically a gas station with a complimentary use, Now we get the gas pumps taken out and we have in true fact what it is and that is an automotive repair station. We have this as a request before us on a variance on C-1. If it would not qualify under the original precise plan proposal for a gasoline station in a C®1 I hardly can see the consistencies of our analysis if we therefore say it fits into a C-1 under a variance for an automotive repair station, I think to be consistent we hive to find the usage the same and the incompatability the same and therefore I don't see where it satisfies the variance requirements, Mayor Snyder: No one has shown the require- ments of a variance being satisfied, Councilman Jett: I think this meets every possible requirement of a variance if a variance is needed. In my opinion, a variance is not needed for this use on'this•particular piece of property, In my opinion, it is a permitted use in C-1. Firestone stores are in the retail business, Certainly the Mobile Service Station is a complete -32- Co C, " 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Three 'FIRESTONE TIRE 6 RUBBER COMPANY - Continued overhauling of an automobile and this is in;C-1 and it abuts R-1 on two sides to the east and to the south, This property is directly across the street from C-3 which permits light manufacturing. On the other corner there is a service station in existence, I don't see how you can say this doesn't comply with the C-1 usages, To me, it does, Councilman Nichols: As I understand it, this operation goes beyond.a retail store, that if it were exclusively a retail store it would -be'totally eligible, Mr, Morton, what type of automotive products will the store sell? Mr, Thomas Morton: Tires, tubes, brake linings, no motor overhauling, mufflers, Councilman Nichols: It is an automotive service shop and except for motor overhaul and basic body framework, transmission work, it is there to replace various certain limited parts of vehicles when those parts wear out?: Mr, Thomas Morton. Yes, Councilman Nichols: You do in this certain things that replace parts of those automqbiles that wear out, correct? Mr, Thomas Morton: Yes, operation install to automobiles is that not Councilman Nichols: It would be my understanding, Mr. Jett, that this goes beyond that point of selling an item at retail and becomes in effect no matter how limited you want to apply it, an automotive center which is not in the C-1 zone for normal usage and would require a variance, Councilman Jett: I couldn't go along with you on this, Councilman Heath: I don't know of a gas station that doesn't change and sell tires and oil and I don't know of any of them that can exist without doing brake lining work work. The use here is no heavier than an ordinary gasoline station, Since they took the pumps out, I don't have any objection to it. I don't think the operation will be that heavy for that area, Mayor Snyder: I would like to see Firestone come in just as much as anyone would but I think they haven't shown the requirements for a variance for this particular location and I don't see how we can approve it without breaking down our whole variance procedure, Councilman Jett: Councilman Krieger: Planning Director, Mr, Joseph: Will somebody explain to me how you prove a variance? I think 9222,2 does a good job of that, Mr, Jett, (Read Section 922'2,2 re variances,) -33- 'C, C, 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Four 'FIRES'TONE TIRE AND.RUBBER COMPANY Continued Councilman Jett: I don't see how these things can be proven,, Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, that Variance No,, 524 be approved, Motion failed as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Heath; Noes: Councilmen Krieger, Nichols, Mayor Snyder, Councilman Jett: Move that Precise Plan of Design No,, 430 be approved, Councilman Krieger: It can't be approved unless the variance is approved,, Councilman Jett: I want that to be made a part of the record. I would like a vote on it, I still think the precise plan should be approved, Mayor Snyder: The motion dies for lack of a second,, Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carriedg that Variance No,, 524 be denied on the grounds that the elements for .a variance have not been shown,, (Councilman Jett voted "No", ) . Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, that Precise Plan of Design No,, 430 be denied,, (Councilman Jett voted "No",,) VARIANCE NO,, 425, REV, 1 LOCATION: Southeast corner of J. J,, Schlanger Garvey and Vincent,. DENIED Request to allow continuation of an existing non®cohfbrming sign in Zone Cm3, approved by Planning Commission Resolution No, 1732o Called up by Council on December 28, 1964,, City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: (Read Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1732,) Mayor Snyder: This is the time and place for the public hearing. There being no public testimony, the hearing was closed, Councilman Heath: Let the record show that I called this up before the Council,, Since the Planning Commission had reviewed the request the lawsuit has been settled,, I believe one of the reasons they stated for the extension was because the lawsuit was not settled,, I cannot in my mind justify a variance under any shape because I don't know where there is another sign in the City given this privilege. I also brought it up because I think the Council should review this as far as the setting of a precedent,, If this billboard is permitted to remain there and it is a billboard of a building that can't be built on the site anyway after the street goes through, we would be compelled to grant the same privilege to any other vacant lot, I don't think we want to start this, -34- i Co Co 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Five VARIANCE AO 425(1) - Continued Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that Variance No, 4259 Revision 1 be denied upon the ground that evidence of the variance has not been shown,, ZONE CHANGE NO,, 329 LOCATION: Azusa Avenue, 525 feet Samuel Oschin 8 W. K. Glikbarg southerly of Francisquito APPROVED backing to Tract 21078,, Request to reclassify from Zone R-1 7500 (County) to Zone R-2 (City) approved by Planning Commission Resolution go,, 1743,, City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: (Read Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1743,,) Mayor Snyder: This is the time and place for the public hearing, IN FAVOR Mr,, Edward Thayer The developer is applying for C,,S,,T, Engineering medium density. We have filed Los Angeles with the Planning staff a letter in which the developer authorized me to put in that upon successful annexation and rezoning the developer will dedicate Azusa Avenue without consideration to the County or the State of Californis, whichever is the recipient There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,, Planning Director, Mr,, Joseph: (Gave brief summary of this matter,,) Councilman Heath: This is the exact type of property we created the R-2 zoning for,, It was created for "hardship or handicapped" property,, Councilman Krieger: Is it the applicant's positron that upon appropriate request by the authorized governmental agency that this dedication will be forthcoming? Mr,, Edward Thayer: We are in receipt of the improvement plans, preliminary, that have been discussed between the County and the State and was designed to meet those standards,, We understand the arrangements from the County and the State gave gone ahead and there might be the possibility of an -:emergency procedure to advance this whole procedure, Councilman Krieger: Regardless of the procedure 0 that is ultimately followed it has the concurrence of the applicant as far as the necessary dedication? Mr,, Edward Thayer: Yes, I'm sure it does. The applicant is willing to dedicate this property without consideration after annexation. There is a letter on file with you to that effect,, -35- • Co Co 1/25/65 ZONE 'CHAN73E NOa 329 Continued Page Thirty -Six Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, that Zone Change No. 329 be approved. (Councilman Nichols voted "No",) ZONE CHANGE NOo 331 Moon's Eastland Flying A APPROVED LOCATION: 126 North Barranca between Garvey and Workman Avenues,, Request to reclassify from C-1 to C-2 approved by Planning Commission Resolution Noo 1744,, City Clerk, Mr. Flotten: (Read Planning Commission Resolution No, 1744.) Mayor Snyder: This is the time and place for the public hearing,, IN FAVOR Mro Gene Marsh: I represent a rent -a -car firm,, We intend to operate an agency if this zone change is approved. If you have any questions, I will be glad to answer them,, There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,, Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, that zone Change No. 331 be approved,, ZONE CHANGE NO,, 332 Leslie W,, Metcalf, M.D. APPROVED LOCATION: 751 South Sunset between Cameron and Margarita Avenues. Request to reclassify from Zone R-A to Zone R-P approved by Planning Commission Resolution No,, 1745,, City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: Mayor Snyder: IN FAVOR (Read Planning Commission Resolution No,, 17450) This is the time and place for the public hearing. Mr. Milton E,, Nelson: I submit for your consideration that in my opinion this location is suitable for the purpose for which this application is made. It is not a burden on the area. It is in furtherance of the professional services. I believe this is the kind of thing that is consistent with the growing community where we need ever increasing professional services. There being no further public testimony, the hearing was closed,, -36- i i C. C. 1/25/65 ZONE CHANGE NO. 332- Continued Page Thirty -Seven Councilman Krieger: I'opposed the rezoning of the parcel immediately to the south to R-P. Inasmuch as that was the concensus of the majority of the Council to rezone it to R-P I would feel that it would be consistent with the past Council action to rezone 'the rest of the property to R-.P. Motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and carried, that Zone Change No. 332 be approved. 'PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION OF JANUARY 6, 1965 RECREATION 6 PARKS None 'GENERAL MATTERS 'ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FRANCISQUITO-VALINDA TRAFFIC HAZARD So indicated by Mr. Flotten. (No items called up.) Mrs,, Barbara Farnsworth We have come down here at the 197 East Allwood Street request of the parents in the West Covina, vicinity of Valinda and Francis- quito. We have a bad intersection there. There have been three children struck down in the last year: There is an accident it seems like about every ten days. I think the reason for this is from Lark Ellen to Glendora there isn't a single stop sign and traffic moves very quickly. The children on the south side of Francisquito go to Coronado School and cross there all the time. For almost three years we have called repeatedly because of accidents. The police in West Covina tell me it is a County matter; the County tells us it is a West Covina matter. The mothers met.at my home and we have decided we would like to have a four-way boulevard stop at that corner and they have sent me to you to ask that if it is a County corner would you give us your support in contacting the County with an idea toward having the boulevard stop put in there? If part of it is West Covina, would you please put something out for us? . Mayor Snyder: Does the City line run down the center of the street? City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: We are on the west side. The County is also doing some street work in there and we have made a formal request for a possible traffic signal study in this location. If they can't get traffic signals or a four-way stop=I asked also for'a' safety light for night visibility. That request has been formally made. -37- i 0 C, Ca ' 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Eight 'FR'ANCISQUITO-VALINDA TRAFFIC HAZARD'- Continued Public Services Director, Mr,.Adams: We have an answer and their studies indicate signals or stop signs are not warranted and they have taken the,position they will not install them, Councilman Heath: Mrs, Barbara Farnsworth: Mayor Snyder: When we have three children struck down within a year -- Three children within one block, What does our traffic count show there? Does it warrant stop signs under our standards? City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: They do have a Review Board and this is the one we talked about at Cortez and Barranca.traffic problem. I think you should make a point to have this brought up at the Review Board and you women should be pres- ent on that particular day when this Board hears this case. Councilman Heath: Mrs, Barbara Farnsworth: Wednesday, Do we take those with us? I would like to see these women form a petition and get a lot of signatures on it, We are preparing petitions and they will be on the street City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: Be sure they get to the right people, I think Mr. Adams can help you on this and I will check to get the proper time so you can appear before the Review Board, They have the power to overrule the recommendation from the County Road Department, Councilman Krieger: We can address a letter to the Review Board like we did on Barranca and Cortez and ask them to reconsider .as well inasmuch as it will come from the Council I think it mighthave some evidentiary effect, Councilman Nichols: Also, if I may suggest to you ladies that when you determine the date of the hearing you might arrange or in advance ask the West Covina Unified School District Board of Trustees if they would be willing to direct a letter from the standpoint of the hazard to school children in that area. I think probably a three-way action of this sort will give you some help, Councilman Heath: I would like to know about that meeting, too, Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and carried, to authorize the Mayor to write a letter to the Review Board expressing our concern over the condition of danger at Valinda and Francisquito Avenues and recommend that four-way stop signs or other traffic controls be installed immediately, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa: Could we send a copy of Mr, Frank Bonelli? I C, C, " 1/25/65 Page Thirty -Nine FRANChSlUITO®VALINDA TRAFFIC HAZARD Continued Councilman Heath- I think it should be sent to Mr,, Bonelli with a cony to the Review Board,, I would like to amend my motion to that effect,, Councilman Krieger; I will accept the amendment,, Action on Councilman Heath's motion as amended: Motion carried. MERCED AVENUE EXTENSION (Rev,, Jones' property) (Maps were presented and Mr,, Aiassa gave a brief summary of the matter.) Rev, Jones: We have owned the subject property some eight years,, During that period of time we have made an effort to develop several projects but due to the uncertainty as to whether the street would actually be aligned and also questions about what the highest and best use of the property might be, these projects never materialized,, Approximately three years ago there was a definite decision as to where the street should go and at that time we put in a request for some zoning,, If you do not feel this R-A should be included in the R-P, his idea was that the Skelton property, which the City has purchased, he felt that a straight line should be drawn right through here (indicating) and one residential lot with a uniformity of a 70®foot frontage by 174 feet be granted and the rest should be put into professional use,, At this time you are asking for land in through here (indicating) in order to develop this street and we would be very happy to donate the land and pay for our portion of the street improvement which we understand is curbs and gutters and also six feet of the paving,, . We are reluctant to make any deed or make any decision regarding it until the uncertainty of this area over here (indicating) is cleared up,,. We would rather not be trapped by having three pie -shaped lots which Mr,, Perreisi doesn't want and Mrs. Leone doesn't want because the people would have to park in front of their houses and they are the neighbors on either side,, We have suggested that we will be glad to buy the Skelton.property from you at the appraised valuation if you want to sell it and in that way we could all cooperate together on this. Councilman Heath - Rev, Jones: Councilman Heath: and on the Skelton property you said the appraised price? Rev,, Jones: How large a piece of land is that you are to donate or dedicate for street purposes? 34,000 square feet in the street,, You are willing to put in the standard participation and deed you will be willing to buy it at Whatever you paid for it. .Councilman Jett: Rev,, Jones, when I was first elected to the City Council I was very much concerned about this corner. I was instrumental in reopening the hearing on the opposite corner there and as a result it was zoned and a service station was approved for that corner,, As a result of that we requested from those people if we gave them that zoning would they be willing to dedicate that property ®m that if they were given the zoning and the approval of- a service station would they -39- C C,, Co 1/25/65 MERCED AVENUE EXTENSION o Continued mno� Page Forty be willing to dedicate that property and improve all of it and they said yes,, Now, at the same time I had lunch with you and we discussed your corner down there and at the same time you said that you had a service station you wanted to put on this corner and when you came before the Council you said you were ready to go on that and that you would dedicate Glendora Avenue, you would dedicate Merced and improve it,, None of this has taken place,, You have now sold the property and the people who have bought it are not obligated to follow through with what you had led me to believe you intended to do,, In all fairness to everybody, I think this should be brought out here,, It is all a matter of record,, Now you come -to us and you say you are willing to give this if we give you some more zoning,, Rev,, Jones: To clear the record, I want to point out one thing,, We haven't discussed the matter since or any bther matter, have we? Councilman Jett: No,, We have had no occasion for it,, Rev,, Jones: Regarding.your question, Mr. Jett, at the time that we were discussing this and Mr. Rhinegruber representing the Richfield Oil station was very much interested in this corner,, I talked with Mr,, Joseph and I have all kinds of communications that I can show you and I am sure his interests in it were very honorable and mine were in discussing it with you in this vein. I had every intention to sell it. We had the papers drawn up,, I have a big file on it,, After the zoning was granted and because they would not deal with us until.we got the zoning but they gave us their word they would if we got the zoning,, After we got the zoning and they came down and discussed what they would have to do in order to get a building permit they found out that the cost for developing the corner was three times as much as they put into the average filling station and for these reasons they backed out but Mr,, Jett I spoke to you in all sincerity and in all honesty regarding my understanding of what was going to happen,, Mayor Snyder: What would be the harm of having the Planning Commission look at this zoning request? Councilman Heath: I see no harm in it,, Councilman Nichols: I can see no harm in it and I don't feel it should be a matter pursued any further before this body this evening ,, Councilman Krieger: Why didn't you start at the regular application for a zone change? Planning Commission with a Rev,, Jones: I have been served with a summons regarding pruchase of the land here so I talked with Mr,, Aiassa and I said I thought certainly we shouldn't enter into some type of condemnation without some type of discussion about it,, Councilman Krieger: Hasn't there been an extension in which to plead? -40® It Ca Co 1/25/65 MERCED AVENUE ALIGNMENT ® Continued Rev. Jones: Page Forty -One Yes, to the 31st of this month. Councilman Krieger: Was there any reason why you are adverse to filing your application with the Planning Commission for a zone change? Rev. Jones: Not at all. Councilman Krieger: I think the proper procedure would be for Mr. Jones' attorney to make such a request for an extension. If Mr. Jones doesn't have an attorney I am.sure he can contact Mr. Williams directly. JUNIOR MISS CONTEST Mr. Leonard Gleckman: I would like the City Council to know that as president of the West Covina Merchants Association that the,Junior Chamber of Commerce and West Covina Plaza Merchants Association sponsored a Junior Miss Contest here in the City of West Covina and the girl that won this contest is appearing in the State-wide contest Saturday night in Garden Grove and it will be televised on Channel 5 in color from 8:30 to 10:00 and if she should win she will go on to the nationals which will be in Mobile,:Alabama. Her name,is Ann Kenny, WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None CITY ATTORNEY ORDINANCE N0,, 900 Dome Savings and Loan Association ADOPTED The Acting City Attorney presented: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO REZONE CERTAIN PREMISES" (dome Savings and Loan Association.) Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Jett, that said ordinance be adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: Councilmen Krieger, Nichols Absent: None Said ordinance was given No. 900. -41- C, Ca 1/25/65 Page Forty -Two CITY ATTIRNEY - Continued ORDINANCE NO, 901 The Acting City Attorney presented: Garbage Collection "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE ADOPTED CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING SECTION 5313 OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO GARBAGE COLLECTION SCHEDULES" Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance, Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Heath, that said ordinance be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Kriegera Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: None Absent, None Said ordinance was given No, 901, ORDINANCE NO, 899 The Acting City Attorney presented: Speed Limits "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE ADOPTED CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CODE RELATING TO SPEED LIMITS" (Service Avenue, Walnut Creek Parkway, Badillo Street) Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance, Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, that said ordinance be adopted, Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett9 Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: None Absent: None Said ordinance was given No, 899, ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION The Acting City Attorney presented: Zone Change 327 "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE Eton Investment Corporation CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO REZONE CERTAIN PREMISES" (ZC 3279 Eton Investment Corporation) Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, to waive further reading of the -body of the ordinance. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, that said ordinance be introduced, -42- C, C, 1/25/65 Page Forty -Three CITY ATTORNEY - Continued ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION The Acting City Attorney presented: Zone Change 330 "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE M. Jo Young, Co M. Brooks CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE SO AS TO REZONE CERTAIN PREMISES" (ZC 3301 M. J, Young and C. M. Brooks) Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and.carried, to.waive further reading of the body of the ordinance. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols,.and carried, that said ordinance be introduced. ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION The Acting City Attorney presented: Amendment No. 68, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF City Initiated THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS" (Amendment No, 68, City Initiated) Motion by' Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried,, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance, Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that said ordinance be introduced, (Mayor Snyder voted "No",) ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION The Acting City Attorney presented: Tentative Maps of Sub- "AN ORDINANCE OF OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF divisions THE CITY OF WEST COVINA AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO GIVING OF NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF TENTATIVE MAPS OF SUBDIVISIONS" Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, to waive further reading of the body of the ordinance. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heath, and carried, that said ordinance be introduced, CITY MANAGER REPORTS . PROJECT S,D,6509 ENGINEERING SERVICES CITY BUDGETED PROJECT APPROVED Authorize issuance of purchase design of storm drain, Staff services - not competitive,) LOCATION: Service Avenue, California westerly to Carmencita. Accept Engineer's report, order in the amount of $39200,00 for recommends authorization, (Professional -43- J • • Co C. 1/25/65 PROJECT S.D. 6509 - Continued Page Forty -Four Motion by Councilman.Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jetty to accept the Engineer's report on Project So Do 6509 and authorize the Director of - Finance to prepare a purchase order to Evans and Associates in an amount not to exceed $3,200.00 for engineering services. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes- Councilmen Jetty Krieger, Nichols, heathy Mayor Snyder Noes. None Absent. None LANDSCAPING FIRE STATION #5 Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Krieger,, that the City Manager be authorized to go ahead and put in the improvements to landscape Fire Station No. 5 with the money that has been budgeted for this purpose, Motion passed on roll call as follows. Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: None Absent. None CONDEMNATION WITHDRAWAL City Manager, Mr. Aiassa. The Citrus National Bank has ad- vised us in order to clear the title it will be necessary that we notify them in writing that we will. withdraw the condemnation proceedings against the Allsopp property. (Re- port as follows.) "The Citrus National Bank has advised us that in order to clear the title of any cloud, it will be necessary that we notify them in writing that we will withdraw the condemnation pro- ceedings against the Allsopp property," Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Jett, and carried, to give authorization from the Council to dismiss the condemnation pro- ceedings and direct the City Attorney to so notify the court in writing. SPECIFICATIONS FOR SWEEPER AND FRONT END LOADER Motion by Councilman Jett, seconded by Councilman Krieger, and carried, to approve the specifications for the street sweeper and truck loader and direct the staff to call for formal bids. (Councilman death voted ItNolt , ) PARK AND RECREATION CONFERENCE City Manager, Mr. Aiassa. tend a meeting of their national days. It is in the budget. The Parks and Recreation Com- missioners would like to at - park and recreation group for three -44- 0 C, C. 1/25/65 Page Forty -Five 'PARK ANDRECREATION CONFERENCE ®'Continued. IIIf 19 Motion by Councilman Heath' seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, that the Parks and Recreation Commission 'be given permission to attend the three-day conference of their national group. NEXT ADJOURNED MEETING Mayor Snyder: We have a meeting this Wednesday night with Leeds, Hill 8 Jewett. I would like to make that an adjourned meeting. I have some things to bring up. CITY CLERK RESOLUTION NOo 3088 The City Clerk presented: Robert Jo Brown "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA EXPRESSING ITS APPRECIATION FOR THE SERVICES OF ROBERT J. BROWN AND.EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY ON HIS UNTIMELY PASSING" Mayor Snyder: Hearing no objections, we will waive further reading of the body of the resolution. Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Heathy that said resolution be.adopted. Motion passed on roll call as follows: Ayes: Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes: None Absent: None Said resolution was given No. 3088. HELICOPTER REQUEST City Clerk, Mr,, Flotten: Mr. James Charter of the Eastland Businessmen's Association has filed a request to permit helicopter flights from the May Co. parking lot for the week of February 22nd. Motion by Councilman Heath, seconded by Councilman Nichols, and carried, that said permission be granted. (Councilman Krieger voted "No".) AFFIRM DATE COUNCIL WISHES TO RECEIVE AGENDA City Manager, Mr. Aiassa: On Thursday nights it is im- possible to get all the material out. According to your own Section 2103 of the City Council Ordinance it says it has to go out on Friday. Is there any reason why it should go out on Thursday night? It is not getting out on Thursday. -45- 0 c,, c,, 1/25/65 DATE COUNCIL WISHES TO RECEIVE AGENDA ® Continued Councilman Jett: of the Friday preceding.the meeting,, to deliver it on Thursdays,, City Managers Mr,, Aiassa: Mayor Snyder: BROTHERHOOD WEEK Mayor Snyder: OPERATION OVER THE TOP MONTH Mayor Snyder: are no objections, I will so proclaim,, HISTORY WEEK Mayor Snyder: CAMERON AVENUE Page Forty -Six The code says it should be delivered on the afternoon I have no objections if you want A long time ago the Council moved it up to Thursday,, We want it back on Friday,, I .don't think there are any objections to this,, This is the week of February 219 1965. If there are no objections, I will so proclaim,, (No objections voiced,,) So proclaimed,, This is from February 15 to March 15, 1965. If there (No objections voiced,,) So proclaimed,, This is February 7 through 14, 1965,, If there are no objections, I will so proclaim,, (No objections voiced,,) So proclaimed,, Councilman Heath: I see they are putting Cameron Avenue in and they are putting the curbs in,, I also understand Suburban Water is going to run a 24-inch line down Cameron Avenue, Not after the paving is in, I hope,, Public Services Director, Mr, Adams: We will have to back off and give them a few weeks,, We will back off after the curbs are in, -46- ,A C, C; 1/25/65 LABERGE LETTERS. Mayor Snyder: City Manager, Mr, Aiassa- MAYORS' MEETING Page Forty -Seven What is the disposition of these two letters from Mr, LaBerge? We will take care of that, Mayor Snyder- There is a meeting Wednesday night at 6-30 at the Brazilia and I would like to request that a staff man go since we are going to have this meeting with Leeds, Hill 8 Jewett, City Manager, Mr, Aiassa- We will have someone attend, DEMANDS Motion by Councilman Krieger, seconded by Councilman Nichols, to approve demands totalling $1599570.53 as listed on demand sheets<:C43.4,._B184 and B185, This total includes fund transfer of $98,76, Motion passed on roll call as follows- Ayes- Councilmen Jett, Krieger, Nichols, Heath, Mayor Snyder Noes- None Absent- None There being no further business, motion by Councilman Nichols, seconded. by Councilman Krieger, and carried, that this meeting be adjourned to Wednesday night, January 27, 1965 at 7-30 P.M. This meeting adjourned at 1-15 A,M, . ATTEST: • CITY CLERK APPROVED zyoS MAYOR -47-