02-15-2011 - Public Hearing Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment - Item 8 (2).doc
City of West Covina
Memorandum
A G E N D A
ITEM NO. 8
DATE February 15, 2011
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Jeff Anderson, Acting Planning Director
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING
PALMVIEW PARK MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 3
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning Commission and Community Services Commission recommend that the City Council adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. __________ - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PALMVIEW PARK MASTER PLAN, AMENDMENT NO. 3
This recommendation includes a condition of approval requiring a review of the extended use of the baseball field lighting from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the conclusion of the 2011
Pacific Coast Little League baseball season (approximately July 2011).
DISCUSSION:
The proposed amendment would allow an extension of the evening use of the baseball field lighting at Palmview Park from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., beginning February 25, 2011.
Palmview Park is located on the southwest corner of Puente Avenue and Lark Ellen Avenue. The baseball field is located in the southwest corner of the park and is adjacent to an elementary
school to the south and single-family residences to the west. The installation of baseball field lighting was approved by the City Council on May 16, 1995, per Palmview Park Master
Plan Amendment No. 1, which restricted the use of baseball field lighting to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of each week. On December 12, 2000, the City Council
approved the expanded use of baseball field lighting on Monday and Tuesday evenings, per Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment No. 2.
Steve Bennett, president of Pacific Coast Little League, submitted a letter requesting the extension of the evening use of baseball field lighting from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to allow
for more baseball games to be played since the number of teams in the league has increased. Mr. Bennett also expressed concern about safety if the lights turn off before a baseball
game is finished, citing that a player could be injured if a pitched, batted or thrown ball is in the air when the lights turn off. Additionally, Mr. Bennett feels that extending the
evening use of baseball field lighting will allow Pacific Coast Little League to continue to provide a quality and safe playing environment for more children and allow the league to
increase its registrations and teams.
A condition has been included in the resolution requiring that games end by 9:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday to allow the fields to be cleaned and the participants to leave the field.
Evening use of baseball field lighting shall continue to be prohibited on Sundays, pursuant to the conditions of approval of Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment No. 1.
PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION:
A joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Community Services Commission was held on January 25, 2011.
At that meeting, the Commissions received testimony from Steve Bennett, the president of Pacific Coast Little League, as well as two coaches, Lou Garcia and Jim Lejone. The Commissions
also received testimony from Chris Huskey, an adjacent property owner, who stated that the baseball field lights currently turn off after 9:00 p.m. Mr. Huskey
stated his concern that the extended use could allow the lights to remain on after 10:00 p.m. Mr. Huskey also stated that in addition to the baseball field lights, the little league
and subsequent traffic are disruptive to the neighborhood and indicated that night games should be played at Big League Dreams.
The Commissions discussed the proposed extension of the baseball field lighting, notification of the residents in the area, the length of games and the possibility of starting the games
earlier. After this discussion, the Planning Commission and the Community Services Commission recommended approval of Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment No. 3, with a condition to
review the extended use of the baseball field lighting at the conclusion of the 2011 season. During this review, noise generation, security issues, and other nuisances by the use and
its affect on nearby residential properties shall be reviewed to determine if the extension to 10:00 p.m. is appropriate or if additional restrictions or conditions are needed in order
to mitigate the effects. The Community Services Commission voted 8-0 (Commissioner Kennedy and Commissioner Fennell absent). The Planning Commission voted 4-1 (Commissioner Stewart
dissented).
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is anticipated that extending the lights would result in a marginal increase in utility costs. Based on the field lighting fee schedule, the fiscal impact to extend the use of the
lights is $11.75 an hour.
________________________________ ____________________________________
Prepared by: Amy Davis Reviewed/Approved by: Jeff Anderson
Planning Assistant Acting Planning Director
___________________________________
Reviewed/Approved by: Michele McNeill
Community Services Director
Attachment 1 - Draft City Council Resolution
Attachment 2 - Special Joint Meeting Staff Report, January 25, 2011
Attachment 3 - Draft Joint Meeting Minutes, January 25, 2011
Attachment 4 - Planning Commission Resolution No. 11-5401
Attachment 5 - City Council Resolution for Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment No. 2
Attachment 6 - City Council Resolution for Palmview Park Master Plan Amendment No. 1
Attachment 7 - Park Facility Use Agreement
Attachment 8 - Letter from Pacific Coast Little League