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12-06-2011 - Planning Commission - November 22, 2011 - Item 2 (2).docCity of West Covina Memorandum A G E N D A ITEM NO. 2 DATE: December 6, 2011 SUMMARY OF ACTIONS REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF WEST COVINA November 22, 2011 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Redholtz, Sotelo, Holtz, Stewart ABSENT: Carrico CITY STAFF PRESENT: Nichols, Anderson, Chung, Wong, Kim, Davis, Caplin, Garcia and de Zara APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular meeting, November 8, 2011 – The minutes were approved as submitted. A. OTHER MATTERS OR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None B. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. FORTHCOMING PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULE 2. EXTENSION OF TIME PRECISE PLAN NO. 09-04 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 09-05 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 09-13 APPLICANT: Stephan Schmidt LOCATION: 501 South Vincent Avenue The applicant is requesting the second one-year extension of time on the above-referenced items. Motion by Stewart, seconded by Sotelo, to approve the items listed. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) C. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING (1) GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 11-01 ZONE CHANGE NO. 11-01 PRECISE PLAN NO. 11-02 TREE REMOVAL PERMIT NO. 11-04 VARIANCE NO. 11-08 TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 71595 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPLICANT: Eric Chen, Creative Design Associates, Inc. LOCATION: 1607 West Covina Parkway (Southeast corner of West Covina Parkway and West Garvey Avenue South – Civic Center) REQUEST: The project consists of a request for a General Plan amendment, zone change, precise plan, variance and tentative tract map to construct a new medical office building. The subject property is the northwestern section of the Civic Center where the library parking lot is currently located. The applicant is proposing a General Plan amendment to change the land use designation from “Public Facilities” to “Service and Neighborhood Commercial.” The applicant is also proposing a zone change from “Public Building” (P-B) to “Neighborhood Commercial (N-C). The applicant is requesting a precise plan to allow for a 55,680-square foot four-story medical office building on an approximately 2.02-acre site with surface parking. The precise plan also includes the expansion of the parking area to the south of the library. In addition, the applicant is requesting a variance to deviate from the City’s parking requirements. A tree removal permit is required to remove various types of existing mature trees within the front setback on West Covina Parkway. A tentative tract map is also proposed COMMENTS: Peichin Lee, owner/president of CGM Development, Ping Shih Sun, George Teter, Javier Fernandez, Donna Capili and Craig Duncan spoke in favor of the project. Lloyd Johnson, Beverly Bulthuis, Joaquin Castaneda, representing Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, Cody De Bray, Angie Gillingham, Robert Lockwood, Ed Scheidler, Kim Sutliffe, Dana Sykes, Phillip Moreno, Blanca Venzer, Ann Chase, Shirley Buchanan, Elsie Messman, John Shewmaker, Fernando Torres, Baalah Drook, James Toma, Joanne Wilner, Irene Fleck, Jerrie McCluskey, Carolyn Arndt, Al Yerkish, Frank Skislock, Bobby M. Reyes, Barry Sutliffe, and Robert Orth spoke in opposition. There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the availability of parking for library patrons, the number of trees that would be removed and replaced by the developer, the concept and layout of the Civic Center, the current use of the area, the proposed parking for the development and library, need for another medical office complex, the current lease with Los Angeles County for parking at the library, potential income and taxes that might be generated, possible alternative locations for the building and the compatibility of the proposed structure with the existing government buildings. It was the consensus of the Commission that the proposed building would not be harmonious with the surrounding uses. Sotelo indicated that he was supportive of the proposed development. Motion by Stewart, seconded by Redholtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5448, denying General Plan Amendment No. 11-01. Motion carried 2-1-1 (Sotelo opposed; Holtz abstained; Carrico absent.) Motion by Stewart, seconded by Redholtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5449, denying Zone Change No. 11-01. Motion carried 2-1-1 (Sotelo opposed; Holtz abstained; Carrico absent.) Motion by Stewart, seconded by Redholtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5450, denying Precise Plan No. 11-02 and Tree Removal Permit No. 11-04. Motion carried 2-1-1 (Sotelo opposed; Holtz abstained; Carrico absent.) Motion by Stewart, seconded by Redholtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5451, denying Variance No. 11-08. Motion carried 2-1-1 (Sotelo opposed; Holtz abstained; Carrico absent.) Motion by Stewart, seconded by Redholtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5452 denying Tentative Tract No. 71595. Motion carried 2-1-1 (Sotelo opposed; Holtz abstained; Carrico absent.) NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS (2) PRECISE PLAN NO. 11-04 VARIANCE NO. 11-16 APPLICANT: Amar Lapsi for Cottage Development, Inc. LOCATION: 1700 West Covina Parkway REQUEST: The applicant is requesting the approval of a precise plan to allow the construction of a two-story, 9,309-square foot imaging lab/office building. Additionally, the applicant is requesting a variance from standards including front setback requirements. COMMENTS: Amar Lapsi and Dr. Lapsiwala Arvind, applicants, spoke in favor of the project. No one spoke in opposition. There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the requested variance, the results of the traffic analysis and the available parking on the lot. It was the consensus of the Commission that the applicants’ request for a variance should be granted because it met the required findings. Motion by Sotelo, seconded by Holtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5453, approving Precise Plan No. 11-04. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) Motion by Sotelo, seconded by Holtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5454, approving Variance No. 11-16. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) (3) VARIANCE NO. 11-11 APPLICANT: Warner LeMeneger for Superior Sign Company LOCATION: 3030 E. Garvey Avenue South (McDonald’s) REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of a variance for a sign to deviate from certain development standards including maximum sign area and maximum sign height. COMMENTS: Stan Janocha and Carlos Madrigal, representing the applicant, spoke in favor of the proposed sign. Joanne Wilner spoke in opposition. There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the proposed height of the sign and visibility of the site from the freeway. The Commission also considered the possibility that a sound wall could be constructed in front of this site, further impacting their visibility. During the discussion, the Commission considered other similar signs that had been granted variances. At the end of the discussion, the Commission concurred that a variance be granted but for an 85-foot sign, instead of the 95-foot sign requested. Motion by Sotelo, seconded by Holtz, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5455, approving Variance No. 11-11. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) (4) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 11-14 VARIANCE NO. 11-15 APPLICANT: Charles G. McCowan for New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Church LOCATION: 114 South Glendora Avenue (former site of Custer Christiansen Mortuary) REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow the operation of an 8,124-square foot church. The applicant is also requesting a variance to deviate from on-site parking requirements. COMMENTS: Charles G. McCowan, applicant, Cris Klingerman spoke in favor of this application. Joanne Wilner also commented on the matter. During the discussion, the Commission considered whether the two-story building was in compliance with ADA requirements. In addition, they considered off-street and on-street parking and the relocation of the Farmer’s Market. Motion by Stewart, seconded by Sotelo, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5456, approving Conditional Use Permit No. 11-14. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) Motion by Stewart, seconded by Sotelo, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5457, approving Variance No. 11-15. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) (5) CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 11-15 APPLICANT: Steven Potts for All in Ink LOCATION: 1479 Plaza Drive REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of a conditional use permit to allow tattooing within a 1,102-square foot tenant space located at the Westfield shopping mall. COMMENTS: Steven Potts, applicant, spoke in favor of the project. No one spoke in opposition. There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the legal age for receiving a tattoo, potential calls for police service, whether the floor plan was approved by the Los Angeles County Health Department and West Covina Fire Department, and classes and training required of all tattoo artists employed by the applicant. Motion by Holtz, seconded by Stewart, to adopt Resolution No. 11-5458, approving Conditional Use Permit No. 11-15. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.) D. NON-HEARING ITEMS None E. OTHER MATTERS OR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None F. COMMISSION REPORTS/COMMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Redholtz – congratulated Fred Sykes on his election to the City Council. (1) CITY COUNCIL ACTION: None (2) PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None G. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Sotelo, seconded by Stewart, to adjourn the meeting at 11:10 p.m. Motion carried 4-0 (Carrico absent.)