01-12-2016 - Special Meeting - MinutesMINUTES
CITY OF WEST COVINA
CITY COUNCIL
PLANNING COMMISSION
TUESDAY JANUARY 12, 2016, 6:00 PM
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1444 W. GARVEY AVENUE SOUTH
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA 91790
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER —.Mayor Toma called the Special Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Led by Councilman Johnson
ROLL CALL
City Council
Present: Mayor'l'oma, Mayor Pro Tern Warshaw
Councilman Johnson, Spence (arrived at 7:33 p.m.), Wu
Absent: None
Planning Commission
Present: Vice Chairman Castellanos
Commissioner Heng, Holtz, Jimenez (arrived at 6:05 p.m.), Redholtz
Absent: None
Tuesday January 12, 2016
JOINT MEETING
1) GENERAL PLAN UPDATE (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 14-02) AND
DOWNTOWN PLAN AND CODE JOINT MEETING, DIRECTION TO BEGIN
PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
It is recommended that the Planning Commission and City Council take the following
actions:
1. Planning Commission provide recommendation to City Council on direction on the
draft General Plan Update and Downtown Plan and Code, specifically on the vision of
forecasted development for Downtown and other areas of the City, to allow for analysis
in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR); and
2. City Council provide direction on the draft General Plan Update and Downtown Plan
and Code, specifically on the vision of forecasted development for Downtown and
other areas of the City, to allow for analysis in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR);
and
3. City Council adopt Resolution No. 2016-01 initiating a Code Amendment to consider
adopting a Downtown Plan to become the zoning for that district.
City Manager Freeland introduced the subject matter.
Staff Presentation and City Council and Planning Commission Comments
Planning Director Anderson outlined the process of tonight's meeting. Following the presentation
of the staff report, the City Council and the Planning Conunission will make comments, followed
by Public comments and input. Following the Public comments the Planning Commission will
discuss and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the forecasted development and the
preparation of the EIR, followed by City Council discussion and direction on the forecasted
development and the preparation of the EIR The final action will be the City Council's
consideration of adopting a resolution initiating a Code Amendment to consider changes to the
zoning for the downtown district.
Planning Director Anderson presented the staff report and PowerPoint presentation. Following
his report.. Anderson turned the presentation over to General Plan Update consultant Kaizer
Rangwala of Rangwala and Associates.
City Council comments included financing of infrastructure and use of Prop A/Prop C funds and
impact fees; number of hotel units for downtown and what would pros and cons be of limiting
hotel units; mixed use of downtown and related traffic issues; limitation of building heights;
funding for parking structures; utilizing the BKK site as an asset; auto plaza development for car
storage; luxury hotel in downtown and branding of West Covina identity.
Planning Commissioner comments included moving forward with the EIR process with the ability
to make adjustments during the process and not delay; increase of hotel units with a quality hotel,
when housing element consultant will begin, working with the mall to increase mall shopping, EIR
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Tuesday January 12, 2016
process, funding for Walnut Creek Wash as walkway, parking issues at Amar/Azusa, and the
development of BKK.
Planning Director Anderson, City Manager Freeland and consultant Rangwala responded to
questions and concerns regarding hotel units, mixed use emphasis, parking lots/structures, auto
plaza, housing element consultant, focus on the mall, funding, and development of BKK area.
Councilman Spence arrived at 7:33 p.m. and commented on needs and how many people defined
an element of the General Plan as a need and concerns of funding.
Lengthy discussion ensued regarding funding and infrastructure.
Public Comment s
Kevin Lee, Covina resident, spoke in support of the General Plan and the need for residential
housing.
Craig Cook, West Covina resident, spoke of the positive process of the development of the General
Plan and requested to include properties on San Bernardino Rd. into the plan.
Pablo Lucanera, West Covina resident, inquired into the impact to schools with the implementation
of the EIR and General Plan.
Fredrick Sykes, West Covina resident, addressed the health aspect of the General Plan and the
consideration of banning smoking in public parks.
Armando Sanchez, West Covina resident, spoke on the importance of noticing the residents if the
subject of cell towers is to come up for discussion.
Birdie Azpeitia, West Covina resident, spoke in support of the project; addressed storage of
dealership cars, and shopping issues at mall due to traffic.
Lola Finely, West Covina resident, addressed concerns regarding height limits, parking structure
locations, proposed residential building at Azusa and Amar, impact to Sunset Park behind Queen
of the Valley hospital and green space, and criteria for design in the downtown area.
Jefferson DeRoux, West Covina resident, addressed concerns of those in opposition to the General
Plan not taken into consideration and lack of financing.
Robert, Torres, addressed various elements of the General Plan and recommended wireless
communication code, community standard districts, transit improvements, establishment of quiet
zones and collaborations with the mall.
Staff addressed comments from the public.
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Tuesday January 12, 2016
RECESS — Mayor Toma recessed the Special Joint Meeting at 8:55 p.m. The Special Joint
Meeting reconvened at 9:05 p.m. with all Council Members and Commissioners present.
Planning Commission Recommendation to the City Council
Commission discussed the General Plan document as a visioning tool for the City and the need to
move forward with the preparation of the EIR report. Discussion included making adjustments to
the General Plan as the process progresses, alternative modes of transportation, incorporating cell
towers and other properties into the General Plan (Covina -Valley Unified property, Sunset Field
Park, San Bernardino Rd. parcels), cost and funding for EIR report, number of forecasted hotel
rooms and potential development residential units and square footage [referred to as `numbers'].
City Attorney Barlow stated that the numbers approved for the development of the EIR should be
the maximum number for study, as development can be approved with lower numbers but cannot
be higher without a new analysis.
Commission discussion ensued with staff and consultant regarding the expertise of projecting the
numbers, increasing projected hotel rooms and including cell service study.
Following discussion the Planning Commission made the following recommendation to the City
Council.
Motion by Castellanos and seconded by Heng to increase residential units and hotel rooms by 20%
in the draft General Plan. Motion fails 2-3 by the following vote:
AYES: Heng, Castellanos
NOES: Holtz, Jimenez, Redholtz
ABSENT: None
Motion by Jimenez and seconded by Castellanos to increase residential units and hotel rooms by
15 % in the draft General Plan in proceeding with the EIR.
Substitute motion by Holtz to adjust residential units to 2000 and hotel rooms to 150 with no
adjustments to retail and office space. Following discussion, Holtz retracted motion.
Substitute motion by Holtz and seconded by Jimenez to adjust the forecasted number of hotel
rooms to 150 from 135 within the General Plan, no adjustment to other numbers, proceeding with
the EIR. Motion carried 5-0 by the following vote:
AYES: Heng, Holtz, Jimenez, Redholtz, Castellanos.
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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Tuesday January 12, 2016
City Council Recommendation
City Council engaged in lengthy discussion regarding increasing the number of residential units to
2,600 units from 2100 units and increasing hotel units to at least 170 units from 135 units, including
Covina Valley Unified District property into the general Plan.. impact costs of increasing the
numbers, benefits of additional units and location of those units within a corridor or districts,
development at BKK, and bus transportation on West Covina Parkway,
Motion by Warshaw and seconded by Johnson to increase hotel units within the draft General Plan
to 170 from 135 and proceed with EIR.
Following further discussion motion passed 3-2 by the following vote:
AYES: Johnson, Warshaw, "Coma
NOES: Spence, Wu
ABSENT: None
Motion by Johnson and seconded by Toma to adopt the follow resolution 2016-01 imitating a Code
Amendment to consider adopting a Downtown Plan to become the zoning for that district.
RESOLUTION NO. 2016-01 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA, INITIATING CODE AMENDMENT NO. 16-01 RELATED
TO THE DOWNTOWN PLANFOR ZONING STANDARDS
Motion carried 4-1 by the following vote:
AYES:
Johnson, Warshaw, Wu, Toma
NOES:
Spence
ABSENT:
None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Warshaw and seconded by Johnson to adjourn the Special Joint City Council/Planning
Connnission meeting at 10:13 p.m.
Submitted.by
Rosalia`A'Conde. MC
Assistant City Clerk
Ja es Toma
M yor
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