CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE LA HABRA HEIGHTS
PLANNING COMMISSION
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Chairman Wolfe called a meeting of the La Habra Heights Planning Commission to order at 7:37 p.m. at the Community Center, 1245 North Hacienda Road, La Habra Heights, California.
2. ROLL CALL
Those present: Chairman Robert Wolfe, Vice-Chairman Brian Bergman, Commissioners Larry Black, Robert Karman, Margarita McCoy and Alternate Commissioner Steve Garcia. Also present Community Development Director Matthew Alexander, Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri, City Attorney Sandra Levin and Deputy City Engineer Patrick Lang.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Matthew Alexander led the flag salute.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA FOR MEETING OF
March 23, 2004
Mr. Alexander stated the agenda had been posted.
5. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC NOT ON THE AGENDA 3-minute time limit per speaker
Chairman Wolfe asked if anyone wanted to speak on anything not on the agenda, seeing no one come forward he moved on to Item #6.
6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner McCoy moved approval of the minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Karman. Vote 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARING – OLD BUSINESS
7. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2002-24 (Sarinana) 1323 El Paseo
Mr. Alexander stated presented the staff report.
Ms. Levin stated this is a resolution from your previous meeting.
Commissioner McCoy asked to have the reference regarding fire sprinklers for the guest/pool house removed from the resolution.
Commissioner McCoy moved approval of Resolution 2004-03. Seconded by Vice-Chairman Bergman.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing, seeing no one come forward, he closed the public hearing.
Commissioner McCoy restated her motion to approve Resolution 2004-03 as amended. Vice-Chairman Bergman seconded the motion. Vote 5-0.
8. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-32 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-02 (Seifollahi) 357 Avocado Crest
Mr. Alexander presented the staff reporting, stating the applicant had not revised the project to the satisfaction of the City.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions of staff.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked if staff did calculations on what the reduced impervious would be if you moved the house.
Mr. Alexander stated no.
Commissioner McCoy asked again about the easement.
Mr. Alexander stated he had read it in an old staff report; nothing has been submitted.
Chairman Wolfe then opened the public hearing.
George Behnan, Architect – stated the 20-foot easement runs east and west; they would pave the driveway with pervious material; stated building could be moved east, it would raise the elevation.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked regarding reducing the size of the house.
Mr. Behnan stated he was trying to meet the ownerÕs request.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia asked about the double retaining wall.
Mr. Behnan stated they broke the wall into two walls to try and meet the City Codes.
Chairman Wolfe seeing no one else come forward closed the public hearing.
Commissioner McCoy stated she was ready to follow staffÕs recommendation.
Commissioner Karman agreed.
Commissioner Black also agreed and stated story poles need to be exact.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated this was a much better set of plans.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia concerned regarding 19Õ high walls.
Chairman Wolfe stated he hasnÕt heard anything to support this project.
Chairman Wolfe moved to approve Resolution 2004-03 denying Standards Modification 2003-32 without prejudice and ask staff to bring back a resolution at the next meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Black. Vote 4-1 McCoy abstained.
9. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-05 & STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-14 (Rodriguez) 2110 Fullerton Road
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report, stating staff had not received revised plans from the applicant; staff was recommending denial of the project.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked if it were feasible to relocate the house on the lot.
Mr. Alexander said yes it could be moved.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing, seeing no one come forward he closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Black moved to recommend to the City Council denial of Standards Modification 2002-14 and Conditional Use Permit 2003-05. Commissioner Karman seconded the motion. Vote 4-1 Wolfe No.
Staff to bring resolution back to the Planning Commission for approval.
10. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-46 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2004-02 (Vizconde) 1402 Cloister
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating staff was recommending approval of the project.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions of staff.
Commissioner Karman asked about the fill that was brought to the site.
Mr. Lang stated the soils report shows the fill area as being outside the footprint of the home; stated you cannot build on poor soil; if bad soil is found they will need to remove it.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing, seeing no one come forward he closed the public hearing and returned the item to the Commission.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he was pleased with the project.
Chairman Wolfe stated he had no problems with the project.
Commissioner McCoy stated she was fine with the project; concerned about the concrete on site.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to approve Resolution 2004-02. Seconded by Chairman Wolfe. Vote 5-0.
11. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-36, GRADING MODIFICATION 2004-01 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS 2004-05 (Galvan) 448 East Road
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating staff was recommending approval of this project.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing.
Unknown Resident – stated he lives directly below this project and was concerned about the septic tank.
The Commission then discussed septic system vs. sewer system.
Mr. Lang stated the sewer line would be the best choice if it were available.
Ken Wilch, Civil Engineer – stated they would much prefer to hook up to the sewer if it is available.
Chairman Wolfe seeing no one else come forward closed the public hearing.
Commissioner McCoy spoke regarding the size of the home; house is crowding the boundaries.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated the CookeÕs are the resident most affected by this project; wants to condition project to add more landscaping the mask the house to blend it in and soften the house, screen as much as possible.
Commissioner McCoy stated there needs to be more landscaping below.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia asked for an alternate planting plan.
Commissioner Black voiced a concern regarding the height of eucalyptus trees, exterior lighting needed to be considered.
Chairman Wolfe stated he likes the project; suggested approving this project and conditioning it to bring a landscape plan back to the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Black moved to approve Resolution 2004-04 as amended to require a landscape plan be brought back to the Planning Commission; applicant to provide a cross section showing all three properties so the Planning Commission can see clearly what the landscaping is doing. Seconded by Commissioner Karman. Vote 5-0.
Break was taken from 9:20 to 9:30.
Chairman Wolfe asked to amend the agenda to move Items from the Planning Commission and Items from Staff before Item 12. It was the consensus of the Commission to make this change.
ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Commissioner Karman passed out a letter of items he wants discussed at a special meeting. It was the consensus of the Commission to check their calendars and be prepared to pick a day in May for a special meeting.
Commissioner McCoy asked the Commission to revisit their earlier discussion on impermeable surface; she didnÕt agree with staffÕs interpretation and wants it revisited; she asked for the impermeable surface calculations for the BSI Site 3; she asked for a list of the Conditions of Approval on all CUPs for the BSI Site 3. It was the consensus of the Commission to discuss impermeable surface again at the May meeting.
Ms. Doppieri indicated Ms. Massa-Lavitt was preparing that list and should have it ready for the April Meeting.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked for a monthly report on the Planning Cases.
ITEMS FROM STAFF
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Wolfe and Commissioner Karman recused themselves from Item 12 because they are members of the Club. Vice-Chairman Bergman took the chair.
12. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2004-13 (Hacienda Golf Club) 718 East Road
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating staff is supporting this project to demolish the existing clubhouse and the building of a new clubhouse.
Ms. Levin stated that a Conditional Use Permits would still be required even if the import/export was less than 1,000 cubic yards because it is a golf course in a residential zone and under the code that does require a CUP; suggested adding a condition that read ÒThis does not impair or remove any existing conditions or invalidate any pre-existing CUPS or amendments to CUPs for this property.Ó
Commissioner McCoy asked what the existing conditions were.
Ms. Levin stated she had not seen the existing conditions.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked if the Commission had any questions for staff.
Vice-Chairman Bergman opened the public hearing.
George Casey, Hacienda Golf Club – stated they had a short presentation; he gave a history of the Golf Club.
Martin Temple, Hacienda Golf Club – introduced Peter Ganahl.
Peter Ganahl, Hacienda Golf Club - stated there were two safety points they were trying to accomplish, level the parking lot to meet ADA requirements and realign the driveway with East Road for a safer entrance and exit.
Mark Bertrone, Civil Engineer – stated the benefit to the club is that they now can reduce this project to a balanced project.
Commissioner McCoy was concerned regarding the demolition of the Club House.
Mr. Ganahl felt the hauling away of debris on the roads was less weight on the roads than hauling in dirt.
Commissioner McCoy agreed.
Commissioner Black asked what was going to happen to the asphalt.
Mr. Bertrone stated it might be able to be used on site if the Geotechnical recommends it.
Mike Heinrich gave a presentation on what the Golf Club was presenting.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated lighting was important.
Commissioner Black asked about the timetable.
Mr. Ganahl stated 12 months for construction and they would like to finish by March 2006.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked about conditioning the project to shield the lights
Mr. Ganahl stated there was no problem with shielding the lights.
Vice-Chairman Bergman seeing no one else come forward closed the public hearing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated this was a nice project.
Commissioner Black stated there is a tremendous amount of heritage to the golf club; design would give impression that the new clubhouse had been there for a long period of time.
Commissioner McCoy stated she was happy with the new parking lot.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia stated it was a big project, wonderful project but he was concerned with the architectural review; wants it in the conditions that they meet the style designed; wants to see a materials board.
Vice-Chairman Bergman reopened the public hearing.
Doug Lee, Architect – stated he is very concerned with the details and is comfortable with preserving the design.
Vice-Chairman Bergman closed the public hearing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he understood where Alternate Commissioner Garcia was coming from but felt that was overstepping the bounds of the Planning Commission authority; wants to add a condition regarding the lighting.
Ms. Levin stated she needed to add some thing to the resolution and then read the changes she would like to make; Page 2 bottom of page under Conditional Use Permit Item 4 should read ÒGolf Courses and Solid Fill ProjectsÉÓ; Page 3, top or page #6, line 2, should read ÒÉyards may be neededÉÓ; item #7 line three, should read ÒÉto the site if necessaryÉÓ; Page 3, Section 6, under Planning, Item 1, should read ÒÉmodified by these conditions, and all previously conditions imposed by the City of La Habra Heights, shall not be invalidated.Ó; Page 4, #4, top of page, should read ÒÉapproval by the Planning Commission prior toÉÓ; she suggested adding a Condition 6 regarding the demolition permit, truck routes and disposal; add Condition regarding exterior lighting shields to eliminate spillage to adjacent properties.
Commissioner McCoy moved to approve Resolution2004-07 as amended recommending approval of this project to the City Council. Seconded by Commissioner Black.
Commissioner McCoy accepted the City AttorneyÕs changes and amended her motion accordingly. Seconded by Vice-Chairman Bergman.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia stated he wanted a materials board, landscape plan and catalogue cutouts and wanted the item brought back to the Planning Commission.
Break taken at 10:50 to change the tapes. Meeting reconvened at 10:53.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he was only interested in the landscaping issue.
Commissioner McCoy asked to also include a lighting plan.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia disagreed; wants a materials board.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he did not agree.
Commissioner Black did not agree.
Commissioner McCoy stated she understood but didnÕt agree.
Current motion stands.
Vote 3-2-1 Wolfe and Karman abstained, Garcia no.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Brian Bergman, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Matthew Alexander, Community Development Director