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 7:35 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, and Margarita McCoy. Also present Community Development Director Matthew Alexander, Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri, Deputy City Engineer Patrick Lang and City Attorney Sandra Levin.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia was absent.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Commissioner Black led the flag salute.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA FOR MEETING OF
May 25, 2004
Mr. Alexander stated the agenda had been posted.
5. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC NOT ON THE AGENDA 3-minute time limit per speaker
No one came forward to speak.
6. Approval of Minutes of a Regular Meeting of April 27, 2004
Commissioner Karman moved to approve the minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. All Ayes.
CONSENT CALENDAR
7. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-32 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-02 (Seifollahi) 357 Avocado Crest
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to deny this item and adopt the resolution as amended without prejudice. Seconded by Commissioner Black. Vote 4-1 McCoy abstained.
8. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-14 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-05 (Rodriguez) 2110 Fullerton Road
Mr. Alexander stated with the Conditional Use Permit application this application will be going on to the City Council for final action.
Mr. Alexander and Ms. Levin discussed proposed changes to the resolution.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public comments.
Anna Rodriguez, Fullerton Road – stated she did not understand what was going on; has revised the plans; willing to do what needs to be done to get this project moving forward; asked the Commission to consider this.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public comment.
Chairman Wolfe explained what had previously happened with this project.
Chairman Wolfe moved to reopen the public comment. Seconded by Vice-Chairman Bergman. All ayes.
Mrs. Rodriguez stated they did not attend the meeting because they didnŐt realize they should be at that meeting; revised the plans last week.
Chairman Wolfe again closed the public comment.
Commissioner Black asked the Commission to consider a denial without prejudice.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to recommend to the City Council a denial without prejudice. Seconded by Commissioner Black. All ayes.
PUBLIC HEARING – OLD BUSINESS
9. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-07 and CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT and a MULTI LOT DEVELOPMENT (HQT Homes) 2023 Sharpless Drive
10. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-06 and CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT and a MULTI LOT DEVELOPMENT (HQT Homes) 2033 Sharpless Drive
Mr. Alexander stated these items were continued from the last Planning Commission; the applicant is requesting another continuance.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing on items 9 & 10.
Don Huennekens, owner – stated they are working to make modifications to their plans.
Mari Ellen Ross, Skyline Vista – spoke regarding gross and net.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public hearing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked staff to look at the difference between gross and net.
Chairman Wolfe moved to continue items 9 & 10 to the June 22, 2004 meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Karman. All Ayes.
11. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-37 and GRADING MODIFICATION 2004-08 (Kim) 1800 Dorothea
Mr. Alexander stated the applicant had requested a continuance.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing; seeing no one come forward he closed the public hearing.
Chairman Wolfe asked regarding the permit-streamlining act.
Chairman Wolfe asked to continue this item to the end of the meeting so staff could go and get the file and check the dates.
PUBLIC HEARING – NEW BUSINESS
12. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2004-14 (KOCE) APN#8239-045-900
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating this was a request from the Coast Community College District to continue operation of their antenna site; the analog and digital broadcasting will shortly be done from Mt. Wilson; they would like to utilize this transmission tower for a back up facility; the site is currently used by Coast Community College for transmission for their bus communication; Sempra Energy also transmits from this tower; California Highway Patrol and Suburban Water as well as La Habra Heights rights to use this tower.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions of staff.
Commissioner Karman asked if staff was concerned about Steve BlagdenŐs memo.
Mr. Alexander did not answer.
Commissioner McCoy asked what was in the memo.
Mr. Alexander stated he would prefer Mr. Blagden present it himself; open space designation was incorrect.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked when staff received Mr. BlagdenŐs memo.
Mr. Alexander stated yesterday.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing.
Jeff Melching, applicant – spoke regarding their proposal and Mr. BlagdenŐs memo.
Chairman Wolfe asked if Mt. Wilson will be the primary broadcast site and this analog site will be the back up site.
Mr. Melching stated yes; the completely digital system will be more likely to occur in about 2014.
Commissioner McCoy asked if he would be will to accept a condition that at the point they no longer have a use for the tower, the tower will be removed.
Mr. Melching stated he didnŐt think this condition posed a problem for KOCE; the tower is an asset; disassembled there are tower companies that would purchase the tower.
Commissioner Karman read Commissioner Garcia memo regarding night lighting and asked the applicant to comment.
Mr. Melching stated they can implement the recommendation of Commissioner Garcia with the exception of the light on the top of the tower.
Joan Klopenstein, Division Chief for La Habra Heights Fire Department – stated the City needs to keep this site available for future use by the Fire Department.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public hearing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated there was a lot of information to absorb; asked staff to read through all of this information and then provide a report to the Planning Commission.
.
Chairman Wolfe moved to continue this item to the June 22, 2004 meeting to allow staff time to review the information and prepare a report. Seconded by Commissioner Black. All Ayes.
13. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2002-12 AND grading modification 2004-10 (Juan Rodriguez) 748 Picaacho
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating this is a Standards Modification for View Preservation and a Grading Modification; this is a 1 ½ acre site; will not use the West Road access; 3 stories within a single vertical plain; concern re the graded driveway to the stables; staff recommended a continuance for the applicant to redesign the project.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions for staff.
Commissioner McCoy asked how the illegal stables should be addressed.
Ms. Doppieri gave a history of the stables.
Chairman Wolfe asked about the safety of a driveway coming off Picaacho in this location.
Mr. Lang stated that is the reason the grading is significant, to get a landing for a line of sight coming into and out of the driveway; staff tries to discourage driveways at 25%;
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing.
Ken Wilch, Civil Engineer – stated the average slope of the lot was 33%, this is not uncommon; three stories in this neighborhood is not unusual; plans a crib wall; extensive grading is typical for this type of site; can be landscaped; no vertical retaining wall over 6Ő feet in height; crib wall is planned and it can be landscaped.
Jeff Brown, Picaacho – stated this project proposes too much grading and the home is too big.
Cathy Keena, West Road – concerned about to coming off West Road; also concerned about the service road; worried about so much grading.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public hearing.
Commissioner McCoy was concerned dealing with a proposed house when the issue of the illegal stables was not resolved.
Chairman Wolfe suggested the applicant redesign the project taking into consideration the new Land Use Policy that requires no more than two stories in any single vertical plain.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to continue this item to June 22, 2004 to allow the applicant to redesign this house; reduce the grading; include in plans what is to be done with the accessory structures; change the story poles to a silhouette. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. All Ayes.
Break taken from 10:27 to 10:35 p.m.
11. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2003-37 and GRADING MODIFICATION 2004-08 (Kim) 1800 Dorothea
Staff indicated there was no permit streamlining act issue and this item could be continued another month.
Chairman Wolfe moved to continue this item to June 22, 2004. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. All Ayes.
14. Standards Modification 2004-03 (Barragan) 1901 Kashlan
Mr. Alexander presented the staff report stating the site is more than one acre; this is a proposal for a single family residence; average slope is 19.5%; allowable grading is 30,510 square feet while the proposed grading is 21,120 square feet; the proposal is to balance the cut and fill on site with no export or import; allowable impervious surface is 15,225 proposed impervious surface is 9,058 square feet; flood hazard easement runs along the southerly side of the property; no view impairment from surrounding homes; home is two stories, tapers down to a 3 car garage and then a guest house; minimal impact from the street; staff recommended the Planning Commission approve the project and staff will prepare a resolution.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions for staff.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked if staff verified the height of the story poles.
Mr. Alexander stated no.
Commissioner McCoy felt the grading and impervious coverage was based on the gross and not the net.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public hearing; seeing no one come forward closed the public hearing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated the story poles do not appear to be accurate; pad level is being raised; wanted pad elevation lowered and correct story poles.
Chairman Wolfe stated the story poles are not correct.
Commissioner Karman asked for the elevations to be clarified.
Commissioner Karman moved to reopen the public hearing. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. All Ayes.
Alberto Barragan, Kashlan – stated he personally measured the story poles and they are accurate; spoke regarding the raise in elevation.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public hearing.
Commissioner McCoy asked staff to have the gradable area checked.
Chairman Wolfe instructed the applicant to work with staff to lower the structure and verify the story poles are accurate; verify the gradable area.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to continue this item to June 22, 2004. Seconded by Chairman Wolfe. All Ayes.
ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
15. Scheduling of a Special Meeting
Staff to schedule the special meeting after June 15, 2004.
ITEMS FROM STAFF
16. Current Caseload Report
17. Report on the Progress of the preparation of the new Zoning Ordinance.
18. Report on the CityŐs Hazard Mitigation Program.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 a.m.
Robert Wolfe, Chairman
ATTEST:
Matthew Alexander, Community Development Director