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 7:43 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, Margarita McCoy and Alternate Commissioner Steve Garcia. Also present Community Development Director Sandra Massa-Lavitt, Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri, Planning Intern Ernesto Chaves, City Engineer Craig Melicher and City Attorney Sandra Levin.
Commissioner Baroldi was absent with an approved absence.
3. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Pro Tem Douglas led the flag salute.
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA FOR MEETING OF
November 23, 2004
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the agenda had been posted.
5. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC NOT ON THE AGENDA 3-minute time limit per speaker
Councilmember Douglas thanked the Commission for their hard work.
Stephen Blagden, Citron Road – spoke regarding staff errors; the Planning Commission should deny incomplete applications.
6. Approval of Minutes of October 26, 2004.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to approve the minutes of October 26, 2004 as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Black. Vote 4 – 1. McCoy abstained.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING
7. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2004-25 AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-03 (Sussoev) 707 Dorothea
Ms. Massa-Lavitt requested this item be continued to the December 28, 2004 meeting.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to continue this item to December 28, 2004. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. Vote 5 – 0.
8. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2004-05 (SM) (Gaboras) 838 Picaacho
Mr. Chavez stated this item was continued from the previous meeting due to view obstruction concerns by the neighbor; the applicant agreed to redesign the home; staff has not received new plans; there is still one month to act on the project; he recommended a one month continuance.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public comment; seeing no one come forward he continued the public comment.
Commissioner Black moved to continue this item to December 28, 2004. Seconded by Vice-Chairman Bergman. Vote 5 – 0.
9. STANDARDS MODIFICATION 2004-23 (SM), GRADING MODIFICATION 2004-15 and a TREE REMOVAL PERMITS 2004-06 (Patel) 500 Greenview
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated this item was continued from last month; the applicant has modified the design of the home; reduced the size of the home; reduced the grading quantities; lowered the first floor elevation slightly; the building envelope standards have been met; staff placed a condition regarding the drainage; the applicant reduced the number of floors on a single vertical plain to two; stepped back the building; story poles are correct; staff felt this conformed more to the comments of the Planning Commission at the last meeting; issue was raised today about the serpentine driveway; this driveway was not calculated toward impervious coverage; it occupies about 5,400 square feet of pervious surface, which bumps the impervious calculation over the maximum allowed.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had questions of staff.
Commissioner McCoy asked what was the correct amount of coverage.
Chairman Wolfe stated 18,567 square feet.
Commissioner McCoy asked about the ordinance that dealt with shared driveways.
Ms. Levin suggested the Commission send this project back to the applicant so staff can get the correct figures.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public comment.
Kenneth Wilch, Engineer – didnŐt see the possibility of what staff is talking about; stated the road was taken out to calculate the net area; all of the other calculations are based on net area; so the road should not be calculated; adding in the 5,400 square feet is improper.
Ms. Levin felt the grading limits and impervious limits were conservative; the City Engineer will need to recalculate the numbers to get accurate numbers.
Mr. Wilch spoke regarding drainage on the site and the failure of the drainage to stay in the middle of the road; downstream from the SUSMP.
Stephen Blagden, Citron Road – stated the controlling code is 9120b; Municipal Code requires driveways for multiple lots to be 20 feet wide; this driveway is only 10 feet wide; needs to be counted at 20 feet; property owner is bound by the burdens of the easement.
Commissioner McCoy asked that the entire site be shown on the plans; which prevails the ordinance or does the recorded easement of 10 feet.
Ms. Levin stated the easement and paved surface are two different things the easement has to do with the rights of the property owners; the code requires a graded and paved driveway of 20 feet; unless there is an exception granted that could be required of this project; once you do that it will increase the impervious coverage on this lot substantially.
Commissioner McCoy suggested continuing this item so we could get more answers; also questioned the elevation of the house.
Nil Patel, Applicant – spoke regarding how the graded area, net and gross area and the impervious coverage area; the easement road is in the correct location.
Ms. Levin stated it has to be counted back in because that what the code says; some if not all of the easements may qualify under the code as includable in the net area.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated at some point the driveway will be improved and will be made 20 feet wide, therefore it must be calculated at 20 feet and that would be a condition of approval; she explained the elevation.
Commissioner McCoy voiced concerns regarding the elevation plans.
Commissioner Black stated the elevation is 3 dimensional.
Vice-Chairman Bergman voiced concerns regarding Mr. PatelŐs letter and asked for an explanation.
Mr. Patel explained the building envelope; consider the site; consider the building will not block anyone view; requested the Commission grant his request.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt explained how the measurement has been taken historically; explained how she measured it; suggested a section drawing.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he like the articulation of all the roof lines.
Commissioner McCoy stated she was pretty comfortable with the height of the roof.
Chairman Wolfe wanted to get all the concerns addressed.
Chairman Wolfe seeing no one else come forward continued the public comment.
Commissioner McCoy was concerned with the road.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt suggested that if the Commission continues this, that we need a site plan that shows the exact location of the road now and in relationship to the easement.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia stated there will be several homes impacted by the trees; wants the cut at 1 ½ to 1 to be eased up to 2 to 1; house is a flat plain; landscaping needs to be paid attention too; shouldnŐt plant Canary Island Pines they grow too tall.
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to continue this item to December 28, 2004. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. Vote 5 – 0.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – NEW BUSINESS
10. TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 61374 (Hawley Family Trust) 1402 La Riata Drive
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated this application is for a Tentative Parcel Map for a three lot subdivision; 1042 La Riata; the calculations for each lot are in the staff report; all the lots are within the limits of the code in terms of potential future development; Lot 1 is a house that was administratively approved several months ago and will be built where the house to be demolished is; Lots 2 and 3 have prospective footprints that could take place on the property to show you that grading and impervious coverage can be met on those two lots; findings can be met; the subdivision is designed not to be in conflict with easements; an environmental assessment has been issued and staff recommends approval of the tentative parcel map and adoption of the resolution and conditions of approval.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the Commission had any questions of staff.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked regarding the letter the Commission just received.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the letter is from a neighbor in Whittier whoŐs lot is approximately four lots to the east of this site; he does own a lot to the south; he felt his view would be impaired of the hillside; felt it would effect the design of his home to be built.
Chairman Wolfe opened the public comment.
Ken Parsons, Architect – stated this development is far less dense than what could have been done; attempted to keep the low density and to protect privacy.
Commissioner McCoy suggested spreading out the house on the lot.
Chuck Hawley, owner – stated they placed the homes in this location because they will be to owner of Lot 1 and their daughters will own the other two and they want them close by; they have permission from the City of Whittier to tie into the sewer system.
Chairman Wolfe closed the public comment.
Commissioner McCoy moved to approve Tentative Parcel Map 61374 including the indemnity provision. Seconded by Alternate Commissioner Garcia. Vote 5 – 0.
Break taken from 9:18 to 9:25.
11. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2004-32 (City of La Habra Heights) 1885 N. Hacienda Road
Mr. Chavez presented the staff report stating this application is a Conditional Use Permit as well as a Standards Modification for View Preservation for construction of a Horse AnnouncerŐs Booth at ŇThe ParkÓ; there is an existing horse ring and the booth will be located to the north west of the ring; the structure is 696 square feet with a maximum building height of 22 feet; staff considered use compatibility, site suitability and General Plan consistency; the booth is compatible with the existing use of the ring; the site already support equestrian facilities; the General Plan supports encourages the use of ŇThe ParkÓ by promoting the equestrian use; the project is consistent with the Zoning Code and View Preservation regulations; only one tree would be removed; nearest homes are approximately 360 feet away from the location; staff recommends approval of Conditional Use Permit and Standards Modification for View Preservation and adoption of the attached resolution and conditions of approval.
Chairman Wolfe asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner McCoy asked if the City were exempt from story poles.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the City is exempt however we generally follow the rules; we did not go to the expense of putting story poles up because it is such a small building.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia felt it was too far back; tree may not need to be removed.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the Parks and Rec Committee made the decisions on this booth.
Chairman Wolfe felt it could go nearer to the grand stands.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated if the Commission wanted to continue this item, staff could have the Parks and Rec Committee could and give their analysis on the location.
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he was comfortable with this project and will leave the location up to the Parks and Rec Committee.
Chairman Wolfe stated there is no view impact.
Commissioner McCoy disagreed.
Alternate Commissioner Garcia questioned ADA considerations.
Commissioner McCoy felt it could go on the south side of the ring.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt suggested the Commission continue this item.
Chairman Wolfe moved to continue this item to December 28, 2004. Seconded by Commissioner McCoy. Vote 5 – 0.
ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION
ITEMS FROM STAFF
12. Report on Community Development Department
13. Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the Municipal Code Committee has been meeting for months. The consists of Bruce Douglas, Robert Wolfe, John Hendrickson, Marc Blodgett, Barbara Doppieri, Sandy Levin and Sandra Massa-Lavitt.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-Chairman Bergman moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Black. Vote 5 - 0.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 p.m.
Brian Bergman, Vice-Chairman
ATTEST:
Sandra Massa-Lavitt, Community Development Director