CITY OF LA HABRA HEIGHTS
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL 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 7:40 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 Robert Karman, and Margarita McCoy. Also present Community Development Director Matthew Alexander, Interim Community Development Director Sandra Massa-Lavitt, Planning Technician Barbara Doppieri, Fire Marshall Jim Powderly and City Attorney Sandra Levin.
Commissioner Black and Alternate Commissioner Garcia were absent.
3. FLAG SALUTE
4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING OF AGENDA FOR MEETING OF
March 15, 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.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – STUDY SESSION
6. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2003-06 (Bentely-Simonson Inc (BSI) 153 Canada Sombre
Ms. Massa-Lavitt presented the staff report stating the applicant is proposing a Natural Gas Production Plant to produce natural gas. It will travel from Site 3 to Site 5 where it will enter the existing Southern California Gas Company line; Carbon Dioxide must be removed to 3% and then the Gas Company will accept it; the Co2 generation plant will allow them to produce their own electricity; Initial Study discusses several items to be mitigated; Air Quality - deals with the CO2; odor on site will be reduced with the insulation of new equipment; Fire Department regularly inspect the site as well as many other agencies; Noise - the old equipment is to be removed; Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated the Planning Commission will here this item again on April 27, 2004.
Chairman Wolfe asked the applicant if he would like to give a presentation and the public could speak.
Clif Simonson, President and Chief Operating Officer – gave a presentation on the proposed co-generation plant.
Chairman Wolfe then asked if the public would like to speak on this matter.
Mike Gufrin, Canada Sombre – concerned regarding the noise; BSI is a poor neighbor.
Duane Webster, Canada Sombre – landscaping is not effective; noise deading solutions and screening will work; wants a liability policy to cover the City and the residents; asked for the Noise reports.
Stephanie Sweeney, Canada Sombre – asked if this project is denied would they stay around.
Mr. Simonson stated, yes they would be around at least 30 more years.
Bud Chapman, Canada Sombre – stated the present noise level is unacceptable.
Juanita Newbre, Canada Sombre – agreed with everyone about the noise; asked what the hurry was to pass this; noise consideration needs to be made.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated an Initial Study was done; Mitigated Negative Declaration was done; 3rd party review was done.
Mrs. Newbre stated she wants to see all of the reports from all of the other agencies.
Dave Sandison, Canada Sombre – stated even after what they are now proposing the noise is still unacceptable; he had safety concerns.
Mr. Webster stated he wanted to see the breakdown of the noise of each component.
Katie Martin, Reposado – stated she has noise concerns; light obtrusion.
Pam McVicar, Hillside Court – stated they need to be better neighbors.
John Black, Leucadia – stated he was upset with the noise.
Jonlyn Baker, Leucadia – stated the noise is amplified up the canyon.
Mr. Simonson agreed to shut down the plant if the noise exceeds the code.
Thelma Brown, 267 Canada Sombre – spoke regarding the noise.
Mike Higgins, Hillside Court – asked about the historical data on noise; asked if the electricity generated would be for the City.
Mr. Simonson stated no, the Edison Company wonÕt allow it.
Mr. Gufrin asked to visit the other site where this process is being used.
Mr. Simonson stated it is a secure site, but he would try and get him in.
Mr. Gufrin asked about the royalties.
Mr. Simonson stated he had an alternative fix to the noise; it is near completion.
Ms. Massa-Lavitt stated she would have a report at the next meeting.
Ms. Levin responded regarding the conditions.
Mr. Chapman asked about enclosing everything.
Mr. Simonson stated because of heat that could not be done; stated he has implemented many fixes to the sites and will continue to do so.
Chairman Wolfe spoke regarding property value issues, noise issues and safety issues.
Mr. Simonson stated they would look at quieting the system this week.
Chairman Wolfe asked regarding pumping 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Mr. Simonson stated the wells have to be pumped 24 hours a day seven days a week; gas is producing all the time.
Chairman Wolfe asked regarding the impact on neighbors of the 24Õ high pipe.
Mr. Simonson stated they would look at the height of the pipe again.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked regarding the safety of the pipeline.
Mr. Simonson stated with any problem the system is automatically shut down; spoke regarding the backup process.
Ms. Levin explained staff would be prepared to address the Conditions regarding the noise at the next meeting.
Commissioner McCoy asked regarding Table 1, Study 24
Commissioner Karman stated he wants a noise sample at the next meeting..
Vice-Chairman Bergman stated he wants a recording of what it would sound like; asked regarding the odor.
Mr. Simonson stated that natural gas has no odor; the Gas Company odor will be added at Site 5.
Mr. Sandison asked about shutting down the plant evenings and weekends.
Mr. Simonson the site will meet the noise ordinance.
Chairman Wolfe asked if the plant could run only during the day.
Mr. Simonson stated no.
Ms. Stetson stated there was no reason to do so as long as they were complying.
Mr. Simonson stated these fields were designed to run on a continual basis.
Vice-Chairman Bergman asked the applicant to get the noise levels down.
Chairman Wolfe made it clear the applicant had homework to be done before the next meeting of April 27, 2004.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:38 p.m.
Robert Wolfe, Chairman
ATTEST:
Sandra Massa-Lavitt, Interim Community Development Director