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03/16/2006 s - - - Community and Economic Development Department CALIFORNIA GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING March 16,2006 The regular meeting of the Grand Terrace Planning Commission was called to order at the Grand Terrace Civic Center,22795 Barton Road. Grand Terrace. California. on March 16„ 2006. at 7:00 p.m.. by Chairperson Doug Wilson. PRESENT: Doug Wilson, Chairperson Matthew Addington, Vice Chairperson Tom Comstock, Commissioner Robert Bidney, Commissioner Darcy McNaboe, Commissioner Gary Koontz, Community Development Director John Lampe,Associate Planner Rose Smith, Planning Secretary i 7:00 P.M. CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Bidney • Roll Call Director Koontz introduced the newlv appointed Commissioner.Ms. Darcv McNaboe. as well as Mr. Brian Phelps,the new Alternate Commissioner. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Bobbie Forbes 11850 Burns Ave. I would like to say that there is a"for sale" sign on the property where Manhole Builders was going to go. We're happy to see that sign down there. There's also a sign on the property next to it, and I believe that the property up above is in escrow. So, there's been a lot going on in the neighborhood, but I'm just glad to see other"for sale"signs. Thank you very much. 22795 Barton Road • Grand Terrace! California 92313-5295 • 909/ 824-6621 Patricia Farley 12513 Michigan Street As I've mentioned before about the trucking company on Michigan Street, I'd like to make some further comments, because I think this is very important for you to be paying attention to. The business apparently is now being allowed to expand, which I believe is illegal under the conditions under which he tried to come in the first place, and his intention not only to expand from what the initial claim was, but I noticed that his literature says he wants 10 acres. He is building this building without a CEQA review, which I believe is against the law. He is clearly polluting our area, and I also want you to be aware of the reports of the inspections from the fire department. This guy is playing games with our health, our City and our property values. When the Fire Dept. goes, and they check no matter how big his business is getting, he has the exact amount of each hazardous material right at the capacity of what is allowed when they happen to arrive and they let them see that one spot—it's a joke. Anybody with common sense knows that that is not being truthful and then he doesn't let people inspect the whole property. You have a well on that property, and you have trucks that are polluting. I go out in front of my house and huge trucks, and even double trucks go roaring by with the pollution, the smell, the safety problems, the noise and the damage of the streets. Michigan is being ruined by this kind of business. I know the City talks about widening Michigan. That would be very unfair. It would ruin all the residences on Michigan. The Commission needs to do whatever it_can to preserve Michigan as a residential street, and anything commercial already is suppose to be light commercial, and this trucking business is not light commercial. You need to support the residential area, and you need to have all these trucks down on Commerce Way. That's where the businesses should be, and that's where people should drive through if they are going to shop or just drive through Grand Terrace. Michigan Street needs to be supported as a residential street, and it is possible for this City to help do that. They've spent billions of dollars undermining our property values and our way of life in polluting the area. It's got to stop. Thank you. Rita Schwark 21952 Grand Terrace Road I turned west off La Cadena onto Grand Terrace Road before the freeway, and it took me 20 minutes to get home because of bumper-to-bumper traffic at rush hour as far as the eye could see. Trucks are still parking on the corner of Barton Road and Grand Terrace Road, which makes it nearly impossible to turn from Grand Terrace Road. I wish it was more enforced by giving out tickets. Trucks are still parking there in the morning. Thank you. ITEMS: 1. MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of January 19,2006 RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation is for approval. 2 Rose Smith: Motion carries with Ms. McNaboe abstaining. MOTION PC-04-2006: Chair Wilson made a motion to approve the minutes of January 19, 2006. Commissioner Bidney Seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE PC-04-2006: Approved 4-0-1-0 2. CUP-06-01 Application filed for a Conditional Use Permit(CUP-06-01), Site SA-06-01 & and Architectural Review(SA-06-01), and Environmental E-06-01 (E-06-01)to construct corporate offices and a yard on 1.6 acres and outdoor pipe storage on unpaved 1.3 acres. APPLICANT: The Riverside Highland Water Company LOCATION: 12374 Michigan Street(An approximately 2.9 acre parcel located on the westerly side of Michigan Street approximately 450 feet southerly of the intersection of Michigan Street and De Berry Street.) RECOMMENDATION: Open the Public Hearing,receive testimony, close the Public Hearing and approve SA-06-01, CUP-06-01 and E-06-01 to construct an office building, a shop, garage buildings,paving for parking and maneuvering access, landscaping and other small incidental storage facilities on 1.6 acres, and approve that the remaining 1.3 acres be left unpaved and used for outdoor pipe storage. STAFF Associate Planner Lampe greeted the Commission and presented his staff report. This applicant this evening is requesting approval to construct new corporate offices and yard for the Riverside Highland Water Company. Subject site is a 2.9 acre "L" shaped parcel located on the westerly side of Michigan Street, about 450 feet southerly at the intersection of De Berry Street. The property has a frontage on Michigan Street of approximately 112 feet and an east/west dimension of 645 feet. There was a house at one time in this location on the property and an accessory building in the southeast corner. Those structures have subsequently been demolished. The property is presently vacant. The site is fairly level, however, it does have a gentle downward slope away from Michigan Street to the southwest corner of the property. Surrounding areas are developed for single family residential to the immediate north of the subject property, including a house located to the immediate northeast of the subject property, and additional residential farther to the east of the subject property on the easterly side of Michigan Street. To the immediate south of the property, is an existing single-family house in this location, and farther to the south is the Schwertfeger equipment trucking business. To the west is a mini-warehouse and storage facility and an open RV storage facility located here to the immediate west of the subject site. Properties west of the subject site, the Commission may remember, are within the Outdoor Adventures Center Specific Plan area. The site itself is R1-7.2 single-family residential. Public 3 facilities and quasi-public facilities such as the Riverside Highland Water Company are permitted in the R-1 zone with the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit. Therefore, the request tonight for the said requested Conditional Use Permit is before the Planning Commission. Properties to the north and east being residentially zoned are also in an R1-7.2 zone as is the parcel to the immediate south of subject site. Properties farther to the south on Michigan Street are in CM commercial/manufacturing zone, which does include the Schwertfeger property. The area to the west being in the Outdoor Adventures Center Specific Plan is located in what is called Planning Area No. 3. The site plan shows the proposed development, including the one-story 5,586 sq. ft. office building located on the southerly portion of the site. The equipment storage and employee building, located in the northeast corner, has an area of approximately 3,900 sq. ft. as well as an additional garage structure that is 2,900 sq. ft. To the immediate north are two very small concrete bins of about 160 sq. ft. a piece. These bins will be used for the storage of sand and asphalt that are used in the operations of the water company. Also, to the immediate west of the garage building in this location is a small oil storage facility, which will be located on the westerly side of that building. The square footage of that is less than 200 sq. ft. This is where they store the oil that is used in the maintenance of the water pumps. The rear of the property is shown to be the unpaved portion of the property. As indicated, the water pipe is for the operation of the company, and also for emergency purposes. Also, if there were any major catastrophe or something with which they would have a lot of water lines broken, you would have to have a ready source in which to have those pipes. Shown on the site plan are two open- parking areas to the east and front of the office building. All spaces in this location and eleven spaces to the rear total 23 parking spaces; plus four more in this location is a total of 27 open parking spaces shown on the plan. In addition to that, there probably is enough room in the two garage structures to park an additional 15 vehicles. The staff feels that there is more than enough parking for the number of employees, which is my understanding is no more than 12, plus anticipated visitors. Access is provided by a 24 ft. wide driveway coming off Michigan Street, and there is a rolling gate to control access to the interior of the site. Perimeter fencing will include a combination of chain link and wrought iron. On the southerly property line, the applicant is proposing a six-foot chain-link fence to replace an existing very old wire fence. Also shown on the site plan is a 4 ft. wide pedestrian access way from Michigan Street. This site plan also illustrates the proposed grading for the project. Site drainage is provided through a series of drains and swales to the southwest corner of the facility. The applicant's engineer has written a letter describing in some detail the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) requirements for this project, including construction and post- construction BMPs and the required "Water Quality Management Plan." This letter was included in the Staff Report as Attachment 11. In addition to that, the applicant's engineer is present this evening to answer any specific questions members of the Commission may have regarding the grading and drainage on this particular site. 4 - The floor plan of the proposed office building that will contain an entry reception area in the front part of the building. Other rooms will include storage rooms, break rooms, meeting rooms, restrooms and the company board room located in the front part of the building. There will also be two patio areas, one on the north side of the building of about 300 sq. ft. and another entry patio area in the front of the building. The southerly part of the building will be used for the training and orientation of the field personnel. It will include a training room, an exercise room, break room, and restrooms. The northerly part of the building will be used as a garage for company vehicles. The second garage will be relocated from its current location at the Water Company's Washington Street location. This building has about 2,900 sq. ft. and will be used for parking and storage of company vehicles and equipment. The submitted rendering gives a perspective as to what the buildings will look like. As illustrated, the elevations are heavily influenced by Spanish and Mediterranean motifs with the use of roof tiles, arches, and columns with a heavy Spanish influence. The new garage structure located to the north of the office building has stucco veneer on metal panels. The building will be painted according to the color materials board to match the main office building. The preliminary landscaping plans submitted as Exhibit "A" shows the detailed plant palate for the project. The area around the office building will be heavily landscaped with trees ranging in size from a 24" to 48" box. The landscaping will incorporate some low-water planting areas to be used in demonstration gardens to show how such a planting can be used by homeowners to lessen their demands for water. In the rear of the office building, there will be a picnic area, picnic tables, and park use for the benefit of the employees. This project, under the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, qualifies for a Mitigated Negative Declaration in that the project will not have an adverse impact on the environment. In conclusion, the staff recommends that the Planning Commission approves CUP-06-01, SA- 06-01, E-06-01 based on the findings of fact referenced in the Resolution of Approval, which was included as Attachment 17 of the Staff Report. Chair Wilson: The chair would entertain any questions of the staff. Commissioner Addington: This is a CUP or are we proposing any time limits on the CUP? Director Koontz: Historically, in this City, very seldom has there been time extensions or conditions placed on CUPs. Commissioner Addington: So, none then. 5 Director Koontz: No. Chair Wilson: Any further questions for the staff. Commissioner Addington: Has the applicant told us what the hours of operations will be? Planner Lampe: The applicant indicated that the normal hours will be 7:30 to 5:00 in the afternoon,normal business hours. Chair Wilson: We understand that the number of employees that will be within that building kind of match the parking ratio. Planner Lampe: Yes,that's my understanding. Chair Wilson: So,we're talking about up to 24 employees. Planner Lampe: I believe they told us that there will be a maximum number will be 12 employees,but we can ask the applicant to clarify that. Chair Wilson: I noted that there is going to be a bill-payment facility. Is that correct? Some kind of drive up or walk-in bill payment circumstance. Planner Lampe: I was told that they did not expect a whole lot of customers coming to the i facility to pay the actual payments. Most people pay in another manner rather than to actually go to the water company. Chair Wilson: Their current facility has a pretty substantial influx of what we consider a doctor's type of visit where you run in and pay a bill in either cash or check. Director Koontz: The way it was explained to us is that the majority of that happens the day they plan on turning off somebody's water. Chair Wilson: So,they did.... Hah! Chair Wilson: I'm sorry I couldn't tell by the little map. What is the driveway's surface? Is it concrete? Planner Lampe: I assume that you mean the 24 ft. wide drive leading into the interior yard? Again, we can ask the applicant. My understanding is that it is going to be asphalt. Chair Wilson: Or some hard surface? Planner Lampe: Yes. Chair Wilson: I'd just like to point out to the members of the audience that the purpose of a Conditional Use Permit is to establish a case-by-case ruling considering the adjacent uses and the 6 General Plan. So, the point of that is if it isn't already allowed automatically, that a Conditional Use Permit is reviewed by this body and it makes a determination if the use proposed is compatible with the adjacent uses and it fits into the general auspices of the General Plan. If it does, then we usually make a finding of compliance. If we find that it isn't congruent with it, then, of course, we would go the opposite. That's the whole point of a CUP. That's my last question before the start the testimony. Commissioner Bidding: Yes or no? Chair Wilson: Very Good. Thank you. I'd like to invite the applicant to speak on his behalf of his property. Please say your name and address. William J. "Bill" McKeever: My Name is Bill McKeever and my address is W. J. McKeever, Inc., Civil Engineering, 647 North Main St., Riverside, CA. We've reviewed the conditions and are here to answer any further questions you may have. Also, we have Don Hough, General Manager of Riverside Highland Water Company and Gary W. Miller, Architect, GMID. Vice Chair Addington: First Bill, I want to thank you submitting a very nice site plan to us. It's much easier to review these when we have properly prepared site plans. One of the questions I have for you is along the south property line where you are proposing a chain link fence versus a block wall. i Mr. McKeever: Yes, we had negotiations with the adjacent property owner. As a matter of fact, I believe you have a letter from Ms. Betty Supernaw who lives at 12394 Michigan Street. She originally lobbied us to maintain that wire fence she had there, but she changed her mind and decided she wanted a chain-fence. That's her desire. We're trying to be good neighbors and do what they wish us to do, and that's the reason. She had very strong opinions about what she wanted there. Chair Wilson: O.K. Commissioner Addington: I had a quick glance at your water quality management plan here tonight. Obviously, I did not have a chance to review it before tonight. Could you share with me some of the ideas you have for complying with NPDES? Mr. McKeever: Right. We show where the concrete gutter intercepts the facility going from there to the West, we've shown a swale within the BMP for the water quality management. We're still in negotiations with the adjacent property owner regarding "drainage acceptance." If they require us to put in some kind of basin, we're ready to do that. So, it'll either be the grassy swale or the extended detention basin. In addition to that, we have the normal spill containment. We have no plans to store any hazardous materials on site. Basically, maintain landscaping, clean up the paved areas and the normal BMPs that you have with a water management plan. Commissioner Addington: O.K., so at this point, we're looking at draining your swale through their block wall? 7 Mr. McKeever: At this point, we are. If we can work that out. i Commissioner Addington: O.K. Chair Wilson: You understand that it's the historical flow that you're going to be maintaining other than the fact that it's changed the characteristic of the flow and that's what you are dealing with in relation to that. Mr. McKeever: That's correct. The property currently drains to that same spot. Commissioner Addington: O.K. While you're up here, I have a question of staff. Since the applicant has accepted the conditions, that means under Conditions 14 and 23 the power pole in the northeast corner is going to be relocated? Director Koontz: Power poles all up and down that street are becoming an issue, and one in front of Schwertfeger's property, too, we're dealing with. Last week, Rich Shields and I had a meeting with Edison to talk about concurrently, trying to move a lot of those poles. Moving one pole at a time is going to be very difficult. You can't pop one out. You've got to slide a whole bunch of them. So, we're working with Edison on that. If they're ready to do something, first of all, you need to make sure that the existing pole isn't within their driveway and is going to restrict their access. If it isn't, and we're still working with Edison, we would have to bond for the cost of moving the pole. So, we can all get in there and move everything at one time, and we can do it efficiently and it'll be a little more economical for everybody. Commissioner Addington: O.K. That explains those two conditions then. Director Koontz: Correct. We actually did have Don in the meeting with us, so he was actively involved in the meeting. Commissioner Addington: Alright. Thank you very much. Chair Wilson: Gary, I also have a question about the poles. My understanding is that if an agency, such as the City of Grand Terrace, writes a letter to Edison explaining that this pole relocation might be part of a "Master Plan" of road improvement, that it could be considered a one-time relocation. I believe the cost is minimal. Director Koontz: Correct. When we propose a public works project, they're obligated to move it, unless they got some special underlying rights, which typically in these streets they don't. However, since it costs so much to get a pole moved, if they could figure out away to determine it's a private project,they're going to stick to it. Chair Wilson: Gotcha; and we know the whole experience about moving one pole, don't we? Director Koontz: Oh, yes we do. I've been trying to forget that for two years now. Chair Wilson: Any rest of the Commissioners have any questions, comments for Mr. McKeever? 8 Commissioner Bidney: I have a question for staff and/or the applicant. The hours are going to be from 7 to 5, I believe. What happens when they get an emergency call at 3 o'clock in the morning, and they have to get that equipment out of there. Director Koontz: The normal business hours are 7:30 to 5 p.m. for the office to be open and the employees will do their normal work. Commissioner Bidney: What about emergencies? Director Koontz: Under emergencies, if something breaks, they're going go fix it. I believer Mr. Hough can expand on that, if you like. Chair Wilson: Please state your name and address. Don Hough: Don Hough, 250 Washington Street, Colton. I am the General Manager for Riverside Highland Water Company. We don't like to work at 3 o'clock in the morning. We haven't worked all night probably in about 12 years. Normally what we do when we get an after-hour call is that the person on-call goes out and assesses what the problem is. Normally, if it's late, a lot of times we might run it by the City in the morning. We don't work in the middle of the night if we don't absolutely have too. We don't foresee that being a problem. If that is a problem,then that's very rare. - _ Chair Wilson: Any other questions? r Commissioner Comstock: Don, can you comment also regarding the payment of bills? The issue that was brought up about that. Don Hough: Yes. A few years ago, we went to our Board for another item, and we tracked our bill paying both by people coming in for just bill paying and, also, how many people actually came in not just for bills, like people who are changing address or anything. We tracked it over a two-month period, and during that period we averaged 12 people coming in per day. That was it. Now, Gary asks what if there happens to be turnoffs. We probably had about 20 to 30 people some days. There are other days when we're on the down cycle of that where we may not have any or perhaps 1 or 2, but over that two-month period, we averaged actually 12. Most people pay by postage, actually. Granted that might change a little bit now that we are up here at Grand Terrace where we belong and not in Colton. Or, maybe there might be people that happen to be close by and drop it off—I don't know that, but we have very few people that actually come in. Chair Wilson: Thank you. The reason I brought that up is because I do know that is an issue in relation to the compatibility with the adjacent neighboring uses. Don Hough: Yes. I understand. Commissioner McNaboe: Do you have a water conservation garden plan? 9 Don Hough: Yes. Right outside the front door. We have adopted both schools in Grand _ Terrace: Grand Terrace Elementary School, and Grand Terrace Elementary in Terrace View. We've developed projects with them, and part of what they want to do this year is some conservation by growing some plants through their 61h grade classes. Talking with both Principals, we figure it would be a pretty good idea to have a little garden there. Actually, we have a little place where students can do research. Commissioner McNaboe: Is this a place where the public can come and see different plants? Don Hough: Yes. It's actually right at the entrance. It's not going to be anything big, 10 x 10 or something like that to be used more or less for the kids and the public to kind of tie together our program in the schools. Commissioner McNaboe: What kind of outdoor lighting is planned for this facility? Don Hough: We're a water company. We're dealing with the public's health and security issues. Homeland Security, Department of Health Services and Federal EPA. Things like that. We're going to have quite a bit of security there. We going to have some outside lighting, but we're also going to have some motion lighting, etc., simply because we do have things inside those buildings that are high risk. Chair Wilson: Our understanding is, of course, that lighting will be then properly shielded. I had a question about the mechanical aspect, that is so far as maintenance of the actual unit of the construction equipment that you might have. I know that you're going to have an enclosed garage. What can we expect so far as noise, mitigation or whatever? Don Hough: We don't manufacture, build or develop things. We are a water company. In fact, the metal building that we're moving down there is just going to be a shell to park vehicles in there. Right now, the vehicles down there at our current yard and we park service trucks, dump trucks, and things like that in there. We don't have room to park. We have backhoes, skip- loads, and bobcats, and things like that are outside. We wanted to shore it up, put it inside, not only for safety but also so the neighbors didn't have a problem with it sitting outside. Also in that building, we keep a lot of material to prepare out in the field. We don't have any presses, we don't have anything the builds anything. We do have a welder, but the welder is a portable welder, it's on a vehicle. It's to go out to a job site. If a pipe's leaking, a metal pipe or something like that or a fire hydrant, we repair it out there. We do very, very little work on site. We are also not automobile mechanics. We don't even change oil or change tires. We take it all off-site. We don't have time to do that nor is that our expertise. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Any further questions? We will open up the Public Testimony and begin with our Request to Speak forms. Patricia Farley? 10 PUBLIC TESTIMONY Patricia Farley 12513 Michigan Street I question whether or not they need a building of this size because I am concerned that it is going to be supplying private offices for board members at the taxpayers' expense. So, I'm concerned about that, but I'm also concerned about the water company being on that particular piece of property. We need more nice residential buildings on Michigan Street, and that's residential, and it's very frustrating when the zoning keeps getting changed on people and they have no way of relying so that they know that the property value of their house is going to be a certain thing and that someone is not going to, on a whim,just resale, and that's what has been happening in this city. The complex for the water company shouldn't even be in a light commercial area with truck storage and repairing. I had the impression from what I read that they would be repairing their vehicles. I have a huge problem with the outdoor storage on the dirt on 1.3 acres in the back. I think you're going to have trucks driving through it bringing dirt onto Michigan Street It's unsightly. It's stunning to me. I know there are problems with the OAC property and what's going to be developed there, but certainly, you want something that isn't going to be compatible with looking at an outdoor storage place. So, you're ruining the whole property if you allow this. I'd rather see they keep storage inside or not have it so that people see it. I don't think it's appropriate for a resident to have to have garages right behind her home for storage of trucks. I also feel that the trucking there has not complied with the conditions, and yet it keep going on _ and on and on. And, there is no guarantee, because we watched what everybody is getting away within Grand Terrace. Laura Austin, who has property next door, is trying very hard just to preserve her property and what will be pleasant for her. The problem we have in our City is that you can't control putting cracker box houses there. She's worried about that. So she figures well maybe the water company would be better. But neither one is appropriate. We need some nice homes there, and I also believe with a Conditional Use Permit, people aren't suppose to be expanding, and Mr. Schwertfeger has been expanding right and left. Chair Wilson: Separate Item. Patricia Farley: Huh? No, I've heard - I'm concerned about the water company expanding because they're interested in the property next door, too; which is really ruining that part of Michigan. I don't think you should allow zoning changes, and I think you need to maintain this as a residential street. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Laura Austin? Please state your name and address for the record. Laura Austin 12356 Michigan Street I don't know if that's the map or not, but the one that John showed a few minutes ago of the landscape will show that the water company will be beside my house and then-in the back of the _ house. Theirs is an"L" shaped parcel and mine would be in the corner, right there. And so I do have three concerns about the water company being there. One concern I have is, what they are 11 asking for now is what they would get. Don't come back every six months, and add, and add, and add. The main problem would be the storage of all those pipes. If they are not going to store that many pipes, why do they need 1.3 acres to store just a hand full of pipes? It's going to be on dirt, which means you put all those pipes back there where there will be a good breeding place for rats,mice, raccoons, black widows, etc. So I think that is a bad thing if we have to look at it. Don said that we wouldn't, but it is still of concern with me. My property is right there at the front, and if you look directly behind my fence, there is where they want to put the two buildings. In as much as they have 3 acres, and I am a yard person and I really live in my yard, I would like to know and see if those two garages couldn't be put further back or on the opposite side even. If they were put further back, they would be around no one's home, not even the homes on De Berry, that is if they were put on the same side that the office would be. But if you look, it is really close to my property as well as those homes on De Berry. Other than that, if they were rolled back on the other side, they wouldn't really interfere with any of our homes. Because you are going to have some fumes and noise on repairs and things, it would really make it very minimal if it's on the other side. Thank you. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Jeffrey McConnell? Jeffrey McConnell 21758 Walnut Avenue I'll start out with a question I haven't heard yet. Did the water company close escrow on the property? Very important point, because we recently have gone through two people who have i purchased property, closed escrow and not done any due diligence and found out the hard way. It's important that you make sure you can put what you want on the property before you go ahead and close escrow. Chair Wilson: Exactly. Jeffrey McConnell: Mr. McConnell indicated that he supported the"master planning"of the "OAC", which will back up to the site. He was concerned with compatibility with the OAC. Patricia Farley: Ms. Abbott requested that I, Patricia Farley, read a written document into the record. See attached. Chairman Wilson asked when the existing office building was constructed. Don Hough noted that it was originally occupied in 1960. He also noted that the pipe storage area will require approximately only one-half-acre. The site is larger than what is actually necessary for the facility. Whenever possible,the Company stores pipe at a job site and would store pipe for a specific job on the site only under unusual circumstances. Dust will be managed through the use of gravel in the pipe area. Weeds will be controlled through spraying. Chair Wilson: Is it possible to pave the pipe storage area? 12 Mr. Hough noted that his Company's Board of Directors is very frugal and concerned about added project cots. The new facility is using funded through the sale of the current Company yard. Paving the area would significantly increase construction costs. Commission Addington : What would paving this area do for the site's WQMP? Rich Shields noted that paving this area would increase run off and cause problems with the site's Water Quality Management Plan stating that gravel works better than pavement for NPDES compliance. Mr. Hough noted that stored pipe is moved by using a forklift and actual operations in the pipe storage area is very infrequent. Chair Wilson asked if the buildings could be moved further to the rear of the site. Mr. McKeever stated that moving the buildings would increase the amount of paving. Commissioner Comstock asked if the Board members could use the offices. Mr. McKeever noted that the Board members do not have keys to the office, and are only there during Board meetings. Chairman Wilson noted that the Water Company is a private corporation. Commissioner Comstock asked whether the Company was planning to acquire the property to 'the south. Mr. McKeever stated that there are no plans to purchase the property at this time. Chair Wilson stated that the Water Company is a private entity an there are no taxpayer dollars involved in anything they do. Mr. McKeever noted that they would have moved sooner, but there had not been a market for their old yard. Commissioner Comstock asked what the Company planned to do for pest control. Mr. Hough stated that they would contract with a pest control company if a pest control issue arose. Mr. Mckeever also noted that the dirt that was being stockpiled on the site was done under a stockpile permit issued by Building & Safety. Director Shields concurred that this was true. Bobbie Forbes stated that she likes the Water Company and it was a good thing to have it moved _ to Grand Terrace. She stated that she liked the building architecture and was wondering whether the design would set the stage for other local developments. She had concerns about its 13 compatibility with the Outdoor Adventures Center and the blowing of dust from the pipe storage yard. Director Koontz stated that the pipe storage yard would be adjacent to the rear of the shopping center currently proposed under the Outdoor Adventures Center Specific Plan, and that a screen wall would be constructed between the two properties. Jeffrey McConnell suggested that landscaping along the rear of the property includes trees that would help buffer the two uses. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Anyone else would like to address this particular item? No. Then we will bring it back to the Commission for discussion. Chair Wilson: Staff, I have an item. Is this use compatible with our future OAC plan? Since we have not seen the future plans for a little bit and there has been some evolution, I would like some comment. Director Koontz: The most recent plans that was presented shows the area looking west basically the back of the major shopping center portion. Any sort of upscale office, residential, restaurants will be around the lake. That's much further and closer to the freeway side and there's no visibility to the freeway. So what we expect to see on the OAC side is mostly the back sides of the shopping center loading areas. ( We definitely have requirements for fencing and screening. You're going to see the back side of the buildings, not the front. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Any other questions for the staff. Commissioner Bidney: As far as the Adventures Center then, you're not going to be able to see that storage area if we ever develop the Adventures Center? Director Koontz: When we develop the Adventures Center,there will be no view of the outdoor pipe storage area. Vincent Barlow 12220 Reed Avenue My name is Vincent Barlow and I live at 12220 Reed Ave. I'm wondering why some of you folk think that living in a neighborhood where there is a Stater Bros, is a blessing..., and this area is not entirely purely residential. Most of the focus is on the quality of human life in contrast to massive development such as in San Bernardino or Riverside Counties where there is very large and heavy construction. Chair Wilson: Are you asking a question or you'd like an answer? 1 14 Vincent Barlow: Yes. Chair Wilson: There is a General Plan for the City, and in the General Plan there are various elements in relation to industrial, commercial, single-family residential, multi-family residential and so on; it's not surprising to see the residential aspect with fill-in and then you start to see commercial, and lastly industrial. We have been analyzing this for the last 14 years I've been involved in this Commission, the various uses throughout the City, though it may seem as if the industrial is really being pinpointed at this time, I fine that most of our residential has been built out, so we are coping with the best use we can get for industrial/commercial/retail circumstances. But we also find that there is a specific agenda within the City Council for the City to be self- sustaining, and there has been plenty of publicity in relation to that. Those types of uses, commercial types, are the types of uses that do lend tax basis to the communities, and that's one of the reasons why the state guidelines specify multiple uses within a community, and there are actually kind of percentages that they suggest as a balanced community within any community. So that's why you see this coming to the Commissioners as well as the City Council at this time. Vincent Barlow: Why are you using so much space? It's highly unnecessary that we build on every piece of open land. It's part of our ecology and ... .Why is it that they're constructing buildings on Michigan Street. I'm very, very serious about this. Chair Wilson: I understand. Vincent Barlow: It hurts me to see the rural farmland around Reed Street, between De Berry and Barton being decimated. It's fine as it is now—fine fields; but with massive industry going forward this is extremely rash. You're not looking forward to the future, you're going to have -mass problems, and I think it's a massive oversight and almost gross incompetence. Have you any thoughts on maybe curtailing recent events, even so much as to save the area through conservation? Chair Wilson: There has been... I can tell you, if you'd like the answer. We, as a body, as well as the General Plan Task Force, have analyzed common area uses and we have set aside common area uses, and the City has also provided for park areas, and that is part of what this body functions as. In addition to that, of course, the City Council has the final say. I can tell you that every individual property owner has the right within the zoning code to apply for a sub-division and use of their property, and although it may seem sometimes very difficult to actually get the right use for your property within the State of California or in the United States, there are uses allowed, and that's what the zoning is for. So if this particular property owner wishes to dedicate the property as a park or whatever, that would still be probably an acceptable use and probably take a Conditional Use Permit just as it's being entertained now. But they also have a property right to apply for a Conditional Use Permit to be able to do this particular use, and that's why it's set up this way. Vincent Barlow: The City should have future plans to perhaps encourage builders to develop something for everybody,thereby allowing more efficient use of space. 15 Chair Wilson: At this time, I don't believe there's a move for that, but it is an issue for another day, and I appreciate you bringing it up. Thank you. Vincent Barlow: Thank you. Chair Wilson: Are there any others that wish to speak on this particular item? Alright,then we will turn back to the Commission. Any other further discussion Commission? Vice Chair Addington: Mr. Chairman, I would like to enter a motion on this particular item. MOTION PC-05-2006: Commissioner Comstock made a motion to approve SA-06-01, CUP-06-01 and E-06-01. Vice Chair Addington seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE PC-05-2006: Approved 5-0-0-0 ADJOURN SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 8:25 pm CONVENE PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION • INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS Director Koontz: A Joint Planning Commission/City Council Meeting has been scheduled for next Thursday. There's only one topic of discussion and that's the Town Square developer. That's part of the owner participation issue dealing with the property itself. The format of the meeting is being handled by the City Manager's office, and it is unknown at this time. You are definitely invited. . You will be asked to participate in this discussion, which will be chaired by the Mayor. Packet will be going out tomorrow. Director Koontz: A Planning Commission meeting has been scheduled for the first Thursday of April, April 6t'. This new project is to expand the new facility of Esso Electric. Staff wants to bring it before the Commission and make a decision on it. This is more of an economic development issue. They are expanding their facility, and they are the biggest tax generator in town right now, and they would like to move forward, if at all possible, to present the project to you. • INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS Vice Chair Addington—It looks like our Sav-on is coming along nicely. Director Koontz: It's still moving forward. Their projected opening date is April 28th. 16 Vice Chair Addington: The walls on Sav-on along the streets. As I recall we approved them,but they seem to be a lot higher than what we discussed in our meetings. Director Koontz: Everything's right off the plans. It just looks different in the field than what it might look like on the plan; but that is what they presented, and that was approved by the Commission. Vice Chair Addington: I remember there was a discussion item, and I wasn't big on those walls. They're there for headlight glare or something? Director Koontz: Yes. It's part retaining wall and then the garden wall for the headlight glare. Vice Chair Addington: O.K. Are they going to.decorate those precision block walls up with anything? Director Koontz: Yes. They will be stuccoed and there will be a planter front with rock. Vice Chair Addington: They'll have the river rock and look like the Chevron across the street. Rich Shields: If you look at the rock on the columns in the front, I think that's the same rock that is supposed to go on the front of the masonry wall. Commissioner Comstock: Wasn't there two additional office spaces to be built with that project? Director Koontz: They are also approved for 3,000 sq. ft. of other shops that they haven't started construction on yet. They're going to put that up? Rich Shields: Yes, they are, but there's some difficulty with the fire lines that right now needs to be worked out, and once those fire lines are worked out, then they have an opportunity at that time to pull their permits. The plans are approved. Chair Wilson: Thank you. Any other information from the Commissioners? Vice Chair Addington — Anything happening on Miguel's. We approved that three times, and the last time was a long time ago, and still nothing out there. Director Koontz: Tuesday, I signed the Lot Line Adjustment, which was a big issue so we can create a new parcel, and there were some problems getting that through the system. The only outstanding issue, and Rich can add to this, is the grading plan, which still has a little work to be done. Rich Shields: I just read a letter saying that the Architect or the Civil Engineer of record stepped down, and that was before I came to this meeting. So, I think maybe they're regrouping at this point, figuring out how they're going to get that grading completed. 17 Director Koontz: Whenever we see a new Plan Check come in, we ship it out to WILLDAN the same day, but when it gets back it's out of our hands. Vice Chair Addington: No I understand. It's just seems to be a long going saga to get one structure built in that particular location. We won't argue about that. ADJOURNED PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION 8:30 PM NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 6,2006 Respectfully Submitted, Approved y, Gary. Koonte,Planning Director Doug Wilson, Chairman Planning Commission 18