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06-15-2017 CITY OF GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION/SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD MINUTES Council ChambersRegular Meeting6:30 PM The City of Grand Terrace complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you require special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk's office at (909) 824-6621 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. If you desire to address the Planning Commission during the meeting, please complete a Request to Speak Form available at the entrance and present it to the City Clerk. Any documents provided to a majority of the Planning Commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City Clerk's office at City Hall located at 22795 Barton Road during normal business hours. In addition, such documents will be posted on the City's website at www.grandterrace- ca.gov<http://www.grandterrace-ca.gov CALL TO ORDER Chairman Comstock convened the Meeting of the Planning Commission and Site and Architectural Review Board. Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Goatcher. Attendee NameTitleStatusArrived Tom ComstockChairmanPresent Tara CeseñaVice ChairPresent Jeffrey AllenCommissionerPresent Edward A. GirouxCommissionerAbsent Gregory A. GoatcherCommissionerPresent APPROVAL OF AGENDA 2.Motion: Approved Agenda for June 15, 2017 RESULT:ADOPTED \[UNANIMOUS\] AYES:Tom Comstock, Tara Ceseña, Jeffrey Allen, Gregory A. Goatcher ABSENT:Edward A. Giroux PUBLIC ADDRESS Jeffrey McConnell who lives on Walnut Avenue annouced a car show for classic cars at the donut shop in front of the old Stater Brothers this Saturday at 5p.m., organized by a Grand Terrace citizen. City of Grand TerracePage 1 Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board June 15, 2017 A.PUBLIC HEARINGS 3. Site and Architectural Review (SA) 14-07-A1 and Environmental 14-04-A1: Construction of a Single Family Residence on the South of Vivienda Avenue, Approximately 160 Feet West of Burns Avenue Director Molina informed the Planning Commission that Kathya Firlik would be the City his architect, Charles Stevens, were present for the meeting. Director Molina presented a staff report, identifying the location for the proposed single- family residence. The proposed home would be a 3,041- square foot single story house. The residence would have a 2-car garage and an attached RV garage. The Director reminded the Planning Commission that back in May of 2015 the Commission approved a two-story home. Members of the neighborhood came to the Planning Commission meeting and expressed concerns with the design of the home. Ultimately the Commission adopted it with some revisions to the design. The approval expired May of 2016. The applicant resubmitted the plans and the Planning Commission approved the same design. The City Council then held a public hearing on appeal pf the project where the applicant provided a conceptual single-story design and based on that plan, City Council remanded the item back to the Commission for redesign. Director Molina presented the new designs which met all development standards. The project qualified for a Class 3 CEQA exemption. Public notice was provided consistent with state law. One resident contacted City staff to confirm that screening trees and an enclosed deck remain part of the project. In conclusion, the Director recommended the Planning Commission adopt the Resolution and approve the project. No written communications have been received regarding the project. Chairman Comstock brought up the surrounding residents who expressed concern regarding the ground on which the project is going to be built. One of the concerns was that the land is a working farm. Chairman Comstock asked the Director how big the farm was. Director Molina responded that she does not have any information regarding the farm. Chairman Comstock raised another concern from a resident regarding the drainage running onto the surrounding properties. Director Molina said that the requirements under water quality would not allow off-site drainage. Chairman Comstock said that many residents requested an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) since the land is a working farm and there may be pesticides in the ground. Chairman Comstock understood this to be a health and safety issue. City of Grand Terrace Page 2 Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board June 15, 2017 Director Molina said to ask the applicant if he has any background information on the property regarding this matter. Chairman Comstock expressed that the Planning Commission should take the al concerns. He stated that if it is a concern for this parcel, it should surely be a concern for the surrounding properties as well. Commissioner Allen asked who would pay for an EIR. Director Molina informed the Commission that an EIR may not be necessary. Chairman Comstock and Commissioner Allen concurred that if the Mayor was concerned about a two-story house being built in this location, then there should still be concern for a single-story house. The Director said that though there were concerns with the soil, their validity is unknown. Vice Chair Ceseña added that she was also a little confused on why a single-story house was okay but not a two-story house in relation to the environmental concerns. Commissioner Goatcher sought confirmation that 4 feet of dirt was still being brought to the site to raise the elevation of the land. Commissioner Allen asked if all permits had been renewed. Director Molina said yes. The applicant, Joab Jerome, was called to speak regarding his knowledge of the property. The applicant said he has no knowledge of any soil reports on the property. City Attorney, Kathya Firlik, stated that another option was to table this item and see if further studies are warranted. Resident Mr. McConnell offered to inform the Commission on the neighborhood, since he has lived there for 17 years. He shared that areas of the property used to be a turkey ranch, and he was not aware of any illegal dumping in his 17 years of living in the neighborhood. No other public comments were made. A brief recess was taken so that Director Molina could check to see if there was a soil report filed on the property. City of Grand Terrace Page 3 Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board June 15, 2017 The Director came back with a geotechnical evaluation from 2014. Chairman Comstock read from the report that four holes were dug, each 14 feet deep. They tested for the compaction of the soil, and examined the corrosiveness, ph level, and water content. There were no toxic soil tests performed. The City Attorney reminded the Planning Commission that they can table this item if they would like more extensive soil reports performed. Commissioner Allen and Chairman Comstock agreed that if an EIR was not necessary then they do not want to postpone this item any further. Chairman Comstock felt more comfortable after hearing Mr ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF GRAND TERRACE ADOPTING A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION AND APPROVING SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW 14-07-A1 TO CONSTRUCT A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON A PARCEL LOCATED SOUTH OF VIVIENDA AVENUE APPROXIMATELY 160 FEET WEST OF BURNS AVENUE (APN 0275-282-20) RESULT: APPROVED \[3 TO 0\] AYES: Tom Comstock, Tara Ceseña, Gregory A. Goatcher ABSENT: Edward A. Giroux RECUSED: Jeffrey Allen B.INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONERS No information was reported. C.INFORMATION FROM COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Allen inquired about an email he recieved regarding ethics training. The Director informed the Commission that ethics training is required every 24 months, and a certificate should be reported to the City Clerk. Vice Chair Ceseña requested a different font be used in the agenda packet that is more reader friendly. Commissioner Goatcher asked about a proposed development at the end of Westwood Street that the Planning Commission was unaarew of Director Molina inforamed the Commission that the properoty is in escrow but there has not been a developemnt applcaition recieved. Commissioner Goatcher said he recieved an anonymous text City of Grand Terrace Page 4 Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board June 15, 2017 from a disgruntled citizen about this item and would share it with the Director at a later time. ADJOURN Adjourn to the next scheduled meeting of the Site and Architectural Review Board/Planning Commission to be held on July 6, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. _________________________________ _________________________________ Tom Comstock Sandra Molina Chairman of the Grand Terrace Planning Director of Planning and Development Commission Services Department City of Grand Terrace Page 5