12-15-2016CITY OF GRAND TERRACE
PLANNING COMMISSION/SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD
MINUTES ● DECEMBER 15, 2016
Council Chambers Regular Meeting 6:30 PM
Grand Terrace Civic Center ● 22795 Barton Road
City of Grand Terrace Page 1
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 Secretary.
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 at 6:30 p.m.
Pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Giroux.
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Tom Comstock Chairman Present
Tara Ceseña Vice Chair Present
Jeffrey Allen Commissioner Present
Edward A. Giroux Commissioner Present
Gregory A. Goatcher Commissioner Late 6:35 PM
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
1.Motion: APPROVE AGENDA DECEMBER 15, 2016
RESULT:ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
AYES:Comstock, Ceseña, Allen, Giroux, Goatcher
PUBLIC ADDRESS
None
Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board December 15, 2016
City of Grand Terrace Page 2
A.CONSENT CALENDAR
2.Approval of Minutes – Regular Meeting – 11/03/2016
RESULT:ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER:Jeffrey Allen, Commissioner
SECONDER:Edward A. Giroux, Commissioner
AYES:Comstock, Ceseña, Allen, Giroux, Goatcher
B.PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.Conditional Use Permit 16-03, Site and Architectural Review 16-08, Minor Deviation 16-
01, and Environmental 16-09 – Proposed Animal Emergency Clinic and Commercial
Tenant Space
Director Molina presented a staff report with a PowerPoint presentation.
At the request of Chairman Comstock the applicant, Dr. Terry R McDuffee, addressed
the commission. He answered questions from the commission stating he did not have a
tenant yet but was looking for a commercial tenant.
PUBLIC ADDRESS
There were no requests to speak from the public.
Deliberation from Commission:
Commissioner Giroux commented that on the agenda report on page 15 the lot is said
to be on the southwest corner of the site when the map indicates that it is on the
southeast corner. Additionally, the language is unclear in the resolution on page 21,
paragraph b, and line 11. It says “S’s are S area.”
Director Molina responded that it is a line from a previous project and should be deleted.
Chairman Comstock also pointed out a word omission on page 19 under number 3,
letter C. It says “project development will be injurious to property or improvements”
when it should say “will not be.” Also on page 28, it says “Building & Safety” when it
should say “Building & Safety.” Lastly, on page 25, Chairman Comstock inquired about
the necessity for CC&R’s on such a small project. Director Molina replied that there is
an underground drainage facility which requires CC&R’s.
Commissioner Allen asked if the applicant is going to be required to get a new
conditional use permit when they are an existing business with an existing conditional
use permit.
Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board December 15, 2016
City of Grand Terrace Page 3
The City Attorney replied that conditional use permits run with the land not with the
business therefore requiring the business to obtain a new conditional use permit every
time they move.
Chairman Comstock suggested that there be a strip of grass for dogs that are waiting to
enter the clinic to use from his personal experience.
Director Molina replied that there was an area on the plans for dogs to use while
waiting.
Commissioner Giroux commented that he doesn’t see why there was a need for 50
parking spaces when he has never observed 50 cars parked at the parking lot.
1)CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING; AND
2)ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION/SITE AND
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD OF THE CITY OF GRAND TERRACE
ADOPTING A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION AND APPROVING MINOR
DEVIATION 16-01, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 16-03, AND SITE AND
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW 16-08 TO CONSTRUCT A 9,992 SQUARE FOOT
COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 22085 COMMERCE WAY (ASSESSOR’S
PARCEL NUMBERS 1167-141-08)
RESULT:APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER:Tara Ceseña, Vice Chair
SECONDER:Edward A. Giroux, Commissioner
AYES:Comstock, Ceseña, Allen, Giroux, Goatcher
C.INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONERS
Director Molina noted that she is currently monitoring the League of California Cities
website with respect to the planning commissioner’s academy. The league stated that
the registration should open in mid-December.
D.INFORMATION FROM COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Allen inquired about the Commission’s practice of granting CEQA
exemptions when there is a concern about the whereabouts of the fuel tanks that the
farmers used to bury at different spots throughout the city and other unknown material
buried underground. He asked if it was appropriate to have granted those exemptions
when a contributing factor in the denial of a recent construction permit was the lack of
knowledge of what’s buried in Grand Terrace (he acknowledged that nobody has found
a fuel tank yet).
Minutes Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board December 15, 2016
City of Grand Terrace Page 4
Chairman Comstock remarked that the commission approved a 28 unit development on
Mt. Vernon St. which had to remove 1 million yards of dirt only to discover a big pile of
rubbish buried underground. He also noted that as a contractor it is very costly to have
to dig out and replace dirt because something is discovered.
The City Attorney replied that the City does the best that it can with the knowledge that
they have but when something is discovered then state laws kick in depending on what
is discovered. The City generally requires indemnification which absolves the City from
liability.
Director Molina replied that they technically did not deny the project that Commissioner
Allen referred to but remanded it back to the Planning Commission for a new design.
Commissioner Allen asked if residents informing us of the possible presence of said
tanks would be sufficient to require some sort of CEQA study.
The City Attorney replied that the CEQA law is a balance of interests and that to require
an environmental impact report on every piece of property would be prohibitively
expensive. The staff uses standards set out by state law to determine if a project is
exempt.
ADJOURN
Adjourn to the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Commission Site and
Architectural Review Board to be held on January 5, 2017 at 6:30 P.M.
_________________________________
Tom Comstock
Chairman of the Grand Terrace Planning
Commission
_________________________________
Sandra Molina
Director of Planning and Development
Services Department