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02/16/2010CITY OF GRAND TERRACE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES JOINT WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 16, 2010 A joint workshop of the City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Grand Terrace was called to order in the Council Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California, on February 16, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. PRESENT: Maryetta Ferre, Mayor Jim Miller, Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, Councilmember Doug Wilson, Chairman Matthew Addington, Vice -Chairman Darcy McNaboe, Commissioner Bob Bailes, Commissioner Brenda Mesa, City Clerk Betsy M. Adams, City Manager Joyce Powers, Community & Economic Development Director Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director Sandra Molina, Senior Planner 1 J ABSENT: Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tern Bea Cortes, Councilmember Tom Comstock, Commissioner Bernard Simon, Finance Director John Harper, City Attorney Sgt. Carlos Espinosa, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department John Salvate, San Bernardino County Fire Department CONVENE PUBLIC JOINT WORKSHOP Sandra Molina. Senior Planner, gave a presentation on the Update of the General Plan and the Draft Program EIR. Councilmember Stanckiewitz indicated that there has been some confusion with the map on page 2-8, Administrative Draft Dated 1 10/2010 and questioned if it should be pulled. Senior Planner Molina, responded that the purpose of the map is to depict current land uses. It's not really a planning document with regard to future land uses or land use designations or zoning. If it's problematic, removing it from the Draft General Plan will not be a problem. Council Minutes 02;16:2010 Page 2 Planning Chairman -Doug Wilson, questioned why the fire department decided to broaden out their high fire hazard zone. Senior Planner Molina, responded that it is base upon some mapping that has been done by Cal Fire. Building & Safety/Public Works Director Richard Shields, stated that the State Fire Marshall is the responsible person for adopting the maps. They have adopted all new maps throughout California and made it mandatory that each local j urisdiction adopt those maps which create high fire areas. Also they have incorporated a new chapter in the 2007 Building Code, which is wildfire areas and how to construct in those areas that we have to comply with. The City has done that. Planning Chairman Wilson, stated that his concern is there may be fire insurance changes that could be substantial for homeowners that are within that area. He understands new construction however, existing construction unless it is a re -vamp on an existing roof. Building & SafetyTublic Works Director Shields, stated that he is unsure that insurance rates would go up. Senior Planner Molina, stated that the next step would be to address the ordinances with 10 regard to fire safe construction. Commissionser Darcy McNaboe, questioned if any of the sites that they are proposing to be rezoned as 20 dwelling units per acre designation are owner occupied. Senior Planner Molina, responded that they are not. Commissioner McNaboe, questioned if the neighbors will get to discuss their desire to have that area rezoned. Senior Planner Molina, stated that when the public hearing process begins the property owners will be notified as well as the surrounding area. Councilman Jim Miller, questioned how large the site is on canal. Senior Planner Molina, responded that it is 0.8 acres. Councilman Miller, questioned how many units can be placed on that property. Senior Planner Molina, responded that 23 units are being proposed. The minimum density per State Law is 20 units per acre then a State density bonus law comes into effect. If a Council Minutes 02,' 16 `2010 Page 3 property owner is providing a certain percentage of the units affordable to low income or very low income they qualify for 35 percent density bonus. With the 20 units per acre and the density bonus they would qualify for 22 units and they are asking for 23 which the City has the ability to allow them to have. Councilman Miller, confirmed that the project was going to be three stories and questioned how the parking would be handled. Senior Planner Molina, confirmed that it would be three stories and that two parking spaces per unit would be provided. They are asking for some flexibility in the guest parking. Councilman Miller, questioned if there have been any preliminary plans done. Senior Planner Molina, responded that preliminary plans have been done and a workshop was held last week for that project. Councilman Miller, questioned if the site plan had any recreational facilities on it. Senior Planner Molina, responded in the affirmative. It provided for some open space that had a tot lot and a bbq and a communityirecreation room. PUBLIC COMMENT Charles Hornsby, 22656 Brentwood Street, he doesn't feel that it makes a lot of sense to encourage public comment and then have the meetings at 5:00 p.m. On one hand you say that you want the public to participate but by having the meetings at 5:00 p.m. you pretty much negate 99% of your citizens. He referred to a letter where there are 13 proposed land changes. 9 of the changes are changes from low density residential to public. He feels that public could mean a lot of things and feels that public needs to be clarified. He feels that some of the land changes are really dramatic and should be looked at closely and encourage all of them to go out and look at the properties. He feels that this is selective standards and parking is going to be an issue. Senior Planner Molina, stated that the notice that went out to property owners was intended to alert them that changes are being proposed, however, it did not go into specifics about what is happening. A lot of the areas that are in the low -density residential are easements or state water aqueducts areas. As is the intent with all notices, they are general to let people know that there is something going on and briefly what it is and they can contact staff. If the Council or Commission would like more detail on the notices staff can do that. She provided a copy of the land use map which was attached to the notice. CommuniW and Economic Develoi3ment Director Joyce Powers, stated that with regards to Council Minutes 02. Ib/2010 Page 4 the Canal Village Project, she concurs with what Mr. Hornsby said about the parking. Staff would not advocate or recommend that a project be approved with Iess than two spaces per unit. Senior Planner Molina, stated that staff is looking at the Canal site because of the Housing Element Mandate, HCD has looked at the Housing Element and they indicated that the Element can be certified that it is in compliance with State Law provided that these changes are made. The Canal area is one of the areas that was identified that can be re -zoned a minimum of 20 units per acre, which is the State Mandate. The General Plan update is not approving the development itself. The development is what is being proposed by a private developer and there is a separate process for that which will look at that site lay out, specific density, parking and set -backs. The public hearing process is the correct mechanism to look at that. What is being looked at with the General Plan is just the State Mandate to identify sites that can be at 20 units per acre. Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan Avenue, stated that there are some residents for years that come before the Council and the Planning Commission discussing this General Plan. They have received pages that vary from thing to another and their questions are not answered when they have proven beyond any doubt that the former plans that the City has had have been illegally processed and not followed and there has been violation of the law. She demanded that in this new plan the violations of their rights and property owners that have been done by illegal actions and maps illegal be corrected. She is tired of coming to the meetings and tired of seeing citizens having to do the research to prove what they know for sure is true. She feels that there has been very bad planning, when you want to put in high density things it is not ok to slap them in here and there affecting every area of Grand Terrace. She feels that it is very important for everyone in the City to know what they are doing not just a few people 300 feet from that particular spot. With proper planning and accurate General Plan information, there are major areas where high density can be placed without slapping in, right in the middle of single family housing on larger lots. She feels that she should have to come to the meetings every few months and argue with them about what they want to place next to her home. She stated that Michigan Avenue is suppose to be mainly residential and a high school has been approved without any prediction of when Commerce Way is going to be changed. She has a lot of comments that she will be adding but she wants it to be very clear that she feels her rights and the rights of other people have been severely damaged because of illegal approval by the Planning Commission. Janese Makshanoff, 21813 Vivienda, questioned number 13 on the Land Use Change. It states that it is being proposed to be changed from Industrial to Flood Plain Industrial. Her home is located in that area and stated that she has never been in the flood plain. She stated that when she was attending the workshops of the Planning Commission they comment that the agricultural overlay had been taken off without due process. The Planning Commission agreed and they said that it would be placed back on. Council Minutes 02116,2010 Page 5 Senior Planner Molina, stated that the Flood Plain Industrial was extended further south to reflect the flood insurance rate maps which show that the flood plain is further south. With regard to the agricultural uses, on page 2-16, the flood plain industrial designation has language that allows existing land uses to remain and to continue to have the agricultural overlay. It says that presently parcels within this area are largely undeveloped or developed as rural residential uses. It is anticipated that build out of this area will occur over a long period of time. During this build out period existing residential uses shall be permitted and regulated under the requirements of the low density residential land use designation, light agricultural uses shall be permitted, including the keeping of animals with the approval of an agricultural overlay zoning designation. When the zoning map is updated it will also extend that designation to that area. It addresses the speakers comments with regard to the agricultural overlay issue. 3anese Makshanoff, 21813 Vivienda. feels that it is lip service and feels that if it is not actually written down that they have an agricultural overlay, not that they can continue on as a grand fathered in. It affects everything. When the agricultural overlay was taken off, she lost her agricultural everything. Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan Street, stated that she has talked to people that have not received notices regarding the General Plan and feels that there is not enough notification. Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz, referred to the sustainability portion of the General Plan and the California Resources Board Requirements and questioned if this is an area that we want to take a hard stance. Community and Economic Development Director Powers, responded that the City of Grand Terrace is participating in the SANBAG project to undertake the targeting of the areas and writing an implementation plan to reduce emissions. It will actually be on the next agenda for approval of participation. Councilman Stanckiewitz, questioned the group if they want to take a hard line on these requirements or do we want to soften given the economy and what it is doing to the State. Senior Planner Molina, stated that the element is not intended to be over bearing. Staff wants to promote energy efficiency and green building. What they anticipate is that an Ordinance will be adopted that will give incentives to developers to use green energy techniques. Commissioner Matthew Addington, stated that a couple of times in the past during their meetings the issue of agricultural overlay has come up. He questioned if there is an exhibit of map that actually shows where that overlay is. Senior Planner Molina, responded in the affirmative. Council Minutes 02A W2010 Page b Commissioner Addington, questioned if there is anything in the proposed general plan that would change the agricultural overlay. Senior Planner Molina, responded that it will remain in the same location on the zoning map. Janet Rich, 11701 Terrace Avenue, stated that she lives in the area that is being changed to the flood plain. She stated that it will affect her homeowners policy and will affect her if her house burns down and the City won't let her rebuild because it will be designated as flood plain. She has had this property since 1968 and has lived on it since 1974. She stated that she has attended all of the meetings expressing her concerns and they get nothing out of it. Senior Planner Molina, responded that with regards to the flood plain industrial, the City is responding to the flood insurance rate maps that the State updated. Insurance Companies will refer to those flood insurance rate maps when they consider the need for flood insurance. The City is not changing it, we are conforming to the State designations. This designation does provide for the agricultural overlay and is on the zoning map. Mayor Ferrd adjourned the Joint Workshop between the City Council and the Planning Commission to discuss the General Plan Update and the Draft Program EIR at 6:08 p.m. } CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace MAYO of the City of Grand Terrace