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05/15/2003 c►TY 0 GRAND TER R CE Community and Economic Development GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION Department _ MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING May 15, 2003 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 May 15, 2003, at 7:00 p.m., by Chairperson Douq Wilson PRESENT: Doug Wilson, Chairman Matthew Addington, Vice Chairman Brian Whitley, Commissioner Tom Comstock, Commissioner Robert Bidney, Commissioner Gary Koontz, Community Development Director John Lampe, Associate Planner Jeff Gollihar, Planning Technician Michelle Boustedt, Planning Secretary ABSENT: None 7:00 P.M. CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Comstock • Roll Call • Public address to Commission shall be limited to three minutes unless extended by the Chairman. Should you desire to make a longer presentation, please make written request to be agendized to the Director of Community and Economic Development. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: NONE ITEMS: 1. MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2003 RECOMMENDATION: Approval - i 22795 Barton Road • Grand Terrace, California 92313-5295 • (909) 824-6621 MOTION: PC-115-2003 Commissioner Whitley made a motion to approve the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes dated April 17, 2003. Commissioner Bidney seconded the motion MOTION VOTE: Approved 4-0-0-1. PC-1;5-2003 Commissioner Addington abstained. 2.CUP-03-031E-03-02 Applications for a Temporary Conditional Use Permit and Environmental Review to re-occupy a .75 acre site for the purpose of selling Manufactured Homes to the public. APPLICANT: Maple Ridge Mobile Homes, Representative Van Taylor LOCATION: 12142 La Crosse. RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to conditions. Planning Technician Gollihar presented his staff report with regard to the Maple Ridge Mobile Homes. Mr. Van Taylor is applying for a new expirational Conditional Use Permit for an additional five years. The original Conditional Use Permit was approved in 1997 with a Determination of Use along with an Environmental Study. The General Plan Designation is for a C2 General Commercial Use through a prior Determination of Use, it was determined that outdoor sales of a mobile home are similar in use found in the Municipal Code 1833.030A. This use is for motor homes and some sorts of trailers sales, which is permitted with a Conditional Use Permit. The lower portion of the parcel consists of parking spaces. On the upper portion of the parcel, a pad has been graded for display of mobile homes. All pads within the parcel are existing for use of sales and display. The 'sales office and outdoor sales will be consistent with the last adopted General Plan'and the conditions necessary to secure the purpose of the use, and are made in part with a Conditional Use Permit. An issue was resolved with regard to a water meter. There were two water meters oper'ating,. in which a sub meter was used for irrigation of the display pads. All issues were resolved with the Water Company and complies with the Municipal Code. Planning Technician Gollihar completed his report by concluding that it is Staff's recommendation to approve the Conditional Use Permit along with the Resolution. j Chair Wilson invited the Applicant to come and speak before the Commission. 2 Terry McDuffee Property Owner 1478 West Cypress Redlands Mr. McDuffee thanked the Commission and Staff, and was happy to answer any questions or concerns of the Commission. Mr. McDuffee stated that Maple Ridge Mobile Home Sales had come across some difficulties with regard to a decline in sales. The office was closed for a period of time, but continued to pay rent. Maple Ridge informed Mr. McDuffee that they were trying to negotiate with a new supplier and had to close a couple of their offices, but have re-emerged and are looking forward to improved sales. Commissioner Addington asked Mr. McDuffee if all of the improvements that were there five years ago, still exist? Mr. McDuffee replied that nothing has changed. The office and sign has not changed. Some of the landscape needs to be cared for, but other than that, nothing has changed. Commissioner Addington asked the Staff how the long the extension would continue for. . Planning Technician Gollihar replied that the extension would be for an additonal five years. Planning Director Koontz replied that there would be no reason for an additional time other than five years and that the local Congressman has been asked for funds to do improvements for the entire interchange area. It seems positive that some funds will come through for the future improvements. Chair Wilson asked if the Chair wanted to entertain a motion on the item. MOTION: PC-16-2003 Commissioner Bidney made a motion to accept Staffs recommendation as presented. Chair Wilson seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE Approved 5-0-0-0. PC-16-2003 f 3 i 7:16!P.M. ADJOURN SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONVENE PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION 1 , • Information to Commissioners — Draft Noise Element Associate Planner Lampe presented his report with regard to the Noise Element. Associate Planner Lampe reported that the noise element is the most technical of all of the City's General Plan. By definition, noise is sound that is annoying which is detrimental to human physic or physiology. Some sounds have more of an adverse impact than others; the most annoying being the loudest and highest pitched. Noise which is inappropriate to our activities becomes obtrusive and annoying. It has been noted that noise is becoming an ever increasing problem in the urban environment in the United States. Some authorities have noted that the overall noise level has increased on the average of one decibel every year over the last couple of decades. In terms of perceived noise, it is translated to seven times increase to the background noise level. The EPA states that permanent hearing loss may occur with exposure to extreme noise levels over 70 decibels,over a period of time. It has been estimated that 10% of the population has experienced hearing loss due to exposure to loud noises. Noise also interferes with public safety and communication and lowers the quality of life effecting.economic values of property that are in areas exposed to high noise levels. The effects of noise have become so serious, that there is a widespread public interest in movement to control and reduce unnecessary noises. The State of California has mandated that a Noise Element be a part of the City's General Plan. There are seven mandated elements of the General Plan. The Noise Element is one of the elements along with the Land Use, Housing and Circulation Elements of the General Plan. The City has been engaged with updating portions of the General Plan, including the Open Space Element, Circulation Element and the Housing Element. The draft Noise Element is the latest effort to update the City's entire General Plan. The State of California prepared Noise Element guidelines to require the City to analyze and modify noise levels through field measurements and technical data collections relating to mobile and stationary sources. These must be collected and analyzed to develop policies and programs that would minimize and reduce the excessive noise in the community. 4 Because of these technical requirements, the City felt obligated to seek professional help with an acoustical consultant, Wieland Associates to make recommendations. The collection of data by the consultant is the basis for the draft Noise Element as presented. It was noted that the most significant noise producing activity within the City involves transportation activities. The major portion was the 1-215 Freeway through the westerly part of the city along with the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad. Various arterial streets such as Barton Road and Mt. Vernon Avenue also produces significant noise levels. As part of the State's guidelines of the requirements for preparing the Noise Element, the consultant made projections for over the next fifteen years on the increase of noise levels around the community. There are stationary noise sources within the City, but are not as significant as the transportation noises that were found; primarily the lumber yard,that is immediately adjacent to a residential area. Based on the data that was collected, the guidelines call out that the element should propose various goals, objectives, policies and programs to reduce or eliminate excessive noise within the community. The Element does propose three main goals as to what can be done to reduce noise throughout the community. The first goal was to control transportation noise. Goal two was to control non-transportation noise relating to manufacturing or construction activity. Lastly, to prevent or mitigate excessive exposure to noise to existing residential and commercial uses to provide mitigation measures for new development so that new development is not exposed to excessive noise. To carry out the goals and objectives, the Element did propose to guide the City in future decision making; the draft has forty different policies to guide with the idea of reducing noise. In conclusion, the staff will make any changes as suggested by Commission. A Public Hearing will be made with regard to the Noise Element later this summer. Vice' Chair Addington asked how the Noise Ordinance will effect the future development of Grand Terrace and the future development of the Outdoor Adventure Center. Planning Director Koontz replied that since the Ordinance pertains to high intensity commercial use, such as motorcycles and personal watercrafts, other noise sources would not be affected. There will be an extensive noise analysis included in the EIR for the OAC. Commissioner Comstock felt that there is a conflict with regard to promoting the OAC and Caltrans attempting to build a fifteen foot wall to mitigate noise from the freeway. 5 Planning Director Koontz replied that residential areas will be regarded for the noise mitigation and not the commercial areas. Commissioner Comstock asked if there will be any type of plan implementation as to noise complaints from residents. Planning Director Koontz replied that this is a general guideline on how the City will develop and deal with excessive noise issues. Commissioner Whitley asked if the element will be an expansion of what the City already has. Associate Planner Lampe replied that there is a hazard element, which reflects the requirement of State Law. Commissioner Bidney asked if this was a mandatory requirement of the State or was the City doing this on its own. Planning Director Koontz replied that this is mandated by the State. Chair Wilson felt that the draft was to the Commission's satisfaction and requested that the Staff move forward with the process of formalizing the Noise Element. Barton Road Specific Plan Revisions - Planning Director Koontz reported that the Barton Road Specific Plan revisions have been completed and would like to see comments from the Commission by the Next Planning Commission meeting. r Chair Wilson asked if there will be any comments anticipated by the business community. Planning Director Koontz replied that there is an expectation of substantial feedback from the business community and feels that it would be the Staff and the Commission's best interest to be on the same page prior to holding a public workshop with the finalized plan. Northeast corner of Mt. Vernon and Barton Road An application will be submitted for another drug store at the former proposed Rite Aid site. The applicant's would like to move forward quickly, and should have a completed submittal to staff by the next Planning Commission Meeting. Van Buren Tract Staff has sent out RFP's for the future development of the Van Buren tract. Six proposals were presented to the City Manager and Staff. A Site and Architectural Review from the winning bidder should be submitted in June of this year. 6 • Information from Commissioners Vice Chair Addington asked if the School District was being cooperative with regard to finding a site for a proposed high school within the city. Planning Director Koontz replied that the last meeting with the School District was held the last Monday before the Planning Commission meeting, and seems to be running slowly, but smoothly. ADJOURN PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION AT 7:47 PM NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 19, 2003 Respectfully Submitted, Approved By, Gary Koontz, Pl6arfing Director Doug Wilson, Chairperson Planning Commission 60n Lampe, Asdociate Planner 7