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07/17/2003 �ITy 0 BRAND TER R c Community and Economic Development _ GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION Department MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING July 17, 2003 The regular-meet!nq of the Grand Terrace Planninq Commission was called to order at the Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road. Grand Terrace. California, on July 17. 2003. at 7:00 p.m., by Chairperson Doua Wilson DATE: July 17, 2003 PLACE: Council Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California 7:00 P.M. CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING PRESENT: Doug Wilson, Chairman Matthew Addington, Vice Chairman Robert Bidney, Commissioner Gary Koontz, Community Development Director John Lampe, Associate Planner Michelle Boustedt, Planning Secretary 7:00 P.M. CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING • Call to Order • Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Bidney • Roll Call PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None ITEMS: 1. MINUTES Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 19, 2003 RECOMMENDATION: Approval 22795 Barton Road • Grand Terrace, California 92313-5295 • (909) 824-6621 - MOTION: PC-22-2003 Commissioner Addington made a motion to approve The Planning Commission Meeting minutes dated June 19, 2003. Commissioner Bidney seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE: PC-22-2003 Approved 3-0-2-0 Commissioner Whitley Absent Commissioner Comstock Absent 2. GPA-03-01, E-03-05 Proposed Noise Element of the General Plan and Environmental Review of the'Proposed Element. APPLICANT: City of Grand Terrace/Community Development Department. LOCATION: Citywide. RECOMMENDATION: Open the Public Hearing for the Proposed Noise Element; receive any testimony; discuss the Proposed Noise Element; and recommend to the City Council the approval and adoption of the Proposed Noise Element by Ordinance as part of the City's General Plan. Associate Planner Lampe reported that a few changes were made to the proposed Noise Element that was brought before the Commission in May of this year: The State Law requires that each jurisdiction have a General Plan with seven mandatory elements including the Noise Element. The proposed element, as presented, is the latest effort to update the City's General Plan. To assist in the preparation of the Noise Element, the State has required guidelines in which the preparation of the Noise Element the City must analyze and quantify the noise levels and extended noise exposure within in the City through actual field measurements. The City hired an acoustical consultant to prepare the technical portion of the noise element. The firm is experienced in preparing technical noise studies and has done so for various cities within the State of California. Twenty locations were surveyed throughout the city with a noise meter. The study was done primarily to determine the impact of noise within residential areas near transportation activities. The most significant noise producing activity was the traffic on the 1-215 Freeway, the railroad, and traffic within the city streets. The State guidelines do require that noise contours be prepared showing what areas in the City are exposed to having excessive noise levels. The heavier noise 2 exposure for properties along the 1-215 Freeway, and along Barton Road and a portion of Mt. Vernon. The noise consultant also did a projection on future noise conditions. The areas in the future that will be exposed to heavy noise will primarily -- be located around the 1-215 Freeway and the westerly portion of the city next to the railroad tracks; along with increased transportation traffic at Barton and Mt. Vernon Streets. The Noise Element also discusses stationary sources of noise within the City from commercial or industrial sites. These stationary sources are not as significant as the noiseicoming from the transportation sources. The lumber yard within the City limits is one source of industrial ' noise that has been produced, but may soon be eliminated with the acquisition of land for the new high school site. The Consultant has recommended that the City should make an effort to reach various goals and objectives in trying to develop an environment where excessive noise is controlled. The three main goals related to noise control are dealing with the transportation and non-transportation noise and minimizing excessive exposure to noise produced by stationary sources of noise producing sites. To carry out the goals and objectives, there are various policies and recommendations of the element that deal with various measures that the city can undertake to develop recommendations to minimize and mitigate noise produced from transportation. With regard to comments from the various agencies, suggestions were made by the City's .Traffic Engineer, Craig Neustaedter. Mr. Neustaedter recommended that changing the name of the reference to the Riverside/San Bernardino transportation agencies to their actual name which is RTA and Omnitrans. The second recommendation was to have the City support putting in a grade separation for the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad near Main Street to eliminate the use of horns or whistles, in which the railroads are required to blast prior to an approach of a street which does not have a grade separation. Associate Planner Lampe concluded that the Staff recommends that the Noise Element has been in conformance with the State Guidelines based on technical studies that were conducted by the qualified acoustical consultant. The Staff is recommending that the Commission recommend to the City Council to adopt the attached Ordinance calling for the addition of the new Noise Element of the City's General Plan. Chair Wilson invited the Commission to ask questions of Staff. Vice Chair Addington asked if the Traffic Engineer was proposing additional policies or has his suggestions already been included in the proposed Ordinance. Associate Planner Lampe answered that it was a suggestion to add the policies, and has not been included in the Ordinance. Vice Chair Addington asked if the railroad was contacted with regard to the suggested grade separation. 3 Associate Planner Lampe replied that since the suggestion was only received a couple of days before the Planning Commission meeting, they were not contacted as yet. Vice Chair Addington asked if there. was any discussion of putting in a grade separation on behalf of the proposed high school. Planning Director Koontz replied that there has been discussion, and if there is an interchange constructed at Main Street, there will be a need for a grade separation at the crossing. Commissioner Bidney asked if a grade separation will be put in at Main Street, how it will affect the bridge at Barton Road on the westerly portion of the City. Planning Director Koontz replied that there are plans for that bridge and are in direct relation to the proposed Outdoor Adventures Center. These plans have been sent to Congressman Lewis's office to request funding for interim improvements with regard to widening the bridge, building a new off ramp and various other improvements. Chair Wilson asked that in relation to the railroad and air traffic noise, is there any recourse other than civil actions to force the lowering of those noise levels? Planning Director Koontz replied that the railroads are not very easy to deal with and will be difficult to come to an agreement. With the Alameda Corridor projecting an additional twenty trains could be added to the existing line. The Outdoor Adventures Center is evaluating removing the Union Pacific spur and directing that traffic onto the BNSF main line. This would mote the rail noise contours further to the west. Vice Chair Addington asked if there will need to be a motion for the suggested grade separation. Associate Planner Lampe replied that a separate motion would need to be made to include the grade separation as suggested by the traffic engineer. Chair Wilson opened and closed the Public Hearing for comment. MOTION: PC-23-2003 Chair Wilson made a motion to approve Proposed Noise Element of the General Plan and Environmental Review of the Proposed Element. Vice Chair Addington seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE: PC-23-2003 Approved 3-0-2-0 - 4 Commissioner Whitley Absent Commissioner Comstock Absent MOTION: PC-24-2003 Vice Chair Addington made a motion to amend the Noise Element and support the construction of the grade separation at Main Street and railroad lines. Commissioner Bidney seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE: PC-24-2003 Approved 3-0-2-0 Commissioner Whitley Absent Commissioner Comstock Absent ADJOURN SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONVENE PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION 7:25 PM • Information to Commissioners Planning Director Koontz reported that the Outdoor Adventure Center is moving forward. The Specific Plan is being written and the. Notice of Preparation for the EIR will go out within the next week. The School District has made an agreement with the City to negotiate with a real. estate acquisition for a proposed high school site in the City. The City has a new RV Ordinance. A portion of the new RV Ordinance involves changes to the Zoning Ordinance. Proposed changes to reflect the RV Ordinance concerning the storage of vehicles and parking of RV's in residential front yards. A special meeting needs to be scheduled with regard to this Ordinance within the next few months. This meeting may be held on one of the first Thursdays of the month when no Planning Commission Meetings are scheduled. The Barton Road Specific plan is near completion and may be presented at September's scheduled meeting. • Information from Commissioners Vice Chair Addington reported that he will be on vacation and will not be attending August's Planning Commission Meeting. Chair Addington asked Staff what the estimated time frame for the completion of Rollins Park. 5 Planning Director Koontz replied that the park was still on schedule for opening in January of 2004. ADJOURN PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION 7:30 PM. NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 21. 2003 Respectfully Submitted, Approved By, Gary Koontz, Plan&g Director ou ilsori, d�air rson PI ping Commission 6