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05/20/2004 Community and Economic Development Department CALIFORNIA GRAND TERRACE.PLANNING COMMISSION MINTUES OF REGULAR MEETING May 20, 2004 The reaular meetina of the Grand Terrace Planninq Commission was tailed to order at the Grand Terrace Civic Center. 22795 Barton Road. Grand Terrace, California. on Mav 20. 2004. 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 ..-Tom Schwab, City-Manager John Harper, City Attorney Gary Koontz, Community Development Director Ralph Megna, Economic Development Director John Lampe;Associate Planner t Michelle Boustedt, Planning Secretary 7:00 P.M. CONVENE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING e Pledge of Allegiance led by Vice Chair Addington • Roll Call PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: None ITEMS: 1. SP-04-01, E-04-03 To develop approximately 123 acres as mixed use commercial and open space uses. APPLICANT: City of Grand Terrace Redevelopment Agency. LOCATION: Generally south of Barton Road, west of Michigan Street, north of Pico Street, and east of Interstate 215 22795 Barton Road • Grand Terrace, Cdlifornia 92313-5295 • 909/ 824-6621 RECOMMENDATION: Open the Public Hearing on the Outdoor Adventures Center Specific Plan (SP-04-01/E-04-03), receive testimony, and recommend Certification of the Environmental Impact Report and Approval of the Ordinance to Adopt the Specific Plan to the City Council. Planning Director Koontz: We are going to do things a lot differently than we typically do with our Public Hearings with staff reports. We've got a power point presentation tonight since this is a very large complicated project with an EIR. What we want to do is go through the purpose of the meeting tonight so that everyone understands what we are doing. Basically, this is a Planning Commission hearing. We're conducting a Public Hearing on the Specific Plan which is Zoned as SP-04-01 and the Environmental Impact Report that was prepared under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines as referred to as E-04-03. The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council regarding whether this project should be approved, denied or changed. The final decision will rest with the City Council. There.will be a full public hearing similar to this at the City Council with the completion of this hearing and probably about at least thirty days after the Planning Commission's decision. Ralph Megna, our redevelopment consultant, is going to go through the overall plan, the concept, and where it came from. , Tom Schwab, the City Manager will discuss what we consider the importance to the .City of this project. I will come back and go through the Specific Plan and then we'll be. going through the actual Environmental Impact Report. Nancy Ferguson is present and is from Lilburn Associates who prepared the overall plan. We will be talking about traffic with Carl Ballard from Kunzman and Associates will be ` discussing'the traffic study with traffic issues and how the study was prepared in general. Matt Jones is the noise consultant. Although, Nancy will discuss the general noise issues, if there are any specific questions; Matt will be here to answer them. The staff will make the presentations and it will be up to the Planning Commission Chairman to open the Public Hearing and receive public testimony. Once the public testimony is closed, the Planning Commission will discuss the specific plan and EIR amongst themselves and with the staff. Following that, the Planning Commission shall prepare a recommendation to the City Council regarding EIR Certification before any action can be taken on the Specific Plan, the EIR must be certified. Following that action, the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the City Council concerning the specific plan. This project was duly noticed per the requirement of the California Environmental Quality Act. The public notices were placed in the San Bernardino County Sun, the local Blue Mountain Outlook publication, the City website, and the public television network. Notices were also sent to all the people within the planning area as well as within 300 feet of the proposed project. - Chair Wilson: Before we turn it over to Ralph Megna, let me just let you know a little information in relation to this project. The reason why we are going through this process is because this is an information scenario. This is for everybody that's involved in the City that actually cares about what's going on to understand every particle of this particular 2 project. If you have not had a chance for whatever reason not to examine the public documents or not to not to examine hearing notices or whatever else is out there, this is a catch up round for you. Public testimony is very valuable to us. A lot of preparation has gone into this and has actually been in the works for about one year. We will accept public testimony, but we would like to do is we would like to be able to lay this whole thing out for you to see what's going on and so that there isn't any question on whether anybody knows about this project and you folks are great because you are here and I really appreciate your participation. Thank you. Ralph .Megna: Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the Planning Commission. My name°is Ralph Megna. I would like to take a second to recap how I was involved in this project. My involvement began several years ago whereas the City Redevelopment Agency were acquiring real estate around the old Edison power plant. Over- time, extending all the way to 2003, the Agency acquired roughly 60 to 70 acres in the vicinity of the power plant. At the time, the City was also concerned about what was going to happen to approximately another 70 acres northerly of this real estate that was generally either vacant or blighted. , My firm, Empire Development Solutions, was retained by the City of Grand Terrace in the spring of 2002 to begin assessing possible development alternatives for this real estate. The reason why this was so very important to the city was that with this real estate and other parcels in the city, the total amount of commercially zoned land left in the City of Grand :Terrace is less than 250 acres, which is a very small amount of land for any community. 'The reason why this is important is that by and large ,within a city, the commercial real estate and the property taxes it pays and fees associated with the operation of businesses that actually pay a substantial portion of what it costs to run the City. ;Residential real estate is a wash for a city or a small loss. The proper development for this remaining commercial real estate was vitally important to the long term interests of the community of Grand Terrace. When I came on board, both the senior staff of the City and the Council essentially sat me down and said here are our expectations and hopes for what we want you to go out and look at. I think that it is important to run through these because it sets the framework for everything that follows. First, I was told that it was very important to the community that whatever should happen here; improve the civic image of Grand Terrace, and to improve the front door to the community. Basically, the only part of Grand Terrace is seen from the freeway is that segment that this property occupies. It was important to the community that it be attractively developed and reflect well on the community and it not be something that looks like the rest of.the 17215 corridor which is something of a disappointment in terms of its visual appearance. Secondly, it was important to the City Council and the City Manager that whatever we do create benefit to the City and its citizens. In other words, they were asking me to generate something that creates new employment, quality retail and restaurant alternatives that do not exist in the community today and that it was important from August of 2002 that any impact of the residential neighborhoods had to be limited. The third issues was the hopes for creating significant value for the City, in terms of property and new taxes. A thorough analysis of the site was begun. Various features of the site were mapped and it was found that there were very serious development constraints on the site, and it was immediately apparent that this area was the largest single empty parcel of land from the I- 3 i 215 through San Bernardino into Corona. The reason for this is because there are multiple water lines and canals, electrical transmission lines and so forth. My goal was to create a feasible use program where I had to identify both potential users in terms of the developer and tenants. I explored a number of alternatives for this site. One model was for industrial/warehouse. This type of use is currently modeled all up and down the 1-215 freeway. It was found that warehouse tilt-up construction would not be an attractive front door to Grand Terrace and it would not reflect the community's values. Second, this type of development would not generate significant new tax revenues. One of the problems with warehousing is that they are large buildings with a lot of logistics and an employee base of about 12 .people. Bringing this type of use would create more truck traffic along with pollution. The second set of alternatives would be to build residential homes. This area could potentially be used to build 500 to 600 homes. The pros for this type of use is that it would be consistent with the surrounding area to the east. While it would be consistent with the surrounding use, it would require to be re-zoned or an amendment to the General Plan. It would also increase traffic on Michigan and Barton because the only way to get to these residential areas is to have access from Michigan and Main Street. In all likelihood, all the traffic from 500 to 600 homes would be from Michigan Street. Homes in this area would also,be subject to negative noise impacts from the close proximity to the freeway. Chair"Wilson added that the primary noise source is actually the railroad. Ralph Megna: I will admit that the noise impact is from the freeway and the railroad. Fourth, the additional familiesthat would be in an area this size with 500 to 600 homes in it would severely stress the already over burdened public school system in the City. We are concerned that it would be very expensive to try to cure this. The third alternative was to do a traditional freeway oriented shopping center. Anchored by Target or Wal Mart. The pros for this type of use is that it would be consistent with the City's General Plan, and that it would create new revenue for the community through sales and property taxes. But as we looked at it we thought that this would not be considered unique or attractive. The second concern about this was that it may be hard to attract key tenants. In other words, the key anchors such as Target, Wal Mart or Kohl's all have stores relatively nearby. In some cases the stores are new and it would seem unlikely that the stores would be convinced to come and anchor a store at this location. Also, the traffic impacts would be negative on Michigan Avenue. The discussion of the retail center did get us to think about the fact that the City is on some very important travel corridors in the Inland Empire. The City's straddles the 10 and the 60 corridor as well as the 91 and 215 freeways. These corridors lead to the most important recreational destinations in Southern California. The high desert, mountains, river, lakes and to the low desert: People use these corridors to come and go to these recreational destinations. Grand Terrace is naturally on the travel path where these people who are seeking recreational opportunities. That also made us look at our next door neighbor, the City of Colton. The Colton RV Center is one of the most successful highest grossing point of sale for RV and motor homes in North America. Many of these people are going within two miles of the City to buy recreational vehicles. We also realized that people do not buy recreational. vehicles to drive around on a daily basis. People use them to go boating, 4 fishing or camping. We also realized that some of these recreational vehicles are towing other recreational vehicles such as boats, dirt bikes, or jet skis. And we thought, well, where are these people buying these other recreational vehicles. What if we built a retail center that catered around the outdoor lifestyle, with many types of recreational vehicles to choose from. We felt that this concept would be expandable to include fitness and other recreational pursuits like home gardening. When we did further research we found that there were retailers in our target audience such as RV and boat dealers that wanted to be in an all in one retail center. Hence, the Outdoor Adventures Center. The Outdoor Adventures Center would be a one stop outdoor shopping center that sells goods and services related to sports, outdoor living and leisure activities. Because we have that concentration of activities there, we also believe that it would be possible to have a fitness center, hotel, restaurants, and quality fast food and a gas station. When all of this was put together, this project began to take shape with a large central lake with smaller bodies of water and a curvilinear road which was the extension of what is now Commerce Way through the middle of the project and pad sites; large enough to accommodate major services and retailers as well as smaller pad sites particularly those located next to the proposed lake that could be used for feature restaurants. All of which would be sitting next. to the 1-215 Freeway which carries about 200,000 cars a day. We believe that this combination of activities would meet the expectations that we have been handed by the City Council. . It was a great looking front door, creating real long term value for the community and would return benefits of items that were not currently in Grand Terrace such::as restaurants and retail. would like to make clear what the Outdoor Adventures Center is not. The OAC is not an amusement park. It is not a water park. It is not a boat racing venue, and it is not a place to go waterskiing. If anyone is here because you are fearful that it is proposed to be one of these Jtems, it,will not be. The OAC is a place where it would be possible to buy almost every kind of recreational gear imaginable from some of the best retailers in the .recreation business. We are actively searching for retailers such as Outdoor World, or,-Bass Pro Shops, or companies like REI. The OAC is a place that you would find many of the services that are not currently available in Grand Terrace. A hotel, sit-down restaurants, quality fast food, and a major fitness center. These are all use types that we are actively soliciting for this project. The OAC is one of the most beautiful major commercial- developments in Southern California. We are devoting a substantial amount of real estate.of this to public open space. Beginning with 8710 acres in the primary body of water. The body of water would primarily be considered as an aesthetic feature while it would be possible for boats to float on it. There is also a 1-2 acre pond that could be used by hobbyists, for example those who have remote control boats. Paddle boats may also be able to be used in the pond. Connecting the larger and smaller body of water would be a stream. Because of the elevation differences in the OAC, the water will actually run downhill from the large body of water to the small. This stream will create a flowing body of water where people could practice fly fishing, or maybe even try a kayak. There will also be an off-road trail up against the freeway. One reason why this proposed track was placed there was to provide a buffer between the freeway and the railroad tracks, the chief generators of noise, and the rest of the project. That track can be used for off-road bicycle testing. Finally, we expect that there will be a water fall as an entry feature into the project as well as a way of refreshing the water in the lake. 5 The OAC is probably the most environmentally friendly commercial development in Southern California. The planting of over 1,400 new trees would be proposed where there are fewer than 100 trees currently on the site. These trees will help to filter some of the dust and pollutants that drift in from the freeway. In addition, a level of landscaping along the streets that is unheard of in most commercial project. The land that also comes with its own water rights and we will be able to use that water to maintain landscaping here that most projects could not afford because they would have to buy the water to maintain this type of landscape. In addition, we are going to be creating an enhanced wetlands. There is a pathetic wetlands:on the site, at current. The City will be working together with the Department of Fish and'Game to create an enhanced wetlands that can be a habitat for birds and other creatures that can benefit from a wetlands environment. Pollution reducing swales along the sides of the street will be used as suggested by the Regional Water Quality Board that will _allow,us to meet our pollution control goals for the project. Finally, the City will be working with the City of Riverside and their Public Utilities Department to engage them to use this lake and a permeable bottom of the lake to recharge the local aquifer that they would like to use at this site. They will use the canal that is currently located on the site to bring the water to the site and fill the lake with water in which will seep down the bottom,of the lake and recharge the local aquifer. Again, we think that features like this distinguish this project from most commercial developments in its strong emphasis in environmental values and environmental quality at this site. The-OAC has a number of economic and civic benefits associate with it.. At full build-out, this project will generate more than a million dollars a year in sales taxes for the-City. It will generate nearly a million dollars a year in incremental property taxes. It should create over 500 new jobs that would be a particular interest to the youth in the community. Or perhaps, employment for our retired citizens. It will create lodging and meeting facilities that the City does not have. The OAC will also create improved and safer freeway access. A freeway on and off-ramp will be proposed that will go straight from the freeway, into the project, and not into the neighborhood around it. The improvements to the Barton Road bridge will also significantly improve both the access and the safety of the come and go traffic from the freeway. This will be done at least a decade before any of the planned improvements to the 1-215 ever take place. This project will help these benefits take place at least 10-12 years before they are scheduled to take place. If the project were approved by the Planning Commission, and the City Council the estimated time schedule for the project would be over the next six months. A preliminary agreement would be entered into with the master developer, and refinements would be initiated to the plan, including the financial strategy and the engineering for the project. Initial tenant commitment would be secured, and the design and engineering plans for the freeway on and off-ramps would be done during this time period. Due to the hard work of Congressman Lewis, we have already received sufficient funds to pay for all the design engineering and environmental issues associated with the on and off-ramps. We have a commitment from the Congressman's office that the money for the construction of the on and off-ramp will be included for next year's federal budget. This is an opportunity to - secure funds that the City would otherwise not be able to acquire. In the first half of 2005, the final engineering for grading and infrastructure would be completed. Sale agreements would be finalized with the various major tenants, and we 6 would expect to see the financing put in place for the public works improvements that would take place, and we would expect approval from Caltrans for the freeway improvements and secure the federal funding for the on and off-ramps. _ In the second half of 2005, the grading and infrastructure work would begin along with the construction of the freeway on and off-ramp. During the first 8-9 months of 2006, the grading and infrastructure would continue along' with the store .and restaurant construction. The freeway access improvements would be completed. In October or early November of 2006, the first stores and restaurants would open at the OAC. I would like to conclude this presentation by re-iterating what the City Council and Staff wanted to see happen on this property. There is nothing that says that it was the City's goals to rape and pillage the real estate, or make as much money as you possibly can. This begins with improving the civic image with a new front door. Create benefits for the citizens. It is with that attitude that this project has been moving forward for the last year and a half. My instructions were not to maximize the economic benefit, but to maximize the = overall benefit. With respect to the economics, we have had an example within the last year or two that when the State should get into financial trouble, the first entities that the State:goes after are the Cities and the Counties. In this particular case, we are talking . about building, a project that will help insure that this community has a stable and substantial source of revenue well into the future. In conclusion, the staff has worked for a year and a' half trying to put together a project that we are very proud of. I do not live in this community, but I can get here in less than 10 .minutes from where I live. In the Inland Empire, I feel that it is important that we offer facilities.that not only offer the kind of retail, restaurants and other offerings that this project .has, but I think it is also important that we do projects that establish ithe standards for quality that this project does, and that I can say that I am very proud of what we have assembled here, and in meeting the expectations of the City Council and Staff. Doug Wilson asked if the Commission had any questions for Staff at this point. None of the Commission had any questions at this time. Gary Koontz: I would like to turn the floor over to Tom Schwab, the City Manager. Tom Schwab: I would like to talk a little bit about what is going on in the City at current. For a long time this land has remained vacant. As everyone can see the development has been moving from the west towards the east, and the City of Grand Terrace is under pressure by developers and owners of this property to do something with the property. Most of the 120 acres is privately.owned. Eventually, this land will be developed. We think that it is important to have a master plan; some sort of a vision to build something in this area that makes some sense to provide some access in the roads and so forth to be able to get in and out of this area. This area will eventually develop; either on its own or with each parcel owner coming to'the City with a project whether it be a warehouse use, or a commercial building. If the City were to take a comprehensive approach to development, it will be a better development in the end when it is done. 7 The do nothing approach would be that the most important infrastructure, the streets in this area, will not be built until the latter part of the development. Commerce Way was only built as businesses developed along Commerce Way, so it can take many years for that to be built out to Taylor Street and eventually out to Main Street, which would mean all that traffic from the developments would have no other alternatives but to use Michigan Street. We would like to provide some alternatives that would take traffic away from Michigan Street. If you read the Specific Plan, the City is planning to cul-de-sac, De Berry and Pico Streets so that none of the traffic from this particular development can go into those residential streets. The City is master planning this effort, and in order to do this, we think that we will have a better project in the end. This project will not be completed all at once. The hotels, restaurants, and retail will happen over time. But a blueprint has been utilized that the land owner's and developers must follow to create something that has cohesiveness. If one were�10 look at the Specific Plan, 50 acres will consist of open space in either forms of lakes; .or land that will not be utilized for buildings. This will also provide immediate capacity and safety upgrades to the 1-215 on and off-ramps. Unfortunately, because of how slow the development is and as well as the State's budget, the current projection to widen 1-215 Freeway is the year 2015. One other important point is that the taxes and fees generated by the OAC. We have always had a difficult time with budgeting. But we have always had a very conservative City Council. One additional .Deputy was added and is used to control speeds on many of the streets particularly Barton and Mt. Vernon Roads. We are able to keep that.deputy this year, but each year the State is taking money from the City. This year, $200,000 was given to the State-, to help fund schools. This money could be used in the City to buy Deputies and other::services. We have been able to sustain ourselves because the City has maintained a prudent reserve. In the future, we either need to look at ways that we can grow our own economy or we are going to have look at other ways to:generate income through taxes which in the City of Grand Terrace, has not been something that the residents were willing to do which would mean taxing themselves. If the City of Grand Terrace carefully develops this particular project, then it will help sustain the City into the future and allow us to keep up with additional law enforcement and other city services. Gary Koontz: At this time, I would like to take the opportunity to go through the Outdoor Adventure Center Specific Plan. In the City's General Plan, a Specific Plan Land Use is required for all major developments. A Specific Plan includes a variety of requirements per State Law. The requirements include location, standards for, the land uses, buildings and infrastructure, streets, roads, public facilities, standards for population density and building density, all of which come out of the States guidelines. Standards for conservation, development; use of natural open spaces and provisions for implementing the open space element. The Specific Plan is a long range master plan that serves as a zoning ordinance for all future developments within the plan area. Any future 1 development that comes into this area must be consistent to the specific plan, which would be considered the zoning for this area. The land has been re-zoned. To develop anything, we would have to go through a land development process which would mean public hearings before the Planning Commission and possibly the City Council. So if someone were to come in and want to build a restaurant or store, that particular company would have to come back to the 8 Planning Department and file all the necessary applications and provide site plans, building elevations and floor plans. These applications are run through a standard review process, and we have another public hearing in front of the Planning Commission. Also, any retail project must go through another Environmental Review because they will need to be refined down to specific uses that will be compatible and abide by the Project EIR that is approved for this. Many times, we may ask for any supplemental information such as traffic studies or noise analysis. Chair Wilson: So what you are trying to tell us is that this a Specific Plan is set up so that we may take a large area that is probably going to affect a lot of citizens within the City and plan around the various impacts that are present and use them as a tool to customize the zoning for that particular condition. Gary ..Koontz. Exactly. So the objective for this Specific Plan is to provide a general guideline for development for basically the last major undeveloped commercially zoned piece of land in the City into a viable commercial project. We would like a project that provides the highest and best use of the property. We also would like to balance the housing and jobs ratio in the City. At current, we are a bedroom community. We are required by State Law and the General Plan laws of the State to try to balance out the number of jobs and houses so that we are not a commuting City. We would like to provide for long term tax revenue base. We would like to provide buffers between•proposed commercial uses and adjacent land uses. We want to maximize the freeway,frontage to enhance the commercial base for the City. The freeway frontage and commercial development is very good within our area. We also want to make sure that we mitigate :all potentially significant environmental impacts that are associated with land - development. This project was not thought of overnight. Between 2000 and 2003, the City of Grand Terrace Redevelopment Agency acquired property in the area. Edison owned a lot of agricultural land within the area that was associated with water rights. In April of 2002, Ralph Megna was hired to begin working on this project. Between 2002 and April of 2003, the City conducted environmental analysis, engineering constraints studies and other studies. The result of these brought this conceptual land use plan. On March 25, 2003, the City Council held a .priority session in which they prioritize the issues that are considered to be important to the City. The two top priorities at that meeting were the Outdoor Adventures Center and the new high school. We had our marching orders to move forward with both of them. In April, 2003,. the City hired Lilburn and Associates to prepare the environmental impact report per CEQA Guidelines. On August 7, 2003, we had a public scoping session where notices were mailed out and the project was presented and the environmental issues that we felt we needed to address. As part of that scoping session, we also sought input from the general public with regard to anything that needed to be addressed. The EIR that was written covers every_possible issue under CEQA Guidelines. In March 1, 2004, the Draft EIR was released for public review. Under CEQA Guidelines, we were required to do a 45 day review period. On April 22, 2004, the review process ended and comments were received responding to the EIR. r The project area is on the west side of the City. The 1-215 is our western boundary. Barton Road is the northern boundary. Pico is the southern boundary. A few hundred feet from 9 Michigan would be considered the westerly boundary. The existing land uses in the area are a mix of vacant property, agricultural property, older industrial area, existing residential which are considered pre-existing non-conforming land uses. In terms of the General Plan, the area up on the northerly part is designated as Commercial. It has been designated as Commercial since the General Plan was approved by the City Council in the early 1980's. The area to the south is zoned industrial. The General Plan is the general land use. The land uses are implemented based upon zoning. A lot of different zones can exist within the land use designation of the General Plan. The northerly area also known as the commercially zoned area is zoned CM or Commercial Manufacturing. The area to the south is zoned MR.-or Restricted Manufacturing. An excerpt was placed before the Commission with regard 'to the CM, MR and C2 Zones. The 'CM zone does allow any use in the C2 zone which is General Commercial Zone. I would like to point out that everything that we have proposed as a land use is consistent with the existing zoning on this property. The land uses are being refined and not changed. The Specific Plan has been cut into seven different planning areas. They are defined by their land uses and their design guidelines. Planning Area 1 is located at Commerce Way. There are some existing industrial commercial wholesalers and such in that area. Because of these existing uses which are considered to be valuable development in the City, such as the Cal Skate, Essco Electric, Riverside Winnelson, and Superior Pool Supply. Those businesses have, existed in that area and are very good revenue to the city. The overall concept is called Gateway Commercial. There is some property along Barton Road that could-..be included with this area. There has been some discussion with regard to Essco Electric possibly moving and expanding their operations, giving another.business to locate to their building. There are also existing properties such as the two gas stations and the small retail,,center that are covered by the Barton Road Specific Plan. Because of their proximity in ,the circulation pattern of the area, they will allowed to be zoned under the Barton Road Specific Plan, but should one of the stations go out of business, and be torn down, we want any building to be built to the similar standards of the remaining portion of the OAC. There was a clause that was found in the EIR with regard to some of the existing buildings would be removed. We are not proposing to touch any of these buildings and have no intent to touch those existing buildings. We are in hopes of working.with the skating rink to enhance their landscaping. Another issue is with regard to the 'proposed median on Commerce Way. Those medians will not be built, so that truck traffic will be allowed to turn in to driveways. Planning Area Two will be known as Hospitality Commercial. The freeway on or off-ramp will be located in this area. This area will be more oriented toward people who want to stop off and rest. Hotel, restaurants and gas stations will be placed in this area and will serve as the buffer between the outdoor retail areas and the freeway and industrial areas. Planning Area Three would be considered the major retail areas. The major users will be placed in this area such as the boat and RV dealers. A pavilion is proposed to be built in -this area that will be visible from the freeway and will be an area that would showcase boats or another type of recreational vehicle. The lake would consist of 8 acres. It is not intended to hold a high powered jet boat and race it across the lake. There is no intent to drive any boat around at high speed. 10 Chair Wilson: Mr. Koontz, what is the estimated depth of the lake. Gary Koontz: About ten feet. The biggest issue is.that if the lake is too shallow, an algae problem would occur. We want to make sure that the lake will stay clean. Ralph mentioned that a creek flow into the lower lake which would be the passive lake. This area would be used for passive uses such as paddle boats, remote control boats or fishing. A park can also be proposed to provide for a picnic area. This area would be used for a possible RV dealer with lots of parking areas to show the vehicles. Another area would be considered a specialty retail area and would be used to be a buffer between the existing industrial areas and the major retail areas. A small mall that would consist of a bicycle shop or an ice cream parlor would be used to serve all of the smaller uses.that would be devoted to this type of a facility. The:vehicle retail and support area could possibly be changed according to what the Colton Unified School District would want to do because their proposed site would be located next to that particular area. The primary use of this area would be for vehicle support and would be used for smaller retailers such as boat customizers, auto detailers, or off-road type of customizers. The support services area would be used for RV storage or possible mini-storage area. This area could also be used for RV maintenance, warehousing or mail order for the outdoor retailers. This area would be used for more industrial type uses and would not be visible along the freeway. The,final area or Planning Area 7 would be used for open space along the freeway. This area,would be a landscaped area and would provide the visual use of the project from the freeway. It would consist of landscaping and the lake. This area has also been proposed to be the bike track testing area. Water courses and lake areas would be maintained. Bear in mind, that the test track would be considered as a conceptual use and does not mean that it will be built. The infrastructure is designed to keep the traffic within the project area as much as possible. Eventually removing the existing off ramp on Barton and moving down to where the DeBerry alignment is. The remaining area or the southbound off ramp and onramp would remain under this program. Ultimately, SANBAG and CALTRANS will probably come in and do something to change this. But for all purposes at current, it will serve the needs without getting into a twenty million dollar reconstruction project. Part of the freeway improvement is to add another west bound lane. The key to the project is the upfront construction to all of Commerce Way. Taylor Street will be expanded to a four lane improvement and will go all the way down to Main Street. A continuous system will be running down through to Main Street. Van Buren Street has been discussed at length. It is not the City's intent to do anything with the existing piece of Van Buren off of the project site. It is the City's intent to expand it within the site and widen it out to four lanes to put in left turn pockets and ease access to this project. We must provide access to Willdan Pump and the industrial park located on Michigan. The truck traffic and the employee traffic will be siphoned off through Commerce Way instead of flowing on to Michigan Street. 11 The high school is looking at a particular piece of property adjacent to the site. We are looking at moving the existing Pico crossing of the railroad up to the cul-de-sac area of Pico and allow the high school to be built in that area. SANBAG is proposing to do a traffic signal synchronization through Barton Road into Loma Linda in the year 2006. This project will build out Commerce .Way to a four lane improvement. A median will be proposed through the middle with left turn pockets where necessary. We are not proposing to widen Michigan and are not proposing to take any right-of-way. In order for the City to take such property, then the City would have to go through the,City Council for condemnation. I can guarantee that the City Council will not let us take residential property. A master grading plan has been done with regard to how much dirt would have to be moved to make pads. The intent of the grading is to show that when it is done the lake will be at:the same grade as the freeway, so the view from the freeway would be straight out to the lake. Everything else will be terraced up so that each of the pads will be visible from the freeway. Based upon the grading plan the total amount of dirt that would need to be moved would consist of 1.2 million cubic yards. There are a few soils issues that need to be re-visited and re-compaction to make the soils suitable for foundations. At current,,there are two major storm drains. One is at DeBerry Street, and one coming in from:_the north between the plumbing supply and the pool supply company. Both storm drains tie in together at DeBerry Street and go out into the County flood control channel. It is our plan,to take the County flood control channel and put it into an enclosed culvert so - that it will remain enclosed underground. The Riverside Canal is a domestic water supply for the City of Riverside. The City of .Riverside is in agreement to subterrane the existing segment that runs through the City of Grand Terrace. At current, the existing culvert is not capable of handling a 100 year storm. What the City is proposing to do is use the lakes as a retention area during a major storm. The lake will be designed where they will have flow pipes with freeboards that will remain open during the wet season, so that when there is a major rain, the storm water will fill up the lakes and the water will flow into pipes that will be regulated into the existing County flood control channel. When water is coming off of the streets, there will be a lot of waste run-off that will come along with that water. According to National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination Systems or NPDES, the City is federally required to catch that material and clean it up before it gets into the Santa Ana River. What we are proposing is to build a series of first flush basins which are small basins that will catch waste that will flow with the first rain water. The remainder of the waste will flow off accompanied with hydraulic separators or storm scepters. It is a structure in the ground that captures any of the floating material or trash before it goes into the lake. A waterfall will also serve as an aeration system before the water will flow into the lake. There will be additional aeration as the water will flow down the stream and into the proposed pond. The water will then be pumped back into the water fall to keep the water flowing. 12 The existing open channel for the flood control district is considered to be wetlands; and we will not be touching that area at all. Those will remain in their natural state. There is a wetlands area that we will be re-locating. This proposal will benefit the overall City storm water system. There are two City of Riverside wells. These two wells are tied together with a 16 inch water main that goes up to a 42 inch water main that is owned by the City of Riverside. This is one of the major transmission corridors for the City from their well sites off of Tippecanoe Street in San Bernardino to the City of Riverside. The City of Riverside is allowing us to relocate this line to put it out of the way from the rest of our development. This same water line also runs through the proposed high school site. At current, the City is working with the School District to see how we can relocate the entire line all at once. We have been required to relocate this line only during the wet season because this line is mainly used during the summer months when water usage is at its highest. There will be new water lines installed through the streets and the domestic water will be provided by Riverside Highland Water Company. Everything that has been mentioned will be designed to provide fire flows for the buildings and will be part of the final engineering process. In addition, this system will assist the high school by providing an additional fire flow system for their site. There is a major sewer line that services the city and carries sewage to the Colton Treatment Plant. A portion of that line will be relocated as necessary. If a building needs to be-relocated to leave the sewage ways in place, we will move the buildings. All of the proposed areas will be provided with domestic sewer service to meet the needs of the buildings. .The businesses that will need the sewer service will be the hotel, and y restaurants. The concept of the landscape plan is to make the project as rural looking as possible. Dense foliage is proposed to be used. The water well system will be utilized for the irrigation of the landscape. The main arterials will have a large landscape buffer that the City will control and maintain so there would be continuous landscaping. Meandering path areas are proposed to be built rather than sidewalks. Hidden landscaping is proposed:to . be installed along all of the arterial highways. The signage of the property will be rustic looking to compliment the theme of the proposed project. At this time, I would like to turn it over to Nancy Ferguson of Lilburn Corporation with regard to the projects Environmental Impact Report. Doug Wilson: In relation to the easements that need to be relocated, are any of them fee ownership or are they easements? Gary Koontz: A majority of them are easements. There is some fee ownership along the Riverside Canal. Doug Wilson: So we do have a potential for negotiating with those folks in relation to relocation requirements. Gary Koontz: Absolutely. We have contacted all of the utilities and they are more than / willing to work with us. As long as they have their utilities in place, especially if the utilities will be placed underground. The City of Riverside has been extremely cooperative with us and they are very interested in dealing with this ground water re-charger. They will provide 13 water from the Riverside Canal to fill the lake, with a portion of it to be percolated in to recharge and the rest of the water would be to fill the lake. Doug Wilson: Can you define what a mature tree is at least at the point of purchase and installation? Ralph Megna: At the time that this project should go into service, it shouldn't look like its ten years away at which the point will provide shade. 60 or 80 inch box trees will be proposed to be planted at the principal locations so that from the beginning, it will look like a forested area. Doug Wilson: Please give us an example of a 60 inch box tree caliper with so far as the trunk. Ralph Megna: That would depend upon the species of the tree. A palm in a 60 inch box will different than an oak in a 60 inch box tree. The proposed trees at the time of delivery will vary anywhere from 15 to 25 feet in height and likely to be at minimum 8 to 10 inches in trunk width or more per species. Doug Wilson: Thank you Mr. Megna. This will also be subject to review before the Commission in the future. The lighting issue has been an issue with regard to energy consumption. Can you describe what type of lighting is proposed? Ralph Megna: We are going to try our best to keep the lighting fully shielded to keep the glare down. The County of San Bernardino has just passed a strict ordinance that all lighting will be intended to light what needs to be lit, and not the surrounding area: Doug'Wilson: For safety, we realize that lighting is important for intersections. I would like to suggest that in these planning stages, that we entertain the concept of Bullard lighting along walkways and so on. Ralph Megna: What we are trying to accomplish is the same lighting plan as what was installed at Jurupa Boulevard in the City of Jurupa. A compacted decomposed granite trail with Ballard lighting along the street. The kind of relationship between this walkway surface and the lighting is what I would imagine that we would propose for the project. Doug Wilson: I wanted to ask these questions so that anyone in the audience had questions in relation to some of those things, they can get the information from all parties that will be involved in this project. There will be a public hearing in relation to all of these matters, and there will be many more public hearings for the design of the project. Gary Koontz: Before I turn this over to Nancy, I would like to talk about the overall planning standards that I need to over quickly. First of all, any project that goes in to the OAC, must be conforming with all of the other laws and requirements of the City of Grand Terrace. Anything that we do not talk about in the specific plan falls back to the current zoning ordinance of the City. All common open space areas will be maintained by a master property owner or land owners association or a landscape management district. It is very important to explain that the development and operation of the maintenance of this project area will not have any impact or require any funds from the City General Fund. It is designed to maintain itself, and none of the City's General Fund will be utilized. We must do an environmental assessment with every project that comes in. This will have to be done by CEQA and the approved EIR. All of the lots that we create have to be consistent 14 to all of the current state subdivision laws. All of the street laws must be abided by as well as all of the City laws. All development projects shall be accompanied by conceptual landscape plans for common areas, and transitions with public rights of way, bikeways, and sidewalks. Commerce Way and along Taylor will have'two bikeways installed on the side of the roadway to provide alternative access for bikes and pedestrians. We also want to have bus access with bus stops. Doug Wilson: Will the trail be considered a multi-purpose trail for horses? Gary Koontz: Because we are not really attached to any equestrian centers, I do not feel that it' wou"Id be used as a horse trail. Everything can be used with the exception of equestrian. A requirement with passive solar lighting, cooling and heating techniques shall be incorporated wherever possible. This would include shading the sides of buildings, using certain building materials and the positioning of buildings to maximize the sun and shade. Proposed development projects are encouraged to incorporate sustainable development techniques. In other words, the use of anything that is energy efficient or friendly to the environment. Every project is going to have to comply with the City's waste collection. Every business will have an adequate amount of container areas for recycling and trash bins. With that, I would like to introduce Nancy Ferguson of Lilburn Corporation. Nancy Ferguson: Good evening. Gary and Ralph have already touched on the environmental issues, and I will try to keep it as brief as possible. The issues addressed to the EIR followed by a brief discussion on how the mitigation measures would be monitored, and the alternatives and conclusions of the EIR. An initial study was performed and it was determined that there were issues of land use, geology and hazards related to public health and safety. Those findings were specifically with regard,to the types of uses that were going to be in the specific plan_ . Hydrology and water quality was touched on by Gary Koontz with regard to drainage and the NPDES requirements that should be met. With regard to land use and planning, we stuck to how the project in relation to compatibility to planning documents were addressed in other areas, specifically the noise section, air quality section,and the traffic section. For geology and soils, we are all living in an earthquake hazard zone, so the risks associated with seismic events are similar to this project that there would be to adjacent neighborhoods. The uniform building code has certain standards that have to be met for seismic safety and the buildings would have to meet those standards. With regard to wind erosion during grading and construction and especially during the Santa Ana wind conditions; the Air Quality Management District has several rules and regulations regarding how grading can be done especially during windy weather conditions. There are also best management practices for water erosion that are established by the NPDES permitting process and are administered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. These control measures would have to be in place during construction. Gary talked about expansive soils, or soils that are unsuitable for development. There are a couple of pockets in the development that are clay based and those areas would have to be excavated and removed with fill brought in or fill used from another area on the site and then compacted. 15 The hazards issue is resolved by making businesses responsible for preparing a business emergency response plan that must be approved by the County Fire Agency. The plan must be in place prior to occupancy. Should a tenant move out and a new tenant moves in, they must come up with a new emergency response plan. _. With relation to biological resources; most of the site has been disturbed by various uses in the past. Agriculture is still taking place as well as residential and industrial development. A biological survey done of the site and the biologists found that there were not any rare or endangered species on site. Burrowing Owls were not found on the site, but they are known to migrate frequently. It is suggested that prior to grading, staff will go back out and make sure there are none on site. If burrowing owls are found on site, there are certain California Department of Fish and Game protocols that must be followed to disperse the owls. There are two small wetlands within the site. These are somewhat natural and are related to run-off from agriculture that was in the area of the past. Historic aerial photos were looked at, and those wetland features did exist and was related to the run off of the citrus groves. The wetland that is located to the north of the site will be removed and relocated to Planning Area 7. The City of Grand Terrace will have to consult with the Department of Fish and Game and determine how many acres would have.to be restored. It is possible that the relocated wetland area will be larger than what it currently is. .The archeological associates did a cultural resources survey of the site. The only historic feature that was found was the Riverside Warm Creek Channel that is still in. operation. Prior .:to under grounding the feature, the Channel will have to be documented and photographed; and sent to the San Bernardino County Museum. The second cultural resources issue that was discussed was with regard to paleontology. The City of Grand -Terrace as well as most of the areas from Grand Terrace through to Loma Linda and Redlands is part of the San Timeteo Formation. The San Bernardino County Museum paleontologists have found many fossils in the San Timeteo formation. In fact, the San Timeteo landfill, a mastodon was found along with various other fossils. Since the area is known to be rich in fossils, they are suggesting that prior to doing any grading that a mitigation plan be established on how the grading will be performed and monitored and what will happen to the,resources when they are salvaged. Construction noise will be more noticeable during planning areas 2 and 3 due to the proximity of the construction to the existing neighborhoods and less noticeable once the construction moves to planning areas 6 and 7. The City has established hours of which construction can occur which is 7 am to 8 pm. The most westerly residents are affected by the noise from the 1-215 freeway. Once the retail buildings are put in place, the buildings would soften the noise. The way the project is designed with regard to the building placement, the buildings would protect the surrounding residences from some of the noise that may occur. The on and off ramps would be designed so that northerly traffic would be directed into the site and not go through any of the existing neighborhoods. The on and off-ramps are proposed to be built in the year 2006, should the project be approved. There will be air,quality impacts during the grading process and construction. These air quality impacts will be mitigated by the Air Quality Management District rules and 16 regulations. Such rules.and regulations require that watering of the site to keep dust down, and turning off the equipment and vehicles when they are not in operation. A mitigation monitoring program must be adopted with an EIR certified with the City Council. What this program will do is to lay out the mitigation measures are, and who would be responsible for the measures. Some alternatives would include no project, no development alternative. Should the project not be approved, the existing conditions would be present at the site, but this does not preclude any other type of development from occurring. Another alternative was to build out under the current existing General Plan which would be 4.1 million gross square feet under warehouse and distribution uses. The same impacts, results and traffic issues would occur under this scenario, but without benefit of any control through a.specific plan. Residential development such as single family and multi family housing could also be introduced in the area, but that would also require a specific plan. The impacts would be .different in that the development of such would be considered a lower density. There will also be impacts to schools, police and fire. The conclusion of the El based on the cumulative projects within the area was that there would be significant impact on biological resources. Carl Ballard, our traffic engineer will now:speak before the Commission. Carl-,Ballard: Good evening, my name is Carl Ballard; I am the senior associate with Kunzman- and Associates. We have prepared the traffic studies for the project. I will provide a`brief synopsis of the conclusions of the traffic study. The OAC is likely to have a regional appeal and draw most of it's customers from many miles away. The OAC will encourage consolidation of regional trips to one-way, multi-use recreational themed .development, or one stop shopping. A majority of the traffic will be absorbed from:-the freeway. The project will be served by the three interchanges, consisting of Barton Road, the Iowa/La Cadena interchange and the proposed new Commerce Way Interchange. One vehicle will travel to multiple uses during one visit to the site. For instance, a consumer will visit a dealership and then go to a restaurant at the site. The new on and off ramps from the 1-215 Freeway into the OAC will add substantial new capacity to the existing Barton Road and Iowa/La Cadena Avenue interchanges. This interchange is very similar to a project design on the 1-10 Freeway at Washington Street of the Sun City Del Webb project. This project will have three interchanges compared to the other development that only has two interchanges. Most of the customers from this site will be able to directly enter and exit the site without using Barton or Michigan. The project has been designed to have a major intersection that will bisect the project. For instance, visitors of the center will be able to drive directly into the site and continue to exit the site getting back onto the 1215 without going into the local streets. Anyone traveling south on the 1215 will exit Barton or.lowa and be able to enter the site without having to travel any of the two lane roadways. The new interchange capacity far exceeds that required for the project. The interchanges at current .are reading at a "D" or an "F". The projected interchanges within the area will bring the grade level for those interchanges to a "B" to a 11C11 17 Residents who live in the immediate area can take advantage of the employment opportunities of the OAC. Local residents will also patronize restaurants and auto services rather than travel out of town. These conclusions were based upon traffic modeling that was performed in the area, in which the modeling was taken from SCAG. The traffic model showed very little trips traveling to the south and the southeast directly adjacent to the project. The trips that we did see traveling to the east and the southeast were actually home to work trips. Residents that lived very close to the development will be able to travel 5-10 minutes to work. At current, local residents are traveling outside the area to go to most of the land uses that are proposed for the site. There will be no through travel traffic through DeBerry Street. We have made an effort to make it inconvenient for outside traffic to travel through the residential areas surrounding the proposed project. Both De Berry Street and Pico Streets have been changed from through streets to cul-de-sacs: This will keep the users from the OAC from traveling through the nearest residential area into the OAC:',Van Buren Street will connect into Commerce or Adventure Way. This will allow traffic-,to use those routes other than Michigan Street. Michigan was not mitigated to go from a two-lane undivided to a four lane undivided. Improvements were made along , Commerce Way and a portion of Michigan between Barton and Commerce Way with signalization and inter connection. We' are also anticipating that Commerce Way will be made into a four lane roadway. Taylor Street would also be made into a four lane roadway down through to Main. The signals will be interconnected to the Iowa/La Caden'a interchange. Many users will be encouraged to go :south and west towards Main Street when the upgrades to Taylor Street will occur. This concludes my report. I will show the Commission a graphic .of the. proposed improvements surrounding the site. Thank you. Matthew Addington: I have a couple of questions for the traffic engineer. For clarification purposes, on Michigan Road between Barton and Commerce Way, did your traffic report analyze upgrading that portion of the road from a two lane to a four lane? Carl Ballard: That is correct; we made no recommendations for improvements along Michigan south of Commerce. Matthew Addington: With regard to Van Buren Avenue, near the residences, is there a way where we can direct truck traffic away from residences and into the OAC and back out into the freeway. Gary Koontz: From Van Buren south, since that is a residential area, we could theoretically through the City Council designate that area as a non truck route to prohibit large trucks from using that roadway. We've also discussed looking at the Van Buren and Michigan intersection where it comes into the project; do a design to let traffic flow in as a one-way street and not allowing traffic to come back out. This would reduce the flow of traffic in that area. This is something that the traffic engineers would need to evaluate and the City Council will have to approve in terms of using a one way street. Carl Ballard: The term that is used for Mr. Koontz was speaking of is called "traffic calming". It would be used so that it would make it inconvenient for through traffic, however, it could be considered an inconvenience to local residents, but it may actually be beneficial to the local residents as well. 18 Gary Koontz: There is an existing trucking company, called Swertsfeger Equipment that is located at Michigan and Van Buren. It is an improved land use and uses Michigan to bring his trucks in and out of the business. If there was a way that we can relocate his driveway, it would be an issue that would have to be worked out between the City and the business owner. Gary Koontz: Throughout this presentation a number of departments and agencies have stood up and given reports before the Commission. This project is not just a City project, but also a County project requiring a lot of permits and coordination with many different agencies. The agencies include: The State Fish & Game, Federal Fish and Wildlife, Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, Air Quality Management District, County Flood Control District, County Fire District, SANBAG, CALTRANS, County Environmental Health, Riverside Highland Water Company, and the City of Riverside. A lot of agencies are involved that have a lot of oversight with this project. With that, the staff is concluding the presentation with regard to the Outdoor Adventures Center. We are requesting that you open the public hearing, and receive public testimony. Once the testimony is received, close the public hearing, discuss the OAC Specific Plan and Final EIR. and ask questions of staff. At that point, we are asking .that you make a recommendation to the City Council for certification of the EIR and the Specific Plan. Staff is also recommending to the City Council that they certify the Environmental Impact Report known as E-04-03, and approve and adopt the Ordinance for the Outdoor Adventures Center Specific Plan also known as SP-04-01. Doug Wilson: Before we open the public participation, I would like to remind everyone that .public address to the Commission should be addressed to three minutes unless extended by the Chairman. Should you desire to make a longer presentation, please make a written request to be agendized to the Director of Community and Economic Development. Before we open up the public hearing, I would just like to give you a little history with regard to this particular piece of property. The General Plan Task Force actually opposed "Big Box" involvement. When an industrial area is designated as CM, it is a heavier type of use. The concept of this project has to do with trying to balance the community. It is an attempt to try to make a happy medium. We are not for or against other than what we hear from the general public. We greatly appreciate your participation in this project, and let me remind you that there is nothing clandestine in relation to the presentations that happened or have not happened in relation to these issues. This body is not interested in entertaining a lot of personal opinions about the way people have behaved. What we are interested in doing is finding out how you as a community makes things better, and to help us make recommendations to the Council. Chair Wilson opened up the public hearing. William Hays 22114 De Berry Street I live on the northeast corner of DeBerry and Michigan Street. I am here on behalf of my neighbors and myself. We have lived in Grand Terrace for 42 years. Reverend Comstock took over the church when my father passed away and when my mother retired from pasturing the church. We have commercial traffic up and down the street all of the time. In fact, one of the street lights on the corner of DeBerry and Michigan was paid for by us because the City could not afford to pay for the light. I know you said that you do not want 19 to get into what people have done and how they behaved, but I am concerned because one of the City Council members has approached us to purchase our land and when we watch the City Council meetings, they go into executive session to discuss any real estate deals in the City. We also have a coyote problem in the area. If a lake or wetland is located in - the area, it will get worse. The proposed cul-de-sac portion of DeBerry could cause any emergency vehicles to become delayed to get down below Michigan. I listened to the Environmental Impact Reports and I have heard everything except for the mention of the people that live in that corridor. This is not about revenue for the City and what they are going to do with it, but it sounds more like the dog license issue where everyone had to license our.dogs after 32 years. So far if anyone else has seen the dog catcher up here but I haven't and I know that we are paying the City of Colton $30,000 a year for it. I would like to know the criteria for police officer to population ratio is 1,000 to 1 police officer. We currently have two, one each for 6,500 people. If the population were to increase by 30,000 people per day, that means that you would have to pay for 5 deputies on the grounds at all times. We are not in.favor of this. This is a bedroom community and intended to be a bedroom community and it's not intended to be what they are proposing now. We all, got these things in our mailboxes that says that De Berry is going to be four lanes, then City Council says its not going to be four lanes, and Michigan is going to be four lanes, and then we're told it's not going to be four lanes, then Mr. Koontz advises us that Michigan will not be opened up to four lanes, and he just let us know about this today. What.about next week, because we know that there will be changes. Personally, I don't think we are going to be able:.to fight City Hall, I think that they will do this no matter what anybody thinks. I would like to remind'people of what the former Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura said, he said, "If you are not happy with what your elected officials are doing, remember two words: "No Encumbrance." Barbara Wetzel 12355 Vivienda Avenue live off of Mavis and Michigan and have lived in this house for the past 40 years. We've . seen some good things and some bad things happening. And this, to me, is a bad thing. This is a bedroom community. It always has been, and that's why all of us moved here to get away from all of that stuff. And you're pushing it right down our throats, and I'm tired of it. You people did eminent domain on Barton Road and took away homes. Nothing has ever happened in that area except for empty lots that is full of weeds. It.seems like every time somebody in Grand Terrace wants to do something, it goes away, and its worse. have a question. I understand that the existing off ramp on Barton Road will be modified to directly into the project, is that correct? Gary Koontz: Yes. Barbara Wetzel: Okay, what about the residents of Grand Terrace, we will be exiting on Commerce Way also. How am I going to get home? Am I going to go down the four lane road, Commerce Way along with all of these 30,000 people that are going to come into my City every day? And how am I going to get off on Michigan Avenue? I want an answer to my question. '. Carl Ballard: You will be exiting the freeway and either be making a left or a right on Commerce Way. Do you live south on Michigan? 20 Barbara Wetzel: Yes I do. Carl Ballard: Okay, so you will be making a right or actually, a left on Commerce Way go to Michigan and then make a right. Barbara Wetzel: So where will all of these other 30,000 people going to be exiting? Doug Wilson: What we will do is that we will go ahead and compile all of the questions, and then we will go ahead and answer them. Barbara.Wetzel: Okay, then I have another question. I also understand that Van Buren will be a direct route into the Adventure Center. How will those people get to Van Buren, they will have:to go down Michigan, and if they go down Commerce Way there's more traffic on Michigan. Right now, I can hardly get to Michigan from Mavis Avenue because of the rush hour. And when I get to Barton Road from Michigan, I am stuck there for five minutes behind about 40 cars trying to get out. What is this going to be like? It's ridiculous. If you project that there will be a 5,000 vehicle parking lot, what about the added air pollution. You have already addressed the noise pollution with terraced areas to direct the noise out to the freeway. Are you proposing to direct the air pollution out to the freeway by using a large fan? James Coffin CY Development Co. 222 E. Olive Avenue-Redlands ,I own five parcels on Commerce Way. Also the two buildings: Riverside Win nelson, and - Superior:.,.Pool, Products. I was responsible for bringing Essco Wholesale Electric. I encouraged that company to relocate from Redlands into Grand Terrace. I have a couple of concerns and wrote a letter. Some of the issues have been addressed by Mr. Koontz, and I appreciate that. I noticed on your map at Commerce Way and Michigan, you have two different colors and was wondering what the colors represent. I ,own the property where there is green and blue. I currently have the property offered for sale but under the condition that I cooperate in the ownership and construction of buildings that may occur on that property, because I still may have an interest in the ownership of that property. I have owned this for the better of 20 years. When it was zoned from Specific Plan Commercial to CM, it permitted Essco Wholesale Electric to relocate to this building. Essco Electric is described as wholesale, but that's because they only sell to contractors. Contractors pay sales tax. They all do. So they collect a lot of sales tax for the City. It was said that there are very few employees there. That's not so, there's almost 30 employees at Essco, 15 employees at Superior Pools and there is over 20 employees at Riverside Winnelson Wholesale Plumbing Supply. These businesses do provide a great deal of revenue. Much more than when it was empty lots. So I do applaud the City for re-zoning the area to CM. I would like to continue to be involved with those three parcels on the other side of street. Can anyone tell me what the yellow and blue designations are on the maps? Ralph Megna: Actually, the colors do not mean much. All we are trying to indicate was that the westerly portion of that parcel as it got closer into OAC was appropriate for recreational vehicle sales and that it could be used for that. What I would like to strongly indicate is what Gary Koontz said earlier that this map shown on the screen is not a zoning map, but it is simply the diagram of the project and that the Specific Plan is the controlling zoning document. At current the area is continuing to be zoned the same. 21 James Coffin: This proposed Specific Plan has zoned everything commercial. There are no wholesale uses in commercially zoned areas. As I have said before, these commercial buildings collect sales tax because they sell to contractors. So my concern is that for those parcels that I own that the zoning remain the same as CM Zoning that has continued to be zoned as such. Doug Wilson: Mr. Coffin, am I stating your situation correctly that you would like to express your opinion that those uses continue as commercial designation? James Coffin: Yes. I will not express any opinion about the continued development, but wish the City success with whatever they decide to do. Kim Stromwall 12522 Michigan I live near the corner of Van Buren and Michigan. For the past month, we have been told that.you're proposing to widen Michigan and you're going to widen Van Buren. I am comforted to know that our house isn't going. But I am very concerned with what you are putting there. We have lived her for 18 years. We bought our home to raise a family. I do not want my kids exposed to what you are putting there. You have bad air, more traffic than what we need. It would be nice if the Deputy on Barton Road 'could come onto Michigan ;and do some work there. I wish that Mr. Koontz had come to community and asked what we wanted. Nothing has been brought up about the new high school. I heard that Colton School District was having some concerns over this and I would like this addressed. I heard that they were not going to put the high school because of the noise and air pollution. Doug Wilson: We really do not have control of what the schools do. In my experiences with this overtime, that because it's a state entity, the local agencies have very little control over state agencies. So far as the construction or acquisition of schools, we get noticed, and that's about we are privy to. We are not allowed to dictate what the State does in so -far as use, and we also not allowed to dictate so far as things like condemnation. Kim Stromwall: It amazes me that we have been fighting for a high school for a long time, and this property has been sitting there and they have been saying that the needed some 50 acres, and we have this instead of a high school. Tom Schwab: Mr. Chairman, can I address this, because I have been hearing the same thing. We are working very closely with the school district in which they have no plans to abandon that site. .Kim Stromwall: Well that's not what Best, Best & Krieger has said. Tom Schwab: Best, Best & Krieger has made some comments. If you notice that there is a letter right before that letter from the Colton Unified School District saying that they have no concerns. But the attorney felt that he has some issues of liability that he must put on the record but they are in the process right now of doing their Phase I Environmental Studies to acquire that land. A part of the acreage that the school will sit on is on land that belongs to the City of Grand Terrace. It is some of the farm property next to Pico. So that rumor is not true. They in fact have been working through this entire process. The 22 infrastructure that will be brought by the proposed OAC will be utilized by the school. It was indicated earlier that the water and sewer infrastructure will be utilized by the school. Kim Stromwall: I think that they were also concerned about the noise and the pollution. Tom Schwab: Their concerned about the noise and the pollution from the freeway as well. Kim Stromwall: Well, there is an elementary school that is located next to the freeway, and adding more pollution to the elementary school is really going to compound that school. Why don't you use some this property to a new elementary school, and use the current site as a commercial development? Tom Schwab: That has been discussed. Bobbie Forbes 11850 Burns Avenue think that the community needs something to bring income. I believe the proposed Sav- On will bring that. I also believe that the property values will be maintained and elevated-:by bringing a high school into the community. I have lived here for 17 years, and from the moment that I moved here, there has been-talk about putting a new high school in Grand Terrace. I would like for whatever project be proposed that it would be beneficial to the residents: What we currently have in town is not attractive. I happen to live behind the Stater Bros. warehouse and I deal with the noise, dirt, and truck traffic on a daily basis. Because my business is out in the public eye, I do enjoy the area I live ,in because it is a rural .area. I am not happy with the proposed bridge improvements because that will bring traffic by,my house but we will have to have that bridge improved in order for Barton Road to look nicer. . I am happy with the improvements throughout the City.-. There are really good things going on in town that I am sure that the Planning Commission had something -to do-with. I am concerned about the dirt track and the water along Michigan and the :freeway. I think that it will bring dirt and noise. I would like to see something aimed at the elementary kids and teenagers to do rather than hang out at the park and get into trouble. I hear two different stories about Michigan. I think that we need sidewalks on Michigan for the safety of the children. I worry about that when I am selling houses in that neighborhood. I also do pet rescue and see dead dogs on that street as well. I do think that we do need more policing in.our neighborhoods. believe the noise and dirt is going to effect more than a two mile radius. I have trains on either side of me as well as truck trailer hook up noise happening that sounds just like gun shot. We will be getting a lot of traffic into town and I am concerned about it. Regarding the animal control comment. I have a very good relationship with both Sherry and Rose, who are both the animal control officers for the City. I think that they are doing a very good job. I call them all the time when I see pets in town when they are loose, and I have seen them patrolling along Michigan. Patricia Farley 12513 Michigan Street Before I start that I want to point out that when I talked to Mr. Koontz, the three minute limit would not be a problem. My family has owned this property on Michigan Street for over 50 years. A great deal of money time and love has been invested in this property . We are 23 astonished and outraged at the flagrant lack of respect and violation of our rights represented by this OAC project, and how it has been pursued by the City. Common sense, courtesy and law requires City Officials to be respectful of our rights and to make a good faith effort to notify us regarding any activities. Doug Wilson: Excuse me, but this is the purpose of this forum. We are not going to get in to another one of these conversations about notice. We are doing this specifically to be able to understand what this project is about. You had an opportunity to talk about this in an un-public forum last time. So lets us go through the actual item. Patricia Farley: Well, the reason why I am mentioning this is because it is required by the law that you folks are telling me you followed which have not been followed. Doug Wilson: Yes, the item has been noticed properly, and I would appreciate it if you would go to:.the issue at hand. Patricia Farley: Sadly I have been jarred from the hope that I could trust City Officials to use common sense and integrity in managing development. The lack of respect and sensitivity to the rights of the residents of Grand Terrace is shocking. For,starters, I cannot press the City to manage the mitigation. I cannot trust the city to be fair in granting permits. We were not notified about the trucking terminal that did not fit with any of the descriptions of what was to go into that property, and being so greatly affected, it is°unbelievable that you did not let the residents know that this business owner was applying for a permit. The nearby residents need written notification of such permit requests, since they are so obviously effected. The City neglected to do this. The traffic on Michigan is out:of control - with big trucks and speeding vehicles causing safety problems for the residents and pedestrians: Now the City is proposing to significantly increase this by having;all of this traffic that isn't even residents charging down our streets and using them.as a through way at the expense of the residents. Somehow, I am supposed to believe that.the City Officials, even though their environmental report says they are going to increase Michigan Avenue to four lanes, Van Buren to four lanes, Main Street to five lanes, DeBerry Street to four lanes and Taylor to four lanes. You can't have that in the report and then .tell me, oh, you can ignore that. I don't trust you any more. In addition, the same is true with air pollution. It is significant and. the report says cumulative effects of all of this noise. Air pollution is significant and is an insult to my intelligence. I read this report. I didn't need Mr. Koontz to read it to me. Doug Wilson: Excuse me, can I ask a question. On the air pollution cumulative effect is that in the initial EIR or in the final EIR itself. Patricia Farley: It's in both. In fact, the changed chart they didn't even put it in, they put in the old one. This one is from the final Environmental Impact Report. And it is all significant. Also, your comments about "Gee, you weren't going to move those businesses." It says, raise the businesses. Now who are we supposed to believe. Okay, you claim that the only interested parties are within 300 feet of this. This is going to affect terribly a lot more. In fact, the whole City of Grand Terrace. We're at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren you want to widen the streets and I can go through this Adventure Center to get to my house? You spent $80,000 on this report. If you would have properly notified me we could have saved that. 24 The comments in your report that said that there were no comments from residents or because they didn't know about it and any person should have known that they didn't have the representation from the community. I believe that you have a grave responsibility to correct the problem in the large area of judgment that you have on Michigan Avenue while I agree that it would be good to wisely use this prime land that your talking about to increase City revenues, we are not so financially strapped that you need to rape the city. You expect me to believe that security, guards are going to control the problems in this area, that's a joke. Your emission of the affected areas around including inconsideration of the high school is against the law that you claim you followed, because it says that you have to have that all in your report. Your report talks about events of 30,000 people coming in for the day. Somehow, I am supposed to believe that we are not going to have loud motorcycles coming up and down our streets, loud radios, and careless drivers. You're destroying a residential area. Remote control boats are noisy. Cumulative impacts have to be considered, and they are significant. The Final EIR analysis of noise impact does not satisfy CEQA's requirements that the mitigations measures be fully enforceable. There's no way that you will be able to enforce.it. I sat in the City Council last week where someone on the Planning Commission, said how important it is for property values to go up. We have home of distinction and we-told all of the children how we are concerned about conserving water and we had somebody from.air �resources,:telling the City how important it was not to contribute to the air pollution. How you can sit there and seriously expect us to accept this project is beyond belief. 90% of the people .ticketed by the police were people that didn't live in Grand Terrace; they were tearing on through. I'm supposed to believe that when you get all of those,buildings done in the next 10..or 20 years, that somehow the noise will be less. I'm not that ignorant. Also, I understand that you have already filed a notice of determination. You-have not completed the process in order to be doing that and you have filed it. I think that is pretty presumptuous.You stated in a letter where-we expressed concern about, property values, that you didn't consider that. Property values,/do not represent changes in the physical environment, they respond to it and you're creating a horrid physical environment. My concern is I think that the City's financial needs do not require this, but somebody wants it, and I think that there are conflicts of interest in this City and I think you need to look very carefully in who is getting the benefit of this; the developers? Is somebody getting -kickbacks? It sure isn't the residents. If the City Council has the nerve to state that they can override consideration of the benefits of this project over pollution-you're lying. Since I cannot believe anyone, I am supposed to believe that you will keep Michigan a residential area. You say that one place and another, then you say four lanes. The liabilities and damage to the roads-you're going to be paying more than what you thing you're going to get. The majority of people in Grand Terrace do not need this. Herman Hilkey 23196 Glendora Drive did the same thing about 15 years ago, but with a different cause. Just so that she understands. The blue mark on the side of our community is a high school. And I think more than anybody in this room, I champion that same cause and I am carrying it through 25 now, and I was where she is but 15 to 20 years ago. Tony Petta called us the rebels and he says, "God bless our community rebels". I come here not only as the Mayor of Grand Terrace, but a City Councilman of many years and a Planning Commissioner for a couple of years. There are three issues that I want to make. For all of those years, we saw developers come to the Council and to Staff with plans for this odd piece of property. The commercial value was diminished because it's basically commercially landlocked. The residential value of this property had diminished because it is not a nice place for upper quality of Grand Terrace homes. It's an odd piece of property, and we have seen developer after developer come in with projects that required the City or the Redevelopment Agency to fund it to make it happen. This project is ours. It-belongs to the City and we control it. This staff has had the tenacity and the foresight'to say we need a freeway exit. They went after federal money to get it, and they got it. The second point that I would like to bring up is that I see the small businesses on Michigan flourishing. They are dirty, they are ugly, and they are basically legal. They don't go through public recognition the way the big projects do. I,do not think that area serves that residential community. It does not serve the commercial area of the freeway, and we have no choice. If we do nothing, that's what we are going to get. The trucking firms and small businesses that do not compliment each other, that don't put in landscaping, and we have to fight them to make their signs look decent to put in a tree or two. This is a beautiful project that will take care of the funny piece of ground in this community and will protect that part of town that I think is going downhill. I have a� concern with Van Buren. At the east end of Van Buren it intersects with j— Observation. Because we are under so much pressure with people cutting through Grand Terrace, and that's not going to go away until 2015. It will be an easy mark to find their way to Van Buren into Observation. I really need staff to monitor the traffic to stay:within the development. The other concern I have is with the bike track. One last comment, a comment was made that the City should be more frugal. Seven years ago, that the City Council made a major change. Before that time, the City Council borrowed $600,000 a year to support the city's efforts. The more recent City Council has become more financially frugal and we no longer borrow that $600,000 a year. Thank you. Ron Ogawa 12556 Michigan The traffic on Michigan is horrendous at times. I have been involved in two wrecks on my own property. Two of my personal vehicles have been totaled on my property because of people cutting through Grand Terrace. I am not please about this project because I think it's going to end up costing us. I don't think that it will benefit the community and I don't think that there is anything wrong with our image as a bedroom community. I would like to know if CALTRANS has agreed to installing new onramps and offramps in the City. I would hope that everyone talks to Congressman Lewis about this project and voices their opinion to them. Bob Stranger- CUSD Assistant Superintendent 1212 Valencia Avenue - Colton 26 Please be assured that Colton Unified is aggressively moving forward with building a high school. Our interests are simply to preserving, protecting and insuring that project that we have in mind will serve the students of the School District and the City of Grand Terrace are preserved so that we can protect the opportunities. The mitigation and monitoring reporting plan did not specify who the responsible party will be with regard to MTB in the water of the lake. The City's response does not address the fact that the study only considers watercraft operations between 10 and 5, but the EIR contemplates that they may operate between 7 and 10 PM. Operation of watercraft in the lake between 7AM and 10 PM These hours may violate noise restriction. The proposed high school pis 1800 feet away, and it is proposed that buildings and landscaping that would decrease the.noise levels. There is no data or evidence of this in the EIR in the noise study that can support this conclusion. Further, the EIR provides for a sound barrier that shall be placed as necessary along the eastern boundary of the OAC as needed, but the response to comment states that the proposed school will be south of the OAC thus, a default mitigation measure of the project revised upon to avoid noise impact does not apply to the school and the City's consideration of the noise impact and therefore, may be inadequate. The noise mitigation considerably depends upon compliance with the City's Noise Ordinance. The EIR states may be difficult to enforce. The City's response for comment with regard to soils mitigation does compel any actions and perhaps is inadequate that the City did not change the mitigation measure and did not site any part of the DER that requires any action beyond obtaining observations and recommendations to mitigation measures that must be enforced. The City declined our comments suggesting following CEQA Guideline Number 15064.5f.. The San Bernardino County Museum noted that the area is for high potential-to contain significant palentological resources and requires mitigation which we think Js easily accomplished. We are also concerned with regarding the City's published notice for proposed exemption of the OAC project. As we have found out this evening, the groundwater recharge was not analyzed. Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. Please be assured that the Colton Unified School District is very much committed to moving aggressively towards building a high school in that site. Jim Dotson 21974 DeBerry have not heard any mention about what you are going to do with us, or where we are supposed to go. I have been here since 1946, and I would think that I have a little seniority. would like to hear that if this does go through, when do you plan on purchasing our property and do you have an investor on board and what will happen. 27 Cynthia Bidney 12219 Pascal My neighbors and friends have said.a lot of things that have been on my mind. I do have some questions about the proposed project. The vehicles that are supposed to float around the lake, I am wondering is that for the purpose of show in order to sell them, and if so, how many do you expect? Ralph Megna: Inasmuch as we are speculating how exactly one may use the lake, two years from now, it would be difficult to say, but in general, it is unlikely that at any time that the two or three boats would occupy the lake, it is not that large a body of water. Two.or three boats max would be able to float on the lake. Cynthia Bidney: I think the lake would be a beautiful view from the freeway. How close would the project come to the homes on Michigan? Ralph Megna: The project is at least 300 feet from Michigan. If your question is, how close it gets to the homes on Michigan; the eastern most part of the project is more than 300 feet from Michigan. Cynthia Bidney: Between those homes and the project, what will there be? Ralph Megna: It will be exactly what is there now. For example, in one location, there is -the City's largest industrial employer, which is Willdan Pump. There are also:residents there, and a truck trailer manufacturing company that has been there for a number of years. Whatever is there on the easterly edge will remain what is there today. Cynthia Bidney: How many vehicles do you actually plan to put on the project. How many Sea Doo's, RV's? Is there an area that will be able to be used by the residents? Ralph Megna: I would be more than happy to attempt to calculate an amount for you and get back to you with that answer. There is a pedestrian trail open to the public and it would be made to walk, jog or bicycle around the lakes. With respect to the small pond area, it could be used for remote control boats, or paddle boats. Cynthia Bidney: Would the remote control boats be items for sale in the area or would residents be able to bring those boats to the pond? Ralph Megna: It would be an operational detail, but the Assistant City Manager wants to be able to operate his remote control sail boat on that body of water, and so it would be possible for residents to bring their own boats to operate in the water. Cynthia Bidney: -A lot of people are surprised and angry that they didn't know more about this, but I think that the community should be addressed before a big project is even considered. This is the friendliest community that I have ever been in. I would like to suggest that the project be incorporated to be family oriented. We are a family community and we want our children to be brought up in a safe environment. We are not excited about 28 30,000 people coming into our neighborhoods. I cannot see filling up a hotel in Grand Terrace. .Even if it shows on the freeway by a lake, I cannot foresee that, and I am concerned that there may be some displaced families. I would also like for this project to be combined with the high school project. Virginia Harford 11825 Arliss-Way This is a good idea. Let me tell you why I think so. We do need the money. It is not true that we do not need the money. I don't think that it is unreasonable. I have lived here for 38 years. I have been at odds with both the Council and the Commission about things that have been done here in the City. But I do feel that this project would be clean, nice fun, and can be controlled if done correctly. If there are enough police officers to help. But a lot of thought has to be made about what you can do to help the community. I do not feel that there will be°,.30,000 people all at one time into the center. A lot of work needs to. be done, and we are going to be watching you. Paul Osborne 21385 Hill Road own a company called Victoria Homes here in Grand Terrace. We are a residential developer and do not have any interest in this property whatsoever. This type of Orange { ° County-class;,park is far beyond my ability and have no interests in developing it. Jf the City were ever interested in developing the area housing wise, I would be interested in building homes on that area. If the project were to be developed for what it is currently,zoned for, one diesel truck would equal about 100 cars. The restaurant idea on top of the lake is a. wonderful idea. If anyone has ever been to Temecula where there a couple of restaurants overlooking lakes, its beautiful and worthwhile driving one hour to enjoy that type: of scenery. This would make Grand Terrace and attraction and I think that,the activity in the. area would be'-limited to the freeway access and would not affect the residents as much as they think it would. ***Due to technical difficulties, the following speakers were not captured on tape: Dorothy Farley 12513 Michigan Is opposed to the project. M. Henry 12531 Mirado Is opposed to the project. Barney Karger Undecided. ***** Don Farley 12251 Michigan. 29 I have learned a few things in addition to some of the information that has been noted before. For instance, the buildings that were proposed to be raised or not going to be raised. The 'statement that Michigan -was planning to be widened. As recent as two months ago, someone from the City approached me about acquiring additional right of way for property that I own on Michigan. This person was wanting us to sign off so that they can make the area into four lanes. I would like a commitment from this group that Michigan will not be widened. Can I get that? Gary Koontz: As it pertains to this project, we have no desire to widen Michigan. . Doug Wilson: None of this staff or body can address with regard to future widening of Michigan. What Mr. Koontz has represented is that in relation to this project, Michigan will not be widened. Tom Schwab: The person that came to your door Mr. Farley, was Virgil Barham. We are currently in the process of applying for a State Governed Safe Routes to School Grant in order to put in sidewalks, so that children can walk safely to school. Last year, when it was 'applied for, we did not score high,enough because we did not have the right of way. This is the reason why we are applying for the right of way. Our intention was to do sidewalks and not to widen the road. Don Farley: Also, in this discussion, it has appeared that the application is that this plan is the only specific plan that would possible for the property. I for one, am'not at tall against development of the property. But I do believe that other types of plans that can be possible for this:property. I have reviewed some of the documents pertaining to -the OAC, and the planning for:the City as a whole. I have expressed many of my concerns in writing prior to the April 22 deadline. Responses to my and other responses to the draft EIR were included in the final EIR but in many cases responses were not convincing and seemed inaccurate .as indicated.by some.of the testimony heard, or many of the issues were ignored. Simply stating that an impact has been mitigated, does not mean that the project has been mitigated in a meaningful way. As I understand it, some businesses may be displaced by the project were not notified. The draft EIR was. incomplete in many ways. For example, there was no mention of motorcycles or test tracks in the project'description. It is stated that these types of uses are incidental. This statement is not compatible with statements elsewhere in the document. The EIR states that there would be about 30,000 vehicle trips per day. That would be about 1 per second if you assume it with a 10 hour day. This would have a huge impact compared to the current traffic flow which is already a problem. The circulation plan prepared in 1998 supports the concept of Michigan Street corridor be maintained as a residential area and that the truck access be eliminated from it. One method of suggestion for accomplishing this is to extend Commerce Way to Main Street with improved links to Iowa and La Cadena offramps into the 1-215. If properly designed truck traffic from the trucking company and Michigan and businesses on Van Buren can be directed from Michigan to Commerce Way. The proposed plan as it now stands is inconsistent with that concept and would be essentially irreversible. It is stated with pride in the EIR that the current sidewalks within the project are not concrete. A facility of this type with this setting without concrete curbs and walkways would be totally out of place and difficult to maintain. We are not the Sierras by the way. The plan to move the current Barton Road Offtonramp from the northbound 1-215 to DeBerry location is incompatible with the Circulation Plan and would have a negative impact on access to the business section of Grand Terrace. Reported emissions from the project 30 would be extremely high. For example the ROG values are 100 times the amount acceptable to SCAQMD. The fact that a project of this type would be an attractive nuisance and become a hangout that could lead to crime and other undesirable activities should be obvious. Sound walls at 14 feet high could become billboards for graffiti. Sequoia trees will have branches close to the ground making it difficult to patrol or secure the facility. The proposed plan does not take into account the impact of a major housing development of 2,500 homes that are going to be, coming in to Highgrove soon. Much of that traffic will travel through Grand Terrace. It was made clear in comments regarding the value of property that these issues are not addressed in an EIR. That being true, it is important that the Planning Commission together with the City Council take care to review these issues independently. While the main purpose of this meeting is to discuss the final EIR of the OAC, it is important to recognize that the scope of the EIR is limited. Approval of the project by the Grand Terrace Planning Commission and City Council needs to consider independently the issues not addressed in the EIR. For example, property values, and general quality of life that have an enormous impact in the community. Also, while this meeting is not related directly the issues regarding development along Michigan Street, Grand Terrace has been pushing to widen Michigan to four lanes. Thus requiring the city to acquire more right of way from the residents. I have found no suggestion in the circulation plan that Michigan be widened to four lanes except between Barton Road and Commerce Way. Since many of the houses along Michigan are already fairly close to the road. For many houses, widening the road would lead to essentially no front yard. This makes housing undesirable and unacceptable to a residential area. The appearance of Michigan can be approved if curbs and gutters were installed in the existing right of way. Furthermore, if curbs and gutters were installed in the existing right of way, it would be unnecessary to incur the enormous expense related to moving the infrastructure with regard to power lines and underground pipes. --In conclusion, we all come to this meeting with a different perspective and motives. But what is needed for a. balanced plan for development that retains and/or enhances the character of Grand Terrace. I am not opposed to the development of the.�area in question, however, this project seems poorly conceived in plan. The development needs to be compatible with this community that has a reputation of somewhat upscale and a good place to live and raise a family. Most of the facilities of the type proposed, tend to be in low -rent districts. If you look at places like Chaparral and Olympic boats do not seem to be in high rent districts. Finally, when changes are made, they should be implemented in a way so that they can correct some of the problems that have been allowed to-develop over the years. Doug Wilson: Because it is so late, and most folks have to be at work in the morning, what we would like to propose is that the chair would entertain a motion to continue the public hearing to the next meeting. Attorney Harper: By continuing the public hearing, if this is your intention, you are soliciting additional public input as opposed to closing the public hearing tonight and then coming to the next planning commission meeting for discussion. I would also like to caution each of the Planning Commissioners to refrain from receiving additional public input at any place except for sitting before the Planning Commission body. 31 Matthew Addington: During this time that the public hearing will be continued, will staff have a chance to provide some written responses to the various questions that were asked tonight? Gary Koontz: Yes. MOTION PC-08-2004: Vice Chair Addington made a motion to continue SP-04- 01 and E-04-03 to the next scheduled Planning Commission of May 20, 2004 Commissioner Comstock seconded the motion. MOTION VOTE: PC-08-2004 Approved 5-0-0-0 ADJOURN SITE AND.ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 10:45 P.M. NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 3. 2004 Respectfully:Submitted, Approved By, Gary Koontz, Pla'r{iing Director Doug Wilson, Chairman Planning Commission 32