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01/20/2000GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 20, 2000 The regular meeting of the Grand Terrace Planning Commission was called to order at the Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California on January 20, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. by Chairwoman, Fran Van Gelder. PRESENT: Fran Van Gelder, Chairperson Doug Wilson, Vice -Chairperson Matt Addington, Commissioner Maryetta Ferre', Commissioner Patrizia Materassi, Community and Economic Development Director John Lampe, Planner Pat Peterson, CEDD Secretary ABSENT: Mary Trainor, Commissioner 7:00 P.M. CONVENED SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance by Commissioner Addington Roll Call Public address to Commission shall be limited to three minutes unless extended by the Chairman. Should you desire to make a longer presentation, please make written request to be agendized to the Community Development Director. c PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Page 2 January 20, 2000 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Barney Karger 11668 Bernardo Way Grand Terrace, CA 92313 Mr. Karger explained he would like an indication from the Planning Commission what type of development they would be willing to approve on his property at the northwest corner of Mt. Vernon at DeBerry. The property is 1400' x 100' deep. He said he understands the City wants more density than single family housing. He said it is not cost effective for him to build town homes or condominiums, and while it is cost effective to build apartments he has no desire to build apartments. Director Materassi reminded Mr. Karger and Commission Members that Mr. Karger was agendized to speak at the Planning Commission meeting on October 21, 1999, and the day of the hearing he informed staff he was going to Mexico so would not appear at the meeting. She told Mr. Karger staff has been awaiting his return to put him back on the agenda. She stated his single family development proposal is not approvable under the General Plan and Zoning Codes without amendments. Chairwoman Van Gelder urged Mr. Karger to contact staff if he would like to be agendized for a future Planning Commission meeting for a conceptual discussion of his proposal. ITEM#1 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2, 1999 MOTION PCM-00-01 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 2, 1999 Motion was made by Commissioner Addington to approve Planning Commission Meeting minutes of December 2, 1999. Seconded by Commissioner Ferre'. MOTION VOTE PCM-00-01 Motion carried. 4-0-0-1. Commissioner Trainor absent. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Page 3 January 20, 2000 ITEM #2 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 1999 MOTION PCM-00-02 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 1999 Motion was made by Commissioner Ferre' to approve Planning Commission Meeting minutes of December 16, 1999. Seconded by Chairwoman Van Gelder. MOTION VOTE PCM-00-02 Motion carried. 2-0-2-1. Vice -Chairman Wilson and Commissioner Addington abstained. Commissioner Trainor absent. ITEM #3 SGN-99-09 APPLICATION TO INSTALL NEON ACCENT LIGHTING AT THE TOWN AND COUNTRY CENTER E. W. ELECTRIC 22400 BARTON ROAD, GRAND TERRACE Staff report was presented by Planner John Lampe. Mr. Lampe showed overhead transparencies to illustrate applicant's intended location of the neon lighting. Applicant's proposal was to locate two lines of purple neon on the tower roof lines, dormers and roof gables, and one vertical line of neon to the vertical elements of the cupolas and dormers. The property owner has been advised by architects that two lines of purple neon would be effective in accentuating the architectural elements of the center. His intent is to enhance the center at night to attract business for his tenants and make the center more attractive in general. Staffs recommended approval of the concept of using exterior neon lighting for the center but recommended use of a teal color which matches the existing accent color in the center's sign program. Staff also recommended only a single band of neon, not the two bands requested by applicant. Two bands would be too intense. Mr. Lampe said the toned down teal color of the neon should be in keeping with the Barton Road Specific Plan and the architectural style of the center. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 20, 2000 Page 4 7:20 P.M. CHAIRWOMAN VAN GELDER ANNOUNCED A 10-MINUTE RECESS TO AWAIT ARRIVAL OF THE PROPERTY OWNER OR APPLICANT. 7:30 P.M. RECONVENED THE SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/ PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Chairwoman Van Gelder said she has an aversion to any kind of neon lighting. She said one band is more than sufficient. She agreed with staff the color should be teal if allowed at all. She stated she would prefer to see neon only on the angular surfaces, with no vertical lines. She pointed out that approving this application would set a precedence and expressed concern there would be neon lights all over town. Commissioner Addington referred to the shopping center in San Bernardino on E Street adjacent to the 1-215 freeway, just north of the 1-10 freeway. He said it is ugly. He also said the protruding neon tubes are ugly and the color choice of purple is totally inappropriate. He said neon lighting is not appropriate for the community of Grand Terrace. White lights shining on the building to accentuate the building would be acceptable. Commissioner Wilson asked what color choices are indicated in the Barton Road Specific Plan. Director Materassi said pastels, earth tones and colors used in Cape Cod architecture. She also said it is possible to put the neon tubes behind the eaves so the reflected light is what people see. In response to Commissioner Wilson's question Director Materassi clarified the approved colors for signs in the Town and Country Center are white and teal. Clark McLendon E. W. Electric Applicant and Representative for property owner of Town and Country Shopping Plaza at 22400 Barton Road Mr. McLendon said the original colors proposed for the neon at the Town and Country Shopping Plaza were pink and purple, but the pink has been eliminated. He said Mr. Lampe suggested the colors of blue and turquoise which are available. Mr. Shamolian, the property owner, checked with architects who recommended purple as a color to highlight the center. Mr. McLendon demonstrated several colors of neon lighting for the information of Commission Members. Mr. Lampe asked Mr. McLendon if it is possible to match the teal color currently used in the center's sign program. Mr. McLendon said it may not be a perfect match. There are actually seven basic neon colors which are mixed to create other colors. Director Materassi suggested matching the salmon color of the buildings in the center. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Page 5 January 20, 2000 CChairwoman Van Gelder told Mr. McLendon she has a concern about having two bands of neon on the building - that it will be excessive. She also told him she would like to see neon only on the angular elements of the roof, with none on the vertical elements of the structure. Mr. McLendon said the proposal is to have two bands only on the four gable ends, the rest would be a single band. Chairwoman Van Gelder's final concern was that approval of this application would be precedent setting in the City and that every store in town would then seek to have it installed. Mr. McLendon said the property owner, Mr. Shamolian, wants to spend the money to enhance the appearance of his property, unlike the typical commercial property owner. Commissioner Addington said neon light provides little toward site lighting. He asked Mr. McLendon if he knew if the property owner had considered illuminating the building by shining white lights on the building. Mr. McLendon said he has not discussed that option with Mr. Shamolian. The neon is not intended to be site lighting, but rather to enhance the appearance of the shopping center at night. Commissioner Wilson said he has no objection to the purple color proposed by applicant. Spread over the shopping center structure the purple is softer than in the display case. - Mr. McLendon said the neon will be appealing to the eye at night because the shopping center is very spread out, unlike shopping centers in other cities where the buildings are very close together and the neon appears to be too bright. There was a general discussion between Mr. McLendon, Commission Members and staff about placement of the neon under the building eaves vs. on the facia of the eaves and gable ends. Director Materassi, after review of plans and details, concluded by stating the current proposal is to place the neon tubing on the facia. MOTION PCM-2000-03 Commissioner Addington made a motion to deny SGN-99-09. Seconded by Chairwoman Van Gelder. MOTION VOTE PCM-2000-03 Motion carried. 3-1-0-1. Commissioner Wilson voted "no" and Commissioner Trainor absent. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Page 6 January 20, 2000 Applicant asked Chairwoman Van Gelder for the thoughts and guidance of Commission g Members. He asked if Commission Members would entertain the idea of approving neon lighting of a smaller scale, or using a different color neon. He reiterated the property owner's intent is to enhance the appearance of the center and to attract business for his tenants. Director Materassi asked Commission Members if they would approve a plan if the neon was under the eaves. Commissioner Addington said it would make no difference to him. He said neon lighting does not fit the intent of the specific plan nor the atmosphere of the community. Chairwoman Van Gelder agreed. Commissioner Ferre' said she is uncomfortable with the color of purple which was proposed. Commissioner Wilson said the teal color might be more desirable, and applicant should consider working closely with staff for an alternative recommendation. He said the current proposal is too abrupt for the community. 8:05 P.M. ADJOURNED SITE AND ARCHITECTURE REVIEW BOARD/PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING 8:06 P.M. CONVENED PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION • Information to Commissioners — Director Materassi asked Commission Members to nominate a member to attend the annual Planners Institute March 1-3, 2000 in Monterey. Chairwoman Van Gelder nominated Commissioner Ferre', as the newest Commission Member. Commissioner Ferre' said she would like to attend. She will contact staff next week after she checks her calendar. -- Director Materassi said she has no news about the Rite Aid project. — On the southwest corner of the intersection of Mt. Vernon and Barton it appears there will be a development of Jack in the Box and Hollywood Video to replace the gas station and Pure Design buildings. Parking at the gas station site for Jack in the Box is a concern - there may not be enough parking. Parking for the Hollywood Video will not be a problem because the Pure Design building has a reciprocal access parking agreement with the Grand Terrace Shopping Center. — Ed Dolan, the new planning technician will be starting on January 24, 2000. — The City received a $220,000 grant to realign Grand Terrace Rd. at Honey Hills and build the six bicycle staging areas. We are very proud of it. • Information from Commissioners — Commissioner Wilson asked about the status of the Town Square Project. .� Director Materassi said the developer, Lisa Hjulberg, has lost two groups of .� investors because of the time delays in assembling the parcels. There is now a movie theater interested in anchoring the development. The project is still alive, but moving slowly. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Page 7 January 20, 2000 8:07 P.M. ADJOURNED PUBLIC WORKSHOP SESSION NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 17. 2000. Respectfully submitted, Approved by, ��'z - a12 Patrizia Materassi Fran Van Gelder Community and Economic Development Director Chairperson, Planning Commission 02-10-00:pp w:\planning\minutes\01-20-OO.min