07/02/1992GRAND TERRACE PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
JULY 2, 1992
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 July 2, 1992
at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Dan Buchanan.
PRESENT: Dan Buchanan, Chairman
Stanley Hargrave, Vice -Chairman
Ray Munson, Commissioner
Jim Sims, Commissioner
Fran Van Gelder, Commissioner
Patrizia Materassi, Planning Director
Maggie Alford, Planning Secretary
ABSENT: Ron Wright, Commissioner
PLEDGE: Fran Van Gelder, Commissioner
C,
PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP CONVENED AT 6:45 P.M.
The Planning Director stated that the workshop item regarding the Policy
Manual for Boards, Commissions and Committees will be continued to the
next meeting as she needs direction from the City Manager. She said that
Item 4 of the meeting, the detached deck at 12410 Quail Lane, has been
withdrawn by the applicant.
Commissioner Van Gelder asked if the Policy Manual is applicable to the
Planning Commission.
The Planning Director said it is, however, it makes a lot of exceptions for the
Planning Commission, as it is a special commission that does not only do
advisory recommendations; they also have decision -making power. She said
the manual is not known to them, so she has to ask direction on
implementation and/or alteration to conform to the way they operate.
Commissioner Van Gelder said it is dated April, 1988, and she had never
seen it before.
1
The Planning Director said at the last meeting, there was a complaint on the
increased amount of trucks going down Barton Road, and staff has transferred
this to the Sheriffs Department. She said Colton and all the cities where the
trucks drive through are issuing a lot of fines for these trucks, as they are
going above the speed limit. She said there was a complaint on Village Foods
and Wine, and the owner has been contacted and will repair the display
window that has fallen down. She said the owner of Domino's Pizza has also
been called and advised that he can not have the banners in the public right-
of-way, and he will be coming by to see what he can do instead. She said the
satellite dish antenna has not been checked at this time, but will be this next
week. She stated that on the Spangler's deferment agreement for the
sidewalk, she understands the Commission is concerned about being assured
this will be built in two years. She said there are two things that can be done:
one is the deferment agreement, and the normal agreement that the City
Engineer drafts does not require bonding, as this is separate from it. She said
the deferment agreement is a document that is notarized and recorded, so the
person can not sell the house unless the improvements are built. She said if
they just have an agreement, it is not sufficient to ensure that this sidewalk
will be built within two years, so in order to be sure it will be built in two
years, they would need to have a bonding mechanism, which was estimated by
the City Engineer to be $2,200, however the cost to the applicant would
probably not be more than 10% of this cost. She said the City Engineer
supports all the deferment agreements that are based on hardship. She said
in cases like this, it is difficult for the City Engineer to support staffs
recommendation, as he feels there are sidewalks all around and this is the
only area that there isn't one, and there is no hardship but an economic
hardship. She said he still recommended to the City Council the approval of
the deferment agreement with the bonding, but in reading his report, she
finally understood that he would prefer for the Planning Commission to
support a deferment agreement only when there is hardship, and he would let
staff know if he has those concerns, and if he doesn't say anything, usually it
is because he feels there aren't any impractical conditions. She said in case
they just want somebody to make sure they will build the improvements, they
don't need to ask for the bond, unless they want to put a time frame on it.
Commissioner Sims said they are talking about a lien against the property.
The Planning Director agreed, stating that it does not set a date, though.
Commissioner Sims said a lien usually has a dollar value.
Chairman Buchanan said it is an encumbrance, not a lien, and it doesn't
prevent them from selling it, it would just be an exception to any title
insurance policy.
01 2
The Planning Director said according to the City Engineer's agreement, they
would need to build it or they can not sell it.
Commissioner Van Gelder said the determination of an economic hardship
is very subjective.
The Planning Director said in this case, the Planning Commission is
recommending to recognize the applicant's request, but with a bond so it is
restricted to two years.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked that the Planning Department make sure the
City is the beneficiary of the bond.
The Planning Director said the Engineering Department does this. She said
when the Planning Commission accepts and applicant's request for a
deferment agreement, the bonding issue is separate; when the City Engineer
processes the deferment agreement, he does not bond, as it is a completely
different process.
Commissioner Sims said a lot of agencies have standard bond forms which has
all the proper beneficiaries attached to it.
The Planning Director said she is sure the City Engineer has this.
The Planning Director said, with regard to the Waste Element, she is sorry
the Commissioner's questions are not answered. She said she did the
environmental review on it, and when she first talked to the consultant, his
opinion of the role of the Planning Commission to her was minimal. She said
after reading the minutes, she realized the role of the Planning Commission
is much larger than that. She said she had a meeting with the City Manager,
Assistant City Manager and the consultant, and she is preparing some
information to bring to them at the next workshop. She stated that the
Commission needs to review project -by -project, however, not right now. She
said once the document is approved, the City will need to implement several
programs, and one program that is automatically approved is a program that
changes their Code and set criteria for the Commission's review of projects,
so by the end of December, she needs to bring to the Commission a program
that shows what sections of the Code would need to be changed. She said
these guidelines are not in place at this time. She said she postponed the
public hearing for City Council so she has the time to get at least a
conceptual approval on what the Commission will be doing.
PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP ADJOURNED AT 7:00 P.M.
�' 3
X
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING CONVENED AT 7:00 P.M.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Commissioner Van Gelder said at the entrance to the Food Connection, there
is a cement ashtray, and as far as she knows, there is no other receptacle like
that in the whole center other than a trash receptacle at Little Caesar's Pizza.
She said many of those businesses do not allow smoking inside their buildings,
so people are throwing their cigarette butts on the ground. She requested two
or three more receptacles placed throughout the development.
The Planning Director said she would talk to the owner, but they can not
require it. She felt the owner would accept it.
Commissioner Sims expressed concern about the new video shop at the Stater
Bros. center with regard to the tight parking and the large neon -lit signs.
The Planning Director said they are not authorized, but the property owner
contacted staff regarding the sign program. She said the owner said she is
going to start being more cooperative. She said, with regard to the neon
signs, there is a section in the business license that he needs to get approval
for all his signs, however the business license doesn't mention "Grand
Opening" types of signs.
Commissioner Sims said they are not "Grand Opening" signs.
The Planning Director said they are not permitted and staff will take care of
it. She stated they do not have the right to intervene with regard to parking
requirements, but they can give them ideas.
Commissioner Van Gelder asked if the customers are staying longer than 20
minutes at the facility.
Commissioner Sims said he didn't time them, but he noted there was a lot of
activity.
Commissioner Van Gelder said at the Towne & Country center, there are
certain spaces designated for 20 minute parking.
The Planning Director said this was a special effort between the property
owner and the City.
4
ITEM #1
PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE FOR JERRY HAWKINSON
Chairman Buchanan said that Jerry devoted a great deal of time, nine years,
to this particular body and to the City in general as a result of his efforts here
and elsewhere. He said, speaking personally, he was privileged to serve with
Jerry on this Planning Commission for almost four years and followed him as
a Chairman, which was a difficult act to follow in that regard. He stated that
Jerry's approach to the duties of a Planning Commissioner and a Chairman
of the Planning Commission were very helpful to him in setting some goals
and some ideas on how he would like to do his job. He said he has been to
more than one event where people have commented on the contributions of
Jerry Hawkinson to this City and to this Planning Commission and over and
over again, he has heard people describe the tremendous positive attitude and
approach that Jerry took to his role and contribution in the City, and this
certainly mirrors his feelings. He invited comments from the other
Commissioners prior to awarding a plaque on behalf of the Grand Terrace
Planning Commission for nine years of dedicated service to the community
with the City's seal and a tile inset.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave said a body such as this is supposed to be a very
diverse group with very different ideas, and it is purposely done that way in
order to keep all these ideas before the public and also to hear from the
public relative to what they want in this community and for the Commission
to come together with all these diverse ideas to come together and reach a
majority opinion. He said strangely enough, they are able to come to a
majority of opinions more times than not, which says a lot either for the
people sitting on the Commission or says a lot for the process. He said that
Jerry was one of those unusual people who was very gentle, very persuasive
in his gentle, yet still very understanding of diverse ideas and able to
appreciate them even though they were contrary to his ideas, and this is a
most unusual trait for any human being to have as humans by nature are very
prejudicial and opinionated, and Jerry was above and beyond that. He said
he sat on the Commission with Jerry for eight years and Jerry followed his
Chairmanship, and he truly was a very daring and wonderful man to work
with. He said he was a very special person and able to serve on the
Commission as long as he did and still maintain his clear-headedness and
congeniality and ability to get along with everybody with diverse ideas.
Commissioner Van Gelder said she came on the Commission the same time
Vice -Chairman Hargrave did, and she, too, sat with Jerry for a number of
years. She said he was very soft-spoken and laid back but such an intelligent
and sensitive person. She remembered he was on the organizing committee
before the City was even incorporated and did ground work for the City and
5
the Planning Commission. She recalled that she was the one that nominated
him for the Chairmanship and she telephoned him beforehand and asked him
for his permission, and he very quietly said, "I wouldn't have a problem with
that". She said she talked a great deal with him about the Lion's Club
building and the Senior Citizen Center conflict at that time, and he was very
understanding and open to anyone else's conversations about it. She said she
truly appreciated knowing Jerry.
Commissioner Sims said he didn't work with Jerry as long as some of the
other Commissioners on this body. He said when he came on here, he
perceived himself as being the young kid on the block, and he has learned a
lot by being on this body, and as he first saw Jerry in action, he wondered
what was going on. He said later on, he really grew to respect him and his
abilities and stated that he was professional and he was going to miss him.
Commissioner Munson said it would very difficult to add anything to what has
been said. He said he was with him all the time he was here, and he does not
ever remember him raising his voice or stomping his feet, and he has to
admire a man who knows when to keep his mouth shut. He stated that Jerry
was a beautiful person and they will miss him.
Chairman Buchanan presented a plaque on behalf of the Grand Terrace
Planning Commission in very deep appreciation for the service on this body
contributed by Jerry Hawkinson. He stated that the plaque is a very modest
token of their gratitude and best wishes.
ITEM #2
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES - JUNE 4, 1992
MOTION
PCM-92-42
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES - JUNE 4, 1992
MOTION
VOTE
PCM-92-42
Commissioner Van Gelder made a motion to approve the June 4, 1992
minutes. Commissioner Sims second.
Motion carries. 5-0-1-0. Commissioner Wright absent.
on
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:17 P.M.
SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD CONVENED AT 7:17 P.M.
ITEM #3
SA-92-04
LARRY J. VESELY, AIA/MARC AND ANN IVEY
23325 WESTWOOD
G.T.
AN APPLICATION FOR SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF A SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENCE IN THE R1-20 DISTRICT
The Planning Director presented the staff report. She added to the report
that it seems that originally the water company built the water pipe through
the property but didn't have an official signature from the property owner, but
the property owner is now agreeing to sign this agreement giving the easement
of the water line to the water company. She stated that Mr. Mc Means from
Riverside Highland Water is here to clarify any concerns. She said that the
front setbacks for this house should be 25', the total rear setback for this
zoning is 35', however 15' can be in the slope and 20' should be flat, and she
didn't see 20' flat but only 16'. She said the side yard should 5' on the side
of the garage and 10' on the other. She said she didn't know which side the
Associate Planner was considering to be the frontage of the project, as they
have several definitions. She proposed they condition the project, because if
this ends up being the only problem, she thinks the applicant will be able to
cut a little bit off the hillside and extend the retaining wall so he will have the
flat required setbacks. She said if the applicant is unable to do this, he will
need to reduce the size of the house. She stated that she would like to add
this to the conditions of approval.
Chairman Buchanan said this is a beautiful design for a house and a
fascinating lot, and he is not convinced that there is anything inappropriate
about the way it has been designed or cut into the hillside or placed on the
pad. He said he has no dispute with the City Engineer's suggestion that it
doesn't make a lot of sense to require the street improvements, curb and
gutter, sidewalk and ornamental street lights in that location. He said that it
had always been his understanding that on Site and Architectural Review,
items required by Municipal Code could not be waived or deleted by the Site
and Architectural Review Board, and that the two options available were a
variance from those requirements under appropriate circumstances or action
by the City Council. He said the discussion from the hearing in 1988 centered
around the applicant's desire to not fence the property, and they had
discussed changing that requirement, but it was a Code requirement and
0
7
didn't have the ability to say they didn't have to put up the fence. He said the
project was approved with the condition for the fence together with the
transmittal of the Site and Architectural Review Board's recommendation to
the City Council that this item be deleted. He said the questions that come
to his mind are the setback requirements, since he understands that in the R1-
20 District, they have some latitude of measuring setbacks with the inclusion
of slope, but generally they are measured from the toe or top of slope. He
said the garage actually cuts into the slope, and he didn't see the necessary
setbacks there, not to say that he thinks the setbacks are necessary in this
particular setup, but he is not sure they have the ability to ignore this. He
stated he is not sure the City Engineer can recommend that they ignore
improvements required by Ordinance, and he is not sure they can simply
delete those as conditions of approval where they are required by Ordinance.
The Planning Director said with regard to deleting Items 8, 9, 10 and 11, the
reason she is recommending this is because the City Engineer's conditions
state that these items should not be a requirement for this development. She
said the City Engineer explained to her that the Code requires the building
of the sidewalk and all the improvements, however this is an exception - when
things are not practical. She understood that he has the power to make an
exception if not practical, but if it is practical, they need to do a deferment
agreement.
Chairman Buchanan said it would be helpful to know if there is an ability
under the Code to ignore certain requirements which would otherwise be
required by Code. He didn't feel there should be sidewalks and street lighting
put in up there, but based on other projects, it was his understanding that
there are some things they don't have the power to say they don't have to do
in the absence of a formal variance.
The Planning Director suggested adding a condition of approval requiring a
deferment agreement if necessary to eliminate Items 8 to 11, and then the
City Engineer has the power to develop the deferment agreement if he needs
it or not to do it.
Commissioner Sims asked if this would involve a bond.
The Planning Director said no, as they would not be establishing a time
frame. She said they could make a condition stating they accept the project
subject to the comments of the City Engineer recommending a deferment
agreement for those items if necessary.
Chairman Buchanan felt they may be better off taking a look at the Municipal
Code Section because it may be that in order to make the appropriate finding
of impracticality, that they or the City Council need to make particular
evidentiary findings, and if this is necessary, he would rather do this tonight
so the applicant knows what the project will involve. He asked if there may
be a copy of the conditions of approval from the 1988 meeting as well as a
current materials board.
The Planning Director stated that the secretary would check on this
information. She said with regard to the setbacks, her proposal is that they
need to be met, so they would need to do a variance if they do not accept the
conditions or they could set a condition that the applicant needs to extend the
flat portion of the lot and extend retaining wall or they could decrease the
square footage of the house.
Chairman Buchanan said perhaps the same section that gives them the power
to find curbs, gutters and street lights impractical to construct is applicable to
setbacks.
The Planning Director said she didn't think so, as that is a public works issue,
and the setbacks are strictly in the Zoning Code, Chapter 18.
Commissioner Sims said the purpose of the setback is to provide sufficient
space around the home so that certain things can be done in emergency
situations, i.e. fire, which is a valid concern.
The Planning Director said the Fire Department has required a turn -around
radius, and they will probably have space for a hammerhead.
Commissioner Van Gelder said, according to the minutes of 1988, the project
was approved. She asked what the differences are from the last project.
The Planning Director said the only changes are the shapes of the windows
and a little bit of architecture.
LARRY VESELY
22365 BARTON ROAD
G.T.
Mr. Vesely said in 1988, the setback question raised now was not raised.
The Planning Director said that probably at that time, the Codes didn't have
any restrictions to the flat area.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave said they have been through a zoning change
relative to setbacks since this project came through the first time, so
Q,
irrespective of what it is or isn't, they are under a whole different set of
zoning requirements.
Mr. Vesely said they have 35' from the residence to the retaining wall, and
the garage itself is about 8' at the narrowest point. He feels they meet the 20'
minimum for livability in terms of the backyard portion.
Chairman Buchanan said the front yard setback is 25' but can include slope,
but the side and rear can not. He said if they say the part of the house facing
Westwood is the front, there is obviously more than 25', and if they look at
the east side of the house as a sideyard, they have 5' at the narrowest point
with the possible exception of the comer of the garage or deck, and if they
take the opposite of the front as being the rear, and due to the odd
configuration of the house measuring from the residence and not from the
back corner of the garage, they would have the appropriate rearyard setback,
and if they consider where the driveway comes up as being the garage side of
the house, it looks like they have well more than 10' on that side.
The Planning Director said the garage is the only structure encroaching into
the setback.
Chairman Buchanan said it may be necessary to move the retaining wall east
a couple of feet to create an appropriate amount of setback on the east side
of the house.
Mr. Vesely said going east is not problem - going south is the problem.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if the garage is right up against the slope.
Mr. Vesely said they have a minimum of 5' clear.
Chairman Buchanan said it looks like there are two double lines on the
eastern part.
Mr. Vesely indicated a planter strip and a retaining wall.
Chairman Buchanan asked if a one foot high planter would be measured as
part of the flat part of the property.
The Planning Director indicated it would.
Chairman Buchanan said the slope would come down to behind the retaining
wall and they could measure from the retaining wall out.
10
The Planning Director said she thinks so.
Chairman Buchanan said if they measure from the retaining wall portion
there is no problem at all as there is plenty of room between the retaining
wall and the comers of the garage and the deck.
The Planning Director asked if he is considering the back portion of the
garage all on the sideyard.
Chairman Buchanan stated that he was. He said they could consider the
garage as all part of the sideyard and not part of the backyard measurement.
He said if the intent of the rearyard setback is to provide space between the
residence and the structures and the neighbors to the rear, this is not really
an issue here, as there is no house immediately to the rear. He said the other
factor involved in a rearyard setback is to provide some sort of open space
behind the house for recreation, and even though this is in concrete and not
grass, it does provide recreation space, and if there is a least 5' of flat,
"walking around" room around the entire house, he thinks it meets the safety
criteria they are concerned about with regard to fire and rescue access.
The Planning Director said when there is no set lot frontage, the Commission
has the right to determine that. She said the definition for the rear lot line
reads, "A lot line not abutting a street which is opposite and more distant
from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular, triangular or gore -shaped
lot, a line within the lot, parallel to and at a maximum distance from the front
property line, having a length of not less than 10'. A lot which is bounded on
all sides by streets may have no rear lot line. She stated the rear lot line on
an odd -shaped lot is the line that is parallel to the front property line.
Chairman Buchanan said the question is the rear building line.
The Planning Director said she is not completely sure they can make these
findings, because they are dealing with the pad, and the pad ideally should be
drawn and the houses placed on the pad in such a way that the setbacks are
respected.
Chairman Buchanan said if shifted the garage north so the front of the garage
becomes more parallel with the edge of the residence, at some point, they
wouldn't be measuring from the comer of the garage but from the face of the
garage, and if the rear of the garage was swung west, then the back of the
garage would be the back of the building for purposes of measuring the rear
lot line.
11
The Planning Director said there is a topographical hardship, so there is
justification for a variance. She said the Planning Commission may
recommend staff to process a variance with a proposal for approval, as it
would be just a matter of a procedure for them to apply for a variance, staff
would bring it to the next meeting, and there is justification for it due to the
hardship. She said it is a little harder for them to make the determination
that this is either on the rear or the side.
Chairman Buchanan said he could see where a variance could be justified, but
it would be a more expedient process for everybody to interpret this problem
away rather than use a variance to solve the problem.
The Planning Director said she is concerned they can set a precedent, though.
Commissioner Van Gelder said the applicant may have a response to
changing the setting of the garage.
The Planning Director said if they could cut both corners of the garage,
maybe they could have more setback.
Chairman Buchanan said they would never cut them 20' in.
The Planning Director said he needs 12 more feet. She said the hardship is
easier to justify because the intent of the ordinance is not to cut some much
into the slopes and to allow the topography to be natural.
Commissioner Van Gelder asked if there was a difference in the setback
requirements of the hillside area.
The Planning Director said this is not in the hillside area, it is R1-20.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked that Mr. Vesely respond to the discussion
Mr. Vesely said the angle of the garage enable them to allow more parking
and the turnaround for the fire department, so he doesn't want to start
shifting that as they would lose valuable space. He said they can't cut to the
South without damaging other properties. He didn't feel that shorting the
garage would solve the problem. He said if staff is not comfortable agreeing
with this decision, at least the Planning Commission can decide on it and go
forward, as this is their role. He said with regard to the pad requirement,
95% of this house is built above the ground and is not on a concrete slab.
Commissioner Sims asked if this was a bigger house than initially proposed.
12
Mr. Vesely said it is not bigger, and they have not changed the footprint of
the building whatsoever, and with regard to the square footage, his initial
figures did not include the garage.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave said he agreed with the applicant that moving the
garage is not something he would prefer to do.
Chairman Buchanan said the garage would probably have to be moved in the
other direction toward the front of the house, which would eliminate the deck.
Mr. Vesely said you would not be able to get into the garage.
Commissioner Munson asked why they need 20', and why they can not just
give him a variance because of the location of the house and the pad and the
design.
The Planning Director said that is what she is recommending, but they can't
do it right now as it has to be noticed as a public hearing.
Commissioner Sims said they can make a condition of approval that he has
to obtain a variance.
Commissioner Van Gelder asked if the current configuration meets the
requirements of the fire department, to which the Planning Director
responded in the affirmative.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked the distance between the southwest comer of
the garage to the retaining wall.
Mr. Vesely said this distance is 8'6".
Chairman Buchanan said, on the setback issue, it seems to him that staffs
recommendation is to add a condition of approval requiring the applicant to
obtain a variance before issuance of building permits. He asked if this would
slow down plancheck.
The Planning Director said probably not even building permits, because they
can bring in the variance at the next meeting. She said they can require it
before certificate of occupancy, because the first meeting this can be brought
in is the first meeting in August.
Chairman Buchanan said, in terms of non -architectural issues, they were
talking about the elimination of the Engineer's conditions, and the question
that came up was whether or not they could delete them.
13
The Planning Director sent for the Grand Terrace Municipal Code to check
this item.
Commissioner Sims asked what the grading is on the driveway.
The Planning Director said it is probably almost 45%.
Mr. Vesely said the fire department maximum is 30%, and they are right at
29%.
Mr. Vesely said that they will be using textured, concrete ribbons.
The Planning Director said the fire department has approved the plans, and
they only required a 12' driveway.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if the condition regarding "the appropriate
slope dimension in accordance with the UBC Mandate" applies to the slope
on the southerly side of this development, which is a 40' to 50' slope going up
to Palm.
Mr. Vesely said it would if they were to cut the slope, but not if it remains in
natural state.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave said on the slope issue, they have a conventional or
drip irrigation system, and in one part it says "drip" and another part says
"shall reflect either drip or conventional". He said they need to be careful, at
least on the front of the slope, and they should use drip irrigation because
they don't want to cause erosion.
Mr. Vesely said they will use conventional systems only on the flat areas, and
the rest of it is all drip system.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if they would have any irrigation on the
southerly slope.
Mr. Vesely said they will go up about 20' and will be adding some trees and
ground cover on the lower portion.
8:14 P.M. OPENED PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Buchanan asked Mr. Mc Means to explain the water line easement
situation.
14
GENE MC MEANS
RIVERSIDE HIGHLAND WATER COMPANY
1450 WASHINGTON
COLTON
Mr. Mc Means said during construction, the problems that did occur were
resolved. He said they have had a share split, so this would be changed to
two shares to meet the need for present residents. He said the meter service
line has been in, so they will install the meter, and he thinks the City
Engineer is well aware of this as the engineering group was involved. He said
with regard to the driveway, during construction of the water line, they did
install the sewer lateral and the gas and electrical and the telephone was
already in, so for all purposes, all the utility runs for the lot are in and are up
to the turn at the pad as you get to the top. He said the slope is hard to cut
through, and they had a hard time burying a pipeline 4' deep. He said not to
cut back any further at the top of the driveway as there is a water line there.
Commissioner Munson asked how the City survived the earthquake.
Mr. Mc Means said their $4 million in main replacements and distribution
line replacements paid off, as the City itself had no leaks, and they had only
one leak on Elena which is just outside the City boundary and one of their
next distribution line projects. He said the only problem they had was Edison
power.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if they are scheduling any rehabilitation for
this area within the next five years.
Mr. Mc Means said not at the present time, but they did some work just a
little west of there at a tie-in that drops down toward the Glendora area. He
said the only other one they will probably do within the next three years will
be a tie-in on Westwood further west that will drop down through a current
easement driveway to the Ferry's home, along their driveway and back to
Glendora.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if they have a pipe that goes up the south
slope up to Palm, and if it was a 4" line.
Mr. Mc Means said they do, and it is an 8" line. He said in 1988, there was
a line that tied Westwood and Palm in that apparently, during construction,
when the tract developed, they dynamited rock, pulled the pipeline over and
tore some of the coating off, and that particular line at that time, in the
course of 13 weeks, had 14 leaks in it, and it spilled out above another
residence, and they did a lot of bag work.
15
Commissioner Van Gelder asked what Mr. Mc Means best guess is as to how
the City of Grand Terrace survive an 8.3 earthquake. She also asked, if there
was a 7.4 in Landers, what would the numbers have been here.
Mr. Mc Means said the new reservoirs have all been designed AWWA
Earthquake Zone 4, which are the most strict requirements. He said they
have two, partially buried reservoirs which should get some stability, and he
feels they did quite well. He stated that they have an earthquake valve on
one of their reservoirs so they can retain two million gallons of water and
theoretically, the valve will shut off if they have a quake of that magnitude
here. He said they have historically designed over the earthquake zone with
a shorter and larger diameter tank with internal structures that should settle
it down a little bit, so they don't expect the turning momentum that they see
in some reservoirs. He stated that with regard to the main lines, a lot of it
would be the upheaval, however, they have replaced 13 miles of pipeline since
1986, and most of that is slip joint type, pipe construction, which should allow
a little more movement than some of the solid welded pipeline. He said they
have used flexible service lines to the services they have replaced, so they are
trying to do the best technology knows and are hoping it works.
8:23 P.M. CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman Buchanan brought this item back to the Site and Architectural
Review Board for further discussion and action.
The Planning Director said after research, it seems that the City Engineer has
the right to recommend that these conditions be deleted from the project.
Chairman Buchanan asked if the widening of the street, installation of curb
and gutter, installation of sidewalk and installation of street lighting are all
part of Chapter 15.
The Planning Director said that is what it seems by reading this, however,
when she read the section, it doesn't specify which improvements - it talks
about street improvements. She said it repeats in several sections that the
City Engineer is the one that has the power to determine which improvements
are applicable and which are not.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked for the materials board.
The Planning Director apologized, stating that they submitted a materials
board, but due to lack of coordination, staff does not have it here.
16
MOTION
PCM-92-43
SA-92-04
MOTION
VOTE
PCM-92-43
MOTION
PCM-92-44
SA-92-04
MOTION
VOTE
PCM-92-44
Vice -Chairman Hargrave asked if there were any changes in the materials
board relative to what is in staffs report, to which Mr. Vesely responded in
the negative.
Vice -Chairman Hargrave commented on the creative architecture.
Commissioner Sims made a motion to add as a condition to the project
requiring the applicant to obtain a variance for the rearyard setback prior to
building permit issuance. Vice -Chairman Hargrave second.
Motion carries. 5-0-1-0. Commissioner Wright absent.
Commissioner Sims made a motion to approve SA-92-04 as amended.
Commissioner Munson second.
Motion carries. 5-0-1-0. Commissioner Wright absent.
The Planning Director apologized to the applicant, as staff could have shown
this whole process to him earlier, so they will do their best to fast -track the
variance and make sure it doesn't disturb the plancheck process, as they could
have brought the variance here today.
17
ITEM #4
SA-92-09
JOHN PODANY
12410 QUAIL LANE
G.T.
AN APPLICATION FOR SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW OF A DETACHED
DECK FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IN THE R1-7.2 DISTRICT
Chairman Buchanan said the applicant has asked this item be withdrawn from
the agenda tonight.
SITE AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ADJOURNED AT 8:25 P.M.
NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 1992.
PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP RECONVENED AT 8:25 P.M.
Commissioner Munson said it was his impression that Chairman and Vice -
Chairman had to be re-elected July 1.
Chairman Buchanan said, according to the policy manual, the Chairman is
supposed to be elected for a two-year term on even -numbered years, and
since he has been here, they have been doing it on an annual basis. He said
technically, their terms expired at the end of June, and the City Council hasn't
taken any action yet. He said it was his suggestion to the Planning Director
that they need clarification of the applicability of the policy manual, and it
seems that elections for Chairman and Vice -Chairman are inappropriate until
after the City Council has filled the vacancies.
PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP ADJOURNED AT 8:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
7�2
Patriz a Materassi
Planning Director
08-03-92:ma
18
Approved by,
Dan Buchanan
Chairman, Planning Commission