HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/26/2010MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
July 26, 2010
CALLED TO ORDER
ATTENDANCE
CITY HALL -COUNCIL CHAMBER
22 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA .
6:33 P.M.
COMMISSIONERS Present:
FRANK ACOSTA
ERIC ALDERETE
VICTORIA BETANCOURT
JAMES GARTNER
MARIO TURNER
MICHAEL WALTERS
PATRICK YRARRAZAVAL
STAFF Present:
KAREN HALUZA, Planning Manager
MARTHA RAMIREZ, Recording Secretary
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG LED BY CHAIRMAN ALDERETE
GONSENT GALENDAR ITEMS
1
MOTION: Approve minutes.
A.
MOTION: Alderete
VOTE: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
MINUTES
SECOND: Gartner
Acosta, Gartner, Turner,
None (0)
Alderete, Betancourt (2)
None (0)
Walters, Yrarrazaval (5)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 14,
2010. Due to their absence from that meeting, Chairman Alderete and
Commissioner Betancourt abstained from voting on the Minutes.
* * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
BUSINESS CALENDAR
B. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION DISCLOSURE (REGARDING AGENDIZED
PROJECTS)
C
No disclosures were made.
PUBLIC FACILITY NAMING NO. 2010-01
Filed by the City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Agency, is requesting to name the playground at Angels Community Park the
Virginia Avila Playground at 914 West Third Street located in the Open Space
(O) zoning district.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 1 of 4 July 26, 2010
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Approve Public Facilities Naming No. 2010-01 to name the playground at Angels
Community Park the Virginia Avila Playground.
Principal Planner Vince Fregoso and Administrative Services Manager Ron Ono
presented the staff report and recommendation.
MOTION: Approve Public Facilities Naming No. 2010-01 to name the
playground at Angels Community Park the Virginia Avila Playground.
MOTION: Acosta SECOND: Walters
AYES: Acosta, Alderete, Betancourt,
Yrarrazaval (7)
NOES: None (0)
ABSTAIN: None (0)
ABSENT: None (0)
PROCEDURAL RULES
Gartner, Turner, Walters,
PUBLIC HEARING
1
1. VARIANCE NO. 2010-03
Filed by Centre on Seventeenth Partners, LP, applicant is requesting a variance
from the sign code to allow three additional monument signs at 2130 East
Seventeenth Street located in the Community Commercial (C1) zoning district.
PUBLISHED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY REPORTER: July 16, 2010
PUBLICLY NOTICED: July 16, 2010
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 2010-03 as conditioned.
Senior Planner Verny Carvajal presented the staff report and recommendation.
Mick Meldrum, ICI Development representative, responded to a question
regarding the use of the new sign.
No written communications were provided.
Public hearing opened. No public members spoke. The public hearing was
closed.
1
MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 2010-03 as conditioned.
MOTION: Gartner
VOTE: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
SECOND: Acosta
Acosta, Alderete, Betancourt,
Walters, Yrarrazaval (7)
None (0)
None (0)
None (0)
Gartner, Turner,
2. Recessed to City Hall, Ross Annex, First Floor Conference Rdom 1600
(6:47 p.m.)
Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 4 July 26, 2010
City Hall, Ross Annex
First Floor Conference Room 1600
20 Civic Center Plaza
CALLED TO ORDER: 6:52 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Meeting reconvened with the same staff present.
3. CONTINUATION OF DISCUSSION REGARDING THE MONTAGE MID-RISE
RESIDENTAL PROJECT LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF MAIN
AND MAC ARTHUR
Planning Manager Karen Haluza introduced the staff from the Lyon Properties: Bill
McKibbin, Chairman and CEO, and Chris Coe with Coe International Architects
who provided an in-depth presentation regarding the extensive analysis process
used to develop the new design for the residential project previously approved for
the southeast corner of Main and MacArthur. Mr. Coe described that the design
team's analysis resulted in a shift from the previously-approved podium-style
design to a design that places parking in a central structure and wraps the units
around the vertical layers of the structure. Mr. Coe explained how this design
provides for more convenient access to each unit from the parking structure,
allows for more generous courtyards with opportunities for at-grade landscaping,
and opens up the pedestrian circulation paths through and around the project.
The Commissioners provided the following comments and feedback to be taken
into consideration by the development team as they work toward the final design:
• Explore the potential for access to the parking structure from Main Street.
• Create lobbies at street level in order to provide entries that could help to
activate the street.
• Ensure that the elevators are evenly spaced to maximize ease of circulation
throughout the project.
• Provide information on the target markets for the project after market
studies have been done.
• Ensure that the design mitigates for any potential noise or vibration impacts
that could be generated by the parking structure's adjacency to the
residential units.
• Ensure that solar access and solar orientation are considered in order to
maximize access to light and, at the same time, minimize exposure to late
afternoon sun that can lead to the need for increased cooling.
• Ensure that appropriate canopy trees are selected for the street tree
plantings.
• Use enhanced landscaping setbacks and landscape screens at the
property line to provide a buffer from the street level units to the street.
• Explore some level of LEED certification.
• Ensure that the Sandpointe neighborhood is involved in the project.
The Commission also had extensive conversation regarding ,the need to find
creative ways to ensure that the project fosters good urban design by connecting
to and activating the street with active ground floor uses. The Commission
acknowledged that the large traffic volumes present on Main and MacArthur, as
well as the large size of the streets, will create a design challenge. Mr. Coe
acknowledged this and stated that the design team would reach a solution to
address these issues. The Commissioners thanked the development team for
their thoughtful analysis and handsome preliminary design.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS (for items not on the agenda)
No public members spoke.
Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 July 26, 2010
1
1
5. STAFF COMMENTS
No comments were made.
6. PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
No comments were made.
7. EXCUSE OF ABSENCES
None
Adjournment: 8:03 P.M.
Mart Ramirez
Record' g Secretary
Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 of 4
July 26, 2010