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Home My WebLink About01-09-17 PC MINUTESMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA CALLED TO ORDER ATTENDANCE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PRESENTATIONS JANUARY 9, 2017 CITY HALL ROSS ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM 1600 20 CIVIC CENTER PLAZA SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 5:32 P.M. COMMISSIONERS Present: LYNNETTE VERINO, Chair ERIC ALDERETE PHIL BACERRA CYNTHIA CONTRERAS-LEO MARK McLOUGHLIN BEATRIZ MENDOZA KENNETH NGUYEN COMMISSIONERS Absent: None STAFF Present: HASSAN HAGHANI, Executive Director CANDIDA NEAL, Planning Manager LISA STORCK, Assistant City Attorney ROSA BARELA, Acting Recording Secretary Chairperson Verino RECOGNITION OF SERVICE FOR JAMES GARTNER AND BRUCE BAUER Chairperson Verino presented proclamations honoring the service of James Gartner and Bruce Bauer to the Planning Commission. A. PUBLIC COMMENTS (on non -agenda items) - No public comments CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION: Approve the Consent Calendar item per staff's recommendation. MOTION: McLoughlin SECOND: Alderete VOTE: AYES: Alderete, Bacerra, Nguyen, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) B. MINUTES Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, MOTION: Approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 28, 2016. * * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR * * * PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 JANUARY 9, 2017 BUSINESS CALENDAR COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATION DISCLOSURE (REGARDING AGENDIZED PROJECTS): Commissioner Nguyen disclosed he serves as Chair on the Measure Q Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee at Santa Ana College in relations to the letter received from the Rancho Santiago Community College District for Agenda Item No. 2. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2016-26 (Applicant: Gregory Mercier, ATC Sequoia LLC, Wireless Communication Facility — 2961 West MacArthur Boulevard) Matter continued from the November 28, 2016 Planning Commission meeting. Legal notice published in the Orange County Register on November 18, 2016 and notices mailed November 17, 2016. MOTION: Continue the matter to a date uncertain. MOTION: Alderete SECOND: McLoughlin VOTE: AYES: Alderete, Bacerra, Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, Nguyen, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 2. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2016-48 AND VARIANCE NO. 2016-08 (Applicant Jessica Steiner, McDonald's — 1501 North Bristol Street) Legal notice published in the Orange County Reporter on December 30, 2016 and notices mailed December 29, 2016. A project overview was provided by Ann Ni, Associate Planner. Chairperson Verino opened the public hearing. Written communication received from Tom Lutz, January Smith, Ray Poppa and Susan Van der Roest from the Washington Square Homeowners Association in support of the project and from Darryl Taylor from the Rancho Santiago Community College District noting they have no comments on the project. Carlos Madrigal, representing applicant, spoke in support of the project. There were no other speakers on the matter and the hearing was closed. MOTION: 1. Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2016-48 as conditioned. 2. Adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 2016-08 as conditioned. MOTION: Alderete VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: SECOND: Nguyen Alderete, Bacerra, Nguyen, Verino (7) None (0) None (0) None (0) Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 JANUARY 9, 2017 3. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2016-37 (Applicant Arvin Norouzi, ATC Sequoia LLC, Wireless Communication Facility — 1441 South Village Way) Legal notice published in the Orange County Register on December 30, 2016 and notices mailed December 29, 2016. A project overview was provided by Jerry Guevara, Assistant Planner I. Chairperson Verino opened the public hearing. Applicant answered questions and spoke in support of the project. There were no other speakers on the matter and the hearing was closed. U1011(foRTA Adopt a resolution approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2016-37 as conditioned. MOTION: Alderete SECOND: McLoughlin VOTE: AYES: Alderete, Bacerra, Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, Nguyen, Verino (7) NOES: None (0) ABSTAIN: None (0) ABSENT: None (0) 4. VARIANCE NO. 2016-09 (Applicant: Ulises Araujo, Dyer Grand Development LLC — 1351 East Dyer Road) Legal notice published in the Orange County Register on December 30, 2016 and notices mailed December 29, 2016. A project overview was provided by Ivan Orozco, Assistant Planner I. Chairperson Verino opened the public hearing. Applicant answered questions and spoke in support of the project. There were no other speakers on the matter and the hearing was closed. MOTION: Adopt a resolution approving Variance No. 2016-09 as conditioned. MOTION: Bacerra VOTE: AYES NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: SECOND: McLoughlin Alderete, Bacerra, Nguyen, Verino (7) None (0) None (0) None (0) Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, 5. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 2016-03 AND AMENDMENT APPLICATION NO. 2016-03 (Applicant: Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency — 415 & 423 South Raitt Street) Legal notice published in the Orange County Register on December 30, 2016 and notices mailed December 29, 2016. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 JANUARY 9, 2017 A project overview was provided by Jerry Guevara, Assistant Planner I, and noted he received two phone calls from residents in opposition. Commissioner Contreras - Leo noted concern of the property being designated open space for a proposed park and questioned why there were no other alternatives, such as affordable housing. Commissioner Alderete expressed concern about changing the zoning without input from the community. Chairperson Verino opened the public hearing. There were no speakers on the matter and the hearing was closed. Commission discussion ensued on the history of the properties, the reason for the demolitions, the obligation to designate open space due to the Centennial Park swap, the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency, community input on the properties and communication with the neighborhood associations. Ms. Neal noted staff will invite staff from the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency to explain the plans for the property, invite staff from the Community Development Agency to discuss the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency and history of the properties including why they were demolished, inventory the lands that would be available to satisfy the requirement for the land swap on Centennial Park and the additional contacts made to the neighborhood groups. MOTION: Continue the matter to the January 23, 2017 meeting and invite staff from the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Agency and the Community Development Agency to answer concerns the Commission may have. MOTION: Nguyen SECOND: McLoughlin VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN ABSENT: Alderete, Bacerra, Nguyen, Verino (7) None (0) None (0) None (0) ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 6. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRPERSON Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, Recommended Action: Elect a Vice Chairperson of the Planning Commission for the remainder of the 2016/2017 term. Chairperson Verino called for nominations for Vice Chairperson. Commissioner Alderete nominated Commissioner McLoughlin and the nomination was accepted. Hearing no further nominations, the nominations were closed without objection. MOTION: Elect Mark McLoughlin as Vice Chairperson for the Planning Commission for the remainder of the 2016/2017 term. MOTION: Alderete SECOND: Mendoza VOTE: AYES NOES: ABSTAIN ABSENT: Alderete, Bacerra, Nguyen, Verino (7) None (0) None (0) None (0) Contreras -Leo, McLoughlin, Mendoza, PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 JANUARY 9, 2017 By a 7:0 vote, Commissioner McLoughlin was elected Vice Chairperson for the remainder of the 2016/2017 term. 7. APPOINTMENTS TO PLANNING COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEES Candida Neal noted letters are being sent to Commissioners Bacerra, Mendoza and Nguyen inviting them to serve on the General Plan Advisory Group whose purpose is to provide recommendations to staff on the General Plan update which members include other community representatives. Commission discussion ensued on the selection of the members. Recommended Action: A. Design Review Board: Appoint two members B. General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Advisory Group: Appoint one member ACTION: The following Commissioners volunteered for the following: A. Commissioners Nguyen and Contreras -Leo to the Design Review Board; B. Commissioner Mendoza to the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance Advisory Group Design Review Board. ABSENCES 8. EXCUSED ABSENCES - None COMMENTS 9. PLANNING MANAGER UPDATES Candida Neal • General Plan Update Status — Reported that staff completed the outreach to the General Plan Advisory Group (GPAG). • Noted staff has designed a public outreach program for the Accessory Dwelling Ordinance and presented to ComLink. The outreach will begin January 17 and end in March. Staff is offering to meet with individual neighborhood associations and will also provide information on Planning's website which will have responses to questions and document the process. • Reported on the new staff report format design to make the reports easier to read and understand, and be more thorough. Any comments should be provided to her. • Invited Commissioners to attend the Planning Commissioners Academy to be held March 1-3, 2017 in Los Angeles. If they are interested in attending, please let staff know. Commissioner Nguyen noted he would like to attend on Thursday and Friday. 10. PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS Commissioner Nguyen • Requested that the recently passed bill AB 2299 on the secondary dwelling residential be agendized. Ms. Neal noted the accessory dwelling unit outreach program she previously spoke on is that bill. • Noted it is an honor to serve on the Commission, will seek advice and guidance, and thanked staff. Commissioner Bacerra • Wished everyone a Happy New Year. • Welcomed new colleagues. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 JANUARY 9, 2017 Chairperson Mendoza • Welcomed Commissioners Contreras -Leo & Nguyen. Commissioner Alderete • Welcomed Commissioners Contreras -Leo & Nguyen noting he is looking forward to working with them. • Noted he previously attended the Planning Commissioners Academy adding it was a worthwhile conference. Commissioner McLoughlin • Welcomed Commissioners Contreras -Leo & Nguyen. • Thanked the Commission for their vote as Vice Chairperson. • Wished everyone a Happy New Year. • Inquired on the Accessory Dwelling Ordinance public outreach and noted it would be helpful to understand the Planning Commission review. Commissioner Contreras -Leo • Thanked everyone for the warm welcome. • Looks forward to working with staff. • Requested that the Commission be notified of meetings when staff makes presentations to the neighborhood associations on the Accessory Dwelling Ordinance. Chairperson Verino • Welcomed Commissioners Contreras -Leo & Nguyen. • Wished everyone a Happy New Year. • Thanked staff for their patience with accommodations. ADJOURNED 7:14 P.M. - The next meeting of the Planning Commission is scheduled for Monday, January 23, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 22 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, California. Adjourn Meeting in Memory of Alexander "Sandy" Nalle C: s - //)�� Rosa Barela Acting Recording Secretary PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 JANUARY 9, 2017