Minutes-ZA 1990/05/31•
ACTION
AGENDA
L~
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANAHEIM CITY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1990, 9:30 A.M.
Procedure to Expedite Meetinct:
The proponents for conditional use permit and variance applications which
are not contested will have 5 minutes to present their evidence. In
contested applications, the proponents and opponent will each have 10
minutes to present their case unless additional time is requested and the
complexity of the matter warrants. After the opponent(s) speak, the
proponent will have 5 minutes for rebuttal. Before speaking, please give
your name and address and spell your name.
Staff Reports are part of the evidence received by the Zoning
Administrator at each hearing. Copies are available to the public prior
to and at the meeting.
The Zoning Administrator reserves the right to deviate from the foregoing
if, in the Administrator's opinion, the ends of fairness to all concerned
will be served.
All documents presented to the Zoning Administrator for review in
connection with any hearing, including photographs or other acceptable
visual representations of non-documentary evidence, shall be retained by
the City of Anaheim for the public record and shall be available for
public inspection.
The action taken by the Zoning Administrator on this date regarding
conditional use permits and variances is final unless, within 15 days of
the Zoning Administrator's written decision being placed in the U.S. Mail,
an appeal is filed. Such appeal shall be made at any time following the
public hearing and prior to the conclusion of the appeal period. An
appeal shall be made in written form to the City Clerk, accompanied by an
appeal fee equal to one-half the amount of the original filing fee. The
City Clerk, upon filing of such an appeal, will set said conditional use
permit or variance for public hearing before the City Council at the
earliest possible date. You will be notified by the City Clerk of said
hearing.
After the scheduled public hearings, members of the public will be allowed
to speak on items of interest under "Items of Public Interest". Such
items must be within the jurisdiction of the Zoning Administrator. Each
speaker will be allotted a maximum of 3 minutes to speak. Before
speaking, please give your name and address and spell your last name.
0491g Page 1'
la. CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 3
lb. VARIANCE N0. 4046 (READVERTISED)
OWNER: GEORGE & JUNO LU, 118 S. Montgomery Way, Anaheim, CA
92807.
AGENT: NORMAN McCURRY, 3315 E. Miraloma #114, Anaheim, CA
92806.
LOCATION: 118 South Montgomery Way
Waiver of maximum structural height to construct a 2-story 37-foot
high single family residence.
Continued from Zoning Administrator meeting of May 3, 1990.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION N0. ZA90-27
2a. CEQA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 3
2b. VARIANCE N0. 4047
OWNER: JOHN J. STEVENS, 1570 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA 92802
LOCATION: 1570 West Katella Avenue. Property is approximately
.26 acre on the south side of Katella Avenue
approximately 225 feet east of the centerline of
Bayless Street.
Waivers of permitted location of freestanding signs and permitted
wall signs to construct a 52 square-foot freestanding sign and wall
signs.
Continued from Zoning Administrator meeting of May 17, 1990.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION N0. ZA90-28
Approved
with revised
plans
Approved,
in part
5-31-90
Page 2
..
3a. CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 15
3b. VARIANCE N0. 4051
OWNER: Pierco Development, 14771 Plaza Drive, Suite A, Tustin,
CA 92680.
LOCATION: 712, 718, 724 and 728 West Romneya Drive
Waivers of (a) minimum building site width and (b) minimum side yard
setback to establish a 4-lot subdivision of a 16-unit apartment
complex (under construction).
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION N0. ZA90-29
4a. CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION
4b. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3276
OWNER: HWA JA RAH, 2207 W. Woodley Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801.
LOCATION: 2207 and 2211 West Woodley Avenue
To permit a child care facility for 30 children.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION N0.
5. INFORMATIONAL ITEM:
A. ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT N0. 0050 and CATEGORICAL
EXEMPTION-CLASS 5: Waiver of maximum structural height to
construct a 2-story 11,169 square foot single-family residence
at 267 Peralta Way. (End of public notice period: 5-31-90)
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION N0. ZA90-30
6. ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST:
Approved
Modified Cond.
Nos. 2 & 10
Continued to
6-14-90
Approved if
no opposition
is received
by 5:00 p.m.
None
5-31-90
Page 3
~n
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANAHEIM CITY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
MINUTES - MAY 31, 1990
The regular meeting of the Anaheim City Zoning Administrator was called to
order by Annika Santalahti, Zoning Administrator, at 9:35 a.m., May 31, 1990,
in the Council Chamber.
PRESENT•
Annika M. Santalahti, Zoning Administrator
Della Herrick, Associate Planner
Selma Mann, Deputy City Attorney
Margarita Perez, Acting Secretary
Annika Santalahti, Zoning Administrator, explained the procedures for the
meeting and that anyone desiring to speak about matters other than the
agendized items would have the opportunity to be heard at the end of the
meeting.
ITEM N0. 1 CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 3 AND VARIANCE N0. 4046 (READVERTISED)
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: GEORGE & JUNO LU, 118 S. Montgomery Way, Anaheim, CA
92807. AGENT: NORMAN McCURRY, 3315 E. Miraloma #114, Anaheim, CA 92806.
Subject property is an irregularly-shaped parcel of land consisting of
approximately 1.2 acres located at the southwest corner of Lakeview Avenue and
Montgomery Way, having approximate frontages of 232 feet on the west side of
Lakeview Avenue and 187 feet on. the south side of Montgomery Way, and further
described as 118 South Montgomery Way.
Waiver of maximum structural height to construct a 2-story, 37-foot high
single-family residence.
Continued from the Zoning Administrator meeting of May 3, 1990.
There were 2 people indicating their presence in opposition and no
correspondence was received.
Ms. Santalahti stated this item was continued from the May 3, 1990, Zoning
Administrator meeting in order for the applicant to look at revisions to the
plan to reduce or eliminate the waiver being requested.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 2
Norman McCurry, 520 Londerry Dr., stated the staff report is incorrect in that
it reads the maximum height is thirty-seven feet but it is actually
thirty-five feet. He stated they were at twenty-five percent (over 25 feet)
in the past but now the new plan is twelve percent of the roof area over
twenty-five feet of which two percent exceeds thirty feet. He stated they
feel they have made many concessions and done a great job at getting this
project closer to Code. He stated they met with some of the neighbors to try
and show them more in depth what the project is. He stated the variance will
not change the look of the house from any side. He stated the thirty-five
foot point takes place right at the center of the house and from the back of
the house you will see a deck of a two-story house and a similar view in every
other direction.
Ms. Santalahti asked are there any actual roof ridge lines involved and Mr.
McCurry answered there is a ridge line, but it is at twenty-five feet.
Mr. McCurry stated there is no ridge line that exceeds twenty-five feet.
Ms. Santalahti asked if the area between twenty-five and thirty feet is a
peaked roof area.
Mr. McCurry answered ten percent of it is flat and two percent is a peaked
roof.
Ron Pharris, 130 E1 Dorado Lane, stated his property backs up to the
development on Montgomery Way. He stated he has submitted two letters and has
met with the owner's representative. He stated he is very happy to see that
the project was reduced to twelve percent instead of twenty-five percent over
25 feet high. He stated his concern from the E1 Dorado side is that their
homes back up to that development and they would not want a precedent set so
they are going to be looking at other thirty-five foot high structures. He
stated a future developer of a future home backing up to the residences on E1
Dorado Lane is going to look and see what has been previously approved, and
they are going to argue the point that the City let the person across the
street have a 35-foot house and now they should let him have 35 feet also. He
stated he is speaking more to protect himself in the future when, potentially,
there will be a hearing on another height variance.
Roland Krueger, 561 Peralta Hills Drive, stated over ninety percent of the
Peralta Hills area is now developed within the Code standards. He stated
there have been a number of occasions in the past when people have asked for
height waivers and they have been denied because there were no special
circumstances related to the land. He stated the City would be inconsistent
from that standpoint to grant this variance with height as high as thirty-five
feet. He stated it would create a precedent even though there is not a lot of
land left to be developed. He stated there are still a lot of remodelings and
that means that Peralta Hills can end up with a lot of high rise residences
that approach a three-story, thirty-five foot height. He stated from the
stand point of consistency the City should deny this application.
Ms. Santalahti stated there were a number of opposition letters received prior
to the last hearing.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 3
Mr. McCurry stated they have done a lot of work to bring the height down. He
stated there is no way you can see the thirty-five feet from any place outside
the house. He stated if there was an identical situation to this lot with a
stepped lot and an identical house plan, then a precedent might be set. He
stated they have come very close to Code and made a lot of design concessions
on the project at great cost not only in terms of design, but also in terms of
time delays.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED
Ms. Santalahti asked what will be the relationship or difference between the
finished pad of this property to the property that is immediately to the south
and also to the homes on E1 Dorado Lane further west.
Mr. McCurry responded that the existing pad height is probably three or four
feet above the pad to the south and very close to other pads on E1 Dorado
Lane. He stated in the re-design of this project they have lowered the
highest roof line two feet.
Ms. Santalahti stated under the revised plans a total of twelve percent of the
roof area is going to be over twenty-five, with ten percent between
twenty-five feet and thirty feet, and another two percent over thirty feet.
She stated there are no ridge lines over twenty-five feet, but there is a
peaked roof. She stated the area over the two percent that is over the thirty
feet is in the center of the house, but other than that, as viewed from all
directions the actual wall planes people will be able to see are all going to
be at Code and then as you go to the middle of the building there is going to
be a spot where the earth is down deeper than it would be if the lot were
graded differently.
Ms. Santalahti stated this project was categorically exempt from the
requirement to prepare an environmental impact report under Class 3. She
approved Variance No. 4046 with the revised plans because only two percent of
the house deviates from the permitted ten percent which can exceed twenty-five
feet, and that there are no exterior walls over twenty-five .feet high which
are entirely visible from the base of said wall to the top. She stated Mr.
Pharris's concern regarding precedence is always valid because people have a
tendency to come in and' comment on other projects, but each project is really
its own. She stated the lots that are between this one and the El Dorado Lane
homes become really critical because of that nearness and they will be looked
at much more strictly if anybody does come in with a height variance. She
stated each approved project must stand on its own and other than somebody
coming in with an identical lot, with an identical house configuration and in
identical location relative to the neighbors they cannot expect to be approved
simply because another person got a height variance between thirty and
thirty-five feet.
This decision shall become final unless an appeal to the City Council, in
writing, accompanied by an appeal fee, is filed with the City Clerk within 15
days of the date of the signing of this decision or unless members of the City
Council shall request to review this decision within said 15 days.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May, 31, 1990 PAGE 4
ITEM N0. 2 CEOA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 3 AND VARIANCE N0. 4047
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: JOHN J. STEVENS, 1570 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA
92802. Subject property is a rectangularly-shaped parcel of land consisting
of approximately .26 acre, having a frontage of approximately 89 feet on the
south side of Katella Avenue, having a maximum depth of approximately 126
feet, being located approximately 225 feet east of the centerline of Bayless
Street, and further described as 1570 West Katella Avenue.
Waivers of permitted location of a freestanding sign and permitted wall signs
to construct a 52 square-foot freestanding sign and 5 wall signs.
Continued from the Zoning Administrator meeting of May 17, 1990, for the
applicant to revise the plans to reduce the amount of signage.
There were two people indicating their presence in opposition and no
correspondence was received.
John Stevens, 1570 W. Katella Avenue, stated the required sideyard distance to
maintain the forty percent of lot width from the side property line to the
monument sign would create a problem with the existing overhead awnings that
he has on his building.
Ms. Santalahti asked what is the reason for the base of the monument sign
being three feet, three inches high.
Mr. Stevens responded this is so that it can go over the existing fencing that
he has in the front.
Michael Badders, 1521 W. Nottingham Lane, stated the property itself is well
advertised as it sits. He stated he feels an abundance of signage is being
proposed. He stated during the night the flourescent signs on the windows are
all lit, the awnings also have signage and it is all just one big
advertisement. He stated he lives in a residential complex two lots away.
Hal Roach, 1537 W. Nottingham Lane, stated he bought his property in 1983 and
was one of the first persons to buy there. He stated at that time it was a
residential area situated between two commercial areas to the east and to the
west. He stated since that time the commercial areas have been encroaching
into the area. He stated they have more and more signs going up for different
businesses. He stated the building is very pretty. He stated he is concerned
about this business lowering the value of area properties and is also
concerned about more businesses coming into the area. He stated he is against
having more and more signs being put in the area.
Mr. Stevens stated they are living on Katella Avenue which is the gateway to
Disneyland and if they did not desire to live in a commercial district then
they should have never bought in a commercial area. He stated his feelings
are that the residential condominium complex never should have been built
there. He stated the City's Master Plan shows all of Katella Avenue as being
commercial. He stated he bought property at this location because he wanted
to be at the gateway to Disneyland, which supports good business. He stated
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 5
the signage they have now is not very visible. He stated the signs against
the building are not visible unless you turn your head directly in front of
the building. He stated this was his dream when he went to the Supreme Court
and legalized fortune telling throughout the state of California, and to build
a beautiful business for the community. He stated his request is not any
different from any other businesses that are on the area and the signs are
needed to bring money in.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED
Ms. Santalahti stated the revised plans reduce the size of the monument sign
from fifty-two to thirty-nine square feet. She asked if the sign was moved
more towards the center and Mr. Stevens responded it was moved to almost the
middle of the building.
Della Herrick stated it was moved twenty-nine feet, but it is still not in
compliance with Code.
Ms. Santalahti stated the sign is perpendicular to the street so that you
would see the sign as you drive east and west. She stated the reason for the
signage limitation on this property is that the property is under a
conditional use permit which is for commercial use of a residential structure.
Ms. Santalahti stated this proposal is categorically exempt from the
requirement to process an environmental impact report under class 3.
Ms. Santalahti stated she planned to approve Variance No. 4047, in part. She
approved the monument sign as shown (39-foot square on a 3 and 1/2 foot base),
the one wall sign that faces directly onto Katella Avenue on the north wall of
the building and deny the other four signs which are on the east and west
sides. She stated the reason for that denial is that the proposed monument
sign will accomodate the traffic that will be coming in and that the sign is
high enough to not be obstructed by the landscaping or fencing. She stated
she does not think the other wall signs are necessary or desirable. She
stated one of the concerns that was voiced at the last hearing was from one of
the neighbors from the south and he was concerned about sign lighting that
might shine into his residential lot. She stated the signage she is approving
does not reflect into his lot and it is a favorable compromise which
eliminates four wall signs.
Mr. Stevens stated the awning signs are painted on the canvas and they do not
show very much. He stated the only reason they put those up was so that
people can find the entrance.
Ms. Santalahti concurred with that.
Ms. Santalahti revised her approval of this proposal, as she described before
but allowing the two canopy signs specifically because they are dimensioned
and with the wording that is on them right now, one facing east and the other
facing west. As before, she approved the new neon wall sign that faces north
and the new proposed and revised monument sign perpendicular to Katella
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 6
Avenue. She stated the reason that she is going along with this request is
that if this property were developed commercially you could under code have a
free-standing sign bigger than this monument sign and the three wall signs as
approved. She stated commercial property with eighty-nine feet of frontage
can have almost one hundred and eighty square feet of free-standing signage
plus one wall sign on each building wall.
Mr. Stevens stated he was offered one million two dollars for his building by
Century 21. He stated Century 21 could take that building over and imagine
what they would put there.
Ms. Santalahti stated if somebody else buys the building, they can use it as
commercial offices as long as the parking is all to Code, but they are going
to have to live under the conditional use permit that is on the property. She
stated it is not impossible to make modifications that would eliminate the
residential part. She stated the conditional use permit and this variance
will stay with the property in its current building configuration and if
anybody proposes a change to the signage, they have to come back to the City
for permits. She stated any signage on the property is limited by this
variance as well as by the earlier conditional use permit.
This decision shall become final unless an appeal to the City Council, in
writing, accompanied by an appeal fee, is filed with the City Clerk within 15
days of the date of the signing of this decision or unless members of the City
Council shall request to review this decision within said 15 days.
ITEM N0. 3 CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION-CLASS 15 AND VARIANCE N0. 4051
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: Pierco Development, 14771 Plaza Drive, Suite A,
Tustin, CA 92680. Subject property is a rectangularly-shaped parcel of land
consisting of approximately .56 acre having a frontage of approximately 226
feet on the south side of Romneya Drive, having a maximum depth of
approximately 100 feet, being located approximately 90 feet from the
centerline of Citron Street and further described as 712, 718 724 and 728 W.
Romneya Drive.
Waivers of (a) minimum building site width and (b) minimum side yard setback
to establish a 4-lot subdivision of a 16-unit apartment complex (under
construction).
There was one person indicating his presence in opposition and no
correspondence was received.
Richard Pierce, 1477 Plaza Drive, Tustin, stated he has four four-plex
buildings with one sixteen unit building permit. He stated he did this
because the timing of the purchase escrow did not allow him time to go through
all the procedures with the City. He stated they tried to design the four
four-plexes so that they would not have any problems asking for this permit.
He stated he bought three old homes on three irregular lots and made them into
one lot. He stated the surrounding properties have developed very similarly
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 7
to what he is asking. He stated there is a mistake in the staff report in
that it indicates that the property to the south is a single-family
residence. He stated there are four four-plexes built adjacent to and south
of his property. He stated those lots have the same size and widths that he
is asking for, fifty-six and a half feet. He stated the staff report has a
clause that says the sole purpose of any variance or code waiver is to prevent
discrimination and none shall be approved that would have the effect of
granting a special privilege not shared by other similar properties. He
stated he is asking for the same thing. He stated the property to the east
has manufactured homes with thirty foot widths and to the west is a small
duplex on a very small lot. He stated four-plexes are generally owned by
owners that live in the front unit and rent out the back three units therefore
you have an owner living on the property. He stated they will take better
care of the property and maintain it better than absentee owners. He stated
if it is owned as a sixteen unit project it would probably be owned by a
corporation and there would be an on-site manager. He stated a property owner
living on the property will reduce lease and fire problems because they are
there all the time.
Maurice Barbarian (secretary not sure of spelling) stated he lives on Roysten
Street to the north and he can see this project from his house and he noted
there is not enough parking and they are going to have traffic driving down
Roysten Street in front of his house. He stated when he cuts grass the people
who park in front of his house do not like for him to get their car dirty and
he has to tell them to move their car. He asked why didn't they put on a
protective coating when they build the foundation to this structure to keep it
from eroding. He asked why did they have to use a forklift to push the
building and get it leveled. He stated usually when foundations are built
after the cement dries they put tar or a coating of paint on it and in that
way keep it from eroding. He stated he was born in New York, but he has lived
on that block for twenty-five years. He stated they have bent the cables
while installing them between the walls and that they cut them-too long and
then they pushed them in.
He mentioned he wanted to know who he could complain to about the malathion
spraying.
Ms. Santalahti suggested he contact Orange County which has the area Health
Department and that he should contact them by writing to let them know his
concerns.
He also mentioned he is remodeling his home and wanted to know if the City is
going move them out to build more apartments because he is hearing a lot of
rumors.
Ms. Santalahti responded everything north of~Romneya Drive is designated for
single family uses so they do not expect to see any apartments over there
without at least two public hearings to change the General Plan. She stated
south of Romneya Drive is a different situation because it includes
Multiple-Family Zoning.
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MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 8
Mr. Pierce stated the sideyard that is in question is between two of the four
plexes and not towards any surrounding properties. He stated they have the
required parking for the four plexes. He stated they followed the approved
set of plans during construction.
Ms. Santalahti asked what size are the units.
Mr. Pierce responded they are each two-bedroom, two bath, and they are
approximately eight-hundred and fifty square feet.
She asked if that meant he had two and a half parking spaces per unit and he
agreed.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED
Ms. Santalahti stated the Parking Code has changed over time and when most of
the apartments in the vicinity were built they were built at a substantially
lower parking requirement. She stated this project will not generate a
greater parking need and will satisfy its own parking requirement. She stated
parking should not be a problem except for people choosing to park on the
street.
Ms. Santalahti stated since this property is located less than one hundred and
fifty feet from single-family zoning, then there should be no windows or
balconies on the north facing wall towards Romneya that faces the single
family homes. Mr. Pierce responded the City required him to put screening in
the front of those windows.
Ms. Santalahti stated the difficulty she is having with this petition is the
lot width and the reason is that all the lots that are developed to fifty six
feet were developed a number of years ago. She stated the similarities to
other properties in the area the petitioner is addressing in requesting this
variance are a similarity to something that is thirty or forty years old as
far as the Zoning Code is concerned.
Mr. Pierce stated he built fourteen four-plexes on Pearl Street and they were
built about ten years ago.
Ms. Santalahti stated the site plan shows that the four subject lots share
some kind of access whether it is pedestrian or vehicular.
Mr. Pierce stated there will be two common driveways between each two
buildings and easements will be established.
Ms. Santalahti stated she also saw on the plot plan that there is a walkway
that runs between the middle two lots and there are two stairways that come
down into that walkway. She stated in reviewing Condition No. 2 as
recommended by staff, the condition states that the petitioner provide
perpetual easements between lots one and two and lots three and four and that
takes care of the vehicular access, but there is shared pedestrian access as
well.
•
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MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 9
Mr. Pierce stated if that is a problem he can put in two separate sidewalks.
Ms. Santalahti stated what has happened on properties like this in the past is
that two owners become irritated with one another, they put a fence up the
middle and all of sudden what was much more useable open space functionally is
gone because now it consists of two five-foot deep yards instead of a single
10-foot yard.
Ms. Santalahti stated she concurs with the Categorical Exemption, Class 15
prepared for this item.
Ms. Santalahti stated she will approve waiver (B) sideyard setback because it
is a minimal request pertaining only to the second story above the garages and
that the deviance ranging from a 9.5 to a 10-foot setback is minor. She
stated she will approve the lot width requirement on the basis of existing
nearby RM-1200 lots that are developed on fifty-six foot lots and also because
this property is developed to the RM-1200 Code except for the second story
yard depth. She stated she will modify Condition No. 2 to require that in
addition to perpetual vehicle easements for mutual access between lots 1 and 2
and lots 3 and 4, there be pedestrian access easements between lots 2 and 3 at
the center of the property. She stated that no fences shall be constructed
which reduce the usable open recreational space to less than a ten foot
dimension in any direction. She stated the reason she is doing that is
because the statistics of available recreational space change if that area is
fenced.
Selma Mann, Deputy City Attorney, stated she also requests that the perpetual
easement agreement be unsubordinated.
Ms. Santalahti asked if each building has two open parking spaces that are
tandem to two covered spaces.
Mr. Phelps, the designer, responded it varies. He stated Building 1 has two
tandem configurations and each unit has its own spaces identified. He stated
Building 2 has two tandem configurations and the rest are double car garages.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED
This decision shall become final unless an appeal to the City Council, in
writing, accompanied by an appeal fee, is filed with the City Clerk within 15
days of the date of the signing of this decision or unless members of the City
Council shall request to review this decision within said 15 days.
•
•
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 10
ITEM N0. 4 CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3276
PUBLIC HEARING. OWNER: HWA JA RAH, 2207 W. Woodley Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801.
Subject property is a rectangularly-shaped parcel of land consisting of
approximately .45 acre, having a frontage of approximately 140 feet on the
north side of Woodley Avenue, having a maximum depth of approximately 108
feet, being located approximately 75 feet west of the centerline of Brookhurst
Street, and further described as 2207 and 2211 West Woodley Avenue.
To permit a child care facility for 30 children. ,
There were 5 people indicating their presence in opposition and a petition was
received in opposition.
Hwa Ja Rah, 2207 W. Woodley Avenue, applicant, stated she is currently
operating a day care facility of twelve children. She stated she has received
a lot of phone calls from parents who want to bring their children into this
day care and this is why she is requesting a permit for thirty children.
Ms. Santalahti asked how long has she been operating with twelve children and
if she started out with six children before that.
Ms. Rah responded she has been operating her business for nine months.
Ms. Rah stated she has received compliments from her neighbors. She stated
they said that after she moved into that area she improved the appearance.
Lewis W. Dexter, 305 N. Ranchito Street, stated he received a notice regarding
this meeting and he notices that it described the property as 2207 and 2211 W.
Woodley so it is his understanding that they are just going to be talking
about one of these properties.
Ms. Santalahti stated this petition applies to both pieces of property.
Mr. Dexter stated there are several flaws in the environmental impact report
initial study. He stated the turnabout is never used like it was stated at
the last meeting (for the Large Family Day Care Facility). He stated there
are cars that are parked in front making it impossible for other cars to come
in, drop the kids off and go out on the other side. He stated almost all of
them drive directly in, let the kids out and then back out; and there have
been several complaints from neighbors that they have almost been rear-ended
by the people driving into them. He stated they are concerned with the time
of day this project will be operating because most of the people will be
dropping off and picking up their kids during the peak hours in the morning
and the evening. He stated they are going to look at this project very
seriously and if it does impact them then they are going to come before the
Council and petition to get a stop light put in at Woodley and Brookhurst. He
stated when they drive to Brookhurst they do it at risk. He stated he would
also like to note a senior citizens development has been put at the other end
of his neighborhood and that is going to impact traffic. He stated they have
nothing against child care centers or the applicants but this is located at
what the neighbors consider an unstrategic part of their development.
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MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 11
Robert Gilreath, 2215 W. Woodley, stated he lives on the west side of the
child day care center. He stated when they originally came with the request
to have the child day care center, he did not object because he was under the
impression that it would be a low profile center. He stated they were not
aware of the fact that it was going to be an industrial type child day care
center and it has gone out of control. He stated they have the entrance that
comes in to the child day care center on his side of the property. He stated
the applicant made a statement that they had 12 children and he thinks there
are really fifteen or sixteen. He stated they come early in the morning and
the entrance to the child day care center is located next to his bedroom. He
stated the traffic is very bad. He stated they park in front of his house
making it very noisy in the morning. He stated he fully supports Mr. Dexter
and he opposes increasing in the number of children.
Eugene Wickell, 224 W. Ranchito Street, stated he has been a resident there
for about twenty years. He stated this project impacts the traffic on their
neighborhood. The people do not look back when they back out of the driveway,
they drive straight in and when they are ready to leave they back straight
out. He stated people come into Ranchito all at once and if they do not find
a parking place, they make a big "U" turn in the street. He stated they zip
just like kids racing their cars and they turn wherever they want to. He
stated it is a very dangerous street and they are going to triple this use to
thirty kids.
Mr. Dexter stated another neighbor, Monte Buy, was suppose to be here. He
stated he lives directly across from the development on Ranchito. He stated
Mr. Buy was unable to come but his sentiments are the same as his neighbors.
Ms. Santalahti mentioned there was a fifth person in the audience in
opposition but not wishing to speak.
Ms. Rah stated they are taking care of twelve children. She stated there are
times when other children come from other facilities to visit. She stated
they are applying for a permit of thirty children because there are families
that come to see her facility and want to bring their children to her. She
stated they have enough parking spaces to the east of 2207 Woodley Avenue.
She stated it is a flower shop to the east and they can use four of its
parking spaces. She stated if the traffic problem continues then she can use
an 8-passenger van that she owns. She stated she has a commercial license for
driving the passenger van.
PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED
Ms. Santalahti stated under the state licensing you can get a license for six
children and then the neat level is twelve. She asked if thirty is the next
size.
Ms. Rah stated she has experience in operating a day care and that is why they
licensed her for twelve children. She stated people who do not have
•
MINUTE, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 12
experience in family day cares are allowed a maximum of six children. She
stated if she has enough playground space for the kids she can apply for as
many as fifty children, but she does not want a facility that large. She
stated she has more than enough space for thirty children.
Ms. Santalahti asked how many teachers or adults do you have to have on the
premises.
Ms. Rah answered right now she has two and including her there is a total of
three. She stated one of the teachers is full time and the other one is part
time.
Ms. Santalahti asked if she lived on the premises.
Ms. Rah answered yes.
Ms. Santalahti asked if she lived in the house at 2207 Woodley and if the
house at 2211 Woodley was going to be used for the day care.
Ms. Rah answered yes, that is correct.
Ms. Santalahti stated she understands nothing inside the house at 2207 Woodley
will be used for the day care except for the back play yard which extends
across the two backyards. Ms. Santalahti asked what time is the earliest
child delivered.
Ms. Rah answered it can be adjustable and it depends on what time the parents
want to bring them in. She stated at this time they open at 8:00 and close at
6:30 p.m.
Ms. Santalahti asked what kind of fencing separates the day care from the
neighbor to the west.
Ms. Rah answered on the west side of 2211 Woodley, six feet away from the wall
are classrooms and there is little noise if the windows are closed. She
stated she is going to be buying the house next door on the west side in the
future.
Ms. Santalahti asked if the 6-foot block wall ran along the entire west
property line. Ms. Santalahti stated on the submitted plans it says that the
play yard was sixty-five by forty-five feet. She stated it also shows a
dotted line between the buildings towards the north, near the rear property
line. She asked if that is another fence that keeps the children in the play
area.
Ms. Rah answered yes, that is another block wall over four feet high.
Ms. Santalahti asked if there is a gate in that block wall.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 13
Ms. Rah answered there is no gate. Ms. Rah stated the entrance gate is
located between her building and the west side residence.
Ms. Santalahti asked if the children are limited to a certain play area.
Ms. Rah answered the play ground area is between the child day care building
and her house and there is no playground on the west side near her neighbor's
house.
Ms. Santalahti asked if there is a block wall on the north property line.
Ms. Rah answered yes.
Ms. Santalahti asked if there was also a 6-foot block wall against the parking
lot of the florist shop on the east
Ms. Rah stated that has chain link fence that is about six feet high.
Ms. Santalahti asked if the applicant is using the van now or does she plan to
use it if this petition is approved.
Ms. Rah answered she will use it if this request is approved.
Ms. Santalahti asked if she would be picking up a maximum of ten children and
taking them back home.
Ms. Rah agreed and added once in the morning and once in the evening.
Ms. Santalahti asked Ms. Rah if she is on the premises at all time.
Mrs. Rah answered sometimes she goes out, but there is always an adult at the
facility to look after the children.
Ms. Rah stated for thirty children there needs to be two teachers and two
assistants and they have to be on the premises all the time and added she will
be one of the part time teachers.
Ms. Santalahti stated she went out when the twelve children application was
requested and at that time the front area was paved for the turn-around area
so that people could drive in and out. She stated she went out again this
morning and noticed people had a tendency to pull in, drop off the children,
and then back out again.
Ms. Rah stated she will be talking to the parents so that they can be more
careful .
Ms. Santalahti stated staff from the City's Traffic Engineer's office also
went out to this facility to look at some of the traffic concerns. She stated
the additional number of children and the traffic generated is not considered
as a numerical problem by the Traffic Engineer.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 14
Ms. Santalahti stated the pavement across the front needs a drop off area that
is clear. She stated people should drive in, drive out and keep going in the
same direction. She stated with the rolled curb the whole thing looks like a
parking lot so people just drive in and do not look at it like a driveway.
She stated she would like to see two changes before she acts on this
petition. She stated one of them is that a modification should be made in the
front drive area. She stated that should involve putting in a raised planter
in the center of the property with curbs around it. She stated she would need
to see the drawing in order to see whether there is enough space for one car
to pass another parked car. She stated she would like to see the dimensions
on the drawing to show whether a car can park against the building and then
the others can pass by without any difficulties resulting in being forced to
back out. She stated she understands child day care centers do not cause
problems with traffic if the front drop-off areas are suitably designed. She
stated parents tend to come at different times and you normally do not get a
bunch of them trying to drop off children at the same time. She stated the
other aspect is that the drawing which was submitted does not identify the
fencing material at the back and the presence or lack of gates. She stated
she would like the petitioner to identify the materials and the height of the
fences around the playground. She stated thirty children playing outdoors
could be a problem for neighbors if they are right up against their property
line and she would like to be sure that the children will not be towards the
west.
Della Herrick, Associate Planner, stated they may need to know the ages of the
children because the number of teachers is based upon the age of the
children. She stated if the children are under the age of five then there
needs to be one adult for every five children.
Ms. Santalahti stated she would like to have written down the number of
teachers Ms. Rah is going to have with the thirty children and also the ages
of the children.
Ms. Santalahti stated she would like a revised plan to include more
information, to show what the play yard has for fencing around it, how tall
the fences are and what they are made of, the redesign of front
parking/loading area including a possible curbed planter adjacent to Woodley
so that as people drive in they can see more clearly that they're meant to
drive in and to drive out.
Ms. Santalahti stated she will continue this item for two weeks. She stated
all the revised plans need to be in by June 5, 1990 at 5:00 pm. The continued
hearing date will be June 14, 1990. She asked Ms. Rah to be sure to show on
the new plan exactly where the parking spaces will be. She stated if the
garage is going to be used for parking space it must be labeled that way and
also any front parking spaces at both addresses.
Ms. Rah stated if this application is approved for thirty children, then no
one is going to live at 2711 Woodley.
• •
MINUTES, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, May 31, 1990 PAGE 15
Ms. Santalahti stated she is assuming this building will be full day care
facility and nobody will living on the premises at 2207 Woodley.
Ms. Santalahti stated she is not too concerned about employee parking because
the teachers and the assistants can be told where to park. She stated she is
interested in the parking and the loading the parents do in the front. She
stated the building entrance is not shown on the site plan, and asked that it
be shown on the new plan.
Ms. Santalahti repeated she is going to continue Item No. 4, Conditional Use
Permit No. 3276 for two weeks until the meeting of June 14, 1990, for some
additional information concerning all the fencing materials and heights on the
property, the design of the parking-loading area at 2211 Woodley Drive
including the installation of a planter that will encourage right turns, the
marking off all the parking spaces and she would also like Traffic Engineer to
be present at the next meeting for additional information.
Ms. Santalahti stated there will not be a renotification on this item.
ITEM N0. 5 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
A. ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ADJUSTMENT N0. 50 AND CEOA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
CLASS 5: Waiver of maximum structural height to construct a 2-story, 11,169
square foot single-family residence at 267 Peralta Way.
Ms. Santalahti said they had received no written correspondence on
Administrative Adjustment No. 0050 and noted the appeal period would end
May 31, 1990 at 5:00 p.m. She said she would act on this item after May 31,
1990.
ITEM N0. 6 ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST:
There was no one indicating a desire to speak.
ADJOURNMENT•
There being no further business, Ms. Santalahti adjourned the meeting at 11:50
a.m.
Minutes prepared by: Minutes approved by:
~~~ C.~ `
Margar' Perez Annika M. Santalahti
Acting Secretary Zoning Administrator
0494g