Minutes-ZA 2003/02/20• •
ACTION AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANAHEIM CITY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2003 AT 9:30 A.M.
Council Chambers, City Hall
200 South Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, California
Present:
Annika Santalahti, Zoning Administrator David See, Senior Planner
Mark Facer, Deputy City Attorney Danielle Masciel, Word Processor
Melanie Adams, Associate Engineer
1. REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATION ITEM:
ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT NO. 2003-00238
OWNER: Properties Sterling
3110 E. Miraloma Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
AGENT: Larry Stanley
Index Industries
5362 Production Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
LOCATION: 3110 E. Miraloma Avenue. Property is 3.6-acre located at
the southeast corner of Miraloma Avenue and Kraemer Boulevard.
Waiver of maximum floor area ratio (0.5 permitted; 0.52 proposed) to permit
the construction of a new mezzanine within an existing warehouse in the
SP94-1, D.A. 2(Northeast Area Specific Plan; Expanded Industrial Area)
Zone.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION NO. ZA2003-06
Approved
15 day appeal
Project Planner:
(eyambaoCo~anaheim.net)
sr3002ey.doc
QS. 139
There was no opposition received therefore Annika Santalahti, Zoning Administrator, approved
Administrative Adjustment No. 2003-00238 for a new mezzanine add on.
AC022003.DOC Page 1
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2a. CEQA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION -CLASS 11
2b. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WAIVER N0.2003-00022
OWNER: Anaheim Gateway LLC
120 N. Robertson Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
AGENT: Patrick O'Daly
STDR Architects
3190-K Airport Loop Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
LOCATION: 1430 North Lemon Street - 24-Hour Fitness: Property is
26.34-acres located at the southeast corner of Lemon Street and Durst
Street.
Request for a waiver of Special Event Permit requirements to permit a
temporary trailer and banners in conjunction with a proposed health club
(under construction) within a commercial retail center of regional significance
in the CL (Commercial Limited) Zone.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION NO. ZA2003-07
Concurred with staff
Approved
10 day appeal period.
Project Planner:
(dsee anaheim.net)
Sr2121 ds.doc
QS. 69
Robert Grenitz, from STDR Architects was present for any questions that staff might need answered. He
explained that due to the current weather conditions the business was not able to hold their event and
asked to postpone their request.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:
3a. CEQA NEGATIVE DECLARATION Continued to the
3b. VARIANCE N0.2003-04549 March 20, 2003 meeting
OWNER: Charles Bogner
130 Leola Way
Anaheim, CA 92807
LOCATION: 779 Peralta Hills Drive. This irregularly-shaped 1.5-acre
property is located southeast of the intersection of Crescent Drive and Peralta 15 day appeal
Hills Drive on a private road easement; the property is approximately 640 feet
south of Crescent Drive and 681 feet east of Peralta Hills Drive.
Waiver of maximum structural height to construct athree-story single-family Project Planner:
residence in the RS-HS-43,000(SC) (Residential, Single Family Hillside-Scenic (vnorwoodl~Danaheim.net)
COrrldOr Overlay) ZOne. SR8557VN.doc
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION NO.
QS. 174
Opposition: 6 people were present in opposition of this proposal. 5 people spoke in opposition on this
project.
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Charles Bogner, applicant was present to represent the proposal.
Judy Joss, 265 S. Chrisalta Way, was present in opposition and represented 6 other neighbors in the area.
She stated that the petition contains false and misleading statements. First being that only one house has a
view of this project which she claimed was false. In fact there are 6 homes that will have a view of this
home. Further refuted that the house's proposed basement is not visible from any other public road. The
petition further stated that this site is not visible from the roads. Ms. Joss stated that this was misleading
because many of the roads in Peralta Hills are private roads and South Chrisalta Way is also a private
paved road leading to 11 homes. As stated previously 6 of those home will have a view of the eastern side
of this property. The visual aesthetics of the homeowner's properties will be negatively impacted by a
dwelling exceeding the 25-foot height limitation. The steep downward slope leading to the subject's
property is not a special circumstance, which deprives the subject of privileges enjoyed by other properties
under identical zoning classifications in the vicinity. At least two other properties on Peralta Hills Drive have
steep downward slope and to our knowledge they have not received variances on their height restrictions.
Even if the subject property was built as a two story dwelling within the 25-foot height restriction it will still be
substantially larger than almost all the other houses in the area that have much larger flat pads therefore the
petitioner's argument that because he can't build out he should be able to build up shouldn't be valid. She
stated that she didn't feel that he was being deprived any privileges by being able to build an 11,000 square
foot building. The basement that creates the third story is not consistent with the other homes in this area.
3 floors of doors and windows facing east will lend a hotel look which will destroy the unique and natural
scenic assets of the Santa Ana Canyon Scenic Corridor. The dwelling design is insensitive to its visibility to
it's 6 opposing homeowner's properties. Regardless of the number of stories in this dwelling unit it's height
should be limited to 25 feet measured from the original elevation of the subject property. The homeowner
has already performed substantial grading on the site. The grading plan calls for thousands of cubic yards
of fill to be imported to increase its elevation. The grading plans show an approximate 12.5 increase in
elevation at the eastern slope of the property. The views from the opposing homeowner's properties make it
appear that the increased elevation is more than 12.5 feet. By lifting the original elevation of the subject
property the petitioner is ultimately lifting the height of the dwelling. Precedents in the area exist for
measuring the original not graded elevation when measuring the 25-foot height restriction. The opposing
homeowners respectfully request that this variance be denied.
Sheikh Kashmiri, 4944 E. Crescent Dr., property owner adjacent to the proposed site. He stated her
concerns as to whether the lot will remain stable upon grading and as the proposal is now there would be an
obstruction to her view. Also there was an inquiry made as to how many cubic yards of landfill were
imported.
Ms. Santalahti asked the City Engineer at what point would it be required to hold a public hearing be
required for grading activities.
Melanie Adams, Principle Civil Engineer, clarified that were two grading hearing was held on August 5~',
2002 and continued to the August 12~', 2002 and the grading plan was approved The approval including a
fill of 4,500 cubic yards and an excavation of 525 cubic yards.
Ms Santalahti asked if it were a similar notification process to the public hearings of Zoning Administrator.
Mrs. Adams confirmed that it was similar to the 300-foot radius notification process. And it appeared that
only one homeowner was at that public hearing.
John McLuckey, 295 Chrisalta Way, strongly oppose the variance and support the comments that had been
made. He invited the Zoning staff to come out to his house, which is adjacent to the proposed site, and the
review the concerns.
Sani Khan, 4944 E. Crescent Drive, stated that his concerns were the stability that the lot provides after the
grading portion is done.
Ms. Santalahti redirected the grading question to City Engineer.
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Ms. Adams responded that in the area of the fills it is the responsibility of the Technical Engineer to report
and recommend how the site is prepared, how the fill materials will be placed and foundation
recommendations. The report prepared by All-West Geosciences for the project. That was required by
code. The drainage is part of the plan separation.
Minou Ghasemi, 4946 E. Crescent Drive, stated that the graded area is on the side of the lot adjacent to her
lot next to the swimming pool, which leads to concerns regarding the lot stability. In addition there were
concerns about infringing on her view, and her privacy.
Mr. Bogner rebutted that there was a unique circumstance with the elevation. He stated that John
McLuckey opposed this project and yet Mr. Bogner feels that he has the same type of elevation structure
being located on the same side of the hill. He also stated that Mr. Kashmiri was opposed to the Variance
and that his house was in excess of 10,000 square feet of the permitted lot coverage. In effort to address
the neighbors on Chrisalta, their elevation is approximately 50 feet lower and that by the time retaining walls
are built it will not impact there line of site.
Ms. Santalahti asked what kind of heights and lengths are planned for the retaining walls.
Mr. Bogner stated that the retaining wall would be approximately 200 feet long.
Ms. Santalahti decided that a decision would not be acted upon in order to have an opportunity to see where
the original grade of the sight was located and what the finished grade is going to be. Also directed staff to
obtain a location map indicating the location of the residences of the opposition and lastly take a field trip to
the site to view the site. Further she requested that the field trip take place at Mr. Mc Luckey's site and
request that the applicant and/or architect as well as Mr. Mc Luckey be present at the field trip.
4. ITEMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST: None
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