Minutes-PC 1988/09/26'~'
MI E
REGULAR METING OF THE ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Date: September 26, 1988
The regv.lar meeting of the Anaheim City Planning Commission was called to
order at 10:00 a.m., September 26, 1988 a.m., by the Chairwoman in the Council
Chamber, a quorum being present and the Commission reviewed plans of the items
on today's agenda.
RECESS: 11:30 a.m.
RECONVENE: 1:35 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chairwoman Bouas
Aoydstun, Carusillo, Feldhaus, Herbst, McBurney, Messe
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Joel Fick
Joseph W. Fletcher
Carol Flynn
Arthur L. Daw
Raren Urman
Debbie Fank
Debbie Vagts
Greg Hastings
Linda Rios
Lori Duca
Cheryl i4estbrook
Edith Harris
Planning Director
Deputy City Attorney
Deputy City Attorney
Deputy City Engineer
Associate Traffic Enqinee:
Associa~,:e Traffic Engineer
Housing Operations Coordinator
Senior Planner
Assistant Planner
Assistant Planner
Planning Aide
Planning Commission Secretary
A ENDA POSTING. A complete copy of the Planning Commission agenda was posted
at 10:00 a.m., September 23, 1988, inside the display case located in the
foyer of the Council Chambers, and also in the outside display kiosk.
Published: Anaheim Bulletin - September 16, 1988
PUBLIC INPUT: Chairwoman Bouas explained at the end of the scheduled
hearings, members of the public will be allowed to speak on items of interest
which are within the jurisdiction of the Planning Commission and/or agenda
items.
MINUTES FOR APPROVAL: Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Boydstun and MOTION CARRIED, that the minutes of the meeting of
June 6, 1988, be approved as submitted.
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"`JTES DLANNING COMt`ZSSION *SEETING SEPTEMBER 2fi 1aRA 2
ITEM NO 1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT NO 283 (PREV CERT )
REO EST TO AMEND CONDITION NO 96 OF SYCAMORE CANYON SPECIFIC PLAN (SP88-1)
VESTING TENTATIVE TRA T N S. 12987, 12988, 12989 12990 11991 12992. 12993,
12994 12995 12996 13153, 13154 AND 13155
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNERS: WOODCREST DEVELOPMENT, ATTN: James Highland, 17911
Mitchell Avenue, Irvine, CA 91714 AGENT: FRANK ELFEND AND ASSOCIATES, 4675
MacArthur Court, Suite 660, Newport Beach, CA 92660
LOCATION: Subject property comprises 13 Vesting Tentative Tracts totaling
approximately 328.9 acres, located southeast of the sov.therly terminus of Weir
Canyon Road and southwest of Santa Ana Canyon Road, bounded on the northwest
by the East Hills Planned Community, on the southeast by The Summit of Anaheim
Hills Planned Community, and on the southwest by The Highlands at Anaheim
Hills Specific Plan development and further described as Sycamore Canyon
(SP88-1).
Request: Amendment to Condition No. 96 of Vesting Tentative Tracts.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutes.
Frank Elfend, Elfend and Associates, 4675 MacArthur Court, Suite 660, Newport
Beach, stated the request is that one of the conditions oa the Sycamore Canyon
project, for the Tracts that are mentioned is the agenda, be extended and set
at a later date, as indicated is the attachment provided to Commission from
the Planning Department. He said they concur with the wording and support
staff's recommendation.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
ACTION Commissioner Boydstun offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Messe and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby
find that Environmental Impact Report No. 283, previously certified by the
City Council on February 9, 1988, is adequate to serve as the required
environmental documentation for the request that Condition No. 96 of Vesting
Tentative Tract Nos. 12987, 12988, 12989, 12990, 12991, 12992, 12993, 12999,
12995, 12996, 13153, 13154 and 13155 be amended.
Commissioner Boydstun offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner Messe and
.`.:~:iiON CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby recommend
that the City Council amend Condition No. 96 of Vesting Tentative Tract Nos.
12987, 12988, 12989, 12990, 12991, 12492, 12993, 12994, 12995, 12996, 13153,
13154 and 13155 to read as follows:
"That prior to the sale of the first residential lot or the issuance of
the first Certificate of Occupancy for a residential unit, (excluding nay
commercial, lots within Vesting Tract Nos. 12991, and 12996), whichever
occurs first, the original documents of the covenants, conditions, and
restrictions l'CCbR's), and a letter addressed to the developer's title
company authorizing recordation thereof, shall be submitted to the City
Attorney's Office and approved by the City Attorney's Office, Public
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Utilities Department and Engineering Division. Said documents, as
approved, shall then be filed and recorded in the Office of the Orange
County Recorder concurrently with the final map unless the City forms a
maintenance district which assumes the full duties under the CC6R's."
aa.d further that the following condition be added:
"Additionally, prior to or concurrently with the recordation of the final
vesting tract map, the owner/developer shall record against the entire
tract a covenant, in a form approved by the City Attorney, imposing
against each and every lot in the tract the obligation to maintain all
slopes, open space, private streets, and private utilities, as -,cell as Lot
A of Vesting Tract 12991 and Lot A of Vesting Tract 12996. The slopes and
areas to be maintained under this covenant shall be those determined by
the City Engineer as required by the Municipal Code. The obligations of
the covenant shall survive unleNS and until the aforementioned CCbR's are
recorded, or the City forms a maintenance district which assumes all
duties required under the covenant."
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission': decision within 10 days to the City Council.
ITEM NO 2 - CEOA '"ATEGORICAL EXEMPTION CLASS 11: VARIANCE N0. 3843
(This item trailed Item No. 5 due to non-appearance of applicant)
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: ROPBSHAN INC., ATTN: ROBERT E. WOOLEY, 5215 N.
O'Connor, Suite 1820, Zrvine, CA 75039; AGENT:BRILLZANT SIGNS INC., 1640 N.
O'Donnell Way, Fullerton, CA 92667
LOCATION: 480 N Glassell Street (Andrevcci's Pasta House),
Request: To construct a 213-square foot freestanding sign with waivers of (a)
maximum area of freestanding sign in the parking-landscape area.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutes.
Robert Sell, 2907 East Barrington Court, Fullerton, 92631, said this
restaurant cannot be seen because there is a hill and the project is sunken
somewhat. He stated it is just not seen from any of the roads and they were
looking for a pole sign that could be seen from the Freeway, since it is on
the corner of Glassell and the 91 freeway. He said they would also have to
have an encroachment permit, and after talking to the City Engineer,
determined an encroachment permit would take another 50 to 90 days, and cost
another 5600. He explained this has been going on for three or four months,
so the owner of the restaurant wants to know, instead of going for the
encroachment permit, if they could just move the sign back another 11 feet.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
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MIN't'~'ES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING crwrr~tnira ~R lggg 4
Commissioner Feldhaus stated he xas going to suggest that the sign be moved
back within the 25-foot setback and then they could qo higher. He stated he
would not be in favor of allowing it to extend into the right-of-way.
Commissioner Messe asked if he was talking about moving it halfway between the
right-of-way and the building itself.
Mr. Bell said the sign from end to end was 22 feet, so they would move that
halfway ':ack.
Commissioner Feldhaus said he would also like to see it reduced in size and
they could move it back the 11 feet, but right now they are asking for about
double the size permitted by code.
Chairwoman Bouas asked the height it could be without a waiver.
Gre, Hastings stated this would be the same as is a commercial zone, and they
would take the distance from the centerline of the street to the actual sign
but he did not have the information as to where the center line of the street
is, in terms of the property line, but it appeared to be quite a distance.
Commissioner Bouas said there should not be any prc.blem with the height then.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he did not have a problem with the height, but
the other issue was the square footage of the sign, and the request is for
twice that permitted.
Mr. Hastings explained the reason for the variance is because this area is in
the industrial zone and t:he sign is located in the parking/landscape area. He
added if this was zoned commercial, the sign could be 304 square feet.
It was noted the Planning Director or his authorized representative has
determined that the proposed project falls within the definition of
Categorical Ezemptions, Class 11, as defined in the State EIR Guidelines and
is, therefore, categorically exempt from the requirement to prepare an EIR.
ACTION: Commissioner Carusillo offered Resolution No. PC88-265 and moved for
its passage and adoption thst the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby
GRANT Variance No. 3843, on the basis that there are special circumstances
applicable to the property such as size, shape, topography, location and
surroundings which do not apply to other identically zoned property in the
same vicinity; and that strict application of the Zoning Code deprives thb
property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the identical zone and
classification in the vicinity and subject to Interdepartmental Committee
recommendations with the addition of a condition that the sign is to be moved
back 11 feet from its present .Location as shown on the submitted development
proposal, and is not to exceed 44 feet in height, subject to approval of staff.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYi. BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
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M7 NiiTFS, PLANNING C~i!•ir'+ISSION ME°TING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 5
z 3 CEOA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION CLASS 11• VARIANCE NO 3894
Pt~3LIC HEARING: OWNERS: HAMPTON INNS INC., 6799 Great Oaks Road, Suite 100,
Memphis, TN 38138 AGENT: JOHN H. MARSDEN/MAISON ELECTRICAL SERVICES, 340 N.
Juanita Street, Hemet, CA 92343
LOCATION: 700 East Ratella Why (HAMPTON ZNN)
Request: To permit two (2) freestanding signs with waivers of (a) maximum
area of freestanding sign, (b) permitted location of freestanding signs and
(c) maximum height of freestanding sign.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutes.
John Marsden, 340 North Juanita Street, Hemet, said they are proposing two
freestanding signs for Hampton Inn, at 300 Ratella Way, one would be 30 feet
in height and the other 70 feet in height; and that they would like to get a
variance because there are some special circumstances that involve this
property. He said the General Plan has this zoned CR but they do have some
residential (apartment houses) in the back. He stated the buildings are about
30 to 35 feet in height and with a 70-foot high sign located right near there,
it would be much higher than the apartments.
He explained the base of the sign would be constructed of material that would
not be excessively bright at night, and it has a blue face that does not put
out a lot of candle power. He stated the property is an irregular, L-shaped
property which does not afford enough frontage on the street to be able to put
the sign the 40b back from the property line required.
He stated they xould like to be able to attract the attention of the people on
Interstate 5. He said he heard there was some concern about the sign
ordinance currently being reviewed for the City of Anaheim, and that he
honestly felt sign ordinances are always in review and the representatives for
Hampton Inn felt they could not wait until all of that was settled; that they
did not know how long that was going to take and they needed to get the
signage up there since they are nearing completion and the projected date of
completion is November. He said if they got the approval from the Commission
today and then waited for the appeal period, they :could then be putting the
signs up relatively close to the opening date.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED:
Commissioner Feldhaus asked staff how long before the study of the CR zone
would be ready for review. He stated he would like to know what kind of time
frame they are looking at.
Commissioner Messe asked if the Biqa on Katella could be moved.
Mr. Marsden said the sign was going to be located in the corner on the side of
the driveway sad if they were to move it, they could move it closer to the
freeway, but they would likr.; co be able to have the people on Ratella able to
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MINIITES PLANNING COMMISSION 2wETZNG SEPTEMBER 26 1988 6
read the sign. He said with the location and the way the street with Katella
Way coming off Katella, most of the drivers' vision is pulled away from that
area.
Responding to Commi:>sioner Feldhaus, Commissioner Messe stated moving the sign
in the westerly direction could eliminate one waiver. He asked how many feet
it would take to bring that sign on Katella into conformance.
Greer Hastings responded they would have to move it 58 feet from the wes~,
property line.
Mr. Marsden stated that would put it just about in the center of the property
where the access is in front of the hotel, and to put it in that area and keep
it from extending into the public right-of-way, it would be within the black
top area. He explained on the side, they could move it back far enough behind
the property line and they would not have to encroach over the public
right-of-way.
chairwoman Houas sai3 she could see the reason for these signs, but the sign
ordinance is being reviewed, and added the ordinances are not always reviewed
in Anaheim, but the signs is this area are being reviewed because of the
illegal signs that have gone up. She added there is nothing offensive about
these signs and they are not the kind which the City would be reviewing and
saying they are not wanted, but it would be difficult for the Commission right
now to be giving any kind of approval on something that was not to code, when
they are in the process of this review.
Mr. Hastings explained he had just received word that the request for approval
of the study would be completed next month and the study is anticipated to
last approzimately six months, so there should be something before the
Commission in approzimately May and that the study would include the signage
program, as well as other development standards.
Chairwoman Houas said that is really too long for them to g9 without the
signs, and there certainly are reasons they need the signs rather than
sticking to code because of the location, and that the height of the one is
important so that it could be seen from the Freeway.
Mr. Marsden said Katella is an overpass for the freeway, and the hotel sits
below that and that they had driven by it and there was not that much
visibility.
Commissioner Carusillo asked Mr. Marsden if he was aware that code allows 25
feet for the sign which they propose to be 70 feet.
Mr. Marsden responded "yes", but because there _s t?1e residential property in
the back, and on the General Plan, it is a CR za:~e~. He stated they had heard
that a lot of that property in the back had been eo:,.,9emaed gad every time he
had tried to get specific information on that, he had not been able to do so,
and that the property is for sale now.
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MINUTES, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, SEPTEMBER 26, 198$ 7
Commissioner Carusillo asked if the 70 feet was requested for the visibility
from the Ratella overpass, or if they did not need that height to attract the
attention of the I5.
Mr. Marsden stated they did need the height and they had photos showing the
hotel from the freeway northbound and the only thing they could see, through
the other tall signs, buildings, etc. in the area, was just the parapet part
of the hotel.
Mr. Marsden explained there was no place on the side of the hate! which would
be facing the east towards the freeway to put any signs. He responded to
Commissioner Carusillo that they needed the 70 feet for visibility going
either direction on the freeway. He said the height of the hotel itself is SO
feet from grade, and the sign is at 70 feet, and would be 15 feet taller than
the hotel.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated standing on the east side looking west to the
hotel, it was hard to get a line of site vision of what a 70-foot high sign
would look like and asked about a sign on the hotel itself from that angle.
Mr. Marsden answered that was an option they had considered, but there was no
location on the hotel itself to put a sign that would be visible.
Chairwoman Houas asked about putting a sign on the roof and Mr. Marsden stated
there was nothing in the Hampton Inn procedures that would allow roof signs on
their hotels.
Commissioner Herbst said he did not believe there are very many hotels that
have 70-foot high signs trying to reach freeway advertising in the Disneyland
area. He stated the sign ordinances are trying to eliminate proliferation of
signs in the area, and that he thought this would be an impact. He added he
did not believe it was necessary to violate the ordinance just to reach the
freeway traffic.
Mr. Marsden said he took quite a few photos of a few locations on the freeway
and the motels that are geared toward the overnight customer in the area, and
there were quite a few which had extremely high signs. (Photos presentad into
evidence). He noted some of these signs are fairly new.
Commissioner Hoydstun asked what the height of the sign could be if there was
no residential left in that area.
Mr. Hastings said the way the code is worded, it is either 70 feet or the
distance from the centerline of the street to where the sign is located, and
that it appears the distance from the centerline of the street to where the
sign is located, is approximately 33-1/2 feet; therefore, 33-1/2 feet would be
the maximum height allowed.
Commissioner Boydstun asked if it could qo higher if it was set back on the
property further, and Mr. Hastings said it could go up to a height of 70 feet.
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MINUTES. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. SEPTEMBER 26. 1988 8
Mr. Marsden said they ran into a challenge of setting the sign further back on
the property, is that it would require taking up one to two parking spaces,
needed for the hotel.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated before he learned it would take seven months to
get the study back, he was going to ask for a continuance until staff had a
chance to come forth with something definitive from the height study, but now
has to rethink this to figure out how to get the applicant some signs which
are visible and possible.
Commissioner Carusillo stated ma~b~ the solution would be to find a place for
the sign, further back from the street, where they could qo higher than 33
feet.
Commissioner Messe stated it looks like they had some areas going back off the
property line from N,ountain View Avenue where they could consider placing it
and 'dr. Marsden said that area was inadequate in size to take in the
foundation required for the sign.
Commissioner Carusillo asked if there was a problem with parking and if they
have ample parking, and perhaps they could lose a couple of parking spaces for
the sign, to move it back to get the height needed and stay within the code.
Mr. Hastings said there was a variance requested, which was denied, for the
number of parking spaces in 1986 and they are to code with parking spaces.
Mr. Marsden stated it was his impression that Hampton Inn had to acquire those
two extra parcels to obtain enough parking for the hotel. He said the plan
shows required parking as 111 spaces and they have a total of 128 spaces. He
asked if it would be permissible to bring the sign on Mountain View back the
adequate distance of 70 feet.
Mr. Hastings stated if the Planning Commission made the condition that the
sign be set back 40 feet from the property line, to the centerline of the
street is 30 feet, then staff could review it to make sure that is complied
with.
It wLa noted the Planning Director or his sutllorized representative has
detormined that the proposed project falls within the definition of
Categorical Exemptions, Class 11, as defined in the State EIR Guidelines and
is, therefore, categorically exempt from the requirement to prepare an EIR.
ACTION Chairwoman Bouas offered Resolution No. PC88-266 and moved for its
passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby
GRANT Variance No. 3844 oa the basis that there are special circumstances
applicable to the property such as size, shape, topography, location and
surroundings which do not apply to other identically zoned property in the
same vicinity; and that strict application of the Zoning Code deprives the
property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the identical zone and
classification in the vicinity and subject to Interdepartmental Committee
recommendations, subject to Interdepartmental Committee recommendations with
09/25/88
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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 9
the added condition that the subject sign on Mountain View be moved back 70
feet from the centerline of Mountain View Avenue (40 feet from the property
line) subject to approval of staff.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
ITEM N0. 4 - CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION• WAIVER OF CODE REQUIREMENT:
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3064
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNERS: METTLER ELECTRONICS CORP., ATTN: STEPHEN METTLER
1430 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92801; AGENT: FAR WEST BANK, 2825 Walnut
Avenue, Suite "B", Tustin, CA 92680
LOCATION: 1430 South Anaheim Blvd.
Request: To retain as automobile storage lot with waivers of (a) minimum
front setback and (b) required screening and enclosure of outdoor uses.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a pant
of the minutes.
Tom Prenavost, 2020 East First Street, San~a Ana, attorney appearing oa behalf
of Far Western Sank, lessee, and Christine Braun, Assistant Vice President
with the bank, were present to answer questions.
THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
Commissioner Messe asked the hardship which is the basis for approving these
waivers.
Mr. Prenovost said this property had been owned by Mettler Electroai.cs and the
original tenant oa the property was Dial Leasing. He said his client went
into a lease agreement with Mettler, not knowing the property had been cited
in the past. He said they are here today to clean up the property and the
process as far as the City is concerned and that they might possibly remodel
the building.
Commissioner Messe stated they have a rent-a-fence sitting on that property
right now whi::i is pretty unsightly and they are required to have eiP.her a
block wall or a slatted fence.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, further explained they can either have a
slatted fence, landscaped berm six feet high, or block wall.
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o.rrur SEPTEMBER 26 198_ 10, ~
t~NUTES PLANNING COMMISSION ME ~
Commissioner Feldhaus said he would rather see landscaping there than a block
wall.
Mr. Hastings responded iC would be almost impossible to put a six-foot high
berm in that area.
Commissioner Messe noted they would have to have some security also.
Commissioner Feldhavs said they could plant 15-gallon trees on 10-foot centers
instead of 20-foot centers.
Mt. Prenovost said he believed the reason the waiver was first proposed then
recommended by staff was because the fence was there and the property had been
there for awhile.
Commissioner Herbst stated they were cited because it is illegal; that it has
been there quite .some time, and was noticed and brought to the attention of
staff. He added it just does not fit on that street in Anaheim.
Commissioner Carusillo stated the other properties there also have landscaging
which softens that main boulevard.
Dfr. Prenovost said landscaping is part of the conditions of approval.
Corn~nissioae~r Feldhaus asked about the 50-foot setback required by code.
Mr. Prenovost stated it is h.is usderstandinq that if that is the requirement,
then the property could not be wised.
Commissioner Garusillo suggested for security a four-foot high block fence
with wrought iron and landscaping in front.
Mr. Prenovost responded this comes as a surprise because he understood that
staff was prepateJ to waive that requirement.
Commissioner Messe suggested a continuance to reviea this matter, and Mr.
Prenovost requested a continuance is order to make some plans.
ACTION: Commissioner N.cSurney affered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Herbst and MOTION CARRIED that the aforementioned matter be continued to the
regularly-scheduled meeting of October 10, 1988, in order to present a
landscaping and screening plan.
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MINUTES PLANNING COMti1I1;,`,I N MEETING, SEPT~,tBER 26, 1988 11
~M NO 5 - CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATIO;Q; CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 3066
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: U.S. INVESTMEiVT LIMITED, ATT,.K: TMR REAL ESTA%5
MANAGEMENT 2070 Seuth Park Place, Suite 150, Atlaz~-~_ Georgia 30333; AGENT:
F. EARL MELLOTT, 1035 Armanda St., Suite "S", Anaheim, CR 9180b
LOCATION: 1000 N. Rraemr•r Place.
Request: To perm:: a mobile racip .installation/offir^ fac::~lity.
There was no O1.P_ indicattnr their presence in opposition '•.o ::w~',ect request
and althougb the staff reooat was not read, st is referred i.; and made apart
of the minutes.
Earl Mellott, architect, referred to Condition No. 2, and noted Kraemer Street
is basicnl'ly a 3ead-end street, aJ~:'_si. a cul-da-sac, so the traffic generated
there would be quite minimal. He said also this is an existing building which
has been there for 12 years and the driveways are an perfect condition. He
asked that Condition No. 2 be deleted.
Mr. Mellott stated another Condition in question is izo. 3; that there are some
gates in the back parkiaq lot, approximately 15 feet from the property line
and h:i~e been ~ttere siuce the building was constructed. He stated they were
at the edge of the parking lot itself and if they were to move the gates back
60 feet, z:s requested, that would put approximately 3 to 4 parkiaq stalls on
each side, or a total of about 8 parking stalls outside the enclosure. 13e
said he did not see any advantage in doing that since it is the .ear of the
property.
THE PUBLIC HE,iRING WAS CLOSED.
Chairwomar~ :aOL'$b asked if the rear gate is used as an ent::ance, and Mr.
Mellott ~:esponded it is just for the trucks and the pe.~'_~ who work there and
it is left open duri::.g the day.
Chairwoman Bouas stated if it is left open, then it would be all right the way
it is, and that it just has to stay opera so that trAfyic does not stack up to
get out.
Commissioner Feldhaus asked Y:e;:~ many empl<>yees are on site aE that facility.
Mr. Mellott responded tie believed it is YS to 20 total, and t'i.~tat they ;lave
another 5 salesmen w)zo come in and out occasionally, but they essentially work
off site.
Ron Domres explained they are in the business of comm~~nications anti
electronics, providing two-way radios such as for the State and Local
Governments use, the police, as we1.1 as other general businesses. He
explained from this facility, they do tltt sz~let, an% ehe work is done normally
at the customer's location, and installation and mainte~aa.ce are also done at
customer's locations; and that t-uey hav.i mobil vans. He said if the
customer's vehicle has a broken antenna os fuse and they are in the area of
this facility, they may stop i1~i, and those ark types of repair done very
quickly by an unskilled technician.
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MINUTES. PLANNING COMZ•IISSYON MEETING. SEPT~~:R 26. 1988 I~
Commissioner Messe st,~ted the concern is ailvartising and marketing the
services and product., and bringing a wholes bunch of people intro the industt~ial
area. '
Comn:•ission,: ~'.cBurney asked about: the 'li:civeways, cafi i;: stiff is asking that
they pu¢ i:n 10-foot radius iT a1T these driveways or were th..y a'.agcate.
Rarer Unman, Deputy Traffic Engineer, said tl~e radius is not requir,~sd on cY~at
street, and that sue believed the :ply reason thz:t condition was inc!ude.a :+as
to be sure that if tke driveways wer! cracked, they would be replaced.
Commissio^er Herbst sucgested Condition No. 2 be ri.lete.l.
Commissioner Mci3urne~ suggested it should leave in so that if they are
cracked, 'they should be iceplaced and if not, then they de not have to do
anything.
ACTION Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Crmm.issioner
McBuruey t;nd MOTION CARRIED irat tfie Anaheim City Planning Commission has
reviewe(A the nr~pasa7. to permit a mob4'le radio installation/cf,ice facility on
an irre<*~~'.arly-shaped parcel of idnC roasii.stiag of proximatel-~ 1.E9 acres,
having a `rootage of approximately 3CS feet on the east side of Rrzemer Place,
having a rr._`ximum depth of ~pp•cozimate~ty ?31 feet and being located
approximately 770 Eeet south of the centerline of La Palma Avenue sod further
described :.~ 1000 N. Kraemer Place; asd does hereby approve the Negative
Declaration upon finding that it has considered the Negative Declai•atioa
together ::ith anp comments, received during the public review process and
further finding on the basis of the Initial Study and any comments received
that there is ao sul~sta.ntial evidence that the project wail have a significz,n~:
effect an the environsneat.
Commissioner Herhsi: affere:b Resolution No. PC88-267 and moved for its passage
and approval that the Anaheim City Planning Commission foes he-eby GRANT
Conditional Use Permit No. 30G6 purssant to Anaheim Municipal Code Sections
18.03.:30.030 through 18.03.030.035, subject to InterdeparYme;:tal Committee
recommendations, including modification of Condition No. 3 to delete r`~•~
re•7~:irement of the relocation of the back gate with the stipulatiaa that it be
kept open during business hours.
Oa rall call, the for~ROing resalutio*~ was passed by the following vote:
AYES: B~UAS; HOYDST[iN, CARUSYLLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BUP.NEY, K,ESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presente3 the written right to
apieal t~•e i~lanninq Commission's decision within F2 days to the City Council.
09/26/88
MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 19^8 1~
ITEM NO 6 CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION• WAIVER OF CODE REQUIREMENT:
~nNDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3058
PUELIC HEARING: OWNER: ELLWING E. ASHWILL AND ALICE RENAE ASHWILL, 1805 E.
Garry Ave., #110, Santa Ana, CA 92702; AGENT: ASHWILL, HAWRINS, INC., Attn:
TAD GARA BEDIAN, 660 N. Diamond Bar Blvd., Suite 205, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
LOCATION: 1081 N. Grove Streg~
Request: To permit an auto body repair and paint facility with waivers of (a)
minimum number of parking spaces and {b) required improvement of right-of-way.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutPS.
COMMISSIONER MESSE DECLARED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST as defined by Anaheim City
Planning Commission Resolution No. PC76-157 adopting a Conflict of Interest
Code for the Planning Commission and Government Code Section 3625, et seq., in
that one of the principals is a customer of his and pursuant to the provisions
of the above Codes, declared to the Chairman that he was withdrawing from the
hearing in connection with Conditional Use Permit No. 3068, and would not take
part in either the discussion or the voting thereon an~i had not discussed this
matter with any member of the Planning Commission. Thereupon Commissiaaer
Messe left the Council Chamber.
Charle:c Tharp, 1709'_. Santa Rita Street, Fountain vallay, explained the request
is for the parkir.3 requirement for the paint and body shop, Maco Paint and
Bc,dy, a fran~hiso, and tY:st they have a great deal of experience in this
business. He said the code requires 73 parking places and Maco requires 20 to
25, xhich they fsind to be adequate to run this kind of business. He explained
the±• had a parking study made by Daniel. Benson and Associates which indicated
the number of spaces required is 30 and they will restripe the parking lot to
haa9le 30 cars. He stated they felt they had a maximum need of 27 parking
places.
Mr. Tharp stated '•'::e sucond request is a waiver of the 10-foot radius
driveway, and ex~laiaed they could very easily put in a 10-foot radius curb on
the left side of the, driveway, but the right side contains a huge 17 inch
telcphoae pole, whi.c;i would interfere with the 10-foot radius. He said the
City informed him i+_• would cost over 58,000 to move that pole two feet, so
they are asking for a waiver which would permit them to use a 6 foot 5 inch
radius on that side. li.~ poi.nted out that those coming into the facility would
3.ev2 the benefit of the 10-toot radius and those leaving might have to wait a
few more minutes with the smaller radius.
Mr. Tharp stated he had noticed, Condition No. 7 in the staff report requires
that no outdoor storar,:. of, display of, or work on vehicles be permitted. He
said he did not have a problem with work on vehicles outside, and they did not
intend to do that, but there are 14 parking places along the side of the
building where he would like to store cars waiting to be taken inside to be
worked on, or even occasionally overnight. He said there is a chainlink fence
and they can put snots in it to mitigate the appearance. He explained that
09/26/88
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MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, SEPTEMBER 26, 1988 14
would save moving a bunch of cars at the end of each day inside the building,
then out again the following morning. He asked that Condition No. 7 be
deleted.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner McBurney agreed with regard to the driveways that not much would
be accomplished by having the applicant move a utility pole at that ezpense,
just to obtain another 2-1/2 feet radius on the driveway and that would only
affect the egress situation. He stated the outside storage is more of an
issue in that allowing a lot of cars to be stored there, opens the door for
them to put cars there continually, which is what needs to be avoided. He
added, however, if they could 'imit that to 14 cars, he would be more
comfortable with approval.
Responding to Chairwoman Bouas, Mr. Tharp said that area is enclosed by a
chainlink fence on the back, which borders on the back of another business;
and on the front there is a chainlink fence with a big rolling gate, which
could be slatted. He stated occasionally they would have a car towed in which
might be a car which could not be moved readily, and if they have to wait 3 to
4 days before someone says they could go ahead and work on it, it would not be
possible to move it is and out of the building.
ACTION: Commissioner McBurney offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Eoydstun and MOTION CARRIED (Commissioner MessP absent due to conflict of
interest) that the Anaheim City Planning Commission has reviewed the proposal
to permit an auto body repair and paint faci'ity on an irregularly-shaped
parcel of land consisting of approximately 0.6 acre, located at the southwest
corner of La Palma Avenue and Grove Street having frontages of approximately
125 feet on the south side of La Palma Avenue and 200 feet on the west side of
Grove Street and further described as 1081 North Grove street, with waiver of
minimum number of parking spaces and improvement of right-of-way; sad does
hereby approve the Negative Declaration upon finding that it has considered
the Negative Declaration together with any comments received during the public
review process and further finding on the basis of '.he Initial Study and any
comments received that there is no substantial evidence that the project will
have a significant effect on the environment.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, noted that Kaiver (A) is no longer necessary,
since the driveway situation was cleared up and :Taren Urman of the Traffic
Department agreed.
Commissioner McBurney offered a motion, seconded by Coamissiaaer Boydstun and
MOTION CARRIED (Commissioner Messe absent) that tJ~e Anaheim City Planning
Commission does hereby GRANT waiver of code requirement (B) on the basis that
the parking waiver will ;got cause an increase in traffic congestion in the
immediate vicinity nor adversely affect any adjoining land uses and granting
of the parking waiver under the conditions imposed, if nay, will not be
detrimental to the peace, health, safety sad general welfare of the citizens
of the City of Anaheim.
09/26/88
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INUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 - 1
Commissioner McBurney offered Resolution No. PC88-268 and moved for its
passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does heret,y
GRANT Conditional Use Permit No. 3068, in part, pursuant to Anaheim Municipal
Code Sections 18.03.030.030 through 18.03.030.035, subject to stipulations and
Interdepartmental Committee recommendations, includi:~g a modification of
Condition No. 7 to read that no work an vehicles or vehicular parts shall be
permitted, that there will be no more than 14 vehicles stored outdoors at any
one time and that the front of the chainlink fence enclosure around said
storage area shall be slatted to screen vehicles from public view.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY
NOES: NONE
ASSENT: MESSE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
ITEM NO 7 CATEGORICAL EXEMPT CLASS 3 AND 5• WAIVER OF CODE REQUIREMENT:
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 3067
p3]BLIC HEARING: OWr7ER: ENRIQUE BASURTO AND ANTONIA SASURTO, 1515 E.
Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805;
LOCATION: 1,15 E Broadway
Request: To permit a S36 square-foot "Granny Uait" with waivers of (a)
minimum side yard setback, (b) minimum rear yard setback and (c) minimum
number of parking spaces.
There was no one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made apart
of the minutes.
COMMISSIONER MESSE RETURNED TO THE MEETING.
Antonia Basurto, 1515 East Broadway, explained she wanted the permit for a
"granny unit" to be used for her father.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Baydstun asked if the workshop which they are going to convert
was done with permits.
Ms. Basurto responded everything that is there was existing when they bought
the property.
Commissioner Herbst asked Ms. Basurto if she realized that the work would have
to be inspected by the Building inspector and she said she did.
Commissioner Meese asked if she had read the canditioas and understood them
and she said the only one the had a problem understanding was Condition No.
8. She said everything else was agreeable.
09!26!88
PLANNIN3 COMMYSSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 1
Commissioner Messe asked if she understood the restriction of age and
everything else oa the people who were going to occupy that unit and she said
she understood.
Yt was noted the Planning Director or his authorized representative has
determined that the proposed project falls within the definition of
Categorical Exemptions, Class 3 and 5, as defined in the State EYR Guidelines
and is, therefore, categorically exempt from the requirement to prepare an EIA.
ACTION: Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
McBurney and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does
hereby GRANT waiver of code requirement on the basis that there are special
circumstances applicable to the property such as size, shape, topography,
location and surroundings ~+hich do not apply to other identically zoned
property in the same vicinity; and that strict application of the Zoning Code
deprives the property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the
identical zone and classification in the vicinity and that the parking waiver
will not cause as increase in traffic congestion in the immediate vicinity nor
adversely affect any adjoining land uses and granting of the parking waiver
under the conditions imposed, if any, will not be detrimental to the peace,
health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Anaheim.
Commissioner Messe offered Resolution No. PC88-269 and moved for its passage
and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby GRANT
Conditional Use Permit No. 3067, pursuant to Anaheim Municipal Code Sections
18.03.030.030 through 18.03.030.035, subject to Interdepartmental Committee
recommendations.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, HOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERHST, MC HURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Plaauinq Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
09/26/88
....... ~. _t_,,:...,. ~.::,,~..:.;..~,~
f
i
MINUTES, PLANNING COIQ~SiSSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 17
ITEM N0. 8 - CEQA„YS ATIVE DECLARATION; WAIVER OF CODE REQUIREMENT;
CONDITIONAL USE D•LRMIT N0. 3062
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: THP.IFTY OIL COMPANY, 1000 Lakexood Blvd., Downey, CA
90240; AGENT: TAIT AND ASSOCIATES INC., ATTN: RICHARD TAZT 800 N. Eckhoff
St., Orange Ave., Anaheim, CA 92613
LOCATION: 3101 East La Palma Avenue
Request: To permit a convenience market with gasoline sales, fast food
service and off sale beer and wine with waivers of (a) permitted encroachment
of trash enclosure into required front yard area and (b) minimum landscaping
adjacent to interior boundary lines.
:'here xas one person indicating her presence in opposition to subject request
and although the staff report xas not read, it is referred to and made a par}
of the minutes.
COMMISSIONER MCBURNEY DECLARED A CONFLICT of interest as defined by Anaheim
City Planning Commission Resolution No. PC76-157 adopting a Conflict of
Interest Code for the Planning Commission and Government Code Section 3625, et
seq., in that he is an employee of as interested party and pursuant to the
provisions of the above Codes, declared to the Chairman that he xas
withdraxinq from the hearing in connection xith Conditional Use Permit No.
3062, and wauld not take part in either the discussion or the voting thereon
and had nct discussed this matter with any member of the Planning Commission.
Thereupon Commissioner McBurney left the Council Chamber.
Carl Korndoerfer, Tait and Associates, 800 North Eckhoff Street, Orange, CA,
said this was a proposal for Thrifty Oil to completely rebuild their facility
at the northeast corner of LaPalma and Kraemer. He said they are going to
remove all the existing structures for the canopy and the existing 3-bay
automotive repair facility, which is not being used. He said they are putting
the new foodmart structure in the rear corner of the property and the gasoline
island at a 45~ angle at the corner. He said they have worked with City staff
to develop this plan; and that they maximized the oa-site circulation and
funC:tionality of the site, and are also providing for a much more aesthetic
site.
Mr. Korndoerfer said they complied with the City's critical corner plan by
offering a dedication of 12 feet on both streets, plus the corner return,
xhich will require a lot of the items on the street to be rebuilt now, at
considerable expense.
Mr. Korndoerfer said they had discussed the beer and wine issue with the staff
and had been made axare of the City's policy. He said his client had chosen
to stay with that request and keep it in the proposal, due to the enormous
expense of redoing this project tyae way that was important to him and for the
City to :lave a better project. He said the beer and wine xas s very important
factor and they wished to maintain it. He said most of the cc.aditions are
items 'Thrifty Oil concurs with, and they feel with the management and those
conditions, any problems with beer and wine sales at that site would mitigated.
09/26/88
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MINU'T'ES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 18
Mr. Rorndoerfer said they were asking fir two waivers, one for the trash
enclosure and another for the trees which they would normally put on a plan
like this. He said between the planters by the driveways, and the area by the
building, that was a change to their plan which came about after the parking
code was increased by five for the fast food items, and also because of the
unusual amount of dedication oa this street. He said it was a question of
parking backing up into the trees, or not haviuq the trees. He said if the
waiver is granted, he believed they could work out grouping of plantings in
the planters they do have and screening of the trash enclosure, which is by
the planter, to effectively get rid of the problems and still have the
required parking for the City's new code.
OPPOSITION•
Gloria Hale, 3111 East LaPalma~, Anaheim, said she owned the glass and mirror
shop directly adjacent to this site. She said they have an ongoing problem
with teenagers is this parking lot on the weekends, drinking and loitering;
insufficient parking at this coraor; abandoned vehicles; and there is also a
litter problem from the teenagers. She noted Carl's Jr., across the street,
hired a security guard which prevented the teenagers from loitering oa their
premises, consequently, the teenagers come across the street. She said it has
been a terrible problem for her and the neighbors.
REBUTTAL•
Mr. Rorndoerfer said he believed their proposal would help solve the problems
Ms. Hale was concerned about. He stated the insufficient parking on-site now,
due to the repair activity going on there, xill be resolved; that the proposal
for the food mart has a lot of parking and without the repair facility, the
parking requirements are much less for the site. He said the loitering oa the
site is a problem behind the facility and their plan is laid out to get rid of
that area and that everything is set up so that the cashier fn that front
corner is surrounded by glass 'and can supervise the entire site from that
position.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Chairwoman Bouas asked how many employees would be oa the site at one time.
Mr. Rorndoerfer said they xould most likely have two employees oa site at all
times; that the facility could be run by one, but they could have txo. He
sai:3 the facility is set up so that one person can operate all the controls
for the food mart and the gasoline, leaving the second employee to take care
of any other problems outside the building.
Commissioner Boydstun asked if he would specify that there would be two
employees there at all times and Mr. Rorndoerfer said, yes.
Commissioner Feldhaus asked if the automotive repair facility is a leased
facility right now and how much longer tL':t had to go and Mr. Rorndoerfer: said
it was, and that he believed it xas a month to month rental.
09/26/88
INUTES. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 2
Commissioner Feldhaus asked how soon the automotive repair facility would be
•removed and Mr. Roradoerfer said they had a two to three month period to
develop final plans and process through the City for permits, and they would
vacate the site prior to issuance of the building permit.
Commissioner Feldhaus asked about providing separate men and xomen's restrooms
and Mr. Roradoerfer said they would comply with that condition. Commissioner
Feldhaus said he wanted to see that added in the staff conditions of approval
and that those restrooms be open to the public and properly maintained.
Commissioner Herbst stated he was concerned about the wise and beer sales in
an industrial zone; and that, in his opinion, it should not be made convenient
for employees working in as industrial community to obtain wine and beer,
particularly during lunch hour; and that he believed it was dangerous. He
stated this has been presented before and denied since one was denied across
the street from this site. He added this is not the proper place, and it is
unsafe because of the equipment those employees operate.
Mr. Roradoerfer stated this particular area, even though it is general planaPd
for industrial, has recently developed and most of the industrial buildings
appear to have retail operations; that he knew there was some industry further
down LaPalma, to the east, but he was not sure how close that was. He said it
would be a question of the limitation, hox far away from a factory are you
going to keep someone from having beer and wine. He said up further north of
Kraemer, a couple of blocks, there is a restaurant which serves alcohol, so
that is available to the people is the neighborhood already.
Commissioner Herbst said he disagreed, that usually the people who want a
sandwich, qo out and get a sandwich and wine or beer, and do not qo to a
restaurant, and it is just a quick pick up, and he thought that would be
detrimental to the area.
Commissioner Meese said the Code states that sales, businesses, and office
uses, which primarily serve and are compatible with industrial uses may be
permitted, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit; and the question
he had was, is the sale of beer and xine compatible with industrial uses and
he agreed with Commissioner Herbst that it is not. He said he believed they
have done a great job of cleaning up a bad corner and. agreed with Ms. Hale
about the condition of the corner right now, and added he did not mind the
convenience store, but not the beer and wine.
Mr. Roradoerfer said they felt strongly that this particular intersection has
developed is a retail/commercial nature, just due to the nature of being a
busy intersection, and that is why there is retail activity in that area which
transitions back to the industrial. He added he finds, as a mired use concept
of planning, it is compatible to have some of the retail is the overall
industrial, office, or residential area and he felt at the corners like this,
it is an appropriate use.
09/26/88
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MINUTES, PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, SEPTEMBER 26, 1988 20
ACTION: Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Boydstun and MOTION CARRIED (Commissioner McBurney absent) that the Anaheim
City Planning Commission has reviewed the proposal to permit a convenience
market with gasoline sales, fast food service and off sale of beer and wine
with waivers of (a) permitted encroachment of trash enclosure into required
front yard area and (b) minimum landscaping adjacent to interior boundary
lines on a rectangularly-shaped parcel of land consisting of approzimately 0.7
acre located at the northeast corner of LaPalma Avenue and Kraemer Boulevard
having approximate frontages of 175 feet on the north Side of LaPalma Avenue
and 175 feet on the east side of Kraemer Boulevard and further described as
3101 East LaPalma Avenue; and does hereby approve the Negative Declaration
upon finding that it has considered the Negative Declaration together with any
comments received during the public reviex process and further finding oa the
basis of the Initial Study and any comments received that there is ao
substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the
environment.
Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner Boydstun and
MOTION CARRIED (Commissioner Feldhaus voting N0, Commissioner McBurney absent
due to a conflict of interest) that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does
hereby DENY the waiver of code requirement on the basis that the proposed use,
which includes beer and wine, is not compatible with the industrial area.
Commissioner Herbst offered Resolution No. PC68-270 and moved for its passage
aa~? r,~_aoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby DENY
Conditional Use Permit No. 3062, on the basis that the proposed use is not
compatible with the industrial area.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, HERBST, MESSE
NOES: FELDHAUS
ABSENT: MCBURNEY
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
09/26/88
MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 21
ITEM N0. 9 - CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARAT'ION• WAIVER OF CO_DE_REOUIREMENT:
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3065
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: RAISER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY 2121 Palomar Airport Road,
Suite 201, Carlsbad, CA 92008; AGENT: WESTPORT PROPERTIES 3090 ?ullman St.,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626;
LOCATION: 191 Old Springs Road
Request: To permit a day care center for 318 children with waiver of minimum
building setback.
There was no one indicating their presence is opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutes.
COMMISSIONER MCBURNEY RETURNED TO THE MEETING.
Phillip Schwartze, Westport Properties, 3090 Pullman Street, Costa Mesa,
explained the request is to permit a day care center comglex at Monte Vista
and Old Springs Road and they are seeking a waiver on the setback. He said
they have a substantial amount of green space located in the front but due to
the nature of this facility, by having children there, they wanted to screen
that area for the children; also, that the ingress/egress point had to be
substantially back on Old Springs Road in order to make a proper ingress and
egress, plus an underlying large MWD water easement. He said it has more to
do with the nature of the facility than the proper building location.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Messe said he believed this was an excellent proposal, but he did
not think roof-mounted equipment should be permitted in that area, There there
are new homes going in all around it. He asked the applicant if he had read
all the conditions and agreed with them.
Mr. Schwartze responded they had and added if the Commission desires, they
would meet the requirements of as roof-mounted equipment in the Scenic
Corridor area.
ACTION: Commissioner Soydstun offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Herbst and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission has
reviewed the proposal to permit a day care center for 318 children with waiver
of minimum building setback on an irregularly-shaped parcel of land consisting
of approximately 1.42 acres located at the northwest corner of Monte Vista
Rand and Old Springs Road, further described as 191 Old Springs Road; and does
hereby approve the Negative Declaration upon finding that it has considered
the Negative Declaration together with any comments received during the public
review process and further finding oa the basis of the Initial Study and any
comments received that there is no substantial evidence that the project will
have a significant effect on the environment.
09!26/88
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MINUTES, PLANNING COMMISSIOtd MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 22
Commissioner Boydstua offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner Herbst and
MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby GRANT
xa~ver of code requirement on the basis that there are special circumstances
applicable to the property such as size, shape, topography, location and
surroundings which do not apply to other identically zoned property in the
sar..e vicinity; and that strict application of the Zoning Code deprives the
property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the identical zone and
classification in the vicinity.
Commissioner Boydstun offered Resolution No. PC88-271 and moved for its
passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby
GRANT Conditional Use Permit No. 3065, pursuant to Anaheim Municipal Code
Sections 18.03.030.030 through 18.03.030.035, subject to Interdepartmental
Committee recommendation
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, SOSfDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDAAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
RECESS: 3:10 p.m.
RECONVENE: 3:20 p.m.
09/26/88
N MEETIN
ITEM NO. 10 -~EOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION• WAIVER OF CODE REQUIR~NT•
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3069
~JBLIC HEARING: OWNER: CALIFORNIA PROPERTIES FUND, 245 Fischer St., Hldq.,
D-1, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 AGENT: CHANDULAL R. PATEL, 17595 Almhurst Rd.,
Ste. 208, City of Industry, CA 91748
LOCATION: Propgrty is aooroximately 1 35 acres on the east side of State
Csolleae Boulevard ~pprox 280 feet south of the centerline of Orangewood Ave.
Request: To permit a 4-story, 164-room hotel with waiver of (a) minimum
number of parking spaces.
There was one indicating their presence in opposition to subject request and
although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part of
the minutes.
Jerry Ramsey, 130 Newport Center Drive, Suit: 230, Newport Beach, said they
had worked closely with staff and felt they, xere presenting a fine addition to
the community with this hotel; and that the main item they wanted to discuss
was the waiver of parking requirements. He said the only reason that came up
was due to the supposed restaurant/bar requirements which were in the hotel.
He noted they do not have a restaurant or bar, and this is a complimentary
breakfast and bar area for hotel quests only. He ezplained that is part of
the Quality Suites concept, and there will be no food oz drinks at al.l for
sale to the genez~al public. He stated if the eztra requirements for a full
restaurant and bar were removed, that would reduce it back dower to 151 parking
places required and they have provided more than that. He said they are quite
willing to sign any type condition regarding never converting to a restaurant
or bar is tho future. He said, also, they show parking for 20 staff members
and the operation usually has five or less.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Herbst stated that would solve all the problems if they stipulate
that they are not going to have a restaurant or bar open to the public and
will not convert it at any time.
Commissioner Messe asked what they intended to do with the banquet/meeting
rooms and Mr. Ramsey said those xere strictly for hotel quests also and t2sat
tkiey are very small.
M:~. Ramsey said usually the Quality Suites is more of a business hotel than a
tourist hotel. He said this is more in association with the office
development going in there.
Commissioner Carusillo asked if the property was sold, would that condition
reegarding conversion to a public restaurant carry over to the new owner?
M:'. Ramsey stated as far as they are concerneiS it should.
09/26/88
ING COt~-+ISSION MEETING SEPTEMB R 26 1988 24
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, responded as a condition of the
permit, the right to the Conditional Use Permit runs with the land and,
likewise, to exercise the permit they have to meet all of the conditions. He
said, as an additional provision during the period before the hotel is
constructed, the Planning Commission could require recordation oi` a covenant
against the property putting any purchasers oa better notice of that
restriction, but he did not think it would be legally required to keep that
restriction enforceable.
A TI Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by CommisRioner
Boydstun and A'ATION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Coranission has
reviewed the proposal to permit a 4-story, 164-room hotel vi.rh waiver of
minimum number of parking spaces on a rectangularly-shaped parcel of land
consisting of approximately 1.35 acres, having an approximate frontage of 289
feet on the east side of State College Boulevard, having a mazimum depth of.
approximately 202 feet and being located approximately 280 feet south of the
centerline of Orangewood Avenue; and does hereby approve the Negative
Declaration upon finding that it has considered the Negative Declaration
together with any comments received during the public review process and
further finding on the basis of the Initial Study and any comments received
that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant
effect on the environment.
Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner McBurney and
MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby GRANT
waiver of code requirement, subject to the condition that there will be ao
restaurant or bar facility open to the general public nor will there ever be
any conversion of any part of this facility to a restaurant or bar open to the
general public, and further oa the basis that the parking waiver will not
cause an increase in traffic congestion in the immediate vicinity nor
adversely affect any adjoining land uses and granting of the parking waiver
under the conditions imposed, if any, will not be detrimental to the peace,
health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Anaheim.
Commissioner Messe offered Resolution No. PC88-272 and moved for its passage
and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby GRANT
Conditional Use Permit No. 3069, pursuant to Anaheim Municipal Code Sections
18.03.030.030 through 18.03.030.035, subject to Interdepartmental Committee
recommendation, with the added condition that there will be no restaurant or
bar facility open to the general public nor will there every be any conversion
of any part of this facility to a restaurant or bar open to the general public.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: SODAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC GURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NO>AE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
09/26/88
v _ JLL
MINLiTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 25
ITEM NO 11 CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION• VARIANCE NO 3842•
P_jjLBLIC HEARING: OWNER: L AND J ANAHEIM ASSOCIATES, 1050 N. Western Ave.,
Saa Pedro, CA 90732;
LOCATION: 1221 South Harbor Blvd (Travelodge Hotel)
Request: To expand an existing 260-room hotel with the addition of 76 quest
rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting/conference room area with waiver of
minimum number of parking spaces.
There was no one indicating their presence is opposition to subject request
and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made a part
of the minutes.
Larry Jett, owner of the property, 1090 North Western Avenue, Suite 204, San
Pedro, CA 90732, explained they built the hotel 3 to 4 years ago and provided
approximately 350 parking spaces, which met City Code parking requirements at
that time. He said since the hotel has been open, they have been operating at
approximately 80~ occupancy, having many nights when the property was full and
all of the parking was not utilized.
Iie said they want to add an additional 76 rooms and a 5,000 square-foot
meeting room facility, and that they went to the company which specializes in
parking requirements and gave them the records they were keeping indicating
the amount of parking they were using over about a 2-year period. He said
they did a study of what the parking requirement would be with this addition
and they said the need was for 305 parking spaces, and they are proposing 320
parking spaces, of which approximately 35 are tandem.
Mr. Jett referred to Page 4 of the Staff Report, Condition No. 4, which deals
with trash storage. He explained they now have a trash enclosure area that is
in a loading dock area along Ball Road on their property, and they presently
have trash picked up six days a week and there are four bins in that
enclosure, which would allow for four larger bias. He said according to their
general manager, excess trash is not a problem and they would like to keep the
trash is that one particular area.
Mr. Jett referred to Condition No. 7 and stated when they had the two previous
staff meetings, he did not recall the condition for fee payment for tree
planting being there. He said he would have thought if there was a tree
planting fee, that would have been paid when they built the hotel.
Mr. Jett referred to Condition No. 8, regarding undergound utilities and added
he assumed that means that would be seeded if they need additional power for
the new improvements on-site.
Mr. Jett clarified on Page 2, Item No. 8, that they understood the proposal
was a 1-story conference room, plus the additional rooms that is a 5-story
structure.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
09/26/88
4
+..
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, said Condition Ho. 4, regarding the trash
storage area, is a standard condition and whatever is acceptable to Street
Maintenance and Sanitation Division would comply with this condition.
Concerning the fee for street tree planting, he stated according to the
records that were checked, that fee was not paid with tho original
construction, but if they have a receipt, staff would be glad to honor it. He
said the construction of the utilities underground is only for that new
construction and does not include anything off-site.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he t:nderstood that the parking was inadequate,
and that Mr. Jett is saying there was a parking study which indicates 305
parking spaces are acceptable and they are proposing 320.
Mr. Hastings explained the difference is that there are some tandem spaces and
those are not calculated, since the Commercial Zone does not allow tandem
parking. He said Mr. Jett's figures would be correct if they were allowed to
include tandem.
Mr. Jett explained there is one area near the Santa Ana Freeway and Ball Road
is the corner of the property, which could be used for employee parking and
that approximately 20~ of the required parking is for employees. He said at
those times when the property is 100• full, they have the parking required to
appropriately handle the guest's automobiles, and they can control whes~e they
have employee parking, and they can tandemly park in that area, using it for
employees. He said Caltrans is putting the Sall Road overcrossing is and some
of that parking would be underneath the overcrossing. He added a good portion
of the parking requirement is for the mooting rooms, which they could handle
with a valet system, if the lot was full. He stated it would not behoove them
not to be able to handle quest parking.
Commissioner Herbst stated if the Santa Ana Freeway is widened, it looks like
they would lose 110 parking stalls, and if that happens, they would be way
underparked.
Mr. Jett stated that has come up before, so they had ongoiay talks with Paul
Singer (Traffic Engineer) oa this proposed addition. He said initially they
had intended to add the rooms where presently located and Mr. Siaqer met with
him at the site and after he presented the plan, Mr. Singer thought they
should add the addiY.ional rooms by continuing the tower which fronts along
Harbor Boulevard, and by double-loading the tower, they could get the same
number of rooms, and keep an area to build a parking structure. He said they
had discussions with Caltrans about where the road improvement would end, and
when they lose some of that parking, they will put is the parking structure,
which is an issue betxeen CalTrans and them.
Commissioner Herbst asked if Cdr. Jett had an architect look at this to see if
they could get a parking structui~ ^*+to that piece of property and Mr. Jett
responded, at this point he had not. He said, as as architect, he had a feel
for what he needed to do and he felt within that area, they could build a
structure which would absorb the loss of parking.
99/26/88
{? ~i6
p ~n
u~.crccrc~N MEETING EPTEMBER 26 1988 - 27
vturrrFC PLANNING CO
Commissioner Messe stated he did not receive a copy of the traffic study and
wanted to ask the Traffic Division to make comment.
Debbie Fank, Deputy Traffic Engineer, stated there was a traffic study dose in
April, 1988, by Linscott Law and Greenspan which Mr. Singer did approve; and
that they zgreed 305 parking spaces were adequate for the proposed expansion.
She stated the study indicated the tandem parking would be for employees. She
said all tandem parking must be assigned parking.
Commissioner Messe said it does not seem to be controlled at all; Commissioner
McBurney said the permit could be conditioned that the employees must park
there; Commissioner Herbst said the drawing showed it as valet parking; and
Commissioner Messe said, if he understood correctly, that if the parking lot
began to get full, they would ask the employees to park there.
Mr. Ramsey said he thought they had the privilege to do it both ways. He
stated they would have parking spaces is spacifiec: areas for employees and if
they needed additional parkir:3, they could use valet parking for special
instances. He added a large portion of the parking requirements is the result
of the banquet/meeting room area.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if the tandem spaces are going to be used for employees
or if they are going to use it for valet packing.
Mr. Ramsey responded if it would make the Commission comfortable, they could
require them to provide "x" number of stalls is a tandem manner for when
employees. He said, however, he would like to have the freedom to have,
necessary, employees park there on a tandem basis, or if they need to have
valet parking, use it for that.
Commissioner Herbst said he would prefer to sea it stared that it was going to
be used for employees; that they can use the buddy system, according to shift,
(one,goes ia, the other out) and if they have to have a car moved, they know
who to get to to get their car out. He added, however, for the public, it has
to be controlled.
Commissioner Carusillo suggested a condition that the applicant will duplicate
the parking lost by the widening of the freeway by Caltrans in a manner
satisfactory to t:2se Traffic Engineer.
Mr. Ramsey said maybe some of the parking can go under the second bridge that
will be constructed; and they would bring that to the Traffic Engineer and it
might be less expensive to park oa grade, rather than buildzng structures.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated he did not see how the Commission could approve a
CEQA Negative Declaration, when adding 76 more rooms and more cars in there is
bowed to have an impact oa that critical intersection. He said there is also
s bus turnout that also blocks and stops traffic, so that critical
intersection, which is fully widened right now, is, in fact, already a problem.
Mr. Ramsey said with widening of Ball Road, there is additional street footage
going in there.
09/26/88
MINUTES, PLANNING COMMZSSION_ S~EFTING, SEPTEMBER 26, 1968 28
Debbie Fank said on the north side of Ball, and on the west side of Aarbor,
the State is going to be taking about 40 more feet of right-of-way from the
Shell Gas Station and widening that section because they are going to put an
additional overpass there, to parallel the existing rne.
Mr. Ramsey said they are going through right now with the widening of Ball
Road, and the gas company has already been on site doing some improvements to
accommodate this.
ACTION: Commissioner Herbst affered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Boydstun and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission has
reviewed the proposal to expand an existing 260-room hotel xith the addition
of 76 guest rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting/conference room area with
waiver of minimum number of parking spaces on an irregularly-shaped parcel of
land consisting of approximately 4.8 acres, located at the southwest corner of
Ball Road and Harbor Boulevard, having frontages of 720 feet on the south side
of Ball Road and 610 feet on the west side of Harbor Boulevard and further
described as 1121 South Harbor Boulevard (Travelodge Hotel); and does hereby
approve the Negative Declaration upon finding that it has considered the
Negative Declaration together with any comments received during the public
review process and further finding on the basis of the Initial Study and any
comments received that there is ao substantial evidence that the project will
have a significant effect on the environment.
Commissioner Herbst offered Resolution No. PC88-273 and moved for its passage
and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby GRANT
Variance No. 3842 on the basis that there are special circumstances applicable
to the property such as size, shape, topography, location and surroundings
which do not apply to other identically zoned property in the same vicinity;
and that strict application of the Zoning Coda deprives the property of
privileges enjoyed by other properties in the identical zone and
classification is the vicinity and subject to interdepartmental Committee
recommendations, with the added condition that if and whoa CalTraas does
remove a portion of approximately 110 parking stalls from the subject
property, the petitioner will construct or replace that parking to the
satisfaction of the Traffic Engineer, and that the tandem parking will be used
primarily for employee parking and if it is used for public parking, it will
be valet parking.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BGUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
09!26/88
~-~
MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. SEPTEMBER 26. 1988 29
ITEM N0. 12 - CEOA NEGATIVE DECLARATION; RECLASSIFICATION N0. 88-89-12
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: SOPAC PROPERTIES, INC., ATTN: JOHN W. JAMESON
4685 Mac Arthur Ct., Ste. 450, Newport Heach, CA 92660; AGENT: ELFEND AND
A:,SOCIATES, INC., ATTN: JIM HUNTER, 4675 MacArthur Ct., Ste. 660, Newport
Beach, CA 92660
LOCATION: Property is approximately 95.0 acres located oa the north and south
sides of Oueens Drive approximately 750 feet southwest of the centerline of
Hackamore Lane
Request: RS-A-43,000(SC) to RM-3000(SC) and OS(SC)
To construct a 26-lot, 24-unit. attached single-family residential complex.
ACTION: Commissioner McBurney offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner Messe
and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby grant
the request by petitioner to have the aforementioned matter continued to the
regularly scheduled meeting of October 10, 1988.
09/26/88
~_ t
MINU'S'ES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 30
ITEM N0. 13 - CEOA NEGATIVE AECLARATION (READVERTISED); WAIVER OF CODE
RE IPrME~?T= CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3057
PUBLIC HEARING: OWNER: HR PROPERTIES PARTNERSHIP, 450 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach, CA 92660
LOCATION: PrQp~rty is approzimate~Y 3 5 acres located at the northeast corner
of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Riverview Drive
Request: To construct a 3-story, 52 foot high office building xith waiver of
(a) required site screening, (b) minimum structural setback adjacent to
Freeway and Scenic Ezpressway, and (c) location of mechanical equipment.
Continued from meeting of August 29, 1988.
There were two persons indicating their presence in opposition to subjec~
request and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to and made
a part of the minutes.
Tom Lynch with BR Proporties, 450 Newport Center Drive, Newport Heach,
ezplained the request portains to the site screening which they understood was
a requirement of the zoning, but preferred not to put it in because they
consider freeway visibility very important to the marketing and success of the
project and they did not do it oa the first building to the west of this
proposed project; and it was not an issue at that time either.
Mr. Lynch said with respect i:u the setback, there were no specific issues oa
that and they are willing to accept the terms as proposed.
Mr. Lynch said the mounting of the mechanical air conditioning oa the roof was
something they would like to have considered as part of the proposal; that the
first building was constructed with roof-mounted equipment, and it was
screened using the same materials as the eaterior facade of the building,
reflective glass, and they propose to do this project the same by using
a!aterials to make it the same appearance as the building. He said if top
screening was an issue, which it really wasn't on the first building, it
shouldn't be here. He said they would put some louvers or something to screen
the view from the top.
He said the view study shows that none of the houses anywhere in that tract
can see into the top of that roof-mounted equipment; plus, they feel the
primary view orientation of this project is to the east, not really in the
direction of that building. He said most of that tract of homes, southerly of
this site, are easterly of their project.
Q,gPOSITION•
Marie Rizzo, 8475 Amberwood Street, Anaheim Hills, said she would be east of
this building and it would block the whole view that she paid eztra money for
and this would devalue their property. She stated there were too many
buildings there right now, and this would impact traffic, which is pretty bad
now.
09/26/88
~" ~
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SEPTEMBER 26 1988 31
Ursula Smith, President of East Hills Homeowner's Association, said she was
there on behalf of the homeowners and the neighbors on Amberwood. She
presented a letter to the Commission from a neighbor who was unable to attend
asking that this project not be approved because it would obstruct their view
and devalue their home. She said she had talked to the people of the
neighborhood and they were upset that the buildings continue to get higher and
higher out there. She said there is a height ordinance, and it should be
observed. She noted the people who bought the property knew what the codes
were when they bought there. She asked that Commission deny this proposal.
REBUTTAL•
Mr. Lynch said the concern was that they would increase the overall building
height by mounting the air conditioning equipment on the roof, thereby
potentially obstructing more view than if they had not done that. He said the
only con:=ideration was that if they had to put such equipment on the ground,
he wondered if it might be more of a visual obstruction.
Chairwoman Bouas said the Commission did have a call today from a Mrs. Donald
Walters who lives on 8499 East Amberwood, and she said her living room looks
onto the proposed building site, and that she was requesting a continuance so
the neighbors could provide input.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Carusillo asked if the proposal at 52 f~det, 3-stories, included
the roof-mounted equipment; and Mr. Lynch responded it did, and that is the
overall building height.
Commissioner Carusillo said when they last talked, the applicant was going to
give the Commission some reference as to what impact the building might have
of any view blockage to the south. He stated he cannot really determine if
that really impacts the view or not.
Commissioner Herbst said there is view blockage for the people on Amberwood;
and even the third story does some blockage.
Dir. Lynch stated the houses currently have a 6-foot high wall along the
northerly property lines along Santa Ana Canyon Road and a person sitting in
their living room would not be able to see over that wall and will probably
not be able to see anything but sky. He said they addressed themselves
primarily to second story views and in most cases, they look over the top of
the building.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if there is a height restriction out there, for any
structures other than houses.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, responded in this particular zone, the limit is
35 feet, however, a Conditional Use Permit could be granted for anything above
that.
09/26/88
S~~i q~9
32
MINUTES PLANNING COMMIS$I N MEETING SEPTEMBzR 26 1988
Commissioner Herbst said he disagreed with the line of site study and the
view. He explained the Commission asked for a line of site view from the
houses. Ae said that air conditioning units are not supposed to be on the
roof in the Canyon area.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he felt this does impact views, which people pay
a premium to have, and he felt it is too high and should be redesigned within
the code.
A TI Commissioner Carusillo offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
McBurney and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission has
reviewed the proposal to construct a 3-story, 52-foot high office building
with waiver of required site screening, minimum structural setback and
location of mechanical equipment on an irregularly-shaped parcel of land
consisting of approximately 3.6 acres located at the northeast corner of Santa
Ana Canyon Road and Riverview Drive, having approzimate frontages of 855 feet
on the north side of Santa Ana Canyon Road and 340 feet on the east side of
Riverview Drive; and does hereby approve the Negative Declaration upon finding
that it has considered the Negative Declaration together with any comments
received during the public review process and further finding on the basis of
the Initial Study and any comments received that there is no substantial
evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
Commissioner Carusillo offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner McBurney and
MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby DENY the
waiver of cede on the basis that there are NO special circumstances applicable
to the property such as size, shape, topography, location and surroundings
which do not apply to other identically zoned property is the same vicinity;
and that strict application of the Zoning Code DOES NOT deprive the property
of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the identical zone and
classification in the vicinity and that roof mounted equipment on this
property would impact the view of the adjacent property owners.
Commissioner Carusillo offered Resolution No. PC88-274 and moved for its
passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby
DENY Conditional Use Permit No. 3057 on the basis that the proposed use will
adversely affect the adjoining land uses and the granting of the Conditional
Use Permit with waivers would be detrimental to the peace, health, safety and
general welfare of the citizens of the City of Anaheim.
Gn roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Selma Mann, Deputy City Attorney, presented the xritten right to appeal the
Planning Corr~nission's decision wit'.1ia 22 days to the City Council.
RECESS: 4:30 P•m•
RECONVENE: 6:15 p.m.
09/26/88
MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 3~
ITRttS HEARD AFTER 6.00 P.M.
ITEM NO 14 CEQA NEGATIVE DECLARATION• RECLASSIFICATION NO 88-89-1
INITIATED BY: PLANNING COMMISSION, CITY OF ANAHEIM 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.,
Anaheim, CA 92804
Request: RM-1200, RM-2400 and PD-C to PD-C/RM-2400
LOCATION:
(1) Subject properties are comprised of certain lots (see attached map)
flanking those commercial lots fronting on North Anaheim Boulevard
between La Palma Avenue and Cypress Street and further described as
follows:
(a) 31 lots oa east side of 2eyn Street, beginning 2 lots south of
La Palma Avenue and extending to Wilhelmina Street (currently
zoned RM-2400).
(b) 2 lots on south side of Sycamore Street just easterly of
intersection of Zeyn Street and 1 lot immediately south of the 2
lots, which fronts in Adele Street (currently zoned PD-C).
(c) 4 lots oa north side of Cypress Street located between 2 alleys
between Anaheim Boulevard and Lemon Street (currently zoned
PD-C).
(d) 8 lots on west side of Claudina Street, beginning 1 lot south of
La Palma Avenue and extending to a public alley plus 1 lot
facing Mills Drive, which is 1 lot west of the intersection of
Claudina Street (currently zoned RM-2400).
(e) 1 lot on south side of Mills Drive, immediately east of the lot
facing Anaheim Boulevard (currently zoned RM-2400).
(f) 15 lots on west side of Claudina Street between North Street and
Wilhelmina Street (northerly 12 lots currently zoned RM-2400 and
southerly 3 lots currently zoned PD-C).
(g) 6 lots having frontage oa alley easterly of Anaheim Boulevard
between Wilhelmina Street and Sycamore Street (currently zoned
RM-2400).
(h) 8 lots located between the southwest corner of Adele Street and
Emily Street and the north west corner of Cypress Street and
Emily Street (currently zoned PD-C).
COMMISSIONER BOYDSTUN DECLARED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST as defined by Anaheim
City Planning Commission Resolution No. PC76-157 adopting a Conflict of
interest Code for the Planning Commission and Government Code Section 3625, et
seq., in that she holds an option oa property in the subject area and pursuant
to the provisions of the above Codes, declared to the Chairman that she was
09/26/88
~~
MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMhSISSION. SEPTEMBER 25, 1988. 34
withdrawing from the hearing is conne.tion with Reclassification No. 88-89-11,
and would not take part in either the discussion or the voting thereon and had
not discussed this matter with any member of the Planning Commission.
Thereupon Commissioner Boydstun left the Council Chamber.
There were 80 persons, 14 speakers, indicating their presence in opposition to
subject request and although the staff report was not read, it is referred to
and made a part of the minutes.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, pointed out the properties under consideration
are along North Anaheim Boulevard, and the properties which back onto Anaheim
Boulevard. He said the present zoning of those properties is PD-C (Parking
District, Commercial) and allows either for parking lots or RM-1200
development (36 units per acre); and the other zone being considered is the
RM-2400 Zune which exists on certain of those properties (18 units per acre).
He explained the newly created zone being considered is PD-C/RM-2400, which
would allow parking lots or multiple-family units at 18 units per acre, which
is a combination of the PD-C and RM-2400 Zone.
Mr. Hastings explained the Planning Commission selected the properties based
oa the fact that they were not zoned single family, and that there were no
commercial properties involved. He said they were only looking at the PD-C
properties and those zoned RM-2400 as a result of a recent down-zoning in the
area; and that it was the intent of the Commission to discourage RM-1200-type
development, which is 36 units per acre, and at the same time allow for
parking areas which could be developed in conjunction with commercial
properties which front Anaheim Boulevard.
Chairwoman Bouas said she understood the PD-C with the RM-1200 had been on all
of these properties. She clarified that those properties had not changed into
parking lots at this time.
Mr. Hastings said the PD-C zoning had been oa a majority of these properties
since 1951, which had enabled either a parking lot or multiple family
development at 36 units per acre. He stated after surveying the area, there
were only five of the 77 lots being considered currently being used for
parking and the remainder are being used for a mix of single family and
multiple family development.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if this change mesas leaving the PD-C zone on the
property, but changing the RM-1200 to RM-2400.
Mr. Hastings responded there are two circumstances which exist; one is where
there is PD-C, which allows parking lots and multiple family at 36 units per
acre and those would be downzoned to a zone which would allow for parking
lots, as well as 18 units per acre, rather than 36. He said the other
circumstance, on the other properties which are currently zoned RM-2400, the
properties would still be allowed to have RM-2400 development but introduced
into those particular lots would be an allowance for parking lots, if they
chose not to develop at RM-2400.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if this would mean they had to make a change, or could
they stay just as they are.
09/26/88
~.
MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988. 35
Mr. Hastings stated this change would only provide the opportunity for the
property owner to choose between either a parking lot, 18 units per acre, or
leave it as a single-family home. He also noted a single-family home would be
allowed in any of these zones.
OPPOSITION•
Willi H R n, 821 North Lemon Street, Vice Chairman of the Central City
Neighborhood Council and a member of the Community Development Block Grant
Prioritization Committee, and also community member of the former North
Anaheim Boulevard Property Owners Association before that group was absorbed
by another group, stated during his tenure as an officer in the Central City
Neighborhood Council, he had pushed for 5500,000 in federal funds for the
North Anaheim Boulevard streetscape. He said he had tried for better police
protection, better ABC laws, and grants for community service groups that are
located on North Anaheim Boulevard.
Dr. Roon said two years ago, his next door neighbor, Reith Pepper, and he and
his wife spent hundreds of hours in getting rezoning of this area; and that
they spent their private funds, they have appeared before the Planning
Commission and the City Council, and the zoning was changed from PD-C on North
Zeyn Street to RM-2400; and now they are back to fight the same battle again
because they are being asked to have North Zeyn Street changed to a PD-C zone
again. He said nothing has changed in the neighborhood since his appearance
before Commission a little more than a year and one-half ago and the homes on
North Zeyn are mostly single-family dwellings, in the 5150,000 to 5200,000
price range and the residents do not want a parking lot next door to them, or
across the street.
He said this would increase traffic and make life hazardous for the two main
occupants of this street which are senior citizens and young families. He
said this was one of the last areas of affordable housing in Anaheim.
He said he was speaking particularly to the problem on Zeyn Street, but he
also wanted to address North Claudina, as well. He said this would be
invading their residential neighborhood with commercial uses; that oa both
sides of the boulevard, they have stable, valuable neighborhoods which would
suffer by this destruction with the change in zoning; and that it would cause
a domino effect on Lemon Street, Clementine, and other streets to the west.
Dr. Roon noted parking is already under utilized on Anaheim Boulevard; that in
examining the parking lots at 1:00 p.m. last Monday, of the 198 sparcrere bein
available in the rear of these businesses, only 95, less than 50i, 4
used. He stated they did not count parking oa the side or street parking,
just the back parking. He said the City had conducted ao parking study to
determine if North Anaheim Boulevard needs more parking and, is fact, after
North Anaheim Boulevard is widened, there will continue to be on-street
parking.
Dr. Roon said they must demand and ask that an Environmental Impact Report be
done, because if this rezoning passes, it would be impacting neighborhoods far
to the east and west of the current district.
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MIN(ITES. ANAHEIM CITY ''y~.~:;v~,_at~•_4;~~7SSION SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. 36
Mr. Roon said the current RM-2400 designation works as an effective buffer
between the commercial properties on North Anaheim Boulevard and the RM-7200
properties which lie beyond it. He said this change was not initiated by the
property owners, in fact to the opposite; and that they were not consulted and
no parking studies have been done. He said the properties affected on both
sides of the street are mostly single-family homes facing other single-family
homes; and that by allowing this parking district, they would be destroying
the neighborhood, which is composed of a very rich ethnic and age variety. He
asked that the Commission vote no on the proposal to change North 2eyn Street
and North Claudina to PD-C/RM-2400. In support of this, Dr. Roon presented a
petition of over 160 residents on those two streets and the adjacent streets.
Judy Olesen, 321 North Philadelphia, stated she was confused about what Mr.
Hastings said; that she was involved with the dowazoning on the east side of
Anaheim Boulevard and, as far as she knew, there was no PD-C taken out of that
dowazone, so the property around the 700, B00, 900 blocks of Claudina and some
of the streets, such as Alberta and Mills, where they are adding PD-C, have
never been PD-C.
Mr. Hastings responded most of what Ms. Olesen said is correct; that the
majority of PD-C was on the west side, however, closer dower to Cypress Street,
there is some PD-C which exists and the maps showing that are attached to the
staff report.
Mrs. Olesen explained she wanted to clarify that because she was speaking in
favor of changing those areas which are currently zoned PD-C to the new
PD-C/RM-2400, as intended, which protect those neighborhoods from RM-1200
development, while allowing for parking adjacent to Anaheim Boulevard. She
added, however, she is very much opposed to any RM-2400 property being rezoned
to include parking. She asked why these properties which the neighborhood
fought so hard to protect are now being targeted as parking lots, at the
request of a few Anaheim Boulevard property owners. She stated it just did
not make sense to allow a parking lot in the middle of a resid+antial block and
it was not the intent of the Planni•aq Com~nissioa to rezone single-family
neighborhoods into parking lots, and yet this proposal directly affects
single-family homes.
Ms. Olesen stated it was not surprising that while circulating the petitions,
no one she spoke to wanted to live next to, or across the street from any
parking lot, let alone one behind Horth Anaheim Boulevard. She stated most
people asked her why Anaheim Boulevard needed more parking; and that she
thought to take this large area of residential property and say it was all
right to make a parking lot anywhere within that area was outrageous. She
noted this would also cause the neighborhood to deteriorate. She said any
parking problems along Anaheim Boulevard do not require this an extreme a
solution.
Ms. Olesen said there was property on Anaheim Boulevard available for parking,
which is zoned PD-C. She also asked if this PD-C designation included
commercial property, as well as parking, so that this actually becomes a way
to expand commercial businesses, not just a way to allow parking. She also
noted some properties on Anaheim Boulevard, if they had parking problems, it
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MixtJTES ANAHEIM CITY PLA~.7ING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 37
was because they had ezpanded into their own parking areas. She said if a
parking problem ezists, it should be investigated first and a reasonable and
responsible solution sought, and this proposal was neither.
earl Osterhoudt said he is an absentee owner of 746 North Zeyn and that he was
opposed to this proposal. Ae said he did not think it was fair to those
people on the West side of Zeyn.
xeartha MacLa he lan. 219 East North Street, said she had a half interest in a
home on North Zeyn Street; and that she is opposed to the rezoning of North
Zeyn and North Claudina Streets to PD-C/RM-2400. She said in 1987 North Zeyn
was rezoned to RM-2400 and in 1988, North Claudina was rezoned to RM-2400; and
that it is incredible to her that within these few months, the same streets
aze being considered for rezoning to PD-C.
She said from conversation with some of the business people on Anaheim
Boulevard, and background knowledge, it appeared to her to be a convenience
measure by and for their interest to expand their property lines. She said
this was not a legitimate reason, nor reasonable manner, by which to crowd
current property owners from their homes. She said she saw this as an effort
to downgrade the value of the entire residential area with parking lots. She
said after this was accomplished, the lots would be bought up, rented for the
time being until the completion of the widening of Anaheim Boulevard, then
when downtown Anaheim is developed, those lots would increase greatly in
value. She added she wanted the self interest of a few stopped for the
benefit of those who, with good intentions, purchased these properties because
they were good affordable homes in a goad residential area. She noted
properties of many of the businesses on Anaheim Boulevard are not well kept up
and widening Anaheim Boulevard would not improve that.
John Heberlinq, 726 North Zeyn Street, said he moved there two years ago
because they were looking for as affordable, residential, single-family home
in which to raise their family. He said single-family dwellings are vanishing
in Orange County. He stated granted, as noted this evening, this rezoning did
not require anyone to change anything; however, it would allow any of the
neighbors, or anyone they might sell to, to turn those residential properties
into parking lots and that was not why he moved there. He added this action
was unnecessary and unwanted.
Sally Horton, 226 North Claudina, thanked Commission for hearing this after
6:00 p.m. so they could attend. She stated she was discouraged at having to
be here to oppose something like this and did not think it should have even
been brought up. She stated this property has just recently been zoned to
RM-2400 with the condition that those which were PD-C would remain PD-C and
then a new zone would be created to make them PD-C/RM-2400, and that this was
agreed to several months ago. but they did not agree to add additional lots in
single-family neighborhoods to that parking zone. She stated allowing a
parking Toae in these neighborhoods would eventually allow the attitude that
has run rampant in Anaheim heretofore, which was that there is a need to
destroy in order to build or progress. She said they do not need to destroy
homes in order to have parking lots.
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tLIi ^'°S ANAHEIM CZTY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988. 38
She read a letter from Bill Taroc~ina, one of the major property owners on
North Anaheim Boulevard which suggested for consideration that all alleys is
the downtown area be abandoned to provide the necessary off-street parking
which the City is trying to obtain and the dedication of certain vacant
properties owned by the City, to be made into parking lots.
Commissioner Messe asked staff to point out on the ezhibit which lots have
been added which were not originally PD-C.
Mr. Hastings stated the RM-2400 lots, which were not originally PD-C, included
both the east and west sides of Anaheim Boulevard from Wilhelmina Street
north. He said he believed the majority of the people are talking about the
strip of land between North and Wilhelmina, and perhaps even going north from
that, which was originally RM-2400. He said those lots from North Street to
Wilhelmina on the east side of 2eyn Street were PD-C and the ones north of
that are the ones which were RM-1200, downzoned to RM-2400, and they were not
PD-C.
Bob Renzo, 114 East Wilhelmina, said to his knowledge his house xas not zoned
PD-C, and that it is behind the old church; that his property does not back up
to Anaheim Boulevard, and noted it was stated properties backing up to Anaheim
Boulevard are being considered for rezoning to PD-C. He ezplained the side of
his property may back up to Anaheim Boulevard, but the back does not. He
stated the Planning Commission may not consider his neighborhood paradise, but
the people of the neighborhood do and they have repaired, created, and put up
their homes there to reestablish the neighborhood and that he is against the
rezoning.
Chairwoman Bouas stated certainly the City is not wanting to build parking
lots and ao one oa the Planning Commission had that in mind. She agreed at
this point, parking lots are not needed oa Anaheim Boulevard and this proposal
was not intended to enable establishment of parking lots at random, so the
City could have parking lots.
Susan Petersen, 757 Zeyn Street, said she felt she needed to emphasis that the
residential area, from North Street and down to the Sycamore area, is one
which was typically known as being old where there was a lot of prido, as far
as it being custom-built homes from the 1930s. She said she certainly hoped
it was not the intent to replace those homes with parking lots because, even
though considering the environment on as economical basis, residents look at
it as an environment for them in which they can take pride. She added the
historical value cannot be replaced. She stated she felt there is so much
growth and progress in Orange County as it is, that she would hate to see
those particular homes lost, in that triangle where they are trying to instill
people's interest in refurbishing.
Keith Olesen, 321 North Philadelphia, said he was there as a member of the
Central City Neighborhood Council, and deeply involved with the downzoning
that did affect part of this problem. He said he felt there were a couple of
major bits of confusion when they are asking what was originally PD-C. He
said some of the areas that were being pointed out were originally PD-C two
years ago before the downzoniag xent into effect, so there are not large
09!26!88
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~1. iTFC ANAHEIM CITY PLANNI_L~G COMfdISSION CFATF1.tRF.R ~fi_ toAA 39
strips which were PD-C. He said the zones had been changed in both these
areas, and as noted is the report, 77• of the lots under consideration are
RM-2400. He said the references to the properties which were left out of the
downzoning on the east side of Claudina, were left nut specifically at the
request of Commissioner Soydstun to enable the Commission to come up with an
RM-2400/PD-C zoning that would be attached to those very few properties in the
meantime.
Mr. Olesen said he felt obviously, it was someone's intent to at least suggest
the possibility for all these properties to be parking, and that is why the
residents are here. He said the original intent in the dowazoning was to
recognize and protect the residential areas that had been there for a long
time in spite of an RM-1200 zone. He said the Zeyn Street area is RM-1200 and
PD-C and has remained low density, primarily single-family dwellings, and that
was why the dowazoning was so overwhelmingly supported. He pointed out the
General Plan Amendment was passed Yy the Planning Commission 7 - 0, as well as
by the City Council 5 -• 0.
He stated this would be a gigantic step backward, and going against everything
the community groups and residents had worked so very hard for; that these
parcels are not needed for parking and it did not make sense ~" make parking
between Anaheim Boulevard that buffers residential, and that •••'.ld invade that
residential community.
Reith Peaoer, 817 North Lemon, said about two years ago, i.~a requesting a
dowazone of Lemon Street, it had been brought to his attention that there was
PD-C zoaiag existing in the 700 block of 2eyn Street and that perhaps they
should talk with the property owners there. He said there was general
outrage, and they did not like that zoaiag being oa their property, so they
were included in the dowazone of Lemon Street two years ago. He said the
RM-2400 designation has been in place there since then.
He said last year when they came in through the Central City Neighborhood
Council for the dowazoninq of the east side of Anaheim Boulevard, in
discussions with the staff, there were the 18 PD-C properties that were
originally included to be downzoned to RM-2400 but, recognizing that parking
should be considered and not ignored for Anaheim Boulevard, those 18 parcels
were specifically excluded from that downzone so the City could determine
whether or not to change the PD-C zone or create a nev one. He said it was
decided to create a new one and their understanding was that there would be 18
parcels rezoned, not 77. He said they were in favor of removing those 18
parcels at the time, but they are not in favor of the 77. (He offered a slide
presentation, following the alleys down from the 900 block oa the west side of
the street, crossing the street and heading up the back side).
Wpb McCorkle, 607 North Zeyn Street, said he is the treasurer of the Anaheim
Neighborhood Association. He said he was involved is supporting and working
for the downzoning on Zeyn and Lemon Street, the dowazoning east of Anaheim
Boulevard, and numerous zoning and variance matters which have coma before
this Commission. He said he fully supported everything that had been said
this evening.
09/26/88
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Mr. McCorkle stated he wanted to address a concern that he has had, which has
culminated over several years of lobbying and speaking to this group and the
City Council, because this is the second time it has come up for him. He
stated two years ago, before Chairwoman Boydstun was a member of this
Commission and when they were dowazoninq North Zeyn Street, she was the only
person who spoke out against it. He said at that time, it was a matter of
public record, that she was concerned about losing parking on teyn Street
because there was a block there that was PD-C/RM-1200. He said he had
numerous conversations with her, privately, about that same subject.
He stated the next time he came in contact with her, she was a member of this
Commission and he was lobbying against an apartment complez across the street
from Pearson Park, which during the course of the hearing, a.s tonight, she
excused herself from the meeting. He said her son, representing the
developer, presented the case and there was strong neighborhood opposition;
that the Commission suggested the developer meet with the neighbors and
discuss the situation but that they did not talk to Reat Boydstun, but
negotiated directly with Phyllis Boydstun and he thought that was an
inappropriate action. He said he believed she and her business are directly
involved. He stated during that same negotiating, she again brought up this
PD-C/RM-2400 idea as being very important to her.
He said the next thing he knew, they were working to downzone the 92 acres on
the east side of Anaheim Boulevard and, at her specific request, the
PD-C/RM-1200 was eliminated from that process. He said she has been very
involved is this, and she has a business located oa the street, and has a
personal interest in what happens with this PD-C issue. He said she is, to
his knowledge, in any public hearing the only person ever to speak out against
getting rid of these PD-C zonings and he really thought to have this happen,
and have this kind of involvement, creates some question and doubt to his mind.
$~ Sangiovanni, 242 West Simmons, Anaheim, said he lives on the other end
of town and came for a different problem but would like to say he agreed with
these people and felt strongly the way they did, because he thought the same
thing might happen to their area eventually. He said they are getting built
up around tY:em with not enough parking allowed for the construction that is
happening. He said the plan should not be to get rid of the single-family
homes and make them parking lots.
Larrv Toraerson, 216 North Claudine, said they brought up an interesting point
in that the City was not the one that wanted to build the parainq structures.
He said unfortunately the best scenario for residents was that the City did
want to ;Build parking structures, then they had some voice and control in
their government, which they would prove on election day. He said the
Commission is creating new zoning and laxs which provide opportunities for the
private sector to come in anA build anything inside these laws, and that is
what they are against, and they do not want the neighborhoods broken up by one
or two parking structures.
ty~r~orv_ Boothe, 125 East Wilhelmina Street, said she feels like all she does
is come down to these meetings and she was promised the last time she would
not have to come anymore, because the City was not going to do anymore in her
09/26/88
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area: She said then she got all these papers telling her they were going to
do parking lots, or more zoning for apartments. She added she felt it is
unfair to the people in her area to be taking homes and putting in apartments
and now the City wants to put a parking lot right behind her house, and that
she was not is favor of that.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if there was anyone who wished to speak in favor of
this proposal and there was no response.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he left this up to his fellow Commissioners,
because he was not from the downtown area, although it is of an interest to
him, but that he knew there was about 1S0 petitions against this and there
seems to be about that many people here against it and he believed laws,
ordinances, and zoning are made for the community as a whole, and since there
is strong opposition to this- he is opposed to it.
Commissioner Herbst said he was very much in favor of downzoning the property
tc RM-2400; and that he has seen this property go from bad to better and
t~~a;-~e have rehabilitated the area and many areas look a lot better than they
dic; iS years ago. He stated he thought the Commission must look at what is
happening and at many areas all through the city and must look at past zoning
to see if it needs to be changed and upgraded. He stated a lot of the old
PD-C was never used and that he would be in favor of eliminating all of it at
the presen*_ time and try to preserve these areas. He said when the time
comes, and Anaheim Boulevard is widened, then they could look at the problem
to see what it would take to solve it. He said maybe they could solve it all
along Anaheim Boulevard with more frontage, having the parking up front,
rather than encroaching into the neighborhood.
Commissioner Messe said he believed the motivation of the Commission was that
businesses were going to be devoting a certain amount of space to the widening
of Anaheim Boulevard, therefore, they would have a problem with parking. He
added there are no business owners present and nose of the property owners are
speaking in favor of this. He said the Commission decide to consider it out
of concern for the business community and the business community did not seem
to be concerned, so he agreed with Commissioner Herbst that this should be
reviewed later.
Commissioner McBurney concurred and added it is very evident that this has
gotten the people interested in what is happening is their neighborhood. He
said he thought they have shown ezactly what they want and he felt they should
be listened to.
Commissioner Herbst asked about the Reclassification and what the Commission
needs to do to get rid of the PD-C.
Mr. Hastings stated staff did advertise all of the PD-C zones north of Cypress
Street, which is the redevelopment area boundary. He pointed out on the
ezhibit the only PD-C zoned properties north of Cypress, and they flank
Anaheim Boulevard.
09!26/88
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Ih i'f'ES A_NA~IM CITY PLA1.i7ING C02yi-iSSION SEPTEMBER 26 1998 42
He explained the Commission should determine which zone they would like to
have those properties rezoned to and then staff would readvertise those
particular properties. He said they are currently zoned PD-C and if the
Commission wanted them zoned RM-2400, they would have to be readvertised.
~,ommissioaer Herbst said he wants to geC rid of the PD-C completely; that he
was talking about the area along Anaheim Boulevard which the audience was
concerned about. He added he knew there were some oa the other side of
Lincoln, backing up to a commercial area, but those are not the ones under
consideration.
Mr. Hastings said it would be appropriate to direct staff to advertise perhaps
a new reclassification for those PD-C zoned properties and notify the owners
of those properties.
Chairwoman Bouas suggested a resolution denying this reclassification, and
that would leave those properties at RM-2400 and PD-C, which are currently
zoned that way, and then advertise those other properties, separately, and
have a hearing to change those. She explained she would like to take care of
the concerns of these people present tonight, then have a hearing for the
properties which are PD-C.
Mr. Hastings said it would be appropriate then to deny this reclassification.
A I Commissioner Llexbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
McHurney and MOTION CARRIED (Commissioner Feldhaus voting NO) that the Anaheim
City Planning Commission has reviewed the proposal to rezone RM-1200, RM-2400,
and PD-C areas as specified is the staff report to PD-C/RM-2400 and does
hereby approve the Negative Declaration upon finding that it has considered
the Negative Declaration together with any comments received during the public
review process and further finding en P.he basis of the Initial Study and any
comments received that there is no substantial evidence that the project will
have a significant effect on the environment.
Commissioner Feldhaus said he has a problem approving this Negative
Declaration, because 'there has to be some sort of impact, otherwise, the
people would not be here.
Commissioner Herbst offered Resolution No. PC88-275, and moved for its passage
and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby DENY
Reclassification No. 88-89-11.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC HURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: BOYDSTUN (conflict of interest)
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, presented the written right to
appeal the Planning Commission's decision within 22 days to the City Council.
09/26/88
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ES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner McBurney and
MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby direct
staff to proceed with the rezoning of the 78 parcels north of Cypress Street
which are currently zoned PD-C, said reclassification from PD-C (Parking
District/Commercial) to RM-2400 (Residential, Multiple-Family); and further,
staff is directed to advertise said reclassification proposal and notify the
property owners who own the existing 18 parcels north of Cypress Street zoned
PD-C.
RECESS: 7:10 p.m.
RECONVENE: 7:15 p.m.
COMMISSIONER BOYDSTUN RETURNED TO THE MEETING
ITEM .NO 15 REPORT TO PUNNING COMMISSION SCENIC CORRIDOR SIxGr.E_FAMILY
rtFSIDENTIAL ZONE HEIGHT STANDARD REVIEW AND S'~DY (Request for review and
rprnmmendatlOn
Lori Duca, Assistant Planner, presented the staff's report to the Planning
Commission.
Ms. Duca stated in the latter part of April, the City Council directed the
Planning Department to submit a summary report on the height variances
requested during the past two years due to the increase in number of variance
applications made since the beginning of the year.
She noted that in the latter part of May, the City Council directed the
Planning Department staff to further investigate and pursue the height issue
in the Scenic Corridor area. She stated during the last few months, the
Planning Department has held two meetings with the Hill and Canyon area
representatives, conducted telephone interviews with architectural firms, and
contacted 26 cities and the County of Orange in a survey for input oa this
issue. She stated before the Commission this evening is the report which
integrated the collected information.
Pmt BLIC INPUT•
There were 50 people present, 25 indicating their wish to address the
Commission concerning this item; although the staff report xas not read, it is
referred to and made a part of the minutes.
pgi~r+cia Stowers (Mohler Drive area), said they had recently moved into the
area and became acquainted with many of the brochures that had been put out
about this issue. She said that when they were first purchasing the home,
they were not informed that this was the Scenic Corridor aroa; that they
checked with their Title Company, who said this was an unusual circumstance
and indicated that this was usually put on the title. She said they intend to
build that their parcel entails grade and they plan to build lower and qo up
hpiaht restriction, which i.s 25
and *hev were concerned because of thg,
feet.She said they xere not certain they would go over it, but there is the
possibility, so they felt they neoded to be at this meeting and become
involved. She said the committee involved was concerned with the rural beauty
09/26/88
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNIN MMICCrnx EPTEMBER 26 198. 44
but the rural beauty, in her area is not very pretty. She said there are
trees that are down and the roads are unkempt and narrow. She said those xho
are moving into the area are in the process of building custom homes and she
was concerned that the Commission take into consideration the land and if they
are detracting or blocking a neighbor's view. She said they should be
concerned about their neighbors and not what was going on aesthetically all
around them.
Sonja Grewal said she was speaking on behalf of the Soard of Directors of the
Anaheim Hills Citizen's Coalition. She referred to the percentage of variance
requests in 1988 which appeared in the same proportion to the variance
requests in 1986; that is the variance requests have increased in the same
proportion, basically, are the amount of building permits being issued;
howover, the increase of variancas granted seems to have focused residents
attention on the cumulative impact.
She said they request that the Commission consider evaluating the RM-3000 zone
in whatever the decision is this ~venin5, because as she understood from
staff, multiple-family zones are not included is the Scenic Corridor Height
Development Standards. She said in September, 1987, they did support a tract
of 49 homes in their request for a height variance because there was a real
hardship related to the land.
She said their input has consistently been that if the code is unreasonable,
it should be re-evaluated and if it is not, it should be upheld, regardless
how many people come before the Commission, and it should be set aside only
when there is a true hardship on the land or a special circumstance. She said
they are pleased this hearing has come about because decisions regarding the
ordinance have been inconsistent to the point of being very unfair to the
applicants and existing residents. She added she hopes the Commission agrees
with staff that the intent of the Scenic Corridor is still valid and the fact
they are almost fully developed, yet have still retained that semi-rural,
uncoagested atmosphere is due to the additional development standards imposed
on the area and in great part to the height standard.
Ms. Grewal said they urge Commission to weigh each alternative because is
several areas the type of construction that goes in will be the finishing
touch to the area and needs to be consistent and compatible with what is
happening there now. She said if the recommendation xould be to maintain the
present standard, it would be accompanied with a clear policy statement,
otherwise, the recommendation should accomplish little. She said presently
the variance procedure is pretty much just a formality, and that architectural
features are accepted as a hardship, so there is very little standard
involved. She said if the recommendation is to increase the height standard
throughout the corridor, she would ask that the Commission please evaluate the
effect oa established areas over a period of time. She said the effect of
height on reconstructions and remodels in established neighborhoods could
easily result in a development which negates the intent of tha Scenic
Corridor. She noted that in other view-oriented areas, remodels and
reconstruction could effect homeowners by removing views tied to the value of
their homes.
09/26/8E
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x SEPTEMBER 26 1988 95
vr.nrrFg ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSIO
Ms. Grewal said if the Commission chose the alternative of amending the height
standard in certain specific sub-communities, it is their opinion that the
area of Hidden Canyon, warrants consideration and that is which is a clearly
defined area and may truly be a special circumstance. She said there also
appears to be an effectiveuardintetherviewepremiums oftezistingahomeownershin
could assume the role of g g
that area.
Ms. Grewal said the input they had received from other committees indicates
that ezisting homeowners agree that the 25-foot standard has created a
community look which fulfills the intent of the Scenic Corridor definition and
which they want to maintain. She said the alternative, in the height study,
of allowing projections above the roofline seems like a very possible
alternative to allow design flezibility: however, to make wouldaseemvlikena
sufficiently specific, without being totally restrictive,
fairly difficult task. She said their goal reoalnand oliciestof thatrplaalan
for the Hill and Canyon areas. She said the g p were formed by
and the ordinances which were set into place to implement it,
citizens who cared about a total picture, and the result has been a community
which many have chosen, and are choosing, to make their home.
FrPder+ck Palmieri, 110 South Strada Place, Peralta Hills, said he respected
the Scenic Corridor area, the topography. landscaping, trees, etc.; however,
the height limits depend very much on the area of the particular tract, that
is the area of the lot. He noted a 25-foot high residence on a 5000
square-foot lot would look completely different than a 30-foot structure on a
one to five acre lot. He said there could not be an effective height limit
without taking into account not only the land area, but the nature of the land.
Mr. Palmieri said part of the Code limiting height says you cannot restrict a
person's use of his property if other people in the area have similar
exceptions and there are many homes is his area which are 3-story and 35 to 40
feet in height, so why then should people like himself, who came recently to
the area, be limited. He said his immediate neighbars are in favor of his
proposed structure; and the people who complained were people at least 300
feet away from his residence.
He said he understood soma residents like to keep things status quo, but that
is not what is happening; that the City Council voted to let a church be built
on what was supposed to be a dedicated area for a park and there were about
135 Eucalyptus trees which were allowed to be cut down for a church which is a
commercial usage in a residential zone.
He noted land is going to be developed and sold; that in Peralta Hills those
one to five acre lots are going to be developed and they would build
structures which have to measure up, proportional to the land value there. He
asked that the Commission consider height limits is portion to land area, to
topography, and to the nature of the use. He said he felt they should support
the standard but let it be according to the rrea, according to the
architecture, and according to the topography.
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 46
Bruce Daniels, 6940 Avenida de Santiago, said he lives in Hidden Canyon and is
the president of the Hidden Canyon Homeowners Association. He said when the
issue came before them, they did not reflect on the overall community, which
is the Scenic Corridor; and that they thought immediately of their personal
needs and wants in the area. He said this area is a primary one where
concerns have been raised regarding variances. He presented some written
letters from owners and a list of names of 26 who were contacted. He said 26
of the 32 home/property owners who own land in Hidden Canyon have spoken out
that they desire to have the height limit changed.
He noted one alternative set forth in the staff report stated that amending
the height standard in certain specific sub-communities is a viable
alternative and they desire the Commission to consider that alternative, if
they elect to keep the standard the same for the remainder of the Scenic
Corridor. He noted their homes do not impact the majority of the people in
the Anaheim Hills area. He said they have an architectural review committee
in place which has voted affirmatively and negatively on home plans, based on
the architectural design.
Commissioner Carusillo asked Mr. Daniels if he could give an approzimate
parcel size of those 32 homes in Hidden Canyon.
Mr. Daniels stated his lot is 1.3 acres and he believed they are alY at least
one acre.
Raren Rosch who is on the architectural committee of Hidden Canyon said the
lots vary from one acre to five acres, with the average lot being 3.5 acres.
Responding to Commissioner Herbst, Mr. Daniels stated the mazimum height at
the present time he thought was 33 feet, but it possibly could be 35.
Commissioner Herbst clarified their architectural committee receives any
request for a height variance, and Mr. Daniels stated he thought they would do
that before the planning process could go forward.
Commissioner Herbst said the reason of this hearing is to try and eliminate
some of these variances, if possible.
Mr. Daniels stated half of the Names are already approved or under
construction at this time in Hidden Canyon and he felt the way the lots are
graded, and the way the lots are designed, they did not feel any of the lots
dzrectly impact the primary view of the houses.
Mr. Daniels stated they are working hard to let people exercise their personal
freedoms, in terms of the design of the house, consistent with the style in
the area and for the houses not to impact negati~•e7y on the neighbors. He
stated they review those on a case by case basis.
Raren Rosch, a lot owner of Hidden Canyon Estates, Lot No. 12 of Tract 10996,
said she was also on the architectural control committee. She said they
review every home individually, checking with the neighbors to make sure that
every neighbor approves of the home. She said the majority of their
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MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANItING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 47
homeowners are in favor of increasing the height standard of the homes,
according to the needs of each individual homeowner. She said they have
neighbors who are waiting to commence building, who cannot do so because they
have been denied variances.
James Myers, 102 Eucalyptus, said he and his wife were new owners is that area
and were in the process of firing their property up, which is about an acre.
He said they did not know there was a restriction when they moved ia; and that
they would like the opportunity to build a nex home in the near future, but if
there is a restriction, it would cause a building problem for them because
they intended to build a large home. He added he would like to give his
support for a change in the height standard.
Craig Miller, Anaheim Hills, said he is in support of the change in the height
standard. He said he has three acres and he has to come before the Council
and get a variance for 35 feet height for the home he intends to build. He
stated his three acres ace on Santa Ana Canyon, at the corner of Mohler and
Canyon Crest.
Commissioner Carusillo asked Mr. Miller if he was aware the zoning was 1/2
acre when he bought the property and Mr. Miller said he was.
~gQrae Mills, 6475 East Stonebridge Lane, Anaheim Hills, said he has had an
avid interest in open space, parks, and planning for some years; and that in
reading the report, he had come to the conclusion that Anaheim was over
restrictive in the Scenic Corridor, based on the fact that they are receiving
so many requests f<;r variances. He said the standards for athez Orange County
hill areas are not as restrictive as Anaheim. He also noted the architects
surveye3 noted a design limiting nature of the height restric>ions in the
Scenic Corridor. He said the Commission should either ia~:rease the height
limit to 30 feet and pormit non-habitable projections above the roof line, or
amend the height standards in specific sub-communities.
Charles Suggett, 6017 Queens Drive, said he punned to Luild a home on
Martella Lane and was having problems with the variance, and the topography of
the lot is not acceptable to a flat graded lot. He said the house is only 25
feet high, but by putting garages underneath to fit, the lot, it comes up to
about 35 feet. He said his lot is not really a view lot anyway and he did not
see how they could really call it a view corridor down through there.
Frank Currie, 7580 East Martella Lane, said he has owned his property in Santa
Ana Canyon for about 30 years; that about 3 years ago they designed and built
a new 5,000 square foot home within the 25-foot height. He said he has four
sons and next to him, all sr.,aggered down, they have built three more houses,
all 25 feet high. He said two of these houses are 2-stories and they are very
attractive houses. He stated they are strictly against all the houses over 25
feet high. He said he resents having to come back all the time before the
Commission to keep people who are building houses below him from blocking his
view.
Mr. Currie responded to Commissioner Feldhaus that his property is next to
Mohler Drive, off of Martin Road.
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MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. 48
Commissioner Feldhaus suggested speakers give the area where their property or
proposed home is located.
Roland Krueger, 561 Peralta Aills Drive, said there seem to be a lot of people
there is favor of raising the height limit and they all seem to be people who
want to build in the future. Mr. Krueger read a letter in support of
retaining the 25-foot height standard from Frank Liggett, 561 Peralta Hills
Drive.
He said building in that area should be encouraged to harmonize with the
current landscape, rather than to dominate it; that he felt there was no
reason to believe they could not manage a firm height limitation and that the
solution is to stop granting waivers solely for architectural reasons and to
insist on meeting the statement of justification for code waivers.
Mr. Krueger said he was a member o£ the original task force that looked at the
Aill and Canyon area and the members of that task force saw a precious natural
resource which was unique in the City. He said the Hill and Canyon General
Plan was designed to preserve the natural beauty of that area; and that the
designation of the Scenic Corridor and the implementation of the site
development standards gave the City tools to achieve this vision. He said
with the exception of some scars from overly ambitious grading, the City for
the most part, has been able to keep focused oa that vision. Ae said the
25-foot height limit was a key element in making homes that blend into the
hillside; that people have been attracted to the area and want to build there
precisely because of the environment created by the very features they say are
too restrictive and to decide now to increase the height limit would be
incompatible with thousands of homes in the eaistiaq developments.
He stated they can build large homes on large lots and stay within the 25-foot
height limit; that they realize the variance procedure has a purpose is the
community and they support that, when the variance procedure rules and
architectural or economic reasons do not fit into the picture. He stated it
is not just a question of blocking someone's view, but whether you are
changing the whole character and environment in the area.
Bill St w r 116 South Eucalyptus, said they had been there about three
months and have made many improvements; that they believe each person has a
right, as long as it blends in with the community, not to be restricted and to
be able to express themselves as individuals, and felt there needs to be some
change, if warranted, and that each structure should be considered
individually. Mr. Stowers also submitted letters to be taken into
consideration.
Phil Joujoa-Roche, 450 Via Vista, Anaheim Hills, said he has lived is the
Mohler Drive area for 19 years, so he was there when the Scenic Corridor was
defined. He noted the goal was to preserve and enhance the unique scenic or
special visual resource areas along the highways for the enjoymt~nt of all. Ae
said it is obvious Anaheim has made a commitment to its citizens to preserve
and enhance the natural scenic elements in the Scenic Corridor.
09/24/88
MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. 40
He noted this is not limited to the view from houses, but also to the view
toward the entire Santa Ana Canyon and the blending of the structure into the
environment is necessary to preserve the scenic quality. He said eacessive
height is an undesirable intrusion; and that the plan has worked fairly well
so far, staying with the 25-foot height standard, with exceptions where
hardship on the land is a problem. He said he xould hate to see this thing
changed, hastily, just for styling sake.
He added there is a need for a definition of the hardships and a more uniform
enforcement of what hardships are; and that he thought encroachment on views
should be considered also.
He said, the Mohler area is fairly well developed and there are just a few
lots left, which are fairly steep, so the Commission would be seeing a lot of
hardship cases coming up on the remaining steep lots. Ae said the people at
Hidden Caayoa, however, have a valid point due to the size of their lots.
Sally Smith, 7370 cast Rite Drive, Anaheim Hills, said she felt the most
critical issue facing the Scenic Corridor is that the City must decide whether
the Scenic Corridor Overlay established in 1971, and the further defined
boundaries and purpose of the corridor, which is to provide protection,
preservation and enhancement of this resource, adopted in 1975 and
establishing the 25-foot height restriction, is to be maintained or whether we
may acquiesce to the vested interest of those iadiviuuals who would erode and
destroy the natural beauty and resource presently maintained in this
corridor. She said we must not permit these architectural inconsistencies to
adulterate and obscure the hills, mountains, and city views, and clarify the
definition of hardship as a reason for height waiver. She added she felt the
standards should not be reduced to allow changes. She presented a letter and
some newspaper clippings for Commission's consideration.
Gilbert wiggam said he was presently trying to build a residence at 6860 East
Avenida de Santiago. He said they had their variance approved two weeks ago
for 31 feet, and the 31 feet was only because of their chimney and that was
because they had a staggered lot, due to the street going up, into the Hidden
Canyon area. He said most of the houses in Hidden Canyon have had variances
over 25 feet height because of the topography and the way the streets qo up
and down; and there are really no flat lots off the streets. He stated he was
in favor of a change in the height standard to 30 or 35 feet.
Christine Timoshuk, 6925 East Overlook Terrace, Hidden Canyon Estates, said
she knew there was 'a 2~-foot limit, however, that was established when they
were building track homes, close together on the hillside, and packed in. She
said where they live, there is space between the homes and she felt they need
to change the rules.
tom Nicholson, 315 Black Oak Road, Anaheim, stated he has been associated with
four projects so f.ar in Hidden Canyon; that they have two projects under
construction now and a lot they will be building oa in the near future. He
said on the first three projects they had to get zoning variances on every one
of them and were successful, and if the code is not changed, they anticipate
having to do that again and that taken longer to complete the design phase and
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. 50
adds cost to the developer and homeowner. He said when they design a home,
they take a great deal of time and effort to be as sensitive to the
surrounding areas, homes, and topography as possible, since it is in their
best interest to do so. He stated he would be in favor of raising the height
limitation to 30 feet overall, with certain exceptions to be made for specific
architectural features on homes.
Larry Ritter, 191 Possum Hollow, Anaheim Hills, s.xid he lives in the Mohler
area; and has enjoyed a beautiful view for sorhR two miles away and one reason
was because there were two lots next to him which had not been built on as
yet. He said one is almost a full acre, which he had envisioned developed
with another single-story rambling home; however, that homeowner has gotten a
variance for a flag lot and is planning to build two homes and has also
approached the Planning Commission for a variance to exceed the 25-foot limit.
He said the next lot down has also petitioned for a variance because of
hardship oa the land, and he agreed they probably did have a hardship on their
land. He said, however, the acre nest to him did not have a hardship and the
homeowner there has referenced other variances in the area, citing they had
been given privileges he did not have. He stated what is happening is that
each person asking for a variance, gets more and more, and have been getting
them when there is no hardship on the lot, but only because they want to
exceed the height limitation.
He said it has been stated that a person could not build a 25-foot high home
on an acre lot and have a decent sized home for the area, however, the four
homes which have been built by the Currie families are beautiful homes and are
under the 25-foot limit. He said the 25-foot limit protects the view from and
to the hills. He said if the majority of the homeowners in Hidden Canyon want
to changes that limit, that is something that should be looked at by itself,
but it should not be removed for the entire area. He said he realized that if
the height limit was raised, it would possibly reduce the number of variance
requests, but he also believed that if the height ruling xas enforced, it
would probably also reduce the number of requests.
Sonja Grewal presented letters from Donald Puliero, 411 Brook Laae, and Mitzi
Ozaki who were unable to be present, indicating they are in favor of
maintaining the height standard.
John Schaefer, 7630 East Pleasant Place, Mohler Canyon area, said his property
overlooks the area where the Currie houses are, and Martella Lane which has
been discussed that evening. He said there have been a lot of claims that the
houses that are desired to be built is the area are going to be done for
improvement of the area, that the 25-foot height limit was there for tract
homes, and he would like to talk about alleged improvements. He said his own
home is a split level home which works its way up on a natural slope and most
of the homes on his road, Wildaa Road, are built in compliance with the height
code and they are beautiful custom homes, not tract homes. He said he would
like to speak in opposition to any relazatioa of any of the protective codes.
(Submitted pictures into evidence, for Commission consideration).
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSI^u SEPTEMEER 26 1988, 51
He noted in one picture there used to be a gentle hillside covered with trees
and grass, and nine years ago a developer came in and improve2. the lot with 15
feet of fill dirt and was it never replanted or restored, and no owner of the
property since then has seen fit to take care of it. He said the second
picture shows grading for new houses beside Mohler Drive and there was another
natural hillside, covered with trees and bushes and nicely sloped and sox
there is 6 acres of bare dirt and you can see it from miles away and that scar
would be visible for at least ten years. He said the third case is where a
developer came in nine years ago with bulldozers and carved the top off the
hill and took out the trees, and there is not a tree visible anywhere oa it
now, and on the hilltop there is a big, tall, gray, stark house with a big
round tower on one corner of it and that house sticks out oa that hilltop,
without a bit of green around it, and can be seen for miles around in every
direction as the single most eye catching feature in that Mohler Canyon area,
and added that is what one house can do to the environment there.
r.Pona Curtis, 569 Peralta Hills Drive, said she had designed her house, and it
was not a tract house, and had 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, a huge living room, and is
within the 25-foot height limitation. She stated she is is favor of keeping
the 25-foot height standard. She said when they moved out there, it was not a
tract area but one acre minimum lots. She said if they had built their home
higher, they would be an eyesore and she felt it is wonderful to keep the area
the way it is.
carol Simpson, 241 South Wildan, Mohler area, said they have been here several
times trying to keep the 25-foot high limit and she hated to see it change.
She said she felt the homes they live is are very nits and they stayed within
the limit and she felt everyone else could do the same. She said when they
came into the area, they accepted this, and she felt new people coming into
the area and building apparently do not want to go with what is there, and
want to change. She said maybe those people picked the wrong area because
what they have there is really nice and she would like to see it stay that way.
Ton} Baxter, 6401 Nohl Ranch Road, said he has property at 7635 East Silve:
Dollar Lane. He said he is also in the process of applying for a variance and
that he is opposed to the 25-foot height standard because each situation is
individual and they have heard that tonight, and if nothing else, there are
all different and unique character decisions. He said the height is as
arbitrary measure of rural character. He noted lots of rural areas do not
impose a restriction on height. He said, at the same time, he did not feel
neighbors should have their rights violated. He noted, as an example, a house
could be built 150-feet wide that would block all of the viewshed down off of
the hill into the canyon area, and be kept at the 25-fooC height level. He
said the Commission should consider the topography of the land and density the
house would to provide.
Maria Ritter, 291 Possum Aollow, Anaheim, said she was in opposition to the
height standard change. She said when they moved into the area they were
aware of the half acre lots, the Scenic Corridor, and she felt there was a
purpose in mind for the City of Anaheim to commit to the regulations being
established in that area. She submitted into evidence a letter from Mary
Strung, 241 Country Hill Road, Anaheim.
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Sob Underwood, 7370 Nightingale Circle, Anaheim Hills, Stonegate area, said
the height issue didn't bother him, because where he lives, they couldn't
block his view. However, he said when they moved in 10 years ago, there were
CC6R's, regulations and rules, and it bothered him that the same thing could
happen here that happened at Canyon Lake where they bought a hilltop home then
one day, instead of limiting 2-story structures to the top a hill, someone had
built a 3-story structure just below their lot, effectively blocking their
whole view of the lake. F.e said he hates to see that kind of thing and it
seemed to him that there is a procedure to take care of someone wanting to
build taller houses and it seemed to be working, and that it is costly and
time-consuming, but that is one of the things you have to do when buying into
an area like this. He asked what happens if someone else came along who had a
few more dollars, and wanted to build a 40-foot high structure, and asked
where it stops. He stated he was not in favor of changing the height standard.
pave Martin, Canyon View Estates, president of the homeowner's association,
stated there are nine homes remaining to be developed in their immediate area
and the viewgoint of the 21 homeown~srs is that they would like to see those
homes developed, conforming to the rest o£ the community and conforming to the
25-foot existing height ordinance. He said they realize larger homes xould
increase the value of their 2rornes but he thought, from their viewpoint, they
have a much greater contribution to make to the community and they wanted the
development of this area to blend ia. He said he knew they had presented
Commission with an awful lot of information and he thought clearly one
decision on it would be difficult because there are several situations to
study, such as the Hidden Canyon area, which is a unique situation, and he
believed his area was unique as well requiring further study by the Commission.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated he has heard everything coming from the residents
in the hills which he thought be was going to hear. He stated he supports a
standard height liritation based upon area, size of lot, and on a case by case
basis; and that he still believes the Commission cannot set a height
limitation for the entire area.
Commissioner Herbst stated, with regard to the Hidden Canyon area, he thought
those are very beautiful homes and they have been given variances; however,
that is one particular area that is hidden and different from the rest of the
Hill and Canyon area. He said it does overlook Weir Canyon but it cannot even
be viewed from the bottom of the canyon. He added he would like to see that
particular area set aside; that he has heard some areas want some flezibility,
but there would have to be some standard to work with, such as 30 feet or 33
feet.
Commissioner Herbst stated he feels the rest of the Hill and Canyon area
should retain the 25-foot height standard. He stated there are certain areas
where hardships have come about, but the Planning Commission has not been
hearing too many of those lately, since they are handled differently. He
stated he would like to see the Commission's recommendation to the Council be
that the 25-foot height standard be retained, ezcept for Hidden Canyon, to be
reviewed on a case by case basis.
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S ANAHEIM CITY PLA~.dING COt~;d,ISSIOH SEPTEMBER 26. 1988 53
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Commissioner Messe stated he thought that area should be given some
consideration for non-habitable projections above whatever the height limit
is. He said soon the architectural community and the people who want to live
in the community, will want some variation in home styles; and that he did not
think it would impact the community terribly to allow some eztensions in a
tudor-style home or french provincial home. He stated he did not necessarily
think the Commission should come to a decision tonight on this issue.
Commissioner Herbst and Chairwoman Bouas agreed that the Commission has had a
lot of input this evening and this is something they really need to digest an3
think about before making a decision.
Commissioner Herbst stated 95~ of the housing in that area, except the new
ones being built, were built under these restrictions; and now the hill and
canyon area is built with beautiful homes and lots of landscaping, and because
the area was built under these rules, it has enticed other people to come in
and build there. He stated now people come in and then want to change the
rules to suit themselves.
Commissioner Feldhaus added even if the Commission and Council change the
height limitation to 30 feet, there would be someone coming is wanting to go
to 35 feet.
Commissioner Boydstun said she thought the whole area is being built the same
and people who go in there, see the whole area and know what is there; and
they are there for the architectural design and there is no problem.
Chairwoman Bouas stated she felt the height could he changed in those certain
areas; that they would have custom homes in those areas and if they had a
different height limitation, it would be helpful. She added the Commission
really does need to look at this and come to a decision, but not necessarily
this evening.
Commissioner Messe stated he felt lot size does have something to do with the
decision; and that several people had brought that up and some people were for
it, and some against it. He said he agreed with everyone relative to
justification of variances, and they should be based on the land itself such
as the topography. He added he would like some time to digest what the
Commission has heard tonight and think it through.
Commissioner McBurney said the Commission should consider that each of thew
communities looks at these houses more than anyone else and it irtipacts them
more; and consequently, each communities should have some kind of say as to
what might happen with the houses in the area.
Commissioner Carusillo said there are two factions and he sympathized with
both. He stated it seemed the issue is between the settled property owners
and the newer residents, and the settled and newer tract areas, such as
Peralta Hills compared to Hidden Canyon. Be added he would like to comment on
a concern that he has heard many times and which he thought was valid, and
that is that there has been a great inconsistency on this issue between the
Zoning Administrator, the view of the Planning Commission, and the City
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Council. He said, in his view, an ordinance is an ordinance and an excuse
that a tudor design has to go higher to look good, is not valid; and that the
people in this City in decision making positions have forgotten that
ordinances are made for the good of the community as a whole, and in the area
of height variances, they have forgotten that variances are granted when a
hardship is placed on the land, not architectural design. He added he agrees
there has to be some standards in place, and that maybe modifications are
necessary, and he has some sympathy for the Hidden Canyon area.
Bruce Daniels, Hidden Canyon, stated in hearing the Commission review the
subject matter at hand, he thought that many felt Hidden Canyon should be an
exemption and before reaching a decision to study this further, he asked the
Commission to consider the possibility of making a decision regarding Hidden
Canyon at this time, since they have several homeowners awaiting variances or
have plans, ready to build, which are on hold only because of this matter. He
noted those people are undergoing financial hardship and dislocation from
their future structure until this decision is reached.
Chairwoman Bouas asked what Mr. Daniels would recommend, as far as Hidden
Canyon was concerned.
Mr. Daniels responded he felt they need 35 feet, without exemptions for towers
and chimney structures, and that would be 35 feet, including uninhabitable
towers.
Commissioner Aerbst asked how the Commission could act on this partially.
Commissioner Messe noted the people who are standing by, ready to build, do
have the normal variance process; and that he did not want the Commission to
rush into this and the normal process of variances is still open to them.
Commissioner Herbst noted this has to qo before the Council anyway.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if the Commission could pull the Hidden Canyon issue
out of this item tonight.
Joseph Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, stated the Commission could go to the
City Council with a recommendation for a change is standards applicable to
that area; that the Hidden Canyon area does not have its own unique zoning,
and it does not have a specific plan, and there is no different cone or
standard, so it would involve Dither some amendment to the Scenic Corridor
Overlay Zone to designate this property and distinguish it as having different
standards, or create a new cone. He said an ordinance means about 60 to 90
days from today before it would become effective. He added the variance
process still ezists.
Commissioner Messe said he thought the definition of Hidden Caayoa was
something the Commission could come up with easily, and that would be a study
area, but he did not think the Commission should be rushing into things
piecemeal.
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MINUTES, ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, SEPTEMBER 26, 1988, 55
Mr. Daniels noted that Mrs. Kathy Wiggam had a variance retracted, based upon
this procedure. Re said it was his understanding that variances would not he
granted until the City Council reached a decision, but if the variance
procedure is still in place and active, he would retract his previous request.
Commissioner Messe asked staff if there had been anything such as a moratorium
on granting variances.
Joel Fick, Planning Director, said, no, but that the City Council has eztended
or set those matters for hearings for a meeting. date after tonight's Planning
Commission meeting, in a couple of instances, and ene or two of the lots may
be in the Hidden Canyon area.
Commissioner Herbst stated the Council had already set aside the 1?eloquin
Development, practically as a specific area, and this is a very similar
situation with Hidden Canyon. He asked why the Commission could not make a
recommendation, as the Planning Commissi.oa, that City Council treat the Hidden
Canyon area on the same basis as they treated Peralta Hills East. He added he
would like for the Commission to make that recommendation to the City Council
and not hold up someone who is building.
Mr. Fick concurred with what Mr. Fletcher said, that since the Commission is
looking at several options, including establishing sub-communities and things
like that, that really in terms of ordinance recommendations, they should
consider that carefully and look at it as a package situation. He said, is
the case of Peralta Hills East, that was done through the variance procedure.
He added that could be done with Hidden Canyon, but iY would take the
concurrence of every owner who was interested in the lots, to apply for a
variance.
He said if the P~.anninq Commission could make their feelings known, by motion
or general comments and direction, and that staff, when these hearings come up
before the Zoning Admiaist~ator and City Council, could make the general
consensus or commentary known that that is the direction the Commission is
giving staff, in terms of the ordinance consideration or preparation.
Commissioner Messe noted there are issues other than the height, such as how
to measure that height, the inhabitable area, and other things as to how the
code was going to be written.
Commissioner Feldhaus agreed other issues should be reviewed, as well.
Commissioner Herbst stated the Commission could direct staff that when these
hearings come up before the Zoning Administrator or City Council, to indicate
to the Council that the Planning Commission is basically is favor of a 35-foot
height limit in Hidden Canyon. He asked if that should be a motion.
Mr. Fick said that would give staff the direction as to the way they were
going to prepare the ordinance. He said he thought the biggest concern has
been, in this interim period, until all the ordinances are finalized and
sorted out, that what is being approved today would be compatible with those
ordinances. He said if that is the direction, or recommendation, staff could
then provide that input to the decision-making groups.
09/26/88
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MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. _ 56
ACTION: Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner N.esse
and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission is in favor of
having any new height ordinance being proLOSed to include a provision which
will increase the 2:eight limitation in thg area designated as the Ridden
Canyon area; and that the Planning Commission directs staff to convey this
recommendation to the City Council and the Zoning Administrator, and also
Commission recommends that variance requests in the Hidden Canyon area
continue to be heard at this time.
Further Discussion:
Mr. Fick said he believed that direction is perfectly adequate because the
Zoning Administrator does do a site inspection of each individual lot, and
frequently talks to the adjacent neighbors on variances that are proposed oa
these lots.
Commissioner Herbst asked if it would be appropriate for the Homeowner's
Association to submit a variance request for the resk of the lots, or would it
have to be each lot owner.
Mr. Fick responded the associations could make the request, but that the
individual homeowners would have to agree.
Chairwoman Bouas noted they have an architectural Committee which approves all
of their plans also.
Commissioner Herbst suggested Commission should take this under consideration
for 30 days, and that it should be hoard at a 6:00 p.m, hearing again.
Commissioner Bouas asked if it has to be a public hearing again, because the
public hearing had been closed.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he felt there should be a full Commission and
that he believed Mr. Feldhaus was going to be absent on the 24th.
Chairwoman Bouas indicated she would like for the Commission to discuss this
at their morning work sessions.
FURTAER ACTION•
Commissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner Messe and
MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby continue
the aforementioned matter to the regularly-Scheduled meeting of October 24,
1988, to be placed on the agenda as the second item after 6:00 p.m.
Further Discussion:
The audience expressed some concern about the variance procedure going ahead.
Mr. Fick said, literally, absent there being a definitive ordinance in place,
even if the Commission could decide today, it would have to go to City Council
and have a first reading, second reading, and that would take about 30 days.
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~7,NUTE5. ANAHEIM CIT7t PLANNING COMMISSION CffD"'~ER 2G 1988
Be said absent the City putting a hold oa everything, these items would have
to be considered on a case by case basis, unless there was a moratorium on all
of the variances.
Chairwoman Souas said the Commission did not want a moratorium, and do want
things to progress and go ahead; and that the Commission is recommending that
the variance process continue until the Commission makes their final decision.
Commissioner Berbst informed the audience this is a shorter way to go, rather
than waiting for the ordinance.
Joseph Fletcher asked for clarification on the comment earlier that Chairwoman
Bouas would like to have this topic discussed at the interim morning work
sessions before the October 24 hearing.
Chairwoman Bouas said she would like it discussed sometime, but not
necessarily at each of them. She stated sometimes the Commission does have
time to discuss things and asked if it could be done that way,
Mr. Fletcher responded any item to be discussed has to be an agendized item.
Commissioner Messe asked if it has to be agendized for the workshop session in
the morning; and Mr. Fletcher responded there is no distinction between the
two, so it would be an agenda item for that meeting.
Chairwoman Bouas suggested the matter be placed on each agenda so the
Commission could spend a little bit of time oa it each meeting, rather than
trying to devote so much time to it in one session.
RECESS: 9:15 p.m.
RECONVENE: 9:20 p.m.
09/26/88
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Mlt~•"'~ iu7AHEIM ~.I'~T DT>\T\TTVf! f•/~WTCCTT1fT CIIDTFAfARD 7f. 1GQA 5A
ITEM NO 16 SUPPLEMENT TO EIR NO 281• GENERAL PLAN AMENAME*1T NO 244•
SPECIFIC PLAN NO 88 2 FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS• DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT N0~
88-03 (AMENDMENT ti0. 1)
P~JBLIC HEARING: OWNER: THE BALDWIN BUILDING COMPA2iY, A GENERAL PARTNER;HIP,
ATTN: DIANA HOARD 16811 Hale Avenue, Irvine, CA 42714
Subject property is approximately 591 acres and is located approximately 1.1
miles southeast of Weir Canyon Road and the Riverside Freeway intersection,
and is bounded on the north by Sycamore Canyon Specific Plaa development, on
the west by The Highlands at Anaheim Hills Specific Plaa development, and on
the south and east by Irvine Company property and further described as The
Summit of Anaheim Hills Planned Community (PC)(SC).
LOCATION: N0. 1): Petitioner requests adoption of a Specific Plan (including
Zoning and Development Standards and a Public Facilities Plan), A General Plan
Amendment (to consider an amendment to the Land Use Element of the General
Plan with proposals including but not limited to Hillside Low Density
Residential, Hillside Low-Medium Density Residential, Hillsid~r Medium Density
Residential, General Commercial, and General Open Space), a Fiscal Impact
Analysis and Amendment No. 1 to Development Agreement No. 88-03 for the
proposed "The Summit of Anaheim Hills" project to provide for the development
of up to 2117 residential units, 5 acres of ~~mmercial uses, a 10 acre
elementary school site, a 12 acre park site, and 169 acres of open space.
(This action was taken at the beginning of the meeting)
ACTION: Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
McBurney and MOTION CARRZED that the Anaheim City Planning Commissica does
hereby grant petitioner's request to have the aforementioned matter continued
to the regularly scheduled meeting of October 10, 1988.
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~I; rrFg ANAHEIM CITY PLnr. 7IHG COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 ~ °88 59
- CEOA NEGATTvE DECLARATT^'~ WAIVER OF COUNCIL POLICY NO 543
IT ~~
WAIVER '";SODE REQUIREMENT: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT N0. 3049 (READVERTISED)
pLrnrIC HEARING: OWNER: WILREN WAY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ATTN: RICHARD T. 3ROWN
6775 Airport Drive, Riverside, CA 92509
LOCATION: g00 West Wilken Wav
Request: To construct a 1 to 8-story, 416-unit "Affordable" senior citizens
apartment complex (formerly 1 to 8-story, and 440-units) with waivers of (a)
maximum fence height adjacent to local streets, (b) minimum building site ar!sa
per dwelling unit, and (c) maximum structural height. Petitioner requests
waiver of Council Policy No. 543 pertaining to density bonuses.
Coati.nued from Au;iust 15, 1988
There were 30 persons indicating their presence in opposition to subject
request and although the staff report was not rear'., it is referred to and made
a part of the minutes.
Richard Brown, 6775 Airport Drive, Riverside, stated at the last session they
were given some direction and information as to the Commission's feelings on
things that should be looked into and reanalyzed, looking for potential
answers to problems that were perceived. He said he thought they had gotten
some good direction and had taken the opportunity during this sir xeeks to
review it and thel+ have substantially answered all the items brought up.
Mr. Brown stated they were asked to restudy and reconsider the density, the
height of some of the buildings, to make provisions for a gated community, to
determine whether they would have a shadowing problem oa adjacent properties
because of the height of the buildings, and that they have also added a few
things to that. FIe said although it was not specified in the minutes, Ehere
was a question from somebody as to what wiadflow around the buildings could
be. (Action Agenda and Summary of Actions of the August 15, 1988, meeting
reflects opposition and Commission concerns about impact of height of
buildings on airflow and sunlight).
Mr. Brown said he would like to outline some of the changes that have bees
made and then he was sure, the Commission would have some questions on
technical details, and that they also had some experts present who would
answer more specific questions.
He said essentially there was a reduction in the total number of units by 24;
that the 10-story building is now an 8-story building, which is a reduction in
that particular building of 32 units; that some of *.he 3-story buildings are
increased to 4-story, but since they reduced the total by 24 units, and the
10-story building had gone down by 32 units, the proximity of parking to the
buildings had been mitigated to supply parking convenient to the people in
that building.
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MINDS ANAaEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 60
He said they have provided a fully gated and fenced facility, which they had
not done before, although it was something they had wanted. He said that
brought up another question from the audience that if it was a gated community
and there was not adequate parking outsidc± the gates so cars could come up and
be rejected, then those people would be parking in the street. He said it had
been redesigned so there is parking outside the gate, so there would be no
necessity of street parking for those people not entering.
He said there has also been a telephone system installed; and hopefully, this
will be a personnel guarded facility, but at this time they have made it so it
could be card entry and/or gate guard.
Mr. Brown said they have eliminated Building No. 2 entirely, and that had to
do with turnaround spaces and traffic flow; that they have changed the 1-story
buildings around, which he thought would be favorable, particularly to the
neighbors oa the easterly side of the property, in that they have located
1-story buildings all along that side, and instead of having the driveway and
parking which would be adjacent to the back fences of the houses on the
easterly side, they now have 1-story buildings with, in effect, back yards
which are backing up to the residential, ezcept there is the fence, of course.
He said, is addition to that, they have done the sunset line sight studies,
and the windflow studies, and there were a lot of technical things that could
come up there and he would prefer to have Commission's questions answered
either by himself or by some of the experts present.
He said some of the main concerns of the citizens on the original proposal,
years ago when an apartment was going in there, was that they would overload
the parks. He stated they now have more than double what is required by
Anaheim Codes of open space inside the facility, as well as more parking than
required. He said he felt they have pretty much of a security, gate-guarded
facility, which is not going to impose itself on the neighborhood, and xhich
he hopes is a good answer to many of the concerns expressed by the Commission
and the neighbors.
OPPOSITION•
Ralph Sangiovanni, 242 West Simmons, Anaheim, stated he wanted to know what
staff meant by "ao significant environmental impact" and added he felt 800
people would cause an environmental impact and that there would about 800
people living on that 10 acres and using their neighborhood.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, stated the information is the staff report
reflects the Initial Study given to staff by the applicant, which is a list of
questions to be answered - yes, no, maybe. He ezplaiaed from that, staff
determines if there is an environmental impact on the property. He stated
staff would be glad to review that Initial Study with Mr. Sangiovanni, if he
wishes to see it.
Mr. Saagiovanni said he did not find that to be a real good answer, because he
did not think the Planning Department staff has really looked into this; and
that what it means to him is that Mr. Brown has looked into it and that he
wanted to see it from the City's point of view.
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MINU'S'ES ANA~'IM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 61
He said they could have a possible 800 people, with 800 cars, and a couple of
trips a day could mean 2400 trips of people around the neighborhood. Be said
he was also concerned about their sewers, water, fire hazards, garbage, etc.
and he understood they were asking for a new light at Halter and Wilken, and
he thought there must be some significant impact if a new light to accommodate
more traffic is needed.
He asked if staff had considered this in with other large complezes which are
proposed for the area, and referred to a large complez planned for the corner
of Halter and Katella, which is four large 10-story buildings with about 800
condominiums and offices.
Mr. Hastings said he believed Mr. Sangiovanni was speaking of the Riviera
Project; and that there may be some impacts, but those impacts are mitigated
by the conditions of approval, such as the traffic signal. He said,
therefore, staff is not necessarily requiring an Environmental Impact Report
because the items that were identified can be mitigated easily by, in this
case, a traffic signal.
Mr. Hastings referred to the information in the staff report, and stated if
there is any additionaY information brought up through a public hearing which
was not brought up from the developer's Initial Study, then it would be up to
the Planning Commission to determine if a Environmental Impact Study is
required.
Mr. Sangiovanni said the next problem relates to that being "affordable"
senior housing and if the people could afford to live there. Ae stated they
already have a 55,000,000 building on that property, which would have to be
torn down and gotten rid of and someone has to pay for that, so ho wondered
how much each apartment would cost for each of these senior citizens, which is
supposed to be affordable, and where the extra 55,000,000 or so is going to be
absorbed. He said be felt that absorption would be by each senior citizen
renting an apartment there.
Mr. Sangiovanni. said Mr. Brown was asking for too many variances; that a
little might be all right to consider, but there are facts in the Planning
Staff Report and it says there are supposed to be 18 units per acre and Mr.
Brown wants 45, which he thought is quite a significant difference. He said
if it happens in one place, it could happen a lot more and iu his mind this
variance is xay out of line.
He said Mr. Hrown wanted to reduce the site area per dwelling unit, that 1200
square feet is required and Mr. Brown wants 756 square feet, which is a very
significant change. He said he also believes there are not enough parking
spaces. He noted the California average of cars per unit is about 2.5, so
just considering one car per person, would mean they would be short a couple
of hundred parking spaces, not counting visitors or service people; therefore,
he could see teat parking all being oa their streets.
Mr. Sangiovanni said he was a member of the South Anaheim Neighborhood Council
and they believed Mr. Brava would come to their meeting to show his plans,
because that is what he had done before. He said the Neighborhood Council was
very concerned about this project going into the area.
09/26/88
Ib ES ANA~Ih, CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 62
Mr. Sangiovanni said he read in the report that there are a certain number of
apartments which are '.for very low income families and would be under some
control for 30 years; and asked if that means the balance of those apartments
have no control for some period of time. He asked if there is going to be
some control over who could live in those apartments. He stated he is afraid
of Mr. Brown's intent; and that in one or two years, it would not be a senior
citizen' apartment complex but would be low cost apartments which do not meet
the code and would create a real slum area in their neighborhood. He said he
is not too familiar with density bonus talk, but noted Mr. Brown is looking
for 59~ instead of 25~, which again means Mr. Brown is trying to jam more
apartments into a small area.
John Westenberger, 2385 South. Mira Court, No. 207, said the first knowledge of
this project any of the people who live around him had, was on Friday when
they found a hand printed paper put by their doors informing them of this
project. He said if there were public notices placed on this property, or on
the Smoketree Anaheim site, they were taken down immediately because he never
saw them and he walks the property every evening. He added he could guarantee
that more people from Smoketree Anaheim are not here because they did not know
about it.
Mr. Westenberqer said, as a resident, he did not care to go outside and have
people looking at him from 8 stories up, and having 336 balconies with beach
towels, etc. hanging over them. He sai8 the Smoketree property is a very
quiet and lovely area; and that there is very little traffic. He stated he is
totally against this project because the variances asked for are so far off
from what this area was when he bought into it. He said he felt it was
unconscionable that someone could come in and i~sk for this. He added he is
concerned about his property being devalued. He also noted the surrounding
area is plagued with crime, and is a very fragile neighborhood. He stated if
the Commission does not make a decision tonight and it is continued, the
people of Smoketree should know about this because an 8-story building will
have a tremendous impact on Smoketree.
Chairwoman Bouas asked Mr. Westenberger if he knew this was the second hearing
on this and he replied that he had no idea, since this was the first they knew
about it.
Chairwoman Bouas informed him that this was the second hearing and asked if he
was within 300 feet of the property.
Mr. Westenberger said he is not directly within 300 feet, but as a condominium
owner, he basically owns the wall, fence, and part of all the property that is
around Smoketree, which is within 300 feet; and since this project will have a
tremendous impact on all of the people in Smoketree Anaheim, they all should
have been contacted.
Chairwoman Bouas asked staff how that area was contacted.
Dtr. Hastings said the owners were contacted if they had a unit within 300
feet. He said typically one of the members of the association will contact
the Hoard and the Board would spread the word. He stated he has checked and
staff did notify property owners within 300 feet of this project.
09/26/88
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o,Ih i'f'ES ANA~IM CITY PLAN^a7ING COMMISSION SEPl'E S~FR 26 1988. 63
Mr. Westenberger said he called the people who handle Smoketree Anaheim and
they knew nothing of this. He said he asked them to call the Board and let
them know about it because they had no knowledge of this and they have a Board
meeting the first of every month. He said this building, and this type of
architectural structure, with this height, is inappropriate for the
neighborhood.
Marla Anghelone, 2231 South Oertley, said her property is directly on the east
property line. Concerning notification to Smoketree, she stated the day after
the original meeting on this, on August 15, she had called the City of Anaheim
and asked if they had notified the property directly south. She said staff
told her they had sent one notice to a man who lived in Glendale, who used to
own that property 20 years ago; and that staff then promised her they would
send a notification to each resident in that complez. He explained her
argument was that part of their common area does fall within the 300 feet.
Ms. Anghelone said there was a lady here earlier, who had a prior commitment,
and asked her to bring up the point that there is a pedestrian walkway onto
Willowbrook in the new plans, which means not only would there be people
walking through that complex to get to the markets and Chapman, but there
would also be people parking in the Willowbrook complex and walking through to
get to that new development. She also noted the fastest way for an emergency
vehicle to get into the proposed project, is through the crash gate off
Willowbrook, because they come straight down Chapman and right up
Willowbrook. She stated that will severely impact the area with sirens more
frequently than in an ordinary neighborhood.
Ms. Anghelone said she has been told that it has been declared
uncoastitutiona~- either a recent decision or one that is in the courts
currently, to have a senior's complex, unless it is a self-contained community
like Leisure World. She asked what is going to happen if that law passes.
She said it would be the same as what happened in the adults only situation;
and the adults only apartments had to rent to families with children and she
feared they might end up with the same situation sometime in the future. She
stated she was concerned this proiect would not stay senior citizens.
Commissioner Herbst eaplaiaed the State law sets the age limit for senior
citizen projects and it could not be changed and the Housing Authority also
has control of a certain number of these units. He said there are senior
citizen apartments is Anaheim which are controlled, and this is controlled by
the government.
Ms. Aaghelone stated it can be changed if the Federal Government says it is
unconstitutional. She stated even if it did stay senior citizen apartments,
this project still does not provide adequate parking; that the plans have been
changed nicely, but not enough; and they are asking for too many variances.
Fern Call, 333 Wilken Way, Anaheim, 12221 Anzio Street, Garden Grove, stated
she also is concerned about this remaining a senior citizen's complex. She
indicated the did not trust the applicant because of the way the property is
presently being kept; that the mini storage is being used by people to live
09/26/88
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INUTES ANAHEIM CITY PTANNING """"'°
Mr. Westenberger said he called the people who handle Smoketree Anaheim and
they knew nothing of this. He said he asked them to call the Board and let
them know about it because they had no knowledge of this and they have a Board
meeting the first of every month. He said this building, and this type of
architectural structure, with this height, is inappropr±,ate for tha
neighborhood.
Marla Anghelone, 2231 South Oertley, said her property is directly on the east
property line. Concerning notification to Smoketree, she stated the day after
the original meeting on this, oa August 15, she had called the City of Anaheim
and asked if they had notified the property directly south. She swho usedito
told her they had sent one notice to a man who lived in Glendale,
own that property 20 years ago; and :.hat staff then promised lainedeherould
send a notification to each resident in that complez. He exp
argumeti:: was that part of their common area does fall within the 300 feet.
Ms. Anghelone said there was a lady here earlier, who had a prior commitment,
and asked her to bring up the point that there is a pedestrian walkway onto
Willowbrook in the new plans, which means not only would there be people
walking through that complex to get to the markets and Chapman, but there
would also be people parking in the Willowbrook complex and walking through to
get to that new development. She also noted the fastest way for an emergency
vehicle to get into the proposed project, is through the crash gate off
Willowbrook, because they come straight down Chapman and right up
Willowbrook. She stated that will severely impact the area with sirens more
frequently than in an ordinary neighborhood.
Ms. Anghelone said she has been told that it has been declared
unconstitutional, either a recent decision or one that is in the courts
currently, to have a senior's complex, unless it is a self-contained community
like Leisure World. She asked what is going to happen if that law passes.
She said it would be the same as what happened in the adults only situation;
and the adults only apartments had to teat ~o families with children and she
feared they might end up with the same situation sometime in the future. She
stated she was concerned this project would not stay senior citizens.
Commissioner Herbst explained the State law sets the age limit for senior
citizen projects and it could not be changed and the Housing Authority also
has control of a certain number of these units. He said there are senior
citizen apartments in Anaheim which are controlled, and this is controlled by
the government.
Ms. Anghelone stated it can be changed if the Federal Government says it is
unconstitutional. She stated even if it did stay senior citizen apartments,
this project still does not provide adequate parking; that the plans have been
changed nicely, but not enough; and they are asking for too many variances.
Fern Call, 333 Wilken Wey, Anaheim, 12221 Anzio Street, Garden Grove, stated
she also is concerned about this remaining a senior citizen's complex. She
indicated the did not trust the applicant because of the way the property is
presently being kept; that the mini storage is being used by people to live
09/26/88
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MINUTES. AN1,I~EIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSIO" SEPTEMBER 26 1988 ~
in, with transients all around, and there is trash etc. all over. She added
she is conce:-aed about Wilken Way having to be widened, and about the traffic,
and the blockage of air current and sunlight.
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, explained a recorded covenant would
keep it a senior citizen t~roject and, if there wa.s something current before
the Supreme Court, he was not aware of it.
The nest speaker Charles Dearborn of :!241 Oertley, expressed similar concerns
about the neighborhood.
Loren F. Petersen, 223 W. Tiller Avenue,. said the area is inundated with
apartments; that his concern is that there is too much traffic, not enough
parking, people from the apartments are parking on the streets in the
residential neighborhoods, there are either no sidewalks or insufficient
sidewalks for foot traffic, and it has a high crime rate and not enough police
protection. He said they do not want apartments there and that the minimum
size should be kept to 1200 square feet. He said only single-family homes,
townhouses, or condominiums should go there.
Paul Sloemgren, 225 South Oertley, said the elderly people would probably be
relying on public transportation and walking to Harbor Boulevard, and with
their Social SecuriY.~r checks coming in,he felt there is a danger for those
people because of the criminal element there in the evening. He added he felt
there is probably a better site for this type of project, and suggested the
Project Alpha Area.
He stated this will generate increased traffic by the owners, occupants, and
visitors, with at least 800 cars a day coming in and out through the
neighborhood. He stated he lives two houses away from the intersection of
Oertley and Wilken Way and in the mornings, there are approzimately 200
children at that intersection waiting for buses and his concern is that there
is a greater chance of an accident with more traffic coming in.
Louis Anqhelone, 2231 South Oertley Drive, Anaheim, stated he has a criminal
record as a result of the last time he complained about Mr. Brown's property.
He explained he was cited by Code Enforcement for code violations on his
property when he complained about Mr. Brown; that when they called the City
about the substandard wall Mr. Brown was building in the back of his property,
and about the materials being used and the wrong size, they got the run around
with Code Enforcement saying it was the Building Department's problem, who
then informed him it was a Code Enforcement problem. He said Code Enforcement
finally came Jut and took a look at the wall, looked around his property, and
started writing citations, and that he ended up with a criminal record and a
$95 fine, without even knowing what it was he was charged with. He stated hE
was told to appear in court and it took a lot to get the City Attorney to tell
him what it was he was charged with and it was because he complained about Mr.
Brown's wall.
Mr. Aaghelone said he would also like Commission to find out about the Supreme
Court case, because he was also concerned that since this is not a
self-contained project, it may not remain a senior citizen complex. He said
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,~IhJTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26. 1968 .~.`~
he was concerned about the size of these cages they are going to put these
older people in; and that he felt the apartment sizes are too small for anyone
to live in. He said they do not get any support from the City, and xhen they
had a truck stop there, they called the City, who refused to come out because
they did not want a confrontation with the truckers about the noise they were
making.
Charles Naughton, 118 West Cliffwood Avenue, the first street north of Wilken
Way, stated he wanted to comment on the "S" curve which begins at Oertley,
proceeding west; that there are signs posted there that the speed limit is 15
miles per hour, so that gives some idea of the hazard on that curve. He said
there have been several serious accidents at that "S" curve, so it would seem
if there is going to be a lot of traffic on that street, that "S" curve would
have to be straightened out.
He stated he also wanted to comment on the senior citizen's ages, which is
stated as 55; that the staff report also talks about people who might be
supporting that senior citizen, who could be 45 years of age, and also there
can be people younger than that who cannot live there longer than 60 days. He
stated he wanted to point out how difficulk it would be to get younger people
out who live where it is supposedly restricted.
Frank McCormick, 229 West Bluebell, Anaheim, stated he wanted to register
their objections to this project.
Dick Coz, 218 West Tiller, stated in the four hours he has been here, he has
learned it pays to state your objections vocally. He stated the last time he
was here, it was concerning something across the street from khis project, and
there was concern about the people living in trailers being evicted from their
single trailer residence and now there are multiple unit apartments there, so
when t2.ey talk about trust in this senior citizen complex, he has none.
He said waste is something he has objections to, and one day we will pay a
terrible pr±-e for the waste that we do. He said talking about tearing down
newly constLUCted buildings, he felt is a terrible waste of time and energy
and money; and that he could not see the point to that. He said with building
this type of apartments, he worries about what is termed "a blighted area".
He said when there are low income apartments, crime rates increase; that there
are '. ly:rge number of transients in the project area now and they will be
aroi,,,' and that he has fear for the senior citizens who would be living
there, .rith that kind of density.
Derrick McGeorge, representative of Tarbell Realtors, said they service the
area between Harbor and Haster, Chapman and Orangewood. He presented pictures
to Commission showing the "S" curve and the bus stop which is on Wilken and
Oertley. He explained the pictures were taken at 2:00 p.m. showing the
traffic and wanted the Commission to notice that if there are cars on both
sides of the street, there is not even access to put two more cars each going
in opposite directions.
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INUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 66
Mr. McGeorge stated his main concern is property value, which is basically why
people invest in property; and that the average home in the area is about 1500
square feet. He said these are very large lots is this neighborhood and
although they look small from the front, almost all of them have additions;
that the homes are selling now from about 3160,000 to 5185,000, which is not
an insignificant sum. He said they have increased in value approximately
320,000 in four months and with this project, it will stop right there.
He stated the traffic is going to be really bad oa Wilken and there are no
sidewalks on Wilken, or what is there is only half way. He said he also
noticed water pressure in the area is not adequate and that is a problem which
should be reviewed. He said he i$ mainly opposed to this because of the
devaluation of the property.
Ralph Martinet, 2380 South Mira Caurt, Smoketree complex, said he also did not
receive any notice, just a flyer in his mailbox that someone had put there.
He said he moved there three years ago because it was such a nice area. He
said there is a big greenbelt right is the center of the complex and a lot of
children play there. He said he would have moved further south, but this was
just what he was looking fo: and it is close to his job. He said they do have
a problem with vagrants coming across from the storage units which are there
now; and one of their main problems is people coming over the fence and he
could just imagine whaC it will be like with apartments there.
He noted now they only are putting a gate there at Willowbrook but asked what
would stop them, at a later date, if they need acceaa from putting a road
through there. He noted someone said the grocery store is 8 blocks away but
it would only be 6 blocks if they walk through his complex, so that is what
they are likely to do. He said his basic concern is what would happen with
the overflow, with 800 people wanting access through the Smoketree complex.
He said their complex area is well kept and very nice and he fears what will
happen if this project is allowed.
Paula Trigilio said she also lives in Smoketree Anaheim and also feels
strongly about the possibility of Willowbrook being opened up for use by the
people in this complex, which would totally destroy their condominium
complex. She said she thought Willowbrook is a City/public street and that
could very possibly be opened.
Mr. Hastings informed her that it is a public street.
Mickey Maltsberger, 138 Cyrus Avenue, said she is a homeowner there for 16
years and that most of the people there had built onto their homes. She said
one thing the Commission should consider is limiting the building heights.
She said an 8-story building would cut a lot out fur them. She asked about
the passibility of cutting Wilken Way off and making it a dead end so people
could not use it as a raceway. She said the traffic would be very bad; that
people would not want to sit in a line waiting to get out and they would be
cutting through and going down a lot of the other streets. She said there are
a lot of children in the area since it is single family and they have a great
concern for their children. She said she had planned on living there for
years, but that Mr. Brown has certainly turned the area into a slum so far, as
has also been mentioned, and she did not trust him.
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 67
Elaine Bloemgrea, 2159 Oertley, said she lives two blocks from Wilken Way.
She stated she wanted to point out the need to develop the sewer in order to
supply the demand that is going to be needed. She said she has a concern for
the additional construction that will need to be done, digging up the streets,
in order to change the sewers. She agreed with what everyone had said and she
felt, referring to the findings in the staff report, that this project could
not justify any hardship in order to qualify for a variance and that none of
the conditions exist that would qualify this project for a Conditional Use
Permit.
Harry Dewitt, 2314 South Cutty Way, Unit 110, said the postcard he received,
dated September 16, and signed by the Chairwoman of the City Planning
Commission, noticed this meeting tonight, and that he did not understand that
there had been a meeting on this project prior to this, since he did not
receive a notice of the previous meeting. He said this was the only notice he
had received. He said the residents of Smoketree would fill this Council
Chamber had there been adequate notice about this meeting tonight. Ae said he
was not against senior citizen's completes but the reason he moved into
Smoketree was because of the way the area was maintained and kept up.
He said with this proposal, he did not feel the size of the units was
adequate. He stated he is also concerned about the public right-of-way on
Willowbrook and their ability to keep Smoketree well maintained. Ae said they
do not want a t.'~oroughfare going through their complex. He said he was also
concerned about blockage of air and sunlight and he hoped the Commission would
not make a rash decision this evening on this. He stated he believed if this
was continued, they would get a lot more input from the opposition.
Mark Claffey, 2158 South Madrid, said he had bought his house 2 years ago and
has added on 500 square feet. He said he had cleaned it up and that all the
neighbors really take care of their property. Ae stated an 8-story building
really does not belong in their neighborhood and he was sure the Commission
understood that now. He stated it would not only block the sunlight, but the
sun shining on a steel and glass building would reflect.
He stated he was also concerned about the backyard privacy of their property;
and that he would not oppose a 2-story senior citizen complex because it would
not interfere with the neighborhood. He said he was concerned about the
danger to the children during construction and the increase in crime that
would come about because of this project. He stated he has bees waiting for
the storage facility that is there now to open so he could utilize it and
added he felt that was a good use for that property. He asked that the
Commission please turn this project down.
Pam Gilbert, 232 West Wilken Way, stated she really objects to this project.
She stated they have too much traffic there now, and that there are buses
going up and down there constantly now and she did not see how they could
possibly handle any more traffic.
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 66
Helen Runtz, 2375 South Mira Court, said she is a senior citizen, and lives is
Smoketree because there is no maintenance and they have wonderful people who
take good care of their yards, etc., and it is quiet. She said if they open
Willowbrook to traffic, with people coming through there, it would be
disastrous and they do not have the means to move elsewhere.
Judy Coderre, 232 West Simmons, said she and her husband are both opposed to
this project. She asked why they would need 8 stories. She referred to a
2-story senior citizen's complez on Citron and Broadway, and stated that is a
very nice looking unit. She stated she could not understand the applicant
wanting to put in an 8-story building there.
She said last year they went to every redevelopment meeting with the City
Council and they had received notice of eminent domain because they were in a
blighted area, so she wanted to know if they are is a blighted area, why they
would want to put senior citizens there. She said they have lived in their
home almost 20 years and were the last of single family dwellings; that
developers are building all around them and eventually they xill want to move
them out as a single-family dwelling because they have already proposed
multiple family dwellings for that area. She said she is asking that they be
able to keep their home. She said she was also concerned about an increased
crime rate and ezposinq the seniors to that, as well as themselves.
Jetti Anqhelone 2231 South Oertley, said they abut on the east side of this
property and she wanted to know why the storage facility which is already
there could not be completed and used. She said she realizes money is a big
problem but if what is there was completed, then they could find someone to
buy it.
RELt7TTAL
Mr. Brown said there are some strong misapprehensions as to the eztension of
Willowbrook and opening of this project into Willowbrook. He said it is not
intended to be, nor if this project is approved will it be, an ACCesa street.
He said there is only a crash gate there xith access only to th9 Fire
Department and it would not be open for general traffic or pedestrians. Je
said there had been a lot of reference to 800 people being in this cornylez and
that the ezperts is the City would know the average tenancy, and the amount of
tenants that would be expected in this project would be about 1.2 people per
unit on the average, and that this is not intended to be occupied by 2 people
per unit.
Mr. Brows said they did a sunset line of site study and also a wind study to
determine xhat effect that would have, if any, on other houses. (He made
reference to the charts/exhibits on display).
He said his answer to the question about parking is that they exceed the nex
City demand for parking on this type of unit. Concerning traffic, ~e stated
the Traffic Engineer has looked at this and he believed they complied in every
way. He noted the storage units that are there now could not be occupied and,
if they xere, that would create traffic, although not. a great deal of traffic,
but neither would this project create a great deal of traffic. He noted any
use that property is put to would add somewhat to traffic.
09/26/88
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITX P APINING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26. 1988. 69
He stated he hoped the Commission would consider this project on its merits;
that he knew the neighbors are emotional, as they always have bean, because
they do not want this or any other type of project there. He said they had
tried the best they could, and as thoroughly as they could, to answer
Commission's questions, the n~=ghbor's questions, and to propose a project
which would be a good neighbor in a good area. He stated the most significant
change, which was the Commiss~~n's suggestion, is that this is intended to be
a high security, fenced, and gated area.
Dennis Rasa, 1020 North Broadway, Santa Ana, referring to the exhibits, said
they had prepared two wind studies; that one was based on the National Weather
Service dis+~ction of wind for Southern California. He said they did an
addition to that, and called the local Orange County Airport and asked them
for their air traffic direction of wind which they used and that is based on
prevailing wind direction of 193 degrees magnetic less 14 degrees. He said in
order to accommodate, they prepared two charts based on each of those. He
explained when the wind comes onto a positive structure, it creates a negative
drag around the sides and back and it takes atcut the length of the building
itself to recover and does not disrup*. anything beyond that, as demonstrated
by the chart. He said the same tl:•.:::„ ;applied to both charts, and the wind
recovers before it leaves the pro~~,_y. He said they had also prepared a
graph to show how the wind comes up giver the building and recovers.
Mr. Rasa referred to the exhibits on the shadt~.r studies, and stated they had
prepared four studies taking different times ::f the year, at critical days
when the most shadow would be developed. FIe said the first was March 21, at
5:00 p.m., the second June 21, at 6:00 p.m., the third September 22, zt 5:00
p.m. and December 22, at 4:00 p.m. He stated those are times when we have our
last hour of sunlight. He explained the length of shadow had been calculated
based on the height of the buildings. He said, as indicated on the charts,
the shadow does terminate at the property line. and the density of shadows
change from the inception at the building and becomes defused at the greater
distance. He said they only addressed the sunset shadows.
Mr. Brown stated there was an intention
the tenants. He said he could not make
there would be vans there, but it is a
operation and that is to be followed.
to have vans available to transport
a promise that ten years from now
general practice in this type of
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED.
Commissioner Messe asked staff about a traffic signal being proposed at Hester
cad Wilken, yet there was nothing about the traffic study being approved. He
said the Commission usually gets some word from the Traffic Engineer relative
to his thoughts about: the traffic .study.
Karen Urman, Deputy Traffic Engineer, stated the applicant did submit a
traffic study and with that information, staff ealculated whether a signal was
warranted because of the number of trips generated.
Commissioner Messe asked what the Traffic Division felt about 555 vehicles on
Wilken Way in that neighborhood between Madrid cad Hester.
09/26/88
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MINUTES: ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 70
Arthur Daw, Deputy City Engineer, stated Wilken Way is a local street and he
believed the cross section of Wilken Way is 40 feet of roadreay, which is
considered adequate for parking on each side find one lane of traffic each
dir.ction.
Commissioner Boydstun stated the traffic report from Weston Pringle and
Associates indicated they planned on having 266 units for 55 to 65 year old
residents and 174 units reserved for the over 65 age group. She stated it is
her understanding that the State law mandates that if there are over 150 units
in a complez, they have to allow residents from the age of 55 and up. She
asked the applicant how they are going to make some of those units for only
people 65 years old or older.
Mr. Brown stated the plan has not been ;;o invite the 55 year olds, but they
are allowed because of the State law. He stated the desire is, and the usual
practice is, that the people far exceed the age of 55. He added, however,
when the complez is 150 units, then they must permit 55 year olds. He said
they could not do anything but comply with State law, but the usual practice
is, and their desire is, and he strongly suspected that; this project would be
occupied by people far in excess of 62. He stated, however, they would have
to comply with the law.
Commissioner Messe stated it seems that Mr. Pringle based his study oa a total
of 490 dwelling unite, 266 units reserved for 55 to 65 and 174 reserved for
over 65 and that was the project description and the basis for this study.
Mr. Brown responded he believed that is a very conservative viewpoint and that
the likelihood is that there would not be near that many cars and at the time
this was in planning, the City regulations demanded far fewer parking spaces
than what they have. He said because they have the advantage of the high rise
buildings, they have more ground space and more parking spa e. He said all
the information they could get indicates they will have far in excess of the
number of spaces they actually need.
Com:ri:~sioner Messe said he was not worried about parking so much as the
wording which is misleading.
Mr. Brown stated he believed they are concerned about the traffic. He stated
when they went back in for the review, the first place they went was the
architecture and engineering staff. He stated they worked directly with Mr.
Singer who made some exceptions in his normal pattern in that he helped with
the design as he saw it. He added he can't speak for Mr. Singer, but in his
opinion, this complies with Mr. Singer's idea of how the design should be.
Commissioner Herbst stated there is only one other senior citizen's complex in
Anaheim which exceeds 150 units, and he knew they had parking problems there,
which was before the ordinance was changed. t?e asked if there is any
information as to the average age of the peop3;'~ who lived in that complez.
Debbie Vagts, Housing Operations Coordinator, stated she thought it was about
65, but she knew it is well in excess of 55.
09/26/88
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 71
Chairwoman Bouas asked if Mr. Brown was planning to operate this project and
keep it for himself; and Mr. Brown said yes, and that it is a corporate entity
and he is the largest single stockholder.
Chairwoman Bouas stated one of the citizen's concerns was the waste with the
storage units which they now wanted to tear down.
Mr. Brown said there is a crime problem in that mini-storage area ana they
have made tremendous efforts to stop that; that some people feel they had
rented those out, but that is not true; that they had guards, and the Police
Department has been helpful in making sweeps through there, but it is a
nuisance and an unhappy situation which they have no control over. He stated
they could not totally keep people out, although they have made a very
expensive effort to do so. He explained they did build that complex for an
operator of that type of building and that individual thought he could make
that large of a project work, but that he knew nothing about operating a
storage facility, but that the operator was unable to use it, so they have
made every effort to sell it to someone else, but it is simply too large and
there is no market for it. He stated the real professionals like Public
Storage, Linkletter, etc. would have nothing to do with it.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if they felt the best thing is to demolish it and start
all over.
Mr. Hrown stated they obviously are going to try to sell the metal portions of
those buildings to salvage what khey can and they could sell some of the
parts, although not all is salvageable.
Commissioner Feldhaus said he believed that was one of the Riost prime pieces
of property left in the City of Anaheim. He stated he felt, personally, that
this is too much on that property, particularly with the density proposed. He
asked Mr. Brown if he had considered RM-3000 townhouse type units.
Mr. Brown responded he had; that originally there was approved 143 - 140 units
of townhouses, prior to the apartment project not being approved; that they
bought the property with the agreement that they would finance the apartment
project, but when the apartment project failed before the Commission, they
asked if they could put 148 units in there, but there was no lender who xould
undertake that project, with the cost, and they felt it was economically not
feasible, and that it simply could not be done on an economic basis.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated the:?t was in 1984 and that was for 250 units, and
Mr. Brown said 250 units were deried at the time, and they were 2 and
3-bedroom apartments, as opposed to what they are doing now.
Commissioner Herbst stated this was a 9-acre parcel of flat ground, and
recognizing they are trying to get the density, the maximum structural height
according to code is 58 feet, and they have eliminated some of the vision by
going to 72 feet, and that could be eliminated; that they could reduce the
size of those buildings to where they would not be impacting the neighbors.
Ae said he was concerned about the density since they are asking for a lot
over the City Council's policy. He noted he had no problem with the 25~
09/26/88
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~in~ ~~ .u r ntmv nr *uuTrar rnufrTCCT(1N SFPTEMBER 26 1983 72
density bonus, because that is what. the State mandated; and that he has no
problem with a senior citizen's complez, but they have overdone the density on
this project. He noted they have gone a long ways in securing the project,
but Commission had asked him to reduce the density and he did not reduce it
far enough. He stated the height of the building encroaches on the people who
live there and that should be reduced down to 58 feet so the applicant would
not need that particular variance.
Commissioner Herbst said the plans show a certain amount of recreational area
that would make a fine development, but the parking is one thing he was
concerned about; that 55 years of age to him is not retirement age and even
though there may be some control over this, most of the people at 55, man and
wife, would still work and they will have two cars.
He said if the applicant brcke this up into segments where particular segments
could be set aside for seniors 62 and over, and the complez was under 150
units; then break it up into another segment under 150 units for 62 and over,
etc., then they could legally stay over the 62 age limit. He said right now
they could not legally restrict certain units is this project and would have
to allow 55 year olds. He said in looking at the size of the complez, it
could be broken up into segments of less than 150 units each. He said it
bothers him and he could not vote for the project because it could end up as
very small apartments for people 55 years old.
Mr. Brown said the experience of most of these projects is that they are not
economically the kind of thing that you would want to bring a bunch of people
in with two cars who are working. He noted 55 years old is not a senior
citizen, per se; that it would be an almost impossible task to segregate this
complex. He said if they broke it up into four segments, they would lose all
the efficiency of the driveways and central recreation areas. He said he
honestly believed they have a good plan and he did not think the suggestion
Commissioner Herbst is bringing up, in practice, is the way it wov.ld go.
Commissioner Herbst said he could not see this as a safe thing here for senior
citizens with the size of this complez; that the applicant may be gone
tomorrow and someone else may take over with a whole different attitude and
they could rent these to people who are 55, and they would do it because they
cou'.d not be stopped.
Mr. Brown said they have more than complied with every request that had been
built into the law to prevent that and that it is not truly suitable to
younger people.
Commissioner Herbst said 55, while not young, is still not old and his concern
is that they would be working and they could not be denied rental. He said
they could deny it as far as the few units for low low income, because the
City would have some control, but, if someone 55 comes in, there are units
available, and if they met the qualifications of the low income bracket, they
could not be t;:rned down.
Commissioner Boydstun asked if the Housing Di~~ra.sion waiting list for
affordable, has any 55-year-olds.
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a2'sMBER 26. 1988 73
Debra Vagts stated the 55 year old could be working, and that they have a very
small waiting list of 55 year olds. She said the majority are 62 and over;
however, they do have 55-year-olds who are working and below 80~ of median
income.
Commissioner Feldhaus clarified Mr. Dearborn's point about the property being
forever dedicated to senior citizens, and explained that there has to be a
covenant recorded that could not be changed. He asked if he meant ~hbt five
years, ten years, or whatever, is the future, if they wanted to chsaa_oi t:~e
complete use and cancel this CUP, would they be able to do that.
Joseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, stated he does not know of a case
where someone has asked the City to be relieved of the senior citizen
restriction; that he thinks that would be very difficult to do because a lot
of the site development standards are permissible only because of the age
restrictions. He said he did not know how this project could be converted
with some of the unit sizes and parking standards.
Commissioner Feldhaus asked what would happen if they wanted to go back to a
commercial use.
Mr. Fletcher said if they demolished the project, of course, they could do
that.
Commissioner Herbst explained this property has a resolution of intent to
RS-3000 which could be built there; that he was looking at this as people
density and he knows that senior citizen complexes, with the number of cars
and number of people living there, is the lightest use that could qo on this
piece of property for the size. He said he still felt the density was high,
but as a senior citizen complex, that is the lightest use for that area. He
said the developer should take a good look at this project and if the building
was reduced in height and the density lowered, then this would be a fine
project. Ae said he is still concerned about keeping the age limit to no one
under 62.
Mr. Brown stated their goal is to have at least 50! of this project at the low
low affordable and that is feasible if they kept the project as it was. He
said he is willing to stipulate, instead of 35~, to have 50~ as very very
affordable. He said they hoped to exceed that and that may be a good answer
to same of Commissioner Herbst's hesitation.
Commissioner Herbst said he has to consider the neighborhood; that Mr. Brown
is asking for variances which would impact some of these people. He explained
in order to approve a variance, there is supposed to be a hardship, which is
the purpose of asking for a variance, and he wanted to know what the hardship
is oa a 9-acre piece of property where they are asking for 72 €eet height vs.
58 feet.
Mr. Brown stated the maximum height of the building is 71 feet and oa the
original, they were allowed to go to 65 feet, and that is only a six-foot
difference, to the best of his knowledge.
09/26/88
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f~NUTES AND'~T~ CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 74
Commissioner Messe asked if it would make a difference if they moved the
building.
Commissioner Herbst stated according to the staff report, they were not
considering the Smoketree complex, because it is multiple family.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, stated the distance from single-family is taken
into consideration when calculating the height allowed and Smoketree is
considered multiple-family condominiums.
Commissioner Herbst said it would still impact them, even though our code says
they don't have to take that into consideration.
Commissioner Messe said he is having a real problem rcith the traffic on Wilken
Way; that the trip distribution report in Pringle's analysis says there are
1255 trips going toward Haster, and that was not total trips, but just the
trips going to and from Haster. He said they have approximately 260 of those
trips during the two peak hours of the day which leaves 1000 trips for the
rest of the 20 hours of the day; and that translates to abot:t 1 trip a minute
down and back from Wilken. He stated that seemed to him to really be
impacting the residential community pretty heavily.
Karen Urman stated because the proposed project is for senior citizens, the
trips during the peak hours are less.
Commissioner Messe responded he understood that, but the others are spread out
sad there is going to be a constant flow of traffic on Wilken Way.
Ms. Urman said it would be less than any other type of multiple-family use and
Chairwoman Bouas interjected it is also less than ff there was commercial
there.
Commissioner Carusillo said he would feel more comfortable, regardlass of what
took place here, if when they are projecting 400 to 500 people, that an EIR is
in order.
Commissioner Boydstun asked if the project would work if the applicant just
cut 2 stories off each tall building so it .could not impact the neighborhood;
and then he could leave the other buildings alone.
Mr. Brown said the more they reduce the number of units, the more they have to
increase the price and leave fewer affordable; and that he thought they had
answered that they are not going to have any line of site impact and not any
wind diversion impact. He stated they did take off 2 stories; and that they
could possibly take off another story of each high-rise and try to put them on
some of the other buildings, and keen the number of units. He said he did not
mean to say 460 units is an inviolatable number., but the closer they could
stay to that, the better aff they are. He said if the Commission wanted him
to take off a story from the higher buildings and equalize that among the
other buildings, from the construction point, that makes life a lot easier.
He added they have tttcd to ansxer th¢ Commission's original direction as best
they could.
09/:16/88
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MINUTES, ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, SEPTEMBER 26, 1988, 7~
Commissioner Boydstun responded he did not reduce the project down to the
height that was allowed and Commissioner Herbst noted the Commission had said
he was to eliminate the height waiver.
Commissioner Bouas stated the affordable units was a concern of the neighbors,
and added maybe they would have to do away with a few of the affordable units
to make it work.
Mr. Brown stated he did not not know what the effect would be to reduce the
height of the buildings, and whether it would effect one building, or two
buildings, etc., but if it would help, he would suggest the Commission deny
just that variance request and they would comply with the height restrictions.
Commissioner Boydstun said they would have to reduce the density too.
Commissioner Herbst said staff had calculated 328 units, including the 254
density bonus permitted by policy, and 416 units is a 594 density bonus, which
is far in excess of 254.
Chairwoman Bouas referred to the crash gate and any access out on that side
and asked if it is closed off completely or if there is a walkway onto
Willowbrook.
Wayne Siu, architect, 1020 North Broadway, Santa Ana, stated thore are
pedestrian gates at each entrance (Wilken Way as well as Willowbrook.) He
said the gate. would be operated by cards; and that the same card or handset
would operate the front entry gate as well as the back entry.
Commissioner Carusillo stated he had a concern that the Commission was giving
Mr. Hrown the wrong direction; that the Commission had talked about suggesting
RM-3000, then there was some conversation about perhaps lowering this down to
58 feet, which might be permissible, but that he did not know if that was the
consensus of the Commission. He stated he did not know what the answer is,
other than everyone has expressed their views, mostly not in favor of the
project, and he was concerned the applicant would qo away with some
impressions about what is all right and that he did not knox if that is what
the Commission would want to do. He stated several people have suggested
different things to key in on and those people are making those as suggestions
and he did not believe they were speaking for the wholts Commission. He stated
he would like Y.o spare the applicant any more expense chasing down a trail
that might not be acceptable.
Commissioner Messe asked staff the number of units permitted if Mr. Brown was
not asking for extra density over xhat x:T~alc',. be allowed.
Greg Hastings said it would be 328 units.
Commissioner Messe clarified that is 88 units over the permitted density bonus.
Commissioner Feldhaus stated another concern is the walking distance to the
necessary services.
09/26/88
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MINUTES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988 76
Commissioner Messe asked the applicant if they could get this project down in
density.
Mr. Brown responded they could, and if they reduce the height of the buildings
that would do it, but he would rather not to do that. He said they listened
at the last meeting and have tried to come up wit.'i what they thought was
suggested, and making certain corrections, would be considered favorably. He
said the property is a real burden to them and they did not desire having the
problems they are having and if there was nay other alternative, he would do
it. He said he is trying to comply with what the neighbors and Commission
have asked them to do.
Commissioner Messe stated he did not think they have gone far enough in
complying and other Commissioners noted they had asked that the height and
density be reduced to code.
Commissioner Herbst stated he would like to see in the reduction, some control
over the age limit, indicating he was still concerned about having the 55 year
olds there.
Commissioner Carusillo stated the applicant should make an effort to meet with
neighbors is the Wilken Way area and the Smoketree Association in an effort to
mitigate some of their concerns.
Mr. Brown said he had meet with those people several times, prior to the
meeting, and went through the details of this and that he did not know how to
solve the problem of the property much better than what they have done. He
asked the Commission to approve this, except for the height variance, which
would reduce the density also and increase the parking.
Commissioner Feldhaus informed Mr. Brown that the minutes reflected that oa
August 15, X988, when he left the meeting, the applicant was requested to
eliminate the height waiver at that time.
Chairwoman Bouas asked if he would like a continuance and if he could submit
revised plans by Friday.
Mr. Brown stated he would prefer not to do that because they have gone through
a tremendous expense and he wanted to go ahead without the height variance.
He said if they needed to reduce it by 64 units, at two stories, he did not
know if they could build this project.
Mr. Hastings said another option would be to set the building back from the
property line.
Commissioner Herbst asked if Mr. Brown needed more time to think about this.
He stated he would not vote for it anyway, as it is, because as far as he was
concerned, they could not control it so that tenants were 62 years of age or
older and it would wind up being an apartment Complex, even though Mr. Brows
says it won't. He sta~eci he does not consider people at 55 senior citizens
and he thought if Mr. Brown was going to have new plans, then the Commmission
should see them.
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Iht'~'ES ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 25 1988 TT
Chairwoman Bouas asked Mr. Brown if he wanted a two-week continuance and if he
could have his plans in by Friday.
Mr. Brown said the answer was yes, if the direction is that they go back and
simply reduce the height, leaving the parking and everything as is. He asked
if that is what Commission's direction was.
Commissioner Herbst responded that was not what he was talking about.
Mr. Hastings stated due to the complexity of this, staff would prefer a
continuance of four weeks so the other departments could look at this as
well. He noted staff. often finds that one change leads to another, which the
departments need to review.
Mr. Brown asked if they left everything the same as it is, taking 32 or 64
units off, however it works out, but not changing anything else, and parking
would remain the same, if that would require that they go back through the
mechanics of the staff.
Mr. Hastings stated if those were the only changes, staff would not have to
review it and Planning Commission could probably act or, that today.
Commissioner Carusillo said they keep referring to the nust,ar of stories, and
he thought [:he issue is that the Commission wanted the height limited to code,
which is 58 feet, not just taking off stories.
Mr. Brown said he is saying that they would comply with the height
restrictions and would at leant take off one story and not ask for the
variance. He said they would make no other changes except any which he did
not know about previously, and that was pedestrian access to Wilken Way, and
that unless there is some City Ordinance which mandates that they have that,
they would eliminate it. (It xas noted the concern was about t13e access to
Willowbrook, not Wilken Way). Mr. Brown said t,4ey would not have pedestrian
or vehicle access to Willowbrook.
Mr. Hastings said the only required access he was aware of, was for Fire
Department trucks.
Members of the audience asked if he was going to be required to get an
Environmental Impact Report. There xas no answer.
3oseph W. Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney, stated in light of the amount of
public input received, he would recommend that the Chairwoman reopen the
public hearing, then continue the matter.
A T Conunissioner Herbst offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Carusillo and MOTION CARRIED that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does
hereby reopen the public hearing on Conditional Use Permit No. 3049
(Readvertised) and Waiver of Council Policy No. 543, and that consideration of
the aforementioned matter will be continued to the regularly-scheduled meeting
of October 24, 1988, in order for the applicant to submit revised plans, to be
reviewed by staff, and that this item will be heard first on the agenda after
6:00 p.m.
(The meeting was adjourned after this item was beard, all other Agenda Items
having being heard previous to Item No. 1T).
'~ ~ )
MINUTES. ANAHEIM CITY PLANNING COMMISSION, SEPTEMBER 26, 1988, 7$
ITEM N0. 18. - REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
A. REQUEST FOR CODE AMENDMENT PERTAINING TO THEATERS IN Th'E "CO" 20NE -
Request from Alan J. Tuntlanri, Davis Development, for a Code Amendment to
permit theaters as a conditional use 3.; the Commercial, Office and
Professional (CO) Zone.
Continued from meeting of August 15, 1988.
DISCUSSIQN:
Commissioner Messe said he would moe8 to direct the City Attorney to
prepare a draft ordinance.
Commissioner Herbst asked if the Commission felt a public hearing should
be held on this matter.
Greg Hastings, Senior Planner, pointed out this would be city-wide, if
allowed, in the CO Zoae by Conditional Use Permit; that it would be a code
amendment and each individual CUP would come is separately and have a
public hearing.
A T : Commissioner Messe offered a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Hezbst and MOTION CARRIED (Commissioners Feldhaus and Csrusillo voting h'0)
that the Anaheim City Planning Commission does hereby direct the City
Attorney staff to prepare a draft ordinance permitting enclosed theaters
in the CO zone, subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit and
further recommends to the City Council that said ordinance be adopted.
B. RECLASSIFICATION N0. 88-89-2 AND VARIANCE NO. 3810 - Nunc pro tune
resolution to correct Resolution Nos. PC88-176 and PC88-177 adopted in
connection with Reclassification No. 88-89-2 and Variance No. 3810,
property located at 603 West Broadway.
ACTION: Commissioner McBurney offered Resolution No. PC88-276 and moved
for its passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission
does hereby approve the amendment of Resolutions Nos. PCB;-17c and
PC88-177, nunc pro tune, as shown on the draft Resolution.
Oa roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, SOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC GURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
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.~,.~~ +y+~.-•rv rr•rv or.afnlT-lr COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 26 1988, 79
C, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO 3028 - Nunc pro tunc resolution
to correct Resolution No. PC88-213 adopted in connection with Conditional
Use Permit No. 3028, property located at 925 South Gilbert Street.
A TI N Commissioner McBurney offered Resolution No. PC88-277 and moved
for its passage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission
does hereby approve the amendment of Resolutions No. PC88-213, nunc pro
tune, as shown
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
D, rtF~r.nSgIFICATION N0. 87-88-~ - Nunc pro tunc resolution to amend
Resolution No. PC88-148 granted in connection with Reclassification No.
87-88-55, property Yocated at 3826 West Lincoln Avenue.
$C~IQN Co:r¢nissioner McBurney offered Resolution No. PC88-278 and moved
for its pa:,sage and adoption that the Anaheim City Planning Commission
does hereby approve the amendment of Resolutions Nos. PCBS-148, nunc pro
tunc.
On roll call, 'the £oregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOiJAS, POYDSTLIIN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
i.HSENT: NONE
E. ~,QND:TIONAr- USE gERMIT N0. 3042 - Nunc pro tune resolution
to amen3 Resolution No. PC88-202 granted is connection with Conditional
Use Permit tin. 3042, to ezpaad an ezistinq church, property located at
5800 East Santa Ana Canyon Road.
ACTION: Commissioner McBurney offered Resolution No. PC88-279 and moved
for its passage and adoption that the Anaheim Ci~y Planning Commission
does hereby approve the amendment of Resolutions Nos. PCdB-202, nunc pro
tune, as shown on the draft Resolution.
On roll call, the foregoing resolution was passed by the following vote:
AYES: BOUAS, BOYDSTUN, CARUSILLO, FELDHAUS, HERBST, MC BURNEY, MESSE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
09/26/88
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MINUTES. AN1L~'IM _C,F,7~}'T_.ANNING C~$v^•~ SEPTbriBER 26, I988. 80
COMMISSION DISCUSSION:
Staff report regarding proposed Council Poliga ::,1c.~rdiaance apR3.Yzable to
Board and Co::m~issio,~ meetings to request st;cf servfiees. This was approved by
City C~nucil.
Commissioner ?tesae asked if this meant, if Conahi~,s'ion. masks by resolution or
motion that staff,'. give tbwm ~f report which wi12 t~i~e m:>re than four hours, the+,
Ci cy 'danger haa~ ~o approves the request
JoseF~n Fletcher, De~sa~:l City Attorney, stated that wSS the way he read it.
Commissioner Messe said that. wr.r,. the way he read fit also. He asked if the
Cormr,ission should ask the Ci}~* Manager to come down and listen i.a their
request, or what.
Commissioner McBurney asked if the staff has a list of things and if they know
what would take less than four hours so the Commission would know whether the
request fits in that category.
ADJOURNME)!~ s
There being no further business, Chairwoman Bouas adjourn9d the meeting at
11:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitl:ed,
~~i
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Edith ~. Harris, Secretary
Anaheim City Plaoninq Commission
012im/O1?lm
mm
09/26/88