HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes - 1971/06/22 - RegularPLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 22, 1971
INITIATION
1. The regular meeting of the Planning. Commission of the City of Temple
City was called to order by Chairman Atkins at 7:35 p.m., June 22,
1971.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Chairman Atkins.
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioners: Dennis, Garvin, Lawson, Startin, Atkins
Absent: Commissioners: None
Also Present: City Manager Koski, Asst. City Attorney White and
Planning Director Dragicevich.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
There being no additions or corrections, Commissioner Garvin moved
to approve the minutes as presented. Motion was seconded by Com-
missioner Dennis and passed.
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. CONTINUED PUB-LFC HEARING
•-CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS TO AMEND TEMPLE CITY
ZONING CODE RELATING TO CREATION OF A C -1,
RETAIL COMMERCIAL ZONE, AND A CHANGE OF ZONE
FROM C -2, GENERAL COMMERCIAL, TO C71, RETAIL
COMMERCIAL ZONE, OF PROPERTIES FRONTING: LAS
TUNAS DRIVE, BETWEEN OAK AND KAUFFMAN .AV_ENUES,,
The Planning Director stated he had no new evidence to present.
Chairman Atkins declared the public hearing open.
Mr. Matt English, Manager of the Temple City Chamber of Commerce,
gave the background of the Chamber's participation in this matter,
holding study sessions, making surveys, etc. The culmination was
a closed Chamber of Commerce Board meeting held that morning at
which meeting the decision was made to have the Planning Commission
base their decision on testimony of interested tenants and property
owners who would address the Commission this evening. The Chamber
is not authorized and cannot make legislative decisions, but it has
studied the proposal and informed those who would be affected. He
concluded by expressing appreciation to the City Hall staff and
Commissioners for the cooperation the Chamber had received from
them in exploring the subject matter and bringing it before the
people.
Those in favor:
Mr. A. L. Nunamaker, 9549_ Las Tunas Drive (Cool's Candy), stated the
business community in the City must look to the future and plan how
they want the City to progress, and to use the full potential of the
parking lots and pedestrian malls, and this investment must be pro-
tected. He considered the proposed zone change a forward - looking one
which would 1) guide and encourage proper land use, 2) develop com-
mercial property for retail uses, 3) make full use of the parking
districts, and 4). the pedestrian malls would generate the foot traffic
that encourages retail sales.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 22, 1971 PAGE TWO
rs Carl Ludlow, 9615 E. Las.. Tunas Drive (.Stoppel's and Pink Petticoat),
airman of the Chamber of Commerce Committee on this item, said origin -
lly a C -2X zone was proposed as a means of controlling drive -in restaur-
ants from locating in a given area, and to encourage them to spread out
and serve a larger community. His committee is interested in bringing
retail business into the City which will, in turn, promote tax dollars,
rather than service - oriented businesses. The Committee wants a closer
relationship in the retail section, a true shopping center. The City will
Isoon face hardship when the Santa Anita Fashion Center in Arcadia opens,
and Temple City must do something quickly to offset that, and to plan for
the future. The proposed zone change would hurt no one as there is a 10-
year abatement period, or a 6 -month abatement for vacancies, for noncon-
forming uses.
Mr.. Dominic --Mortel lar-o, 9629-31 Las Tunas .Drive (Domi n i c's Shoes) worked
on the Committee and with the Chamber. He stated he was in favor of the
5 -block area zone change. He would like to see, and be competitive with,
new retail businesses in the proposed area. Further, he continued, a
concentrated shopping area, such as the one -block Arcadia Hub, encouraged
business, whereas an area which allows any and all types of businesses,
such as downtown Arcadia, has a tendency to "dry up ". Retail shops tend
to help one another, he added, and a concentration of retail businesses
creates a "center of town ".
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Mr. Albert S. Anspach, 9565 Las Tunas Drive, (_Li eberg's_), was in favor of
the zone change for the entire five -block area as proposed. He felt the
time given for consideration of the proposal was not quite adequate, and
would like to extend the emergency ordinance for a period of one year.
There should be a more concerted effort to seek new businesses to locate
in the City, and offices for professional services should not necessarily
be excluded from the proposed zone as they round out a community.
IMr. Ralph Gunst, 9560 Las Tunas Drive (Gunst Sporting Goods), said there
had been enough procrastination regarding the business district in the
past, and he is in favor of proceeding with the proposal as presented.
In opposition:
Dr. Robert M. Ewing (Dentist), 9516 Las Tunas Drive, owns and occupies
the building at that address, which was designed for a single purpose -
as a dentist's facility, and would be impossible to be used for something
else. The proposed ordinance would work a hardship as he would have to
out. He, too, felt a further study should be made of allowable uses.
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The benefits that the City is hoping to achieve from the proposed ordinance
are not realistic.
Mr. Clyde Sutton, American Legion Post No. 279, felt the proposed amend-
ment might not achieve the desired effect, and by eliminating some uses
which generate foot traffic, the action may have a result opposite of
what is being sought, and might hurt retailers rather than help them.
Time is needed to reconsider the proposed change. Business conditions
at this time are poor, and do not warrant such a. change. The street
floor of the American Legion -owned building is presently occupied by a
beauty school, which use is not included among those permitted under
the proposed zone; and while there are some retail sales transacted, Mr.
Sutton felt a greater benefit to the merchants was the foot traffic the
use generated. He was concerned that, if the school vacated, there would
Ibe another vacant store on the main shopping district, and the American
Legion Post would be hard - pressed to meet its expenses.
Asst. City Attorney White explained the abatement clause, and stated
this requirement was not new with the proposed ordinance, but was a part
of the zoning ordinance presently in effect in the City for nonconforming
uses.
4110 r. Sutton said, in answer to Commissioners' questions, that the proposal
ould be more acceptable if the abatement for the particular use was re-
moved, but he would still be against the ordinance as proposed,
1111 Commissioner Garvin moved to close the public hearing. Motion was
seconded by Commissioner Lawson and passed.
Chairman Atkins declared a recess at 8:50 p.m,, and reconvened the meet-
ing at 8:55 p.m.
Commissioner Garvin, in closed discussion, said he was strongly in favor
of C -1 zone. He did have questions, however, about a couple of the
uses listed, and also about the size of the proposed zone. He moved to
continue the discussion to the next regular meeting. Motion died for
lack of second.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 22, 1971 PAGE THREE
Dr. Glenn I. Harris (Dentist), 9675 Las Tunas Drive, stated the proposal,
f passed, would require that he move out in ten years at the most, and
e would go along with the proposal if the City could sell his property
or rent it to a good retail use, but he has invested a great amount of
money in the building and would not want it to remain vacant,
Mr. Ken Primisinq, 9475 E. Las Tunas Drive (Mobil Station), said his
business would also be abated in ten years under the proposal, and the
building torn down. He felt this would be unfair, and if the abatement
period for his business were removed he would be in favor of the proposal.
Mr, J. W. Parkhurst, 9651 Olive, Finance Officer for American Legion Post
No. 279, felt the proposal was a type of segregation of businesses, and
favored integration of all types of business for a mixed community. Sales
tax dollars are collected from merchants all over the City, wherever they
are located, and concentrating them won't increase tax dollars.
Mr. Johnathan Duddy, 9667 Las Tunas Drive (Architects & Engineers Supply),
said his company chose to settle in Temple City because of its proximity
to freeways, and to get away from the "rat race ". He explained the
type of products and services his organization sells, and concluded that
some of the business establishments in the City should be required to
clean up their grounds.
Mr, Elmer Black, 9519 Las Tunas Drive (Realtor) called attention to the
fact that there are presently 29 vacancies along Las Tunas Drive; if the
proposed change should occur, this number could easily be increased in
the next two-three year period, even though the rents in this City are
very reasonable. It is extremely difficult difficult to interest any retailer to
come into any of the buildings;. with limited parking. He strongly advocated
limiting the area to two blocks, one on either side of Temple City Blvd,
along Las Tunas Drive, get these two blocks built up, there is good
parking, and consider that area the "heart" of the downtown area,
Mr, Ed Shaniuk, Temple City, questioned whether the subject proposal was
the only direction the City could go, and that the "integration" approach
should be explored. He suggested improving the aesthetic appearance of
the district and filling the vacancies. He admitted that a compact re-
tail section might have benefits,
Mr. Bob Burns, Treasurer of the West Coast Shoto Kan Karate School, 9506
W. Las Tunas Drive, questioned where their facility could relocate under
the proposed zone change, which was explained to him,
Commissioner Lawson was in favor of the C -1 ordinance as presented. For
the future growth of the City a change is needed; this proposal may need
changes, and if so, amendments can be passed. If, in a few years, the
change does not prove effective, the zone can be dropped and revert back
to C -2.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 22, 1971 PAGE FOUR
Commissioner Startin said he was aware of the pros and cons and
was undecided. He felt there might be other solutions to be ex-
plored. Since he was only recently appointed as a Planning Com-
missioner
he felt he did Trot have sufficient background, and being
undecided, he chose to abstain.
Commissioner Dennis was of the opinion that a two -block C -1 zone was
desirable, that the City must determine a forward - looking direction,
and as Planning Commissioners they have to establish goals. He felt
a concentrated retail area was good planning. Downtown Arcadia is a
good example of what happens where mixed uses are permitted. The
proposal will hurt a few businesses, but an effort must be made to
upgrade Temple City.
Chairman Atkins felt a two -week postponement would be wise in view
of the testimony, both pro and con, brought forward this evening.
Commissioner Garvin regarded the C -1 proposed zone as a start toward
doing something constructive. Reducing the area to two blocks, where
a customer could do a l l his shopping in one :stop, should be considered.
He had reservations about the types of uses permitted, that possibly
some types of service businesses should be allowed. He concluded that
4111 he was in favor of a two -week delay to study zone size and permitted
uses.
Commissioner Dennis moved to recommend the proposed ordinance to the
City Council. Commissioner Lawson seconded. A roll call vote was
taken as follows: Commissioners Dennis and Lawson voted for; Com-
missioners Garvin and Atkins against, and Commissioner Startin ab-
stained. Chairman Atkins voted against_rthe motion with the explana-
tion that he did not think sufficient study was given in view of all
the testimony presented this evening.
Asst. City Attorney White announced the motion was lost and a new
motion was necessary.
Commissioner Startin moved to carry the item over for two weeks to
allow the Commission to study it further. Commissioner Dennis
seconded, based on the situation that a decision could not be reached.
Motion passed unanimously.
Chairman Atkins thanked all those who were present for coming, and
invited them to the next regular meeting of July 13, 1971, at which
1110 time the Commissioners will discuss the item further and make a
decision, but that the hearing at that time would be closed to fur-
ther testimony.
Chairman Atkins adjourned the meeting to a study session at 9:15 p.m.
to discuss the proposed ordinance referring to establishment of a
zoning administrator vs. a zoning modification committee (Planning
Commission Resolution No. 71 -401PC and City Council proposed ordinance
No. 71-320). The meeting resumed at 10:00 p.m.
6. COMMUNICATIONS
Planning Director Dragicevich announced that the City Council re-
appointed Tom D. Atkins Jr., and Robert Garvin for another two -year
term starting July 1, 1971, and ending June 30, 1973.
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PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
June 22, 1971 PAGE FIVE
7. TIME FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO SPEAK T There was no one.
4111 8. MATTERS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Director Dragicevich called attention to policy in the past of
holding only one Planning Commission meeting each month during
July and August. The Commissioners were in agreement, and deter-
mined that only the first regularly scheduled meeting of the
Planning Commission would be held during the months, of July and
August.
It was suggested by the Planning Director that, if the agenda is
light for the July 13, 1971, meeting, the Commission continue
their study pn the proposed lindergrounding Utilities Qrdinance
at an adjourned meeting, and that the representatives from the
utilities companies he invited _to.participete in this meeting.
The Commission was in agreement.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Commissioner Lawson moved, and
Commissioner S.tartin seconded, that the meeting be adjourned to
the next regular meeting on July 13, 1971. Motion carried and
the meeti_ng adjourned_.at 10:15 p.m.
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ATTEST:
e retary
Chairman