HomeMy Public PortalAboutMinutes - 2007/03/27 - Regular (2)"
"
"
P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N
M I N U T E S
M A R C H 2 7 , 2 0 0 7
I N I T I A T I O N :
1 . C A L L T O O R D E R
2 . P L E D G E O F A L L E G I A N C E T O T H E F L A G
3 . R O L L C A L L :
C o m m i s s i o n e r s : Y u , S e i b e r t , B l u m , G r i f f i t h s , L e B e r t h o n
A l s o P r e s e n t : C i t y A t t o r n e y M a r t i n , C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t M a n a g e r L a m b e r t ,
A s s i s t a n t P l a n n e r G u l i c k , a n d A s s i s t a n t P l a n n e r L i u
4 . T I M E F O R T H O S E I N T H E A U D I E N C E W H O W I S H T O S P E A K :
N o o n e c a m e f o r t h a t t h i s t i m e .
5 . C O N S E N T C A L E N D A R :
A . A P P R O V A L O F M I N U T E S : M a r c h 1 3 , 2 0 0 7
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : A P P R O V E A S S U B M I T T E D
B . T I M E E X T E N S I O N R E Q U E S T F O R T E N T A T I V E T R A C T M A P 6 1 5 9 4
S I T E A D D R E S S : 5 6 1 5 2 7 W E L L A N D A V E N U E
P R O P E R T Y O W N E R : S U N G S U N C H E N
1 1 0 5 S . F I R S T A V E N U E
A R C A D I A , C A L I F O R N I A 9 1 0 0 6
O W N E R :
S U N N Y S . C H A N A N D G R A C E S . K W O K
R E V O C A B L E T R U S T
6 0 4 7 T E M P L E C I T Y B O U L E V A R D
A R C A D I A , C A L I F O R N I A 9 1 0 0 6
A P P L I C A N T / E G L A S S O C I A T E S , I N C
E N G I N E E R : 1 1 8 1 9 G O L D R I N G R O A D , U N I T A
A R C A D I A , C A L I F O R N I A 9 1 0 0 6
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : A P P R O V E O N E - Y E A R E X T E N S I O N R E Q U E S T
F O R A P R E V I O U S L Y A P P R O V E D T E N T A T I V E
T R A C T M A P .
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: March 27, 2007 Page 2
Vice Chairman Seibert - Made a motion to approve the minutes dated March 13, 2007 with
corrections on page five, and a one -year extension request for a previously approved
Tentative Tract Map, seconded by Commissioner Blum and unanimously carried.
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE
7. NEW BUSINESS:
A. PUBLIC HEARING: A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A TUTORING BUSINESS
NAMED LEADERS ACADEMY AT 5923
CLOVERLY AVENUE. THE BUSINESS WILL
UTILIZE AN EXISTING 1,222 SQUARE FOOT
COMMERCIAL UNIT AND IS PROPOSED TO
HAVE A MAXIMUM OF TWENTY (20)
STUDENTS RANGING FROM 5 TO 11 YEARS
OLD AT EACH CLASS AND PROPOSES TO
OPERATE FROM 3:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M.,
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE SUBJECT
SITE IS LOCATED IN THE CITY'S WEST
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (WC) OF THE
DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND IS ZONED
COMMERCIAL BY THE GENERAL PLAN
SITE: 5923 CLOVERLY AVENUE
CASE NO.: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 07 -1690
PROPERTY OWNER: WEI & WANG FAMILY TRUST
3105 MONTEREY RD
SAN MARINO, CALIFORNIA 91108
APPLICANT:
RECOMMENDATION:
LEADERS ACADEMY
5923 CLOVERLY AVE
TEMPLE CITY, CALIFORNIA 91780
1) HEAR STAFF REPORT
2) HEAR THOSE FOR AND AGAINST
3) CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT (15301)
4) ADOPT RESOLUTION
Chairman Yu — Asked for a Staff Report.
Community Development Manager Lambert - Gave the Staff Report dated March 27, 2007.
Assistant Planner Liu — Gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Chairman Yu — Asked if there were any questions from the Planning Commission for the
Staff. The Planning Commissioners had questions for the Staff at this time.
•
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: March 27, 2007 Page 3
Vice Chairman Seibert Asked Community Development Manager Lambert if another school
exists within the same shopping center.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that a school currently exists in the
shopping center.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that the parking requirement should be higher than one parking
space per tutor in businesses that provide educational services.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that he concurs with City Attorney Martin
and perhaps the parking requirements for educational services should be revisited.
Commissioner Griffiths — Stated that he had no objection to this request, however, would
prefer a retail business at the site.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that the Downtown Specific Plan could
be revised, however the site seems adequate to accommodate a tutoring use.
Commissioner Le Berthon — Asked Assistant Planner Gulick if there is a Zone in the
Downtown Specific Plan where tutoring services would not be allowed.
Assistant Planner Gulick — Stated that tutoring facilities are not allowed in the Gateway
Commercial, City Center, Temple City Boulevard, and East Commercial Districts.
Assistant Planner Liu — Stated that though some legal non - conforming educational services
exist, tutoring services are allowable in the West Commercial District with approval of a
Conditional Use Permit.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that a discussion needs to be conducted regarding a code
amendment to the Downtown Specific Plan and parking standards for tutoring and educational
services.
Chairman Yu — Asked if there were any additional questions from the Planning Commission
for the Staff. No Commissioners had questions for the Staff at this time. Opened the Public
Hearing and invited the applicant to speak.
Stanley Szeto, 879 W. Ashma Rd., Montebello, CA 90640 - Stated that he is a representative
of the applicant. Stated that the applicant is requesting a maximum of 20 students, however,
the facility currently provides educational services for two students. Stated that if the facility
were to tutor 20 students they would have a maximum of four to five tutors to comply with the
parking guidelines. Stated that the applicant would like to provide a shuttle van service in
conjunction with tutorial services to pick up students to minimize the impact of traffic.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Asked the representative where the students would be picked up.
Stanley Szeto, 879 W. Ashma Rd., Montebello, CA 90640 - Stated that the students would be
picked up from their homes.
•
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: March 27, 2007 Page 4
Chairman Yu - Asked the representative for the hours of operation.
Stanley Szeto, 879 W. Ashma Rd., Montebello, CA 90640 - Stated that the business would be
open Monday through Friday from 3p.m. — 6p.m. Stated that tutorial services would not be
available on the weekends.
Commissioner Le Berthon — Asked the representative if the tutors are required to be licensed
by the State of California.
Stanley Szeto, 879 W. Ashma Rd., Montebello, CA 90640 - Stated that the tutors are licensed
by the State of California.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Asked the representative the length of time the business had been in
operation without a Business License.
Stanley Szeto, 879 W. Ashma Rd., Montebello, CA 90640 - Stated that the business had been
open approximately three months prior to applying for a Conditional Use Permit.
Chairman Yu — Asked if anyone from the public would like to speak in favor or against the
proposed project. No one came forth at this time.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Made a motion to close the Public Hearing, seconded by
Commissioner Blum and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Griffiths - Stated that he could make the findings to approve this request,
however, would prefer a different type of business at the site.
Commissioner Blum — Stated that he concurs with fellow Commissioner Griffiths. Stated that
the request meets the findings for approval.
Commissioner Le Berthon — Stated that he concurs with fellow Commissioners Blum and
Griffiths.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Stated that he concurs with his fellow Commissioners.
Chairman Yu — Stated that he also concurs with his fellow Commissioners.
Commissioner Griffiths Made a motion to approve Conditional Use Permit 07 -1690, with
the attached Draft Resolution, seconded by Commissioner Blum and unanimously carried.
Chairman Yu — Stated that the application was approved 5 -0 and stated that there is a 15 -day
appeal /review period.
8. COMMUNICATIONS:
MATTERS FROM COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER LAMBERT
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that usually only the Staff attends the
American Planning Association conference, however, we can make room in the budget for
the next fiscal year for members of the Planning Commission to attend if they wish.
•
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: March 27, 2007 Page 5
Commissioner Griffiths Asked Community Development Manager Lambert if the
conference would be geared toward Planning Commissioners.
Community Development Manager Lambert Stated that the conference is geared toward
planning staff.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Stated that he feels that it would not be necessary for the Planning
Commission to attend.
Chairman Yu — Stated that he would be interested in attending the American Planning
Association Conference.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that he could add a tentative spot in
the budget for a Planning Commissioner to attend the American Planning Association
conference. Stated that the Parks and Recreation Commission would like to have a joint
meeting with the Planning Commission regarding the possibility of placing a pocket park in
Temple City.
Commissioner Griffiths — Asked City Attorney Martin for the definition of a pocket park.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that a pocket park is a small park the size of 2 -3 parcels.
Commissioner Blum — Stated that Temple City falls below the national average of square
footage for parks per capita. Stated that the City could apply for funds from the rivers and
mountain conservancy.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that the most efficient way to build a park is to take over a
business that is not doing well by purchase or eminent domain.
Commissioner Le Berthon — Stated that an alternative to taking property by eminent domain
might be to put in a bid for a property that is for sale.
Commissioner Griffiths — Stated that eminent domain is usually not a favorable option to the
public, however, is a tool that could be used.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that condemning land by eminent domain would be necessary
to build a pocket park, however, the City Council is not in favor of land condemnation.
Stated that combining a park, playground, and parking in a commercial area would increase
sales tax, however, purchasing land would be costly.
Chairman Yu — Stated that Staff should study pocket parks prior to having a joint meeting
with the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Commissioner Blum — Stated that input is needed from the public to find what they would
like for the future of the City.
Commissioner Griffiths — Stated that he felt that eminent domain would be necessary to
improve the City. Asked City Attorney Martin what authority the Planning Commission has
• regarding large -scale changes.
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing: March 27, 2007 Page 6
City Attorney Martin — Stated that the Planning Commission could only make
recommendations to the City Council regarding changes in the City's General Plan.
Chairman Yu — Stated that the City Council should have a vision for the residents of Temple
City.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Stated that he would like to concentrate on issues such as low and
moderate - income housing, senior housing, and the redevelopment of Rosemead Boulevard
prior to focusing on a pocket park.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that the City would need to construct multi -story buildings to
meet the housing element allocations since there is no land in the City to expand upon.
Commissioner Le Berthon — Stated that a general commercial outline should be made to
attract ideal businesses from Las Tunas Drive to Rosemead Boulevard.
Community Development Manager Lambert - Stated that a mixed -use overlay could be
adopted for smaller commercial parcels to encourage additional housing.
Commissioner Griffiths — Stated that perhaps the southerly portion of the City could be
rezoned to accommodate low and moderate - income housing.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that three options exist to resolve the current housing issues;
1) rezone Welland Avenue from Live Oak to Freer to an R -4 area, 2) to rezone a portion of
the county area that would be annexed, 3) or to construct multi level buildings.
Commissioner Blum — Stated that the Staff should create a list of issues in Temple City that
should be reviewed.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that he would like the Planning Commission to entertain a
motion to agendize the consideration of changes in the General Plan.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Made a motion to agendize the consideration of changes in the
General Plan, seconded by Commissioner Blum and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Blum — Stated that he would like service clubs, the Chamber of Commerce,
realtors, the school district, and the Parks and Recreation Commission to get involved in the
amendment of the General Plan.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Stated that he would like the Asian community to be involved.
City Attorney Martin — Stated that he would like to entertain a motion to study the required
review of the General Plan.
Vice Chairman Seibert — Made a motion to have a study session regarding the required
review of the General Plan, seconded by Commissioner Blum and unanimously carried.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Asked Chairman Yu if he would like the Staff
to create a Public Hearing Notice regarding changes and review of the General Plan.
•
Planning Commission Minutes
Date of Hearing March 27, 2007 Page 7
Chairman Yu — Stated that he would like the changes and review of the General Plan to be
noticed as a Study Session. Stated that he would like to hear input from various
organizations throughout the City.
Commissioner Le Berthon - Asked Community Development Manager Lambert if he attended
the Public Hearing regarding the Caruso development in Arcadia.
Community Development Manager Lambert — Stated that he did not attend the Planning
Commission meeting in the City of Arcadia, however, City Attorney Martin did send a letter
stating the City's concerns regarding the Caruso project.
9. MATTERS FROM CITY OFFICIALS: NONE
10. ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Yu — Adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled Planning
Commission meeting of April 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Next Scheduled Meeting of:
City Council
Parks & Recreation Commission
•
•
April 3, 2007
April 18, 2007