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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Development Directors Hearing Minutes - 2022-02-08 - Special - 5240 Rosemead BlvdTEMPLE CITY CITY OF TEMPLE CITY DIRECTOR'S HEARING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING Tuesday, February 8, 2022 5:00 P.M. City Council Chambers, 5938 Kauffman Avenue, Temple City www.templecity.us PROCEDURE TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR: If you wish to address the Community Development Director, please complete a Speaker Request Form, indicating the agenda item number and submit it to the Director. There will be a maximum 20 -minute period for comments on any subject with a 3 -minute time limit on each speaker, unless waived by the Director. You have the opportunity to address the Community Development Director at the following times: AGENDA ITEM - at the time the Community Development Director considers the agenda item. NON -AGENDA ITEM - at the time for PUBLIC COMMENTS. Please note that while the Community Development Director values your comments, pursuant to the Brown Act, the Community Development Director cannot take action on any item not listed on the agenda. The listing of any item on the agenda includes the authority of the Community Development Director to take action on such item and to approve, disapprove, or give direction on any item. OPENING MATTERS: • Call to Order — Community Development Director Reimers ORAL COMMUNICATIONS / PUBLIC COMMENT: NONE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS: 1. PL 19-1965 A request for a major site plan review for the development of a four-story apartment complex consisting of 26 dwelling units (44,876 total square feet) and 41 onsite parking spaces. The site is in the Crossroads Specific Plan (CSP) area and is designated for mixed -use or residential developments by the Mid -Century General Plan. Address: 5430 Rosemead Boulevard Recommendation: Adopt the attached Resolution finding that the project is exempt from CEQA and approving file PL 19-1965 subject to the recommended PAGE 1 OF 4 DIRECTOR'S HEARING MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2022 conditions of approval. Project Planner: Hesty Liu, Associate Planner hliu@templecity.us Associate Planner Hesty Liu gave a brief presentation. Community Development Director Reimers opened the public hearing. Susan Bade Hull, the applicant, stated that her father who passed away encouraged her to develop this site so that it can be kept in the family. This is the second firm she hired to design the project to place the parking at grade level. The units will be charged at market rates. For 3 -bedroom units, she anticipates larger families because of the good reputation of the school district. Also, the project will use high -end materials and the contemporary style with classic elements will stand the test of time. This project will enhance the neighborhood and the adjacent street. She thanked the public for their comments. Gloria Goold, the next-door neighbor of the project site, expressed concerns about a four-story building and its impact on her solar panels. She also felt that parking, traffic and speeding were issues. She asked if the easterly alleyway will be changed to a one-way alley. She suggested speed bumps for the alley way and asked if the electrical pole can be removed. Quyen Truong, another resident in the area, agreed with her neighbor's comments. She was also concerned about the traffic. She also mentioned that the street had been cracked. Given that there was already construction happening on Rosemead, the project will most likely park construction trucks on Rancho Real. Jeremy Williams, a resident, agreed with Gloria about parking. The number of on -street parking spaces were limited and after the project there would not be enough parking for residents due to no restrictions especially during the holidays. He suggested a traffic study and adding speed bumps. Annie, a resident, also expressed concerns about traffic and parking as well as light pollution. Traffic coming down Rancho Real would be a safety hazard for little kids, and a four-story building will impose light pollution onto the homes located on the east side. An anonymous resident was concerned about the parking. He stated that people would park on Rancho Real Road or Sultana Avenue because people can get daily parking permits to park on the street. Community Development Director Reimers closed the public hearing. Chris Weinholt, the project architect, stated that this project would comply with the California Building Code. As for the speed bumps, he believed that speeding should not be an issue because traffic taking the alley would have to slow down to prepare for cars pulling out of the garages. PAGE 2 OF 4 DIRECTOR'S HEARING MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2022 Susan Bade Hull confirmed that people would have to slow down as they turn to park into the garages. She did not favor adding speed bumps. As for the telephone pole, she understood that the City may prefer it to be removed. She had to look into the cost which might be prohibitive. Mr. Reimers asked about the cost of removing the power poles and asked for clarification if the windows will have the divided lites/muntins. He also asked about the corrugated metal color and balcony material. Chris Weinholt, replied that based on his experience, the cost would be over $10,000 per pole. The windows will not have divided lites/muntins. The corrugated metal would be primed and finished in a dark gray color (ore). The details for the materials used for the balcony have not been decided. Mr. Reimers asked Mrs. Liu if lighting/glare is in the conditions of approval. He also asked about adding speed bumps, and zoning standards for the district east of the site. He also asked about the peculiarity of the zoning standards in counting the required parking. Mrs. Liu stated that condition number two included a requirement for a photometric study. The traffic engineer did not recommend speed bumps as they may hinder traffic flow. The zoning for the neighboring district is R-2. The setbacks in that district are five feet for the first story and ten feet for the second story. The project proposed 41 functional parking spaces with a deficiency of one guest parking space to meet the total required parking of 42 spaces. Mr. Reimers thanked the public for their participation and provided the following comments. Regarding solar access, neither the country nor the City has laws to protect solar access. A project cannot be denied or required to be modified solely based on this concern. However, there is good news that the shadow study shows the project will not have an impact as compared to the existing condition. Streets are considered a public good. The local resident's preference of having a parking spot available in front of the house is not a protected right. Photos from the staff's visit to the site show that there are ample on -street parking opportunities. Since the City will not issue on -street parking permits, it is incumbent upon the property manager to find the right tenants. The City has a residential parking permit program which can be considered by the neighbors in the future. As for traffic, the trip generation is based on the land use, not the current business. There is no guarantee that the current business will stay forever. From this perspective, a development which will generate less trips is better than a commercial development. The Housing Accountability Act prohibits a City from denying a project which complies with the local development standards. The Housing Crisis Act also prohibits a City to require a reduced density. The City has designed the areas along the major corridors for higher -density developments to reduce the traffic impact. The project meets the development standards and the design for PAGE 3 OF 4 DIRECTOR'S HEARING MINUTES FEBRUARY 8, 2022 neighborhood transition is satisfactory (e.g. the large mass placed away from the residential district and elements provided for neighborhood privacy). The Director Reimers found that the project was exempt from CEQA and adopted the resolution for file PL 19-1965 at 5430 Rosemead with the following added conditions: 1. Prior to building plan check submittal, the applicant shall submit specifications for the railing of the balconies subject to the approval of the Community Development Director. The materials and the design of the railing should have a screening effect to block the view of storage in the balcony area. 2. Prior to building permit issuance, the applicant shall prepare an alleyway traffic calming plan to be reviewed and approved by the City's Traffic Engineer. 3. Prior to building permit issuance, the applicant shall prepare a construction parking and loading plan to be reviewed and approved by the Community Development Director. ADJOURNMENT: The Director's Hearing was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Planning Secretary PAGE 4 OF 4