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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCity Council_Minutes_1969-06-25_Regular 19691 1 COUNCIL MINUTES CITY OF TEMPLE CITY ADJOURNED MEETING JUNE 25, 1969 INITIATION: 1. Mayor Harker called the Adjourned Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:30 p.m., following which he 2. Led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 3. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmen-Beckley, Briggs,. Merritt, Tyrell, Harker ABSENT: Councilmen -None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Koski, City Attorney Martin, Planning Technician Burnham, District Engineering Associate Paul Holderman UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 4. PUBLIC HEARING: 7:30 p.m. Zone Variance Case No. 69 -283, Santa Anita Sanitarium Mayor Harker inquired if proper notice had been sent relative to the Public Hearing, which was affirmed. He then declared the public hearing open. Councilman Briggs moved that all of the comments previously heard by the Planning Commission, and all tapes, minutes, staff reports and other materials provided to the Council by the Planning Commission be made a part of the record of this Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilman Merritt and unanimously carried. Mayor Harker asked, in the interest of expediency, that those addressing the Council keep in mind that the Council is apprised of all the previous discussion and reports concerning Zone Variance Case No. 69 -283, which items were not part of the deliberations of this meeting, and urged that repetition be kept at a minimum. City Manager Koski reported that a Public Hearing on the matter had first been before the Planning Commission as Zone Variance Case No. 69 -278, in February, with continued Public Hearings on March 11, 25 and April 8. Due to revised proposal, application for zone variance was resubmitted under Zone Variance Case No. 69-283, and Public Hearing held on. April 22, continued to May 13 and May 27, at which time it was referred to the City Council for consideration. He advised that the applicant, Merle Collins, was seeking to add a portion of area zoned R -1 to the exis- ting convalescent hospital .. complex, to relocate the existing parking lot, and to expand existing hospital facilities. Applicants state- ments in regard to the application and factual data were also reviewed. Fourteen conditions set forth as staff proposals, including the requirement of a 6 ft. high masonry wall, except in the required yard area, to be built along the easterly and northerly lines of the proposed addition and that portion of the property proposed as nurses quarters, were recommended as conditions to the granting of the variance. City Manager Koski also reviewed exhibits con - cerning the complex and surrounding area, showing the previous proposal as well as the present proposal. He advised that the City's interest in acquiring additional park property created changes which prompted the revised proposal for the 90 -bed guest facility ;.on the part of the applicant. Basically the new pro- posal added a 16 -unit nurses quarters, 20 parking spaces to the rear and an access drive, and eliminated the parking -area in the front of the.structure. A clarification of terms "Guest Facility" and "Convalescent Hospital" under which the applicant held licenses, was also presented. Council Minutes, June 25, 1969 - Page 2 City Attorney._ Martin summarized that before the Council was the matter of a variance to expand the present facilities northerly, with a parking lot and a 90 -bed guest facility and nurses quarters, and easterly, to the rear of the lots fronting on Hallowell, for parking and accessory structures; and that the variance was being processed in this manner because it was R-1 _property. It was noted that legal lot sizes of 7200 sq. ft. would exist in all of the res- idential lots fronting on Hallowell. Mayor Harker noted that background data showed special permits had been obtained in 1950, 1954 and 1957, each containing a statement that no structures of any kind be placed within 40 ft. of easterly property line of lots 14, 15 and 16, and inquired if these require- ments were still binding. City Manager Koski advised that in the past the County had this stipulation for special use permits, but that the restriction was for street purposes, namely the extension of Arden, and that the select system of streets for Temple City did not include such extension of Arden. In answer to an inquiry if all previous requirements had been lived up to relative to accessory structures, City Manager Koski advised that while the structures may have been built as accessory structures to the residences on the R -1 lots, that the nature of the use had changed, and that the storage buildings now serve the complex in various ways. Mayor Harker invited those-,i.n'the audience who wished to speak in favor of the zone variance to come forward. Mr. Morris Finley, 8439 Ravendale Road, San Gabriel, representing Mr. Collins, spoke in behalf of the applicant. He advised that all of the .requirements stipulated by the Planning Commission were acceptable, including the block wall previously mentioned. The architecture, previously designed for the facility as colonial, had been redesigned to conform to community patterns as prescribed by the Planning Commission. He advised that the previous request had been for the expansion into area to the east of the hospital, and the removal of the non - conforming use on the rear lots on Hallowell. He described the problem that would be encountered should any of these structures be damaged, in that building permits to rebuild could not be obtained under present status., The new request had been pro- posed because of the possible needs of the City to expand into the present parking lot of the hospital facility, and that the new parking lot was proposed adjacent to the 90 -bed guest facility. Mr. Finley explained that the hospital employs approximately 260 persons, with a monthly payroll of $80,000, and provides an important service to the community. He pointed out that the ser- vice buildings that are non - conforming were on the property at the time of incorporation, but that they were not sheds that should be demolished, but buildings meeting strict fire department and building regulations, and were kept in a clean and orderly manner. Following recent inspections by the State Fire Marshall, a fire hydrant had been placed inside the property, and entrance design requirements for fire safety were incorporated in the new plans. Councilman Tyrell inquired as to the occupancy of the nurses quar- ters, and was advised that nurses aides, RN's and LVN's and their spouses would occupy these units, that children would not be housed there. Mr. Finley advised that Mr. Collins owned other single family residences in the area which could be rented to those nurses who had families, so that there would be no question of overburdening the nurses unit. Mr. Finley also responded to inquiry that further future development to the east into properties held by Mr. Collins would not be probable in that these were nice homes, and that it would not be economically feasible to destroy them for such expan- sion. Council Minutes, June 25, 1969 - Page 3 Mayor Harker inquired if anyone else wished to speak in favor of the zone variance. No one came forward. Those opposed were then invited to speak. A. L. Himmelhoch, 5516 Hallowell Avenue, spoke in opposition, advising that he represented himself and 13 home owners residing on Hallowell. He outlined statements, previously provided to the Planning Commission, opposing the further enlargement of the facility into R -1 property, which they considered detrimental to the residen- tial use now enjoyed by the residents of Hallowell. Their concern had to do with the appearance of the facility, the delivery of supplies, persons coming and going to work, and the coming and going of visitors in addition to concern for patients who might leave the . facility from time to time. Reference was made to the proposed park expansion and the resultant noise that would be forthcoming from ball games, etc., that would not be compatible to the housing of the elderly patients at the facility. Mr. Himmelhoch also felt that the extension of Arden Drive needed to be considered, which would also provide a buffer between R -1 and non - conforming pro- perties. It was the contention of those opposing that the nurses quarters also destroyed the R -1 use, in that they were really apartments. A petition circulated by Mr. Himmelhoch, containing 349 signatures opposing the facilities, was received for filing; however it was pointed out that the Council could not legally give consideration to signatures of residents beyond the 300' radius, which were in the majority on the petition. Certain inquiries from Councilmen Br.iggs.and Tyrell were directed to Mr. Himmelhoch relative to the traffic pattern that would be created should Arden be extended. Mr. Himmelhoch agreed that the rerouting would not benefit the City of Temple City in general, but would serve the interests of the Santa Anita Race Track, however he considered that it may relieve some of the traffic now on Hallowell which would benefit these residents. City Manager Koski pointed out that extension of Arden would be prohibitive since right - of -way would adversely affect many properties, including the hospital facility itself, and would involve acquisition and destruction of many other residences. Councilman Merritt requested clarification as to which buildings on the rear lots on Hallowell were in violation since incorporation, and Mr. Himmelhoch replied that he did not have this information, but that he believed it to be several and that he would like this checked. Mr. Holderman of the County Engineer's office reported that records did not indicate that any building permits, issued since incorporation, involved any of the service structures. Harry Scheibe], 10317 E. Olive, speaking in opposition, was con- cerned as to Mr. Collins running two businesses, the rental of properties and the running of the sanitarium, however it was pointed out that this would have no bearing on-the matter. Mr. Scheibe] advised that.Mr. Collins properties bordered him on three sides and that they were very nice neighbors residing in them, however he was concerned as to the kind of residents who would be attracted to these rentals upon the expansion of the facility. Again, the Council felt that no one could forsee or control the type of persons who might move in, however proper policing would eliminate undesirable conditions should they occur. John Stacy, 5626 Gracewood, speaking in opposition, was concerned as to the ultimate setback of the nurses home and wall that would be constructed on property adjoining his residence. He stated that he had been unable to get a permit to add on the front of his residence because of required setback, however it appeared that the new facilities did not have the same requirement to which he must conform. He was advised that the standard street width is the basis for establishing setback, and the line on which structures may be placed would be the same. Mr. Stacy advised that he would not oppose the facility from this standpoint, so long as the required setback for the new facility was in conformance with his own. Mr. Stacy then inquired as to the adequacy of only 20 parking spaces for the Council Minutes, June 25, 1969 - Page 4 16 -unit nurses quarters. He was advised that because these were one - bedroom units with the nursez residing at their place of occupation, the occupants would not generally require two cars. Mr. Stacy also called attention to properties south of him on Gracewood that were not well -kept and should be policed. He felt they were not compatible to R -1. It was pointed out that these were properties that would be torn down for the new structure which would eliminate the unkempt situation. Mr. Stacy was also advised that the area was not strictly R -1 since his own property contained two rentals, which is considered a non - conforming use Harry Covington, 5613 Hallowell, speaking in opposition to the variance, advised that he has lived at this location for 29 years, and that he felt enlargement of the facility would only bring more problems similar to those to which he was already subjected, such as trash being thrown over the wall into his yard. It was pointed out that these homes were rented homes, and that the litter could not be attributed to the facility, nor to the employees of the facility, unless it were determined that the persons occupying these residences were indeed employees of the hospital. In any event, there was a police problem which should be called to the attention of the Sheriff's Department. Mrs. Fern Duskin, 5634 Gracewood, came forward to clarify a state- ment that three lots at 5632, 5634 and 5636 Gracewood, north of the proposal, were not rentals but privately owned. No one else came forward to speak in opposition. Mr. Finley spoke briefly in clarification of surveys relative to extension of Arden Drive. He advised that he had been surveyor and subdivider for the development of Hallowell, and that it never went through the County Planning Commission, and that street reservation for this section and other sections did not include the entire block. Councilman Briggs moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Councilman Merritt and unanimously carried. Councilman Briggs stated that while he was in accord with the expansion of the hospital as such, he considered the nurses quarters as apartment dwellings and that he was not in accord with the inclusion of this portion of the project. Councilman Merritt advised that the nurses unit was compatible from his viewpoint, and an improvement over existing structures. Mayor Harker noted that the ball games at the park had not inter- fered in the past, and that this was not a serious problem to consider in connection with the proposed variance. He;also noted that the single meter for-the entire nurses quarters may have a bearing on the determination as to whether it is an apartment, or customary structure in connection with the hospital. City Attorney Martin counseled that when the City Council arrives at a determination, there should be a finding made in the motion as to whether the proposed nurses quarters is in fact an apart- ment unit, or reasonable or customary structure found to co -exist with hospital use, and that the single meter was a recommendation by staff to prevent its interpretation as an apartment house. Councilman Tyrell remarked that the proposed expansion was a means to clean up the area by removing homes that have served their purpose and have contributed to a people problem for a long time.- By developing the area and enclosing it with the block wall, it would enhance the area rather than detract, and would provide greater control as well as provide a buffer area. He considered the nurses quarters as necessary structures to the operation of the facility, in order to provide proper service to the patients and to provide more security and better service to the public in general. Council Minutes, June 25, 1969 - Page 5 Councilman Beckley commented on the prohibitive cost that would be involved for any extension of Arden and ruled out any consider- ation of this in his deliberations. He stated that in his opinion the neighborhood would be improved by the development of the facility, but that for all improvements contemplated by the City there is always some objection on the part of citizens who are closely affected, which is natural, however that for the overall good of the City, he was in favor of the expansion, including the nurses quarters. Mayor Harker called attention to the fact that many people from our own community are now in residence at this location, and the community is served in this regard. He was also concerned that the applicant agree to continue to police the housing unit so that only employees of the nursing category will be housed there. Councilman Tyrell proposed a motion to grant the zone variance as requested, subject to staff requirements, in particular Item 8 having to do with nurses quarters; that there be a finding that nurses quarters are an accessory use of the hospital; that all other accessory structures be brought up to today's code; that there be no breaks, gates or access in the block wall around the complex; and that the City Attorney be requested to prepare the appropriate resolution of terms and conditions indicated, to be returned to the next meeting. City Attorney Martin advised that before the motion is acted upon, that the record should show the correction of certain terms, i.e., the term "non - conforming" (and expansion of non - conforming use) is an improper term since the hospital itself is not a non - conforming use in the legal sense, but a permitted use, having been permitted by the County in the past. The proper term for inclusion should there- fore be an expansion of a permitted use. City Attorney Martin also advised that the resolution that will be prepared will have to justify the grant on the grounds set forth in the ordinance as they were outlined in the original application, with the understanding that the grounds are met and proven to the satisfaction of the City Council, and that the satisfaction might well be easier to obtain with regard to an expansion rather than an original use. The motion was affirmed by Councilman Tyrell with these understandings, seconded by Councilman Merritt and carried by the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen: Beckley, Merritt, Tyrell, Harker NOES: Councilmen: Briggs 5 ADJOURNMENT: It was moved, seconded and carried to adjourn to the next regular meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday, July 1, 1969, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall, and the meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m. ATTEST.: I TY CLERK MAYOR