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HomeMy WebLinkAbout112591 CC/PC Jnt. Minutes MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING OF THE TEMECULA CITY COUNCIL AND THE TEMECULA PLANNING COMMISSION HELD NOVEMBER 25, 1991 A joint meeting of the Temecula City Council and the Temecula Planning Commission was called to order in the Main Conference Room, Temecula City Hall, 43174 Business Park Drive at 7:04 PM, Mayor Ronald J. Parks presiding. ROLL CALL Temecula City Council PRESENT 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Birdsall, Lindemans, Moore, Mu~oz, Parks ABSENT: 0 Temecula Planning Commission PRESENT: 4 COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: COUNCILMEMBERS: None Fahey, Ford, Hoagland, Chiniaeff Blair Also present were City Manager David F. Dixon, City Attorney Scott F. Field, Planning Director Gary Thornhill and City Clerk June S. Greek. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The audience was led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Councilmember Karel Lindemans. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mary Porter, 41479 Chenin Blanc, addressed the Council and Commission regarding the Buie Corporation Development at Rancho California Road and Meadows Parkway. She expressed concern that unrestricted apartments are to be developed at that site, contrary to the original plans which called for senior citizen units. Planning Director Gary Thornhill stated that the apartment units proposed are age restricted units per the original specific plan. Sydney Vernon, 30268 Mersey Court, encouraged the Council and Commission to approve a policy adopting and adhering to strict development time lines. Minutes\l 12591 -1- Citv Council Minutes November 25. 1991 COUNCIL BUSINESS City Council Policy Direction to Planning Commission Mayor Parks opened the discussion by explaining the intended purpose of the joint meeting. He stated the City Council is concerned that the reasons for the Planning Commission's denial of various projects is not always explained. Commissioner Ford asked that specific examples of this happening be given to the Commission. Commissioner Chiniaeff stated that when new information comes up during the Planning Commission public hearings, the staff can not always anticipate what the Planning Commission's concerns will be, therefore the Commission may as a result of that new information make findings which are not consistent with the staff's original recommendation. Mayor Pro Tern Birdsall addressed the recent economic impacts on the community and stated that she feels the City Council has changed their stance on some development issues as a result of the need to help stimulate growth. She gave the example of possibly requiring less in the way of esthetics. Councilmember Mu~oz said he would like to see that all parties concerned in a Public Hearing are given adequate time to present their cases. He also said he is anxious to see an explanation of the reasons for voting against certain projects reflected in the Commission's minutes. Mayor Parks advised that the concern of the City Council is that ample time be given to applicants after a Public Hearing has been closed to public comment, particularly to rebut any new information which comes up during the Commission's questioning of staff. Commissioner Chiniaeff said he feels the Commission is charged with the duty of making decisions based on good planning, which is the same in a good or a bad economy. Commissioner Fahey stated the Commissioners feel they were given their direction from the Council at the time they were interviewed for positions on the Planning Commission. As a result of that direction, she said the Commission has attempted to be very consistent in their decisions, particularly since the General Plan has not yet been adopted. She also felt that the staff needs to do a better job of communicating the Commission's actions and reasons to the Council through staff reports. Minutes\l 12591 -2- Citv Council Minutes November 25. 1991 Councilmember Moore requested that the Commissioners give specific reasons for the record when they abstain from voting on any matter. Councilmember Mu~oz asked if there is a reason why Commissioners can not attend a City Council meeting when the Council is holding a Public Hearing on a matter appealing a Commission decision or one that by law is required for the Council to hear. City Attorney Scott Field advised that there is no legal impediment to having a member or members of the Planning Commission in attendance at City Council meetings. Mayor Parks outlined his concerns that the applicants and the City Council need to know why the Planning Commission is reversing staff recommendations. He also said that he has been receiving complaints that there have been "personal attacks" made on individuals appearing before the Commission. City Clerk June Greek, explained the City Council's adopted policy regarding minutes and strongly urged the Commission to reread the policy as it relates to stating reasons for casting negative votes. Mayor Pro Tern Birdsall asked to clarify statements she made regarding the present economy causing changes in the way projects are approved. She said she did not mean to imply that any of the basic considerations should be eliminated. Commissioner Fahey said the Commission tries to give general findings for all projects. She said she feels perhaps the findings might be too general. She also expressed concern that there has been a problem for the Commission created by the turnover in staff as a result of phasing out consultants and adding new City staff. Commissioner Chiniaeff said many policies are being set during general discussion, and he also said the Planning Commission wished to place importance on the standards being set without the benefit of a General Plan. He stressed that the Commission is trying to do their best in the absence of that important planning tool. Commissioner Ford said this is a constantly changing process and a time in which both the Commission and the staff are growing in their working relationships. He added that the Commission would like to see more input from the other City departments for projects containing slopes, parks, etc. He spoke in favor of the Commission trying to assist in the preparation of more accurate minutes. Planning Director Thornhill, stated that the staff and some members of the Commission are very concerned with the lack of a General Plan, having to work with the County's ordinance, and having to make changes to the process. Commissioner Chiniaeff added that the City is fortunate to have the expertise it has on the Commission and they have often been able to provide assistance to City staff as a result of their expertise. Minutes\l 12591 -3- Citv Council Minutes November 25. 1991 Chairman Hoagland stated the Commission is attempting to improve projects submitted to them because they believe this is their charge from the City Council. Councilmember Lindemans left the meeting at 8:00 PM. Permit Process Streamlining Mayor Parks opened the discussion by advising the Commission that the Council is anxious to have the Commission share in designing a more efficient process for processing various permits. Commissioner Chiniaeff said he feels the Commission should not be given direction to approve something without doing their complete job of review. City Manager David Dixon stated it is not staff's intention to dictate to the Commission and they do not wish to see any lowering of the City's high standards. Planning Director Gary Thornhill presented the staff report and referred to materials handed out to the Commission and Council which described the present approval process. He advised that the process at the present time does not allow staff to approve plot plans in the framework of environmental review. He also suggested that projects which require Negative Declarations or that require Categorical Exemptions under the state law, might be considered for staff approval. He stated that Conditional Use Permits only requiring a change of use are still having to be heard by the Planning Commission. He itemized the following areas for discussion: Conditional Use Permits Mr. Thornhill suggested that Plot Plans of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet, that do not require environmental review could be delegated to staff for review and approval. Mayor Parks asked to see a percentage of case load that projects of this description represent. Substantial Conformance Mr. Thornhill added that projects that require a finding of substantial conformance is also a matter that might now be given to staff for approval. Commissioner Hoagland said this is an area that the Commission specifically requested the opportunity to see, at an earlier point, when the City was being staffed completely by consultants. Minutes\l 12591 -4- Citv Council Minutes November 25. 1991 Parking Adjustments Mr. Thornhill recommended that parking adjustments could be approved at the Director level on simple adjustments. Small Parcel Maps Director Thornhill suggested small Parcel Maps of four lots or less could also be handled administratively. Change of Use Minor CUP's Mr. Thornhill said this recommendation would cover use permits similar to that of a Day Care Facility. Time Extensions Reversion to Acreage Certificates of Compliance Variances or Modifications Mr. Thornhill said this recommendation is not for true variances which require a Public Hearing but for modifications which do not require necessary findings. Councilmember Mu~oz said the complaints he has heard about the time required for processing have had to do with the time it takes to have projects processed by City staff prior to these matters going to the Commission or the City Council. Director Thornhill explained that this type of complaint is a result of staff not having the authority to approve anything administratively and therefore time is taken up in placing these minor matters on agendas and doing all of the necessary staff reports in preparation for an agenda. He advised Councilmember Mu~oz that the projects which must go to the City Council are Zone Changes, Changes to the General Plan and Specific Plans and or Development Agreements. City Attorney Scott Field advised that Plot Plans could be handled administratively by by the staff in the case of small plans and the Planning Commission in the case of larger Plot Plans. Larry Markham, Markham and Associates, 41750 Winchester Road, addressed the Council and Commissioners regarding the need to allow staff to approve Substantial Conformance items and permit revisions. Minutes\l 12591 -5- City Council Minutes November 25. 1991 Mayor Parks asked the Planning Commission if they felt comfortable giving some of this responsibility to the Planning staff. The general indication from the Planning Commissioners was that they would like to have this matter placed on their agenda for further discussion. Councilmember Mu~oz, requested that staff make a policy statement that projects will not be allowed to be side-tracked by staff for any reason. City Manager Dixon stated that nothing will be ever be allowed to sit on an employees desk during vacations or any other absences. Commissioner Hoagland stated that standards of performance need to be established, specifically that developers need to be given realistic time frames for expected completion of the process. Mayor Pro Tem Birdsall suggested the creation of a pamphlet to give to developers which outlines normal expected time frames for various projects. Commissioner Ford asked if there are also responsibilities that can be reassigned from the City Council to the Planning Commission. He questioned if the Council is willing to relinquish some of their current authority to the Planning Commission to assist in the processing of projects in a timely manner. CITY MANAGER REPORTS City Manager Dixon reported that staff is currently engaged in a study of fees and charges for development impacts. CITY ATTORNEY REPORTS City Attorney Field asked that the Council adjourn to an Executive Session at 5:30 PM on December 10, 1991. COMMISSION REPORTS Chairman Hoagland expressed the Planning Commissions appreciation for the time the City Council has devoted to this joint meeting. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS Councilmember Moore said she is concerned about the City not conditioning projects to require the completion of roads prior to the beginning of the project development. She also stated she would like to see Conditional Use Permits reviewed for appropriateness of use. Minutes\l 12591 -6- Citv Council Minutes November 25. 1991 ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Birdsall, seconded by Councilmember Moore to adjourn at 9:00 PM to an Executive Session to be held on December 10, 1991 at 5:30 PM in the Main Conference Room at City Hall, 43174 Business Park Drive, followed by the regular City Council meeting to be held at 7:00 PM at the Temporary Temecula Community Center, 27475 Commerce Drive, Temecula, California. The motion was unanimously carried with Councilmember Lindemans absent. It was moved by Commissioner Chiniaeff, seconded by Commissioner Ford to adjourn to a regular meeting of the Planning Commission to be held on December 2, 1991, at 6:00 PM in the Vail Elementary School, 29915 Mira Loma Drive, Temecula California. The motion was unanimously carried with Commissioner Blair absent. Ronald J. Parks, Mayor ATTEST: ~~Greek, City Clerk~'~-~ [SEAL] Minutes\l 12591 -7-