HomeMy WebLinkAbout091597 PC MinutesMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY OF TEMECULA
PLANNING COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 15, 1997
CAIJ. TO ORDER
The City of Temecula Planning Commission convened in a regular session at 6:01
P.M., on Monday, September 15, 1997, in the City Council Chambers of Temecula City Hall,
43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula, California.
ROLL CAIJ.
Present:
Commissioners Guerriero, Miller, Soltysiak, and
Acting Chairwoman Slaven.
Absent:
Chairwoman Fahey.
Also Present:
Senior Planner Hogan,
Principal Engineer Parks,
Attorney Estrada,
Project Planner Donahoe, and
Minute Clerk Ballreich.
PURLIC COMMF. NT~q
None.
COMMISSION BUSINF. qS
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Commissioner Miller moved for the approval of the Agenda as submitted.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Guerriero and voice vote of those present
reflected unanimous approval (Chairwoman Fahey absent).
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2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- Aupnst 18 and Autnlst 9.5, 1997
Commissioner Miller requested that page 5 of the August 18, 1997, minutes be
corrected to accurately reflect his abstention with regard to PA97-0174. Commissioner Slaven
requested that page 5, paragraph 1, be amended as follows: "Mr. Esbensen relayed an
unwillingness to redesign ..."
MOTION: Commissioner Miller moved for the approval of the August 18, 1997,
Planning Commission minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Soltysiak and voice vote of those present reflected unanimous approval (Chairwoman Fahey
absenO.
Commissioner Miller requested that page 9, paragraph 1, of the August 25, 1997,
minutes be amended as follows: "that if the coating material used on the exterior surface of the
front wall fails to eliminate ..."; and that on page 12, paragraph 9, the words "Town Center"
be added. Commissioner Soltysiak noted, with regard to Agenda Item No. 5, there was a
general discussion as to whether the applicant stepped the retaining wall as required and that
the applicant agreed to readdress the issue.
MOTION: Commissioner Miller moved for the approval of the August 25, 1997,
Planning Commission minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Guerriero and voice vote of those present reflected unanimous approval (Chairwoman Fahey
absent).
3. DIRECTOR'S HEARING UPDATE
As per written material of record, no additional comments.
PUBLIC HEARING 1TEMS
4. PLANNING APPI.ICATION NO. PA97-09.35 (CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT)
Planning Commition consideration of a request to construct and
operate a three-story, 43,654 square foot, 90-unit hotel with swimminE
pool, and to erect a free-standing freeway-oriented sign measuring
12 feet in width and a height of 45 feet.
RECOMMENDATION
To adopt the Negative Declaration for Planning Application No. 97-0235;
To adopt the Mitigation Monitoring Program for Planning Application
No. 97-0235;
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To adopt Resolution No. 97-023 approving Planning Application
No. 97-0235 based upon the Analysis and Findings contained in
the Staff Report and subject to the Conditions of Approval;
To direct staff to approve a freestanding freeway-oriented sign for
Temecula Valley Inn measuring 27 feet in height, located on the west
side of Interstate 15, at the southeast corner of the subject property.
Project Planner Donahoe presented the staff report (of record); apprised the
Commissioners that staff had received one call with regard to the potential noise impact from
the air conditioning units to which she noted that it would be staff's opinion that given the
proximity of the proposed hotel to the 1-15, Jefferson Avenue, and the future Overland
crossing, the air conditioning units will pose no noise problem.
By way of overheads, Project Planner Donahoe referenced the two flag tests completed
with regard to the proposed 45' high sign, noting that staff recommends a sign no higher than
30' which would permit ample visibility for northbound freeway traffic and as well would
permit maturing of existing shrubbery. Ms. Donahoe also noted that the recommended 30'
high sign would be consistent with existing neighboring signs at Wendy's and In-'N'-Out
Burger; that the proposed project would be consistent with the General Plan and Zoning are
compatible with the surrounding land uses; and that the proposed architecture would
compliment existing buildings along Jefferson Avenue.
With regard to recommended conditions of approval from the Police Department,
Commissioner Miller noted his opposition with regard to the intent of Condition No. 8 (the
address for the location shall be painted on the roof using numbers no less than two feet tall, in
a color which contrasts the background). He noted hesitancy to imposing this condition on the
project considering the proposed sloped roof. With regard to the proposed FAR of 0.38
(above the target but within the range for the zone), Commissioner Miller expressed no
In response to Commissioner Guerriero, Principal Engineer Parks the following 1) that
staff does not denote the location of a fire hydrant; 2) the applicant must adhere to a standard
which pertains to the placement of fire hydrants; 3) that all arterial highways (such as Jefferson
Avenue) must comply with the General Plan to construct raised landscaped medians.
Responding to Commissioner Slaven's concern relative to the speed of travel around
the hotel as well as the speed of those motorists traversing from Wendy's to the Golden
Corral, Project Planner Donahoe indicated that no speed bumps have been proposed. City
Engineer Parks noted that staff would not favor conditioning/requiring an applicant to install
speed bumps in parking lots because of the potential liability the City could assume. He stated
the control of speed, on site, should be the responsibility of the applicant.
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Mr. I.arry Markham, 41750 Winchester Road, commended Project Planner Donahoe
on a job well done; expressed concurrence with the recommended conditions of approval with
the exception of Police Department Condition No. 8 (location of address numbers on the roof);
expressed a willingness to reduce the originally requested 45' high sign to 35' high (32' sign
and 3' berm), noting that a sign of this height would create better northbound and southbound
freeway visibility. Although understanding the intent of the Police Department Condition No.
8, Mr. Markham suggested that the address be placed in the parking lot or in the landscaped
Providing clarification with regard to Condition No. 8, Project Planner Donahoe
advised that this is a newly imposed condition by the Police Department in order to aid
helicopter surveillance.
With regard to the proposed FAR of 0.38 (floor area ratio), Mr. Markham advised that
a multi-story building such as the one proposed will have a higher FAR than a standard
commercial center. Further describing the project, Mr. Markham noted that 100% of the
transient occupancy tax generated will go directly to the City and that this tax will not be
shared with the County. He stated the proposed air conditioning units are standard in the
industry, and that in light of the acoustic generation from the freeway, Jefferson Avenue, and
Overland Overpass, he would not envision these units to create a noise impact. Finally that
the standards with regard to the placement of fire hydrants will be followed; that the applicant
did not intend to construct speed bumps at this time; and that there would be no objection to
the median requirement.
In response to Commissioner Miller, Mr. Markham advised that decibels are not
additive and he voiced no objection to the imposition of a condition to provide an acoustic
footprint prior to the issuance of building permits or to limit the project noise level not to
exceed the ambient noise level.
By way of color tile samples, Mr. Dean Davidson, 28441 Rancho California Road,
architect representing the applicant, reviewed the proposed tile (tangerine) as well as two other
color tiles, noting that the applicant would voice no objection to either one of the three
different tiles. With regard to the grill system, Mr. Davison advised that the functional reason
for the grill (tubular steel) is to cover up the air conditioning units protruding from the
building and that it also aesthetically breaks the facade and provides detail.
With regard to recommended Condition No. 2 (Police Department condition --
applicant shall ensure all tress on the property are kept away from the main building to deter
roof accessibility), Mr. Vince Denardo, 28441 Rancho California Road, landscaping architect
representing the applicant, noted that palm trees (initially 6' to 8' tall) are being proposed to
compliment the Mediterranean architecture and that palm trees are hard to climb and,
therefore, would not aid in easy accessibility to the roof.
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Following some Commission discussion with regard to possibly amending or deleting
Police Department Condition No. 2, Deputy City Attorney Estrada recommended that the
condition be deleted versus amended. Commissioner Miller requested that staff further
address, with the Police Department, the intent of this condition and its impact on planning
projects, specifically those with sloped roofs.
Because the proposed structure will be a three-story building, Commissioner Soltysiak
expressed no concern regarding to the proposed FAR; concurred with the applicant's request to
construct a 35' high sign; and suggested that Police Department Condition No. 8 (placement of
address numbers) be amended as follows: "that the address shall be painted on site at an
approved location other than the roof ."
Commissioner Slaven suggested that the Fire and Police Departments be requested to
make a presentation to the Planning Commission providing more detail explanation with regard
to newly imposed conditions of approval.
Providing additional clarification relative to Condition No. 74 ( Fire Department
vehicle access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 24 feet and an
unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13'6"). Senior Planner Hogan, in response to
Commissioner Guerriero, noted that if speed bumps were constructed, they would probably be
placed along the easement, parallel to Jefferson Avenue, and that this location would not
interfere with Fire Department accessibility. Considering the damage speed bumps can do to
the Fire Department's heavy equipment, Mr. Guerriero suggested that this matter be discussed
as well with the Fire Department.
Because of the false sense of security pedestrians have in the vicinity of Wendy's and
the Golden Corral, Commissioner Slaven explained her suggestion to install speed bumps in
order to slow down the traffic which traverses from Wendy's to the Golden Corral.
In response to Commissioner Soltysiak, Senior Planner Hogan advised that the Police
Department would be apprised of any changes made by the Planning Commission to the
recommended conditions of approval and that compliance with these conditions would be
coordinated through the Planning Department.
With regard to the recently approved Best Western sign, Associate Planner Donahoe
advised that this sign (137 square fee0, because of ground the reduction in elevation, was
approved at 45' high, noting that this reduction in elevation does not occur at the subject site.
Although concurring with the construction of a sign 30' to 35' high, Commissioner
Miller relayed his opposition with regard to the calculation of the square footage of a sign.
Project Planner Donahoe briefly reviewed the measurements used to determine the square
footage of a sign, advising that the proposed sign will be 186 square feet.
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With regard to the roof tile color, Commissioner Miller expressed his preference for
#106 Mission Red Flashed (Lifefile) to which the applicant voiced no objection.
MOTION: Commissioner Miller moved for the approval of the request as conditioned
by staff and deleting and amending the following conditions:
Condition No. 2 (applicant shall ensure all trees on the property are
kept away from the main building, to deter roof accessibility);
Amend
0
Condition No. 8 (Police Department Condition -- the address for the
location shall be painted on the roof using numbers no less than 2'
tall in a color which contrasts the background) to read as follows:
Uthe address for the location shall be painted on site at an approved
location other than the roof;
Condition No. 11 (the colors and materials used shall conform
substantially with Exhibit I [Color and Material Board] or as amended
by these conditions) reflecting a change in color tile
to Lifetile #106 (Mission Red Flashed) versus #634 (Tangerine);
o that the overall height of the proposed sign be reduced to 35'.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Soltysiak and voice vote of those present
reflected unanimous approval (Chairwoman Fahey absent).
PI,ANNING MANAGER'S REPORT
In light of Planning Manager Ubnoske's absence, Senior Planner Hogan advised that
Planning Manager Ubnoske had requested that this matter be continued to the next meeting.
PI,ANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION
After some discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission that representatives
from the Police and Fire Departments attend a Commission meeting and provide more detailed
information with regard to recent newly imposed conditions on specific planning projects.
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AB.IOURNMENT
At 7:25 P.M., Acting Chairwoman Slaven formally adjourned the Planning
Commission meeting to Monday, October 6, 1997, at 6:00 P.M.
ey, Chair~an
Planning Manager Ubnoske
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