COUNCIL CHAMBERS – CITY HALL

WEDNESDAYJUNE 28, 20067:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER:	The meeting was called to order by Chairman Savage at 7:02 p.m.
PRESENT: ABSENT:	Chairman Savage, Vice Chairman Francis (arrived at 7:03), Commissioners Bailey, Fitzgerald, Hart, and Musante, Thompson None
STAFF PRESENT:	Acting Director of Development Services Rosen, Acting Chief Planner Eastman, Senior Civil Engineer Voronel, Senior Planner St. Paul, and Recording Secretary Pasillas.
FLAG SALUTE:	Commissioner Musante
MINUTES:	MOTION made by Commissioner Musante SECONDED by Commissioner Hart and CARRIED 6-0, with Commissioner Bailey abstaining, that the Minutes of the June 14, 2006 meeting be APPROVED AS WRITTEN.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

 

ITEM 1

PRJ02-00155A – ZON02-00017A – ZON02-00018A.APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER:ORANGE KOREAN CHURCH.

A request for a Conditional Use Permit to construct a 3,000-square-foot, one-story office and media storage addition with a mezzanine, and a 3,000-square-foot basement facility for a library with offices, to an existing church on property located at 643 West Malvern Avenue (northeast corner of Malvern and Woods Avenues) (R-1-7.2 zone) (Categorically exempt under Section 15301 of CEQA Guidelines) (BSP)

 

Vice Chairman Francis left the room at 7:04 p.m.

 

MOTION made by Commissioner Bailey, SECONDED by Commissioner Fitzgerald and CARRIED by a 6-0 vote, that said item be CONTINUED to a date uncertain.

 

Vice Chairman Francis returned at 7:05 p.m.

ITEM 2

PRJ03-00363 – ZON03-00027 – ZON03-00028 – ZON05-00063 – LRP04-00024.APPLICANT:THE MORGAN GROUP; PROPERTY OWNER:JACK CHOU.

A request to demolish the existing tennis club and construct a 131-unit senior apartment complex on property located at 1900 Camino Loma.Requested applications include a major site plan, a Conditional Use Permit for a “retirement complex”, a minor zoning adjustment to exceed the maximum permitted lot coverage, and a General Plan revision to change the land use designation from “Parks and Recreational” to “Office.” (a 6.109-acre site located on the southwest corner of Rosecrans Avenue and Camino Loma) (O-P Zone) (Mitigated Negative Declaration) (JEA)

 

Acting Director of Development Services Rosen explained that staff recommended the item be continued to July 26, 2006.

 

MOTION made by Commissioner Musante , SECONDED by Commissioner Hart and CARRIED unanimously that said item be CONTINUED to a date certain.

 

OTHER MATTERS

None

COMMISSION/STAFF COMMUNICATION

Commissioner Thompson asked if public comment should be invited prior to the vote on continued items.Acting Director Rosen explained that because the item was continued, discussion would be heard at the time the item was presented.

Commissioner Thompson asked if the item were continued, would it be possible for someone from the public to comment after the Commission had continued the item.

Acting Director Rosen responded that the Commission could open the public hearing and hear public comments.The Commission would also hear public comments on the night of the hearing.The preferred condition was to hear staff presentations, hear public comments and deliberate on the same night, if possible.

Commissioner Thompson stated when he attended City Council meetings and was not given an opportunity to speak, he was offended.He would prefer to invite the public to comment, even though they would be given another chance to speak at the actual hearing.

Acting Director Rosen explained the reasons for public comments to be heard the night of the hearing: 1. Staff report was not prepared to present to the Commission. 2.Staff was not prepared to answer questions. 3. When there was a staff report presentation, the public could comment on the project being presented, rather than commenting in general about the perceived project.

Commissioner Thompson asked why the item was put on the agenda, and Acting Director Rosen stated that the comments had come in very late, at end of comment period, and staff was not sure of the number and breadth of comments until Thursday afternoon.Staff wanted to ensure a thorough response to each comment.

Acting Chief Planner Eastman further explained that staff did have the comment period scheduled to end earlier, but had several requests from the public to extend the comment period, therefore, one week was added to the comment period. Staff received notification on Thursday, and had Friday to review. Given the volume of responses, staff preferred to take time to respond in writing, individually, to what had been presented.

Commissioner Thompson clarified that he was not criticizing staff, just advocating for the public to be given an opportunity to speak.

Commissioner Fitzgerald added she would like to have further discussion after the item had been moved and seconded, especially when members of the public were present for the item.

Chairman Savage agreed with Commissioner’s Fitzgerald and Thompson, and continued that he thought the public had a right to know a bit more about the process and what the Commissioner’s were doing.

REVIEW OF COUNCIL ACTIONS

Acting Director of Development Services Rosen gave a brief report on recent City Council meetings.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There was no one from the public who wished to speak on any matter within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Agenda Forecast

The next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting will be July 12, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:14 p.m.  

_______________________________

Janelle Pasillas

Secretary