MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF WEST COVINA
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF WEST COVINA
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the West Covina City Council Chambers, 1444 West Garvey Avenue, West Covina, California. Chairman Gutierrez dedicated the moment of prayer and silent meditation in honor of Nogales High School teacher, Carla Haywood, who recently passed away.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER/MEDITATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Heng led the Pledge of Allegiance
Commissioner Heng led the Pledge of Allegiance
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Gutierrez, Williams, Heng, Becerra, Lewis
- Staff Present:
- Bettenhausen, Morales, Burns
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.
Regular meeting, August 8, 2023
The minutes were approved as submitted.
The minutes were approved as submitted.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This is the time when any member of the public may speak to the Commission on any matter within the scope of duties assigned to the Commission relating to non-agendized or consent calendar items. Other matters included on this agenda may be addressed when that item is under consideration. For all oral communications, the chairperson may impose reasonable limitations on public comments to assure an orderly and timely meeting. The Ralph M. Brown Act limits the Planning Commission and staff's ability to respond to public comments at this meeting. Thus, your comments may be agendized for a future meeting or referred to staff. The Commission may ask questions for clarification, if desired, at this time.
By policy of the Commission, Oral Communications at this time on the agenda is limited to a total of 15 minutes.
None
This is the time when any member of the public may speak to the Commission on any matter within the scope of duties assigned to the Commission relating to non-agendized or consent calendar items. Other matters included on this agenda may be addressed when that item is under consideration. For all oral communications, the chairperson may impose reasonable limitations on public comments to assure an orderly and timely meeting. The Ralph M. Brown Act limits the Planning Commission and staff's ability to respond to public comments at this meeting. Thus, your comments may be agendized for a future meeting or referred to staff. The Commission may ask questions for clarification, if desired, at this time.
By policy of the Commission, Oral Communications at this time on the agenda is limited to a total of 15 minutes.
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
2.
PRECISE PLAN NO. 20-02
PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH A COMMUNITY PLAN, GENERAL PLAN, OR ZONING
APPLICANT: Mark Gabay
LOCATION: APN 8474-009-009 parking lot on the south side of Walnut Creek Parkway, between S. Vincent Avenue and S. Glendora Avenue
REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of a precise plan to construct a 51-unit multifamily residential building on a 42,672 square foot lot. The proposed building will be three-stories with subterranean parking, totaling 92,372 square feet of floor area (including 35,630 square feet of subterranean parking). The project also involves the removal of onsite trees and two public right-of-way trees (Tree Permit No. 23-08). The project site is zoned “General Urban" zone and has a General Plan designation of “Neighborhood-High.”
Planning Manager Jo-Anne Burns presented the staff report.
Chairman Gutierrez opened the public hearing.
PROPONENTS:
Sarah McDaniel Withers and Mario Silva Barra spoke in favor of the project and answered questions from the Commission.
OPPONENTS:
No one spoke in opposition.
Chairman Gutierrez closed the public hearing.
There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the project, lighting plan, setbacks, possible amenities for the development and color scheme.
Chairman Gutierrez reopened the public hearing.
The Commission asked the applicant questions and offered comments regarding the proposed development. Discussion by the Commission regarding prohibiting storage on the balconies with the exception of patio furniture, changing the color scheme to be a little warmer and the front yard setback.
Motion by Gutierrez to waive further reading and approve Precise Plan No. 20-02 subject to the conditions of approval pertaining to CCTV, no storage on the patios and a lighting plan.
Discussion by the Commission regarding how long it will take the applicant to implement the conditions of approval into the Precise Plan and the amended conditions of approval. Gutierrez amended his motion to use a warmer color scheme to match the West Covina Downtown Plan. Lewis said he would like to see modern aspects incorporated into the design of this building to blend with the style of The Colony in the Downtown Plan.
City Attorney Bettenhausen reminded the Commission of the limitations imposed by the State of California regarding housing development design and conditions.
Motion by Lewis to continue the public hearing until September 26, 2023 and direct staff to work with the applicant to ensure continuity in the Downtown area by incorporating earth-tones for the exterior of the building, incorporating some features of the Colony and directing staff to update the precise plan to incorporate CCTV, an exterior lighting plan from dusk until dawn controlled by management and no storage on the patios, seconded by Gutierrez. Motion carried 5-0.
PROJECTS CONSISTENT WITH A COMMUNITY PLAN, GENERAL PLAN, OR ZONING
APPLICANT: Mark Gabay
LOCATION: APN 8474-009-009 parking lot on the south side of Walnut Creek Parkway, between S. Vincent Avenue and S. Glendora Avenue
REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of a precise plan to construct a 51-unit multifamily residential building on a 42,672 square foot lot. The proposed building will be three-stories with subterranean parking, totaling 92,372 square feet of floor area (including 35,630 square feet of subterranean parking). The project also involves the removal of onsite trees and two public right-of-way trees (Tree Permit No. 23-08). The project site is zoned “General Urban" zone and has a General Plan designation of “Neighborhood-High.”
Planning Manager Jo-Anne Burns presented the staff report.
Chairman Gutierrez opened the public hearing.
PROPONENTS:
Sarah McDaniel Withers and Mario Silva Barra spoke in favor of the project and answered questions from the Commission.
OPPONENTS:
No one spoke in opposition.
Chairman Gutierrez closed the public hearing.
There was a discussion by the Commission regarding the project, lighting plan, setbacks, possible amenities for the development and color scheme.
Chairman Gutierrez reopened the public hearing.
The Commission asked the applicant questions and offered comments regarding the proposed development. Discussion by the Commission regarding prohibiting storage on the balconies with the exception of patio furniture, changing the color scheme to be a little warmer and the front yard setback.
Motion by Gutierrez to waive further reading and approve Precise Plan No. 20-02 subject to the conditions of approval pertaining to CCTV, no storage on the patios and a lighting plan.
Discussion by the Commission regarding how long it will take the applicant to implement the conditions of approval into the Precise Plan and the amended conditions of approval. Gutierrez amended his motion to use a warmer color scheme to match the West Covina Downtown Plan. Lewis said he would like to see modern aspects incorporated into the design of this building to blend with the style of The Colony in the Downtown Plan.
City Attorney Bettenhausen reminded the Commission of the limitations imposed by the State of California regarding housing development design and conditions.
Motion by Lewis to continue the public hearing until September 26, 2023 and direct staff to work with the applicant to ensure continuity in the Downtown area by incorporating earth-tones for the exterior of the building, incorporating some features of the Colony and directing staff to update the precise plan to incorporate CCTV, an exterior lighting plan from dusk until dawn controlled by management and no storage on the patios, seconded by Gutierrez. Motion carried 5-0.
NON-HEARING ITEMS
3.
DRAFT DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT
Planning Manager Jo-Anne Burns told the Commission that the draft Development Code and Environmental Document has been posted on the website and provided for public review. A copy has been provided to the Commission to give the Commission time to review the document prior to the October 10, 2023 meeting where it will be on the agenda.
Planning Manager Jo-Anne Burns told the Commission that the draft Development Code and Environmental Document has been posted on the website and provided for public review. A copy has been provided to the Commission to give the Commission time to review the document prior to the October 10, 2023 meeting where it will be on the agenda.
TEN-DAY APPEAL PERIOD: Actions taken by the Planning Commission that are not recommendations to the City Council will become final after ten (10) calendar days unless a written appeal with the appropriate fee is lodged with the City Clerk's Office before close of business on the tenth day.
COMMISSION REPORTS/COMMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
This is the time when any member of the Commission may bring a matter to the attention of the full Commission that is within the scope of duties assigned to the Commission. Any item that was considered during the Agenda is not appropriate for discussion in this section of the agenda. NO COMMISSION DISCUSSION OR ACTION CAN BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. If the Commission desires to discuss an issue raised by a speaker or take an action, the Commission may vote to agendize the matter for a future meeting.
None
This is the time when any member of the Commission may bring a matter to the attention of the full Commission that is within the scope of duties assigned to the Commission. Any item that was considered during the Agenda is not appropriate for discussion in this section of the agenda. NO COMMISSION DISCUSSION OR ACTION CAN BE CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. If the Commission desires to discuss an issue raised by a speaker or take an action, the Commission may vote to agendize the matter for a future meeting.
None
4.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
District 4 Community Meeting held by Councilmember Ollie Cantos on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at Woodgrove Park.
San Gabriel Valley NAACP 59th Anniversary Celebration at Allied at 10:00 a.m.
Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at West Covina City Hall
September 28, 2023 - Centennial State of the City event at 5:30 p.m., tickets are available on-line.
September 30, 2023 - Moon Festival on Glendora Avenue, entertainment by the Bruno Mars Tribute Band
District 4 Community Meeting held by Councilmember Ollie Cantos on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at Woodgrove Park.
San Gabriel Valley NAACP 59th Anniversary Celebration at Allied at 10:00 a.m.
Touch-A-Truck event on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at West Covina City Hall
September 28, 2023 - Centennial State of the City event at 5:30 p.m., tickets are available on-line.
September 30, 2023 - Moon Festival on Glendora Avenue, entertainment by the Bruno Mars Tribute Band
5.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
This is an oral presentation of City Council matters and actions, which are in the Commission’s area of interest
Code Amendment No. 23-02, Sale of Beer and Wine at Service Stations was adopted by the City Council at their August 15, 2023 regular meeting.
This is an oral presentation of City Council matters and actions, which are in the Commission’s area of interest
Code Amendment No. 23-02, Sale of Beer and Wine at Service Stations was adopted by the City Council at their August 15, 2023 regular meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 8:39 p.m. in memory of Ms. Carla Haywood.
Respectfully submitted:
Lydia de Zara
Senior Administrative Assistant
Respectfully submitted:
Lydia de Zara
Senior Administrative Assistant