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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-2017_ZA_Minutes NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 02/16/2017 NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach Corona del Mar Conference Room (Bay E-1 st Floor) Thursday, February 16, 2017 REGULAR HEARING 3:30 p.m. A. CALL TO ORDER—The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. Staff Present: Patrick J. Alford, Zoning Administrator James Campbell, Principal Planner. Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Associate Planner Chelsea Crager, Assistant Planner David Lee, Planning Technician B. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCES ITEM NO. 6 Temporary Fire Station No. 5 Limited Term Permit No. X2016-008 (PA2016-172) Site Location: 801 Marguerite Avenue Council District 3 Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Associate Planner, indicated a request for continuance had been received regarding this item. The Zoning Administrator asked if any member of the public was present regarding this item. Selma Mann, nearby resident, indicated she requested the continuance to March 30, 2017. There were no other public comments. The Zoning Administrator granted the continuance. Action: Continued to March 30, 2017 C. MINUTES of January 26, 2017 Action: Approved D. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS ITEM NO. 1 RD Olson Construction employee parking lot Limited Term Permit No. XP2017-001 (PA2017-009) Site Location: 3303 & 3355 Via Lido Council District 1 James Campbell, Principal Planner, provided a brief description of the project. The site will be used as a temporary employee parking lot only and no construction storage or construction activity will occur at the site. He noted that a new site plan has been introduced that has changed the primary entrance/exit to Via Oporto rather than Via Malaga. Employees will have better access to 32nd Street thereby minimizing use of Via Lido. He also summarized changes to the resolution and conditions of approval. The applicant, John Ramirez of RD Olson, summarized the need for employee parking as the hotel construction site is now getting congested. He also indicated that the applicant had reviewed the updated draft resolution and agrees with the updated findings and revised conditions. Dennis Reyling from RD Olson indicated that the temporary parking lot is a good way to control parking to keep employees out of public spaces in the area. Page 1 of 5 NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 02/16/2017 The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. One member of the public, Ron Ricker, stated that his office is across the street and looks out onto the site. He indicated the applicant is doing an unbelievable and fantastic job building the project. There were no other public comments and the Zoning Administrator closed the public hearing. Action: Approved ITEM NO.2 Riley Garage Modification Permit No. MD2016-018 (PA2016-210) Site Location: 461 Morning Canyon Road Council District 6 Chelsea Crager, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description stating that the project was a modification required to permit a tandem garage with interior dimensions of 10 feet wide by 35 feet deep for a single family residence where Zoning Code requires minimum dimensions of 20 feet by 20 feet. The existing garage is located at the rear of the property and is accessed by a driveway down the side of the property. The applicant intends to remodel the home, convert the existing garage to living space and construct a pool in place of the existing driveway in the rear yard. The new garage is proposed on the side of the property and complies with the side setback requirement. The garage would provide two parking spaces and would utilize the existing curb cut. Staff recommended approval of the project. Applicant Phil Nielsen, of Philip J. Nielsen Design & Drafting, stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions. The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. One member of the public, Aulene Lingenberg, spoke and stated that she lived behind the subject property and was not opposed to the project. There were no other public comments. Action: Approved ITEM NO. 3 Bay Shore Drive Lot Merger No. LM2015-004 (PA2015-206) Site Location: 2742 and 2752 Bay Shore Drive Council District 3 David Lee, Planning Technician, provided a brief project description stating that the applicant is requesting a lot merger between 2742 and 2752 Bay Shore Drive, both of which are under common ownership. Mr. Lee stated that the two lots are zoned as Single-Unit Residential and would combine two legal lots into a single parcel. The purpose of the lot merger is for a new single-family residence over the existing interior property line. Mr. Lee stated that the resulting parcel will have an area of 8,016 square feet and have a width of 80 feet, which is not excessive due to the pattern of the surrounding neighborhood. No waivers of the subdivision development standards were proposed with the application, and staff recommended approval of the project. The Zoning Administrator asked Mr. Lee about the correspondence with the California Coastal Commission regarding the necessity of a coastal development permit. Mr. Lee clarified that the application was deemed complete and scheduled for a Zoning Administrator hearing before the City adopted the Implementation Plan and that there is an application for the project on file with the California Coastal Commission, which may be amended to include the lot merger. Applicant Ron Ritner, on behalf of the owner, stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions. The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment the public hearing was closed. Action: Approved Page 2 of 5 NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 02/16/2017 ITEM NO.4 Fletcher Jones Motor Cars Signage Comprehensive Sign Program No. CS2016-001 and Modification Permit No. MD2017-001 (PA2016-139) Site Location: 3300 Jamboree Road Council District 3 Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Associate Planner, noted the application is requesting to allow an additional wall sign for an existing sign program that was originally approved in 1997, and subsequently amended in 2011. He indicated the existing signage had recently been renovated and that the renovation was in compliance with the approved sign program as the sizes and types did not change, and that the application at hand was to allow the additional wall sign. He stated staff had received public comments from three residents concerning the amount of light being emitted from the project site; however, he clarified that many of the existing conditions regarding light are related to the site lighting and not the signage. He added that Code Enforcement staff had visited the site at night and found the lighting in compliance with the Zoning Code allowances. He acknowledged the signage may contribute to light pollution and as such staff suggested including a condition of approval to require the existing signage to be retrofitted with dimmers and the new signage to be installed with dimming capability. With the additional conditions, Mr. Zdeba noted staff was in support of the application as the required findings could be made. Zoning Administrator Alford clarified that the signs could be dimmed at any time should they be found to cause a nuisance and that if the application at hand were not approved, there would be no conditions of approval requiring dimmers to be installed. Applicant Robert May of P.S. Services, Inc., on behalf of Fletcher Jones Motorcars, stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions. The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. Carol Boice, nearby resident, spoke stating concerns with the existing site lighting and the amount of light visible from the adjacent residential neighborhood. Although she expressed support for the installation of dimmers, she presented photographs and a chronological history of the lighting issues surrounding Fletcher Jones Motorcars to substantiate her concerns regarding the updated signage and its associated lighting. Carol Hartman, nearby resident, spoke regarding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination. There were no other public comments and the Zoning Administrator closed the public hearing. Mr. Zdeba clarified that the mitigation measures in place for lighting were applicable to the site lighting and were not directed towards the signage. He added that the application at hand was determined to be exempt under the CEQA Guidelines (Class 11) as it is an accessory structure that is clearly appurtenant to the dealership, and will not intensify or alter the use. Zoning Administrator Alford clarified that the Use Permit for Fletcher Jones was not under review and, therefore, there is no capability to requiring dimming of the parking and site lighting. He further clarified that the Director could at any time require additional dimming of the signage. The Zoning Administrator approved the application with the additional conditions of approval. Action: Approved as modified Page 3 of 5 NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 02/16/2017 ITEM NO. 5 Fire Station No. 5 and Corona del Mar Branch Library Minor Use Permit No. UP2016-044, Site Development Review No. SD2016-009 and Limited Term Permit No. NP2016-022 (PA2016-178) Site Location: 414 and 420 Marigold Avenue Council District 6 Benjamin M. Zdeba, AICP, Associate Planner, provided a brief project description detailing the property as seven legal lots for a total area of 24,780 square feet, rectangular in shape and relatively flat. He indicated the properties were currently developed with separate fire station and library facilities, which have operated at the location since the 1950s and 1960s. He stated the City's Public Works Department determined the buildings have outlived their respective service lives and is considering replacement. He continued to provide a description of the project by giving an overview of the building design noting that there are no development standards identified in the Zoning Code for a property zoned Public Facilities (PF), but that the proposed design incorporates articulation and sloping roofs to maintain parity and a complementary look with the surrounding residential neighborhood. He added that the proposed design maintains the existing amount of parking, but increases the total by eight spaces to provide parking for staff members of the fire station and library. He expressed staff's support for the project given all the findings for approval can be made. Lastly, he indicated Condition of Approval No. 21 would be removed from the Resolution. Applicant Fong Tse, Assistant City Engineer, stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions. The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. Cindy Succa, resident, stated the design process for the proposed facility was very positive and involved several meetings with the public. She indicated the demographics of the neighborhood have changed to include younger families that would use the library, and expressed support for the project. She also expressed concern that the project may be put on hold by the City Council and hoped interim improvements would be made to help make the facility more attractive and useable for the time being. Richard Succa, resident, expressed concern regarding the temporary facility and its implementation prior to a permanent facility being planned. There were no other public comments. Zoning Administrator Alford clarified the City is not exempt from the Zoning Code requirements, hence the application at hand. He added that although the entitlements may be granted, the construction of the facility is at the discretion of the City Council. Mr. Tse expressed appreciation for the comments and seconded the amount of public outreach during the design process. He indicated that although the project may be put on hold, the Public Works Department would be assessing what the immediate needs of the facility are. The Zoning Administrator approved the project with the removal of Condition of Approval No. 21 as recommended by staff. Action: Approved E. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS One member of the public, Cindy Succa, resident, commented on a small view park within the Jasmine Creek development and noted that trees had recently been planted in a perimeter lot that obstructs the view over the park. Zoning Administrator Alford referred the resident to the Recreation and Senior Services Department as it would be best in identifying potential issues regarding the park. Page 4 of 5 NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 02/16/2017 F. ADJOURNMENT The hearing was adjourned at 4:19 p.m. The agenda for the Zoning Administrator Hearing was posted on February 3, 2017, at 10:05 a.m. in the Chambers binder and on the digital display board located inside the vestibule of the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive and on the City's website on February 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Patrick J. Alford, Zoning Administrator Page 5 of 5