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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2a - Changes to Draft Minutes of 6/20/13 - Vice Chair HillgrenChanges to the 06/20/13 draft minutes as proposed by Vice Chair Hillgren NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 06/20/2013 Mr. Alford reported that the City Council is looking for direction on the original amendment. Commissioner Tucker stated that he approves the recommendations as originally proposed by staff. Chair Toerge noted that recommendations were finalized by straw vote during the last meeting and felt that these would simply be memorialized at this time. He felt that general language should be used but felt that language should be added to include the Planning Commission's specific recommendations and if further direction is provided, the item would return to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Tucker felt that lot coverage was not discussed at the last meeting since it was assumed that it was already decided. Secretary Ameri stated that the Planning Commission should make recommendations and if the City Council does not approve, they can return the matter to the Planning Commission for additional changes. Motion made by Chair Toerge and seconded by Commissioner Brown and carried (5 —1 — 1), to direct staff to submit the Planning Commission's findings and recommendations to the City Council, incorporating changes proposed by Mr. Mosher and specific recommendations related to floor -area ratios not exceeding the ratio before merging two or more lots, no changes to setbacks, and that changes apply only to specific zones within the City. AYES: Amen, Brown, Hiligren, Myers, and Toerge NOES: Tucker ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kramer IX. STAFF AND COMMISSIONER ITEMS ITEM NO. 3 MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION - None ITEM NO. 4 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S REPORT Deputy Community Development Director Brenda Wisneski reported that the next Planning Commission meeting will be July 18, 2013. ITEM NO. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ON MATTERS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS WOULD LIKE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION, ACTION, OR REPORT - None ITEM NO. 6 REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES - None IV. RECOGNITION OF CHAIR MICHAEL TOERGE FOR HIS DEDICATION AND YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. This aforementioned it was heard at this juncture. Vice Chair Hillgren expressed the following comments regarding Chair Toerge: "Mr. Chair, thank you. I missed your penultimate meeting because 1 was in the Soviet Union, or former Soviet Union. And so there's nothing like being in Moscow to give you a great appreciation for how we do business here in the United States, it is pretty remarkable. Of course I came home to find all of our higher elected officials embroiled in all kinds of stlakthings, which is pretty fascinating aad because we really do have an amazing form of representative government that our founding fathers set -up for us. President Lincoln at one time ea'�a "" described it as, government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And you, I think believe really exemplify that as somebody who is involved for the people. You have been a remarkable mentor to me in a lot of ways when I joined this Commission four plus years ago. The voting was not as complex as this new system, but you happened to sit in the chair next to me and you were a great tutor to me at the outset. I have always enjoyed all the things that I have learned from you overtime and I really appreciate all that you have done to make my experience what it haste been on this Commission. As a Commissioner I have always found you to be incredibly well prepared whether you faked it or not you always came, what seemed to me, to be really really ready for the business of the evening. You brought to this process very valuable experience, your knowledge in real estate, your personal values and experiences that you have brought to the table have really been terrific and appreciated. You have b9 j'n^d— utilized your own personal passion and your local knowledge and experience to really Page 3 of 6 NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 06/20/2013 understand what it is to be a representative of Newport Beach and so that is something that I think everyone should recognize and appreciate. As the Chair, you have led us through some major projects not all of them easy, not many of them as easy as tonight. You have been through some challenging projects and you have run them all incredibly efficiently. You are firm but fair. You have always been very fair to all of the folks involved and I think as a result you have been incredibly effective and identified all of the critical issues that we've faced anytime that an application has been before us. I think that when you look at the lack of lawsuits that have come up on major projects that's truly due to the fact that you have done an amazing job covering all of the basis bases and anybody who has to work through something through the Planning Commission should come away with a sense of great confidence that the process has been done incredibly well. And personally you always have been gracious and courteous to everyone involved; all of us on the Commission, anyone who has had the courage to face this table, to the staff your style has been just terrific and so I think you have been an exemplary public servant and you ought to be greatiy- appropriately thanked for it. I thank you personally for my ability to have observed you and the friendship that has evolved out of this. I think we often forget that this really is a gift of time. You have been very gracious to the City; you have given an amazing amount of time and effort on behalf of the citizens. You have been a most thoughtful representative of the applicants. You have let them make their case; you have allowed opposing voices to be heard and; understood. They may not always carry the day, but you have always given everyone a chance to make their case and you have represented this City and this Commission incredibly well, so I have been honored to serve with you and; I wish you all the best in whatever you elect to do_ aad -our City has been blessed to have you serve it." Secretary Ameri expressed the following comments regarding Chair Toerge: "I am going to make it short, that's my style. Really I have known you for a little over three years when I came on this Commission; I have served on a lot of different boards and stuff, but I have found it to be a little uncomfortable at times in the ways that things have been discussed, but we have had a really good Chair and we do appreciate everything that Brad said and rather than repeat it, ditto and good luck to you Chair." Commissioner Tucker expressed the following comments regarding Chair Toerge: "Mr. Chair, unlike the rest of the Planning Commission, I had served about three and a half years by the time you got here, so I remember your early days on the Planning Commission, and your later days, and your in- between days. I think Brad has spoken very eloquently and the sense of the Planning Commission and how we all feel about you. So I won't try to repeat any of that, but I will observe, to me, what is really the attribute that you have that is really most valuable for this type of deliberative body and that is the ability to listen, you invite everybody's comments, you take everybody's comments seriously and I've seen it really over the years from the very start to virtually the end. If you hear something that's a better idea than what you've had or a better reason whether it from the Public or your fellow Commissioners even though you have staked out a position to change your mind and not just, 'Well, I have already said that I guess I better stick with it,' and I think that is just an incredible attribute and is very important to bring forth to what we do so that to me is one thing that I will always remember about Mike Toerge is I always felt well I will go ahead and make the argument and might have the chance to change his mind. And I am sure members of the Public feel the same way, because you had the ability to absorb what was going on and reach your own conclusion, but if you heard something better you went with it. It is quite an attribute. I know that you will make a fabulous City Councilman, now all you have to do is go out and get elected." Commissioner Brown expressed the following comments regarding Chair Toerge: "I agree with everything that has been said, particularly by Brad, we should have elected you to speak for us. It has been a terrific testament to Mike and I certainly endorse all those things, it was well thought out. It was great to listen to that so, thank you. Larry what you added, I agree with also and Fred with you as well. So not being able to add to that, I would like to tell you from a personal standpoint, when I was appointed to the Commission we were going through a very challenging time with Banning Ranch. I remember my very first meeting, I drove up and of course all of the folks from Banning Ranch were out there with signs, and I thought 'I know all of these people are not here to welcome me to the Planning Commission.' So there must be something big here and so was very, it was intimidating, I came from the Parks, Beaches, and Recreations Commission and we didn't have protestors very often. But, what I remember is that prior to the meeting you called me, when I was at school, he took the time to call me on my cell phone and I had received these notebooks. I was so overwhelmed by all these notebooks. We talked for about forty -five or fifty minutes and you made me feel a lot better about coming to this first meeting and about my ability to participate and to have a play in the meeting overall. To somebody who was very unsure at that time that was a very important thing you said to me, I want to point that out, that I will never forget that. I think I have seen you and I have sat next to you for over a year and a half and we have had some challenging meetings. And that meeting was a difficult meeting. One of the things that always occurred to me is that you did Page 4 of 6