PC Minutes-2011-08-0932400 PASEO ADELANTO % MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
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www.sanjuancapistrano.org ir76 DEREK REEVE
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PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Ratcliffe at 6:30 p.m.
B. PLEDGE
Acting Chair Ratcliffe led the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Gene Ratcliffe, Vice -Chair
Ginny Kerr
Roy Nunn
Tim Neely
Jeff Parkhurst
Rob Williams
Sheldon Cohen (excused)
Staff Present: William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Planner
Grant Taylor, Development Services Director
Tram Tran, Deputy City Attorney
Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager
David Contreras, Senior Planner
D. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Minutes of July 26, 2011: By motion duly -made and seconded, the Commission
approved the subject minutes as submitted by a 6-0 vote.
San Juan Capistrano: Preserving the Past to Enhance the Future
t, Printed on 100% recycled paper
PC Meeting Minutes 2 August 9, 2011
F. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Continued Consideration of Architectural Control (AC) 11-006 (Modification to AC
05-05), Saddleback Valley Christian School (SVCS) Master Plan; a request for
approval of Master Plan Phases 2 and 3 for an Existing Private School with Phase 2
consisting of a two-story, 21,050 square foot classroom building and a future Phase
3 consisting of a 14,000 square foot gymnasium on an existing 6.13 acre site
located at the northwest corner of Camino Capistrano and Oso Road. (Assessor
Parcel Numbers: 121-070-55,56)(Applicant: J7 Architecture Incorporated) (Project
Manager: Grant Taylor, Development Services Director). Grant Taylor, Development
Services Director reviewed the project issues and the August 4 Design Review
Committee's review of the trail details. He stated that Saddleback Valley Christian
School (SVCS) requests approval to complete the phased development plan for the
construction of permanent, one-story and two-story buildings to replace the existing
modular buildings. The site development includes the following previously
constructed Phase 1 and presently proposed Phase 2 and Phase 3 improvements:
a. Phase 1 has been completed and consists of a two-story, 39,100 square foot
building with varied height of 30'-35' for multi-purpose and classroom uses,
and installation of an 8,000 square foot temporary structure for chapel and
gymnasium purposes.
b. Phase 2 proposes construction of a 30' high, two-story, 21,050 square foot
classroom building and installation of interim multi -use recreational trail.
c. Phase 3 proposes construction of a 32' high, single -story, 14,000 square foot
gymnasium, and removal of the remaining temporary structures.
Mr. Taylor noted that the remainder of the site consists of a non -illuminated athletic
fields to the north and hard surface playground and eating areas located internal to
the site. Staff recommended that the Planning Commission open the public hearing,
receive public testimony, close the public hearing and adopt a resolution
conditionally approving Architectural Control (AC) 11-06.
Public Hearing
Acting Chairman Ratcliffe opened the public hearing. Terry Jacobsen, the project
architect, made a brief presentation and covered the design changes in response to
the Commission's July 26 comments. No members of the public in attendance
provided public testimony.
Commission Comments
The Planning Commission made the following comments:
• The design of the trail should be consistent with the Orange County Trail
Standards as specified by the conditions of approval. The proposal to cover the
trail with 2 inches of mulch and allow a 13% grade at the northeast corner of the
project site may be inconsistent with those standards.
PC Meeting Minutes 3 August 9, 2011
• The revisions made since the July 26 appear to sufficiently address the issues
raised by the Planning Commission on July 26.
• The applicant has been responsive to the issues raised by the Commission at
the prior hearings and the slope erosion issue -along the edge of trail at the top
of slope appears has been effectively remedied.
• The plan revision depicting the 20'-0" wide trail reserve area along the west edge
of the site at the top of slope shows that a potential permanent trail could be
accommodated with relatively minor improvements to the project site.
• The Commission stated that the dates in the conditions of approval should be
amended by the City Council as Council deems appropriate.
Adoption of Resolution
PC RESOLUTION NO. 11 -08-09-01, ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL (AC)11-06, A
RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO CONDITIONALLY APPROVING MASTER PLAN PHASES 2 AND 3
FOR SADDLEBACK VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ON AN EXISTING
APPROXIMATELY 6.13 ACRE SITE LOCATED AT 26333 OSO ROAD AT THE
NORTHWEST CORNER OF CAMINO CAPISTRANO AND OSO ROAD (APN 121-
070-55, 56, & 57). Commissioner Kerr made a motion, seconded by Commissioner
Nunn to adopt a resolution conditionally approving the proposed project and
providing for staff to conduct a 6 -month inspection of the interim trail improvements
and provide the Commission with a report on the status and functioning of that trail.
The motion passed by a 5-1 vote (Neely opposed).
AYES: Acting Chairman Gene Ratcliffe and Commissioners Ginny
Kerr, Tim Neely, Roy Nunn, Jeff Parkhurst and Rob Williams
NOES: Commissioner Neely
ABSTAIN: None
G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
H. NEW BUSINESS
1. Historic Los Rios Street Circulation Study Concept Plan; a request for review of the
recommended concept plan for future streetscape improvements to Los Rios Street
between Del Obispo Street and Mission Street located within the Los Rios Street
National Register Historic District and Los Rios Specific Plan area (Applicant: City of
San Juan Capistrano) (Project Manager: Teri Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager). Teri
Delcamp, Historic Preservation Manager, explained that the City has partnered with
the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) under its Compass
Blueprint Demonstration program, which aims to promote sustainable planning
PC Meetinq Minutes 4 Auqust 9, 2011
practices in the region, to further the Los Rios Specific Plan Circulation Element.
The Los Rios Specific Plan, approved by the City Council in 1978 and
comprehensively updated in 1999, is designed to keep the historic integrity of the
area intact while allowing for accessory commercial uses in the historic residential
district and some growth and development in the overall area. She noted that SCAG
had retained MIG, a land use planning and design consulting firm, to work with the
City to develop a conceptual plan for the final phase circulation enhancements to
Los Rios Street including landscaping, street furniture, signage, pedestrian
enhancements and street lighting. MIG made a Powerpoint presentation to the
Commission reviewing the "recommended concept plan." Staff recommended that
the Planning Commission conduct a work session review and provide comments on
the "recommended concept plan" for future streetscape improvements to Los Rios
Street.
Public Comment
Acting Chairman Ratcliffe opened the public meeting for public comment' and no
members of the public in attendance provided public testimony.
Commission Comments
The Planning Commission made the following comments on the proposed project:
• The public participation process has been well-conducted and resulted in the
development of an effective conceptual plan.
• The recommended concept plan is a "great" project that will enhance the overall
Los Rios National Register Historic District.
• The recommended concept plan is sensitive and responsive to the needs of the
District's residents.
• The development of a linear park feature on the Orange County Transportation
Authority (OCTA) property at the north end of the street adjoining the railroad is
a positive attribute that will contribute to the visual enhancement of the
streetscape.
• The ultimate landscape improvements to the district need to create a natural and
native appearance and trees should not be over -planted in an attempt to create
an immediate visual impact. Trees need to be provided with suitable spacing to
assure that their full -growth canopies to do not infringe on each other.
• Implementation of improvements should seek to enhance and build on the
District's sense of "timelessness."
With no further Commission comments, Acting Chairman Ratcliffe closed the public
worksession.
2. Worksession on Architectural Control (AC) 10-031, Tuttle -Click Capistrano Ford; a
request for a work session review of preliminary design plans for a remodel/addition
to the Capistrano Ford dealership building located on 5.24 acres, specifically
located at 33301 Camino Capistrano (APN 668-121-11 & 14) (Applicant: Tuttle -Click
Automotive, Ed Yashar) (Project Manager: David Contreras, Senior Planner). David
Contreras, Senior Planner made the staff presentation and advised the Commission
PC Meeting Minutes 5 August 9, 2011
that the project consists of the complete remodel of the existing building on-site by
adding a second floor and adding additional square footage to the side and rear
elevations. Mr. Contreras provided verbal comments from the August 4, 2011
Design Review Committee meeting. The applicant also proposes to grade the rear
portion of the property and construct a terraced parking lot which will be used to
store the dealership's vehicles. The proposed project also includes a 46-10" tower
element that would "house" three cellular wireless carriers (Verizon, T -Mobile, and
Sprint/Nextel). Staff recommended that the Planning Commission conduct a
worksession and provide review comments on the applicant's proposed project
plans.
Robert Bollin made a PowerPoint presentation to the commission describing on
detail the proposed building architecture, access, grading -and operation of the
proposed dealership improvements.
Commission Comments
The Planning Commission made the following comments:
• The applicant was encouraged to follow the Design Review Committee's
direction as to the project design, especially building architecture in order to
have an acceptable project.
• Proposed landscaping along the property lines appears rather "thin" and needs
to be significantly supplemented.
• The "Porte cochere" for the service area is too tall on relation to the building
height.
• The proposed architectural design is "boxy, modern and disproportionate" and
appears awkward and incomplete. While traditional and contemporary design
approaches can be acceptable, there needs to be continuity in the design
theme. The proposed building appears to have been designed and constructed
during different time periods.
• The proposed tower element is out -of -scale with the rest of the building. The
applicant noted that the height had been reduced from 46-10" to 38'-6" so that it
would be within the administrative discretion of a 10% minor modification
pursuant to Title 9, Land Use Code.
• The proposed "Ford" logo on the tower element is unnecessary and needs to be
removed. Staff noted that building -mounted signs cannot exceed a height of 25'-
0" and the proposed tower element appeared to be a "vehicle" for the proposed
signage and cell towers.
• With appropriate color -treatment and landscaping, the proposed retaining walls
can be effectively integrated into the overall site design.
• The proposed light color for the building walls draws attention to the structure
and a darker color tone would be more appropriate.
• The south (left) end of the front building elevation is "boxy & geometric" and not
cohesive with respect to the main building elevation which appears the designer
is seeking to create a Spanish colonial architectural appearance.
• The City's Nifty -Fifty plant guide provides a broad palette and the designer
PC Meeting Minutes 6 August 9, 2011
needs to be selective in choosing appropriate plants for the project.
With no further comments, Acting Chairman Ratcliffe closed the worksession.
I. STAFF & COMMISSION COMMENTS
Grant Taylor and Bill Ramsey briefed the Commission on upcoming projects of interest.
The Planning Commission advised staff that the Ganado Parking lot (St. Margaret's
Episcopal School) appeared to remain closed and inaccessible for public use as required
by the shared parking agreement. Staff responded that they would investigate the issue
and report back to the Commission.
J. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Commission, Acting Chairman Ratcliffe
adjourned at 9:12 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting for Tuesday, August 2,
2011, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Respectfully submitted,
Planning Commission Secretary