PC Minutes-2009-09-0832400 PASEO ADELANTO
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA 92675
(949) 493-1171
(949) 493-1053 FAx
www.sanjuancapistrano.org
A. CALL TO ORDER
September 8, 2009
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
SAM ALLEVATO
LAURA FREESE
THOMAS W. HRIBAR
MARK NIELSEN
DR. LONDRES USO
Chair Cohen called the regular meeting of the San Juan Capistrano Planning
Commission Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Cohen led the flag salute.
C. ROLL CALL
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Sheldon Cohen, Commissioner
Ginny Kerr, Commissioner Tim Neely, Commissioner Jim Mocalis, and Commissioner
Robert Williams.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Vice Chair Gene Ratcliffe and Commissioner Bruce
Tatarian.
D. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items listed on the Consent Calendar are considered routine and may be enacted by
one motion and one vote. There may be no separate discussion of these items. If
discussion is desired, that item may be removed from the Consent Calendar and will be
considered separately.
1. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 11. 2009. Chair
Cohen announced the item and inquired if the Planning Commission had any comments
or corrections. Commissioner Kerr identified an edit on Page 4, second paragraph,
requesting to delete the wording that she volunteered to attend the City Council meeting
regarding the St. Margaret's Episcopal School Master Plan. Motion by Commissioner
San Juan Capistrano: Preserving the Past to Enhance the Future
Coll Printed on 100% recycled paper
Kerr to approve the September 8, 2009 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes,
seconded by Commissioner Mocalis. The motion to approve passed on a vote of 5-0.
F. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT (GPA) 06-
03, REZONE (RZ) 06-06, ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL (AC) 07-22, ST.
MARGARET'S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL MASTER PLAN; a request for approval of
development plans to expand an existing K-12 private school campus by 69,977 gross
square feet (GSF) from 157,731 to 227,708 GSF and to expand the campus acreage
from 17.48 to 26.64 acres located at 31641 La Novia Avenue, and generally located
along the west side of La Novia Avenue between Calle Arroyo and Rancho Viejo Road
and the north side of Calle Arroyo between La Novia Avenue and Rancho Viejo Road.
The master plan also includes a parcel on the southeast corner of Calle Arroyo and La
Novia Avenue, and the Ortega Equestrian Center property. (APN: 666-272-05 thru 08;
666-251-01 thru 05; 666-261-1 thru 3 & 9 thru 11; 666-232-04; 666-123-01,
02)(Applicant: St. Margaret's Episcopal School, David Bush, Director of Finance &
Operations)(Case Planner: William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Planner).
Staff Presentation and Recommendation
Assistant Community Development Director Taylor stated the applicant has requested a
Development Agreement for the project which will require review by the City Council
prior to Planning Commission public hearing consideration. Mr. Taylor requested that
the item be continued to the Planning Commission meeting on October 13, 2009.
Public Comments
None
Planning Commissioner Comments and Questions
By general consensus the Planning Commission continued the item to their regular
meeting on October 13, 2009.
G. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) 09-005 CAPISTRANO BUSINESS PARK
(SPRING)* a request for approval of site and architectural plans to modify an existing
wireless telecommunications facility on a 12,845 square foot parcel located at 30220
Rancho Viejo Road, generally located 750 feet north of Junipero Serra Road and
directly east of Rancho Viejo Road. (APN 650-162-03)(Applicant: Glenn Fujikawa,
Representative for Sprint Nextel)(Project Manager: Justin Kirk, Associate Planner).
Staff Presentation and Recommendation
Associate Planner Justin Kirk presented the staff report stating the applicant is
requesting approval to modify an existing wireless telecommunications facility to add
four (4) antennas and one (1) ground mounted piece of equipment at grade behind an
existing CMU block wall enclosure. The subject property is located in the OC (Office
Commercial) zone at 30220 Rancho Viejo Road. Staff recommends approval.
PC Minutes 2 September 8, 2009
Public Comments
Glenn Fujikawa, representative for Sprint, 2900 Player Lane, Tustin, CA spoke in
support of the project commenting the client prefers to modify existing sites whenever
possible rather than pursue new sites. They attempted to screen the modifications from
public view as much as possible.
Planning Commissioner Comments and Questions
The Planning Commission considered application issues to include but not be limited to:
• Aesthetics;
• Reception radius;
• Code Requirements.
Commissioner Kerr inquired if view simulation "View A" is a view from the freeway.
Associate Planner Kirk stated it is a view from the freeway but is close to Rancho Viejo
Road.
Commissioner Neely commented the applicant has done a good job working with staff
on screening, the detailing is appropriate for a single -story architecture, not visual from
the freeway, is not obtrusive, and he supports.
Commissioner Mocalis concurred with Mr. Neely's comments.
Chair Cohen inquired if the resolution contains the new boiler plate condition that with
technology improvements the item can be brought back to the Planning Commission for
further review. Associate Planner Kirk stated Condition #10 contains that language.
Motion by Commissioner Neely to adopt the
Use Permit (CUP) 09-005, seconded by
approve passed on a vote of 5-0.
H. OLD BUSINESS
attached Resolution approving Conditional
Commissioner Williams. The motion to
1. CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL (AC) 09-
010 CHEVRON SIGN PROGRAM: a request to modify the existing signage at 32001
Camino Capistrano, generally located on the southwest corner of Camino Capistrano
and Del Obispo. (APN 668-073-01)(Applicant: Greg Hohn, West Wind
Consulting)(Project Manager: Nick Taylor, Planning Technician).
Staff Presentation and Recommendation
Planning Technician Nick Taylor presented the staff report stating the applicant is
requesting approval of a sign program to eliminate the two (2) existing monument signs,
install two (2) new monument signs in similar locations, and install new pump island
sign spanners. The proposed monument signs would be six feet (6) in height, will use
existing ground mounted external illumination and the signs would include the company
name and fuel prices. Mr. Taylor stated staff has reviewed other Chevron sign
PC Minutes 3 September 8, 2009
programs for consistency. Mr. Taylor distributed brick and sign face material samples
and recommended approval of the application.
Public Comments
Greg Hohn, 8941 Atlanta Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA is the consultant speaking in
support of the project and on behalf of the property owner and Chevron. Mr. Hohn
responding to a Planning Commission comment stated the DRC had requested larger
brick columns.
Planning Commissioner Comments and Questions
The Planning Commission considered application issues to include but not be limited to:
• Area, Dimensions and Location;
• Materials and Colors;
• Landscaping;
• Aesthetics;
• Code Requirements.
Commissioner Williams commented he was concerned with the height of the signs,
requested the landscaping be consistent with the City's CIP 111 project, inquired if the
applicant would landscape the Camino Capistrano side, inquired if two signs are
necessary or if one sign on the corner would suffice, and suggested bringing back the
landscape palette. Commissioner Williams suggested stepping the brick down with the
sides lower and concurred that increasing the landscaping would be desirable but not
feasible.
Commissioner Neely went to the overhead projector to present visual demonstrations
and commented the DRC supported a larger base, other Chevron stations have wider
planters and more landscaping, suggested reducing four (4) courses of brick height to
reduce the massing, remove one brick width from both sides for a step down
appearance, increase the base height and said increasing the planter would not provide
much improvement and is infeasible.
Commissioner Kerr commented the columns are large, she supports stepping the brick
columns lower, and concurred increasing landscaping may be infeasible.
leagues comments.
Chair Cohen commented he doesn't like Options 2 or 3, likes stepping down the brick
columns, not too concerned about the landscaping, and very concerned about
aesthetics. _
Motion by Commissioner Neely to adopt the attached Resolution approving
Architectural Control (AC) 09-010 Option 4, reduce four (4) courses and step down one
(1) brick width, landscape on Camino Capistrano to match other planters and increase
base height, seconded by Commissioner Kerr as amended. The motion to approve
passed on a vote of 5-0.
PC Minutes 4 September 8, 2009
I. NEW BUSINESS
NONE
J. COMMISSION / STAFF COMMENTS
Assistant Community Development Director Taylor distributed a memo from staff to the
Planning Commission dated September 8, 2009 identifying zoning actions and future
agenda items for the Design Review Committee (DRC), Planning Commission and City
Council., Mr. Taylor reminded the Planning Commission of the Joint Meeting with the
City Council on September 23, 2009 regarding the CLC Orchards project and
announced that at the September 15, 2009 City Council meeting the Council would
consider initiation of a General Plan Amendment and submittal of an annexation
application for the 132 acre Rancho Mission Viejo property and the Council would also
consider an appeal on the Forster Mansion Conditional Use Permit approval.
Commissioner Mocalis provided documentation on the Glendale Federal Open Space
court agreement from 1977 that he had found.
Commissioner Neely announced he would be on vacation in Europe and return on
October 10, 2009.
Chair Cohen inquired about the renovation of the Ruby's Restaurant on Camino
Capistrano including new stairs and patio cover, and if the Planning Commission had
reviewed the project. Assistant Community Development Director Taylor commented
he was unsure, would research, and email the status to the Planning Commissioners.
K. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Cohen adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Approved:
Grant Taylor,
munity Development Director
PC Minutes 5 September 8, 2009