02-0402_CRA_Minutes_Regular MeetingMINUTES
April 2, 2002
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CLOSED SESSION (610.85) - None
Chairman Campbell called the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the San Juan
Capistrano Community Redevelopment Agency to order at 7:18 p.m. in the City Council
Chamber.
ROLL CALL
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Diane Bathgate, David M. Swerdlin, John S. Gelff, Vice
Chairman Wyatt Hart and Chairman Collene Campbell
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: George Scarborough, Executive Director; John Shaw, Agency Counsel;
Cynthia L. Russell, Chief Financial Officer; Thomas Tomlinson, Deputy Director; William
M. Huber, Engineering and Building Director; AmyAmirani, Public Works Director; Al King,
Jr., Community Services Director; Lt. Rick Stahr, Chief of Police Services; Dawn
Schanderl, Deputy City Clerk and Maria Guevara, Secretary.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Board Action: Moved by Director Swerdlin, seconded by Director Gelff and carried
unanimously, 5-0, to approve items 1 through 4 -as recommended by Staff.
MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 5, 2002, APPROVED AS
SUBMITTED
2. CRA WARRANTS DATED MARCH 7, 2002, IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,750.94
RECEIVED AND FILED (300.30)
3. REPORT OF INVESTMENTS, MONTH ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2002, RECEIVED
AND FILED (350.30)
4. CASH BALANCES BY FUND - JANUARY 31, 2002 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2002,
RECEIVED AND FILED (330.50)
CRA Minutes 1 4-2-02
BOARD ACTIONS:
C1. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE PROPOSED HOME
DEPOT FOUND TO MEET THE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
COMMITMENT TO ASSESS THE PROJECT'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
(LOWER ROSAN RANCH) (410.70)
Project Description: The Board of Directors to consider the sufficiency of the Draft
Environmental Impact Report in disclosing the environmental impacts for the
proposed Home Depot project to be located on the Lower Rosan Ranch parcel.
Written correspondence and public comments for agenda items C1, C2 and C3 are
listed below:
Written Communications: Report dated April 2, 2002, from Thomas Tomlinson,
Deputy Director.
Letter dated March 25, 2002, from Bonnie and Lewis Snyder, 26000 Aeropuerto,
Space 183, San Juan Capistrano, opposing project.
Letter dated March 28, 2002, from Jeff Human, 25621 Via Solis, San Juan
Capistrano, opposes project.
Letterdated March 30, 2002, from Wanda Middleton, 34052 Doheny Park Road 36,
Capistrano Beach, opposes project.
Letter dated April 1, 2002, from James A. Sorensen, 26091 Paseo Minero, San
Juan Capistrano, opposes project.
Letter dated April 1, 2002, from Kevin K. Johnson of Johnson & Croff LLP, 402
West Broadway, Suite 1100, San Diego, request to speak for 20 minutes on the
Home Depot issue.
Letterdated April 1, 2002, from Warren Watkins,1240 Madelyne Place, Santa Rosa,
opposes project.
Letter dated April 1, 2002, from Bobbi Decker, The No Home Depot Committee,
26000 Avenida Aeropuerto #49, San Juan Capistrano, would like to relinquish
speaking time of 20 citizens to attorney, Kevin Johnson.
Letter dated April 1, 2002, from Bobbi Decker, Marianna H. Handler, and Trish
Hodges, The No Home Depot Committee, 26000 Avenida Aeropuerto #49, San
Juan Capistrano, opposes project.
CRA Minutes 2 4-2-02
Oral Presentation: William Ramsey, AICP, Principal Planner, reviewed the staff
recommendation and made a brief power point presentation.
Public Comments combined with public comments for items C2 and C3:
Ken Steelman, Corbett & Steelman, 18200 Karman Avenue, # 200, Irvine, attorney
for Home Depot, stated the site was an industrial area, the proper location for the
Home Depot project and all concerns would be mitigated. He felt the Draft
Environmental Impact Report met the commitment made to the City and
recommended approval of staff recommendation.
Beverly Robbins, 3800 W. Chapman Avenue, Orange, of Home Depot USA, made
a presentation regarding the programs and benefits a Home Depot can bring to the
community.
Kevin Johnson, Attorney with Johnson and Cross, representing residents against
Home Depot, presented a written summary of his comments for the public record.
Mr. Johnson felt the Draft Environmental Impact Report was not adequate. He
voiced concerns regarding traffic issues and the importance of improvements being
completed by a date certain. He felt loss of businesses was equivalent to losing a
part of the community. Mr. Johnson stated the environmental impact report must
be complete and certified before negotiations can begin.
Pat Bauer, 9 Plaza Baja del Sol, felt the agency should look at alternate uses such
as an RV storage lot.
Richard Hill Adams, 33532 Forster Ranch Road, suggested the city keep a rural
character and did not support the Home Depot project.
Joe Snyder, Mayor of Dana Point, 35228 Camino Capistrano, Dana Point, felt
recreational uses for the site would be a greater benefit.
Bill Campbell, 33141 Paseo Pinto, San Juan Capistrano, stated the project would
replace 10-15 local businesses and impact the environment.
Michael Thorpe, 26000 Ave. Aeropuerto, #42, San Juan Capistrano, opposed the
project due to traffic concerns and the survival of local businesses.
Marianna Handler, 26000 Ave. Aeropuerto, #41, San Juan Capistrano, felt this was
not the appropriate location for a Home Depot and requested the Agency look into
alternative uses for the property.
Mark Nielson, 31621 Via Quixote, San Juan Capistrano, co-chair of CAUSE, stated
the Draft Environmental Impact Report was inadequate in its present form and
alternative uses must be looked at.
CRA Minutes 3 4-2-02
Doug Lowe, 27992 Camino Santo Domingo, San Juan Capistrano, opposed the
project as he felt it would not be environmentally or financially viable in the long-
term.
Gil Jones, 31791 Los Rios Street, San Juan Capistrano, felt strongly that the
property was in a good location for an RV storage yard.
Ted Stroscher, 31882 Del Obispo, San Juan Capistrano, supported the Home
Depot project and felt the project would provide jobs and bring tax dollars to the city.
William Craycraft, former Mayor of Mission Viejo, 22014 Mirador, Mission Viejo,
shared his personal experience during the time the City of Mission Viejo was
considering a Home Depot project. He stated all concerns were mitigated properly
and Home Depot has been a very good neighbor taking a lead role in supporting the
community.
Jack Heath, 26000 Ave. Aeropuerto, San Juan Capistrano, was concerned the
project was about money and traffic and felt Home Depot was buying its way into
San Juan Capistrano. He suggested looking at alternatives for the site such as an
RV storage facility.
Council Comments:
Council Member Swerdlin would like to see more information on alternatives forthe
site such as a possible RV storage lot as well as issues regarding traffic impacts.
Mayor Bathgate felt that evaluating the potential benefits and constraints posed by
the project was difficult and the Board needed to proceed with caution. She
suggested formation of a Board ad hoc subcommittee to consider uses of potential
revenue should the project be approved. If the project were approved, it should be
architecturally responsive to the local community. She felt adequate information
had been received and supported moving forward.
Vice Chairman Gelff opposed the project due to the potential loss of local
businesses, and the negative impacts of a big box store in the community.
Vice Chairman Hart concurred that more information was needed and supported
moving forward.
Council Action: Council concurred with the staff recommendation, finding that the
Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Home Depot meets the
Community Redevelopment Agency commitment to assess the project's
environmental impacts.
CRA Minutes 4 4-2-02
C2. HOME DEPOT ANALYSIS OF COMPETITIVE FISCAL EFFECT REPORT
RECEIVED AND FILED (470.60)
Proiect Description: Staff presented to the Board of Directors the Economic Impact
Analysis Report prepared by Alfred Gobar and Associates related to the proposed
Home Depot. The economic analysis was provided as background information to
assist the Board in its deliberations on the potential sale of Agency property to
Home Depot.
Written Communication: Report dated April 2, 2002, from Mechelle Lawrence,
Economic Development Manager.
Oral Presentation: Mechelle Lawrence, Economic Development Manager, reviewed
the staff recommendation.
Public Comment: See item C1
Council Action: Council concurred with staff recommendation to receive and file the
Home Depot analysis of Competitive Fiscal Effect Report.
C3. HOME DEPOT AUTHORIZED TO PROCESS ENTITLEMENT AND STAFF
AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH
HOME DEPOT, USA, FOR PROPERTY KNOWN AS LOWER ROSAN RANCH
(600.1;0)
Proiect Deschr)tion: The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for a Home
Improvement Warehouse on the Lower Rosan Ranch has been completed and
shared with the Agency Board of Directors. Staff believes that the EIR provides
sufficient information for the Board to determine whether or not to proceed further
with the proposal. Staff is requesting authorization to prepare a purchase and sale
agreement and to permit Home Depot, USA, to process entitlements.
Written Communication: Report dated April 2, 2002, from George Scarborough,
Executive Director.
Oral Presentation: Douglas Dumhart, Principal Management Analyst, reviewed the
staff recommendation.
Public Comment: See item C1
Board Action: Moved by Director Bathgate, seconded by Vice Chairman Hart, and
carried, 4-1, to authorize Home Depot to process entitlements and to pursue
obtaining additional information; authorize staff to negotiate a Purchase and Sale
Agreement with Home Depot, USA, forthe property known as Lower Rosan Ranch;
and, two (2) members of the Agency Board be appointed to develop
CRA Minutes 5 4-2-02
recommendations for specific projects and programs to be funded by potential sale
proceeds.
ROLL CALL
AYES: DIRECTORS: Bathgate, Swerdlin, Vice Chairman Hart and
Chairman Campbell
NOES: DIRECTORS: Gelff
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Campbell adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
to Tuesday, April 16, 2002, in the City Council Chamber.
Respectfully submitted,
R. MONAHAN, SECRETARY
opted: May 7, 2002
CRA Minutes 6 4-2-02