05-1024_CC_Minutes_Adjourned RegularMINUTES
OCTOBER 24, 2005
JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL & PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
CLOSED SESSION (610.85): None
Mayor Hart called the Adjourned Regular meeting of the City Council and Planning
Commission of the City of San Juan Capistrano to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chamber. Council Member Allevato led the Pledge of Allegiance and Mayor pro tem
Swerdlin gave the invocation.
-- ROLL CALL
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Sam Allevato, Diane Bathgate, Joe Soto, Mayor pro
tem David M. Swerdlin, and Mayor Wyatt Hart.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Timothy Neely, Vice
Chairman Robert Cardoza, and Commissioners Sheldon Cohen, Joe Drey, and Gene
Ratcliffe.
STAFF PRESENT: Dave Adams, City Manager; William M. Huber, Assistant City
Manager: Meg Monahan, City Clerk; Molly Bogh, Planning Director; Nasser
Abbaszadeh, Engineering & Building Director; Bill Ramsey, Principal Planner; Richard
Greenbauer, Associate Planner; and Elizabeth White, Recording Secretary
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS — None
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DISCUSSION ITEMS -_
CONSIDERATION OF PLANNING ISSUES FOR THE NORTHWEST PORTION
OF CITY (530.40)
Description: Molly Bogh, Planning Director. provided an overview of issues,
previous planning efforts, and site opportunities and constraints associated with
the northwest portion of the City. The area is bounded by Camino Capistrano to
the east, Oso Road to the south, the Colinas Ridge to the west, and the City of
Laguna Niguel to the north, approximately 590 acres. A large portion of the area
is highly constrained due to hillsides, Oso creek, lack of infrastructure, or
designation as open space. The three properties which have recently generated
interest in potential development include the Williams property and the Hsiao
property located between the OCTA railroad line and Oso Creek, and a portion of
Rancho Capistrano owned by Crystal Cathedral Ministries. These three
properties comprise about 145 acres, or approximately one fourth of the 590
acres Northwest Area. Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Conduct a joint
public workshop with the Planning Commission on planning issues and goals for
the northwest portion of the City; 2) Receive public input; and 3) Give staff
direction as deemed appropriate for future olanning efforts.
Written Communication: Staff report dated October 24, 2005, by Molly Bogh,
Planning Director.
Presentations: Molly Bogh, Planning Director, summarized the staff report.
Public Comment:
Tom Rabar, City resident, recommended purchase of additional open space and
involving conservation groups in purchase of additional open land.
Mark Nielsen, City resident, supported the current land use designations which
support agri-business uses. The current uses could be encouraged through
economic incentives. Development of other types did not need to be considered
unless a compelling public benefit was established.
Gail Prothero, City resident, served on a previous open space bond committee,
suggested use of Propositions 40 and 50 to leverage more open space through
conservation easements, continued agricultural preservation, and the addition of
more parks.
Marlene Draper, City resident, felt there were opportunities for a new bond issue,
matching funds, and a cultural center.
Renee Ritchie, City resident, recommended preservation of the natural ambiance
and trails. She suggested stables and a cultural center as uses.
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James Littlejohn, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club, asked that the
community's youth have involvement in the planning process.
Ilse Byrnes, City resident, expressed a need for parks, open space, and trails.
Comments by Council Members and Planning Commissioners:
Public education and outreach needed to be performed concerning the northwest
area of town. These could be performed through surveys and clear delineation
of the areas that are not public land and those areas that are currently open land,
but have been approved for development.
Strategies need to be developed for a voter approved bond issue which would
determine whether additional open space could be purchased. If a bond issue
were approved, this could provide leverage for additional funding through state
and federal matching funds programs.
Circulation, access, and traffic impacts pose significant constraints and solutions
will be costly.
Preservation of the equestrian lifestyle, the master trail system, and public
— access to equestrian uses were suggested.
Resident surveys should establish the need for more youth facilities, sports fields
and other recreation opportunities.
Issues concerning land use and circulation, and funding strategies should be
considered by a committee. This committee could develop strategies for
educating the public concerning current land uses, assessing the need and
desire to acquire more open space, and approach for funding of additional open
space acquisition.
Council Members, Planning Commissioners and the public discussed concerns
and opportunities and concurred to form an ad hoc committee consisting of (9)
total members, including (2) Council Members, (2) Planning Commissioners, (2)
property owners within the planning area; and (3) citizens -at large with one of the
citizens -at -large selected from the citizens involved with the original open space
bond measure (1986 — 1989). The committee will be charged with a) reviewing
and making recommendations on acquiring additional open space, including
identifying area to be acquired and funding strategies for acquisition, and b)
developing a strategy for how future planning for land use and infrastructure
within the area should be accomplished, including funding strategies future
planning and environmental work. The City Clerk was directed to solicit
applications to fill the citizen -at -large committee positions, with the tentative
appointment date scheduled for January 2, 2006.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Hart adjourned the City Council meeting at 8:28
p.m. to Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session, and 7:00 p.m. for
the public Business Session, in the City Council Chamber. Chairman Neely adjourned
the Planning Commission to Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the City
Council Chamber.
Respectfully submitted,
R. MONAHAN, CITY CLERK
November 15, 2005
ATTEST,
1.4 rl
WYATT ART, MAYOA
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