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98-1207_CC_Minutes_Adjourned Regular Meeting395 December 7, 1998 ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California was called to order by Mayor Greiner at 7:05 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, to conduct a joint City Council and Planning Commission worksession on the EI Parador Hotel property. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: John Greiner, Mayor Collett Campbell, Mayor pro tem Gil Jones, Council Member Wyatt Hart, Council Member David M. Swerdlin, Council Member Mark McGuire, Chairman Diane Bathgate, Commissioner Ed Johnson, Commissioner (arrived @ 7:10 p.m.) Timothy Neely, Commissioner William Pichler, Commissioner ABSENT: Bill Sonka, Vice Chairman Sheldon Cohen, Commissioner STAFF PRESENT: George Scarborough, City Manager; Cheryl Johnson, City Clerk; William M. Huber, Engineering and Building Director; Thomas Tomlinson, Planning Director. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS PLANNING DIRECTOR JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION TO REVIEW POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE PREVIOUSLY -APPROVED EL PARADOR HOTEL (GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 82-3) (440.25) Proposal: Worksession held jointly with the Planning Commission to identify individual issues of concern regarding the project proposal for the El Parador Hotel property located at the southeast corner of Valle Road and San Juan Creek Road. The applicant had requested a I worksession to present a revised development concept and to receive comments prior to submission of a formal application for City consideration. The El Parador Hotel project was City Council Minutes 1- 12/7/98 396 approved in 1982; General Plan Amendment 82-3 designated the 9.5 -acre site as a Special _ Study area restricted to providing ahotel/convention facility, designed and located consistent with Zone Change 82-9 and Architectural Control 82-5. The current project approvals for the property located the building mass on the upper portion of the property and included both 3- and 4 -story elements. Applicant: Cameo Homes, c/o Victor Mahony, P. O. Box 2990, Newport Beach, California 92658 Written Communications: Report dated December 7, 1998, from the Planning Director, describing the revised proposal and resulting planning issues. The ground level at San Juan Creek Road would include the formal registration area, lobby and two small restaurants; the second level would include the conference center; and, the third level would include a restaurant and food terrace. The hotel rooms would be located on the upper portion of the site in seven separate building, all having either full or partial four stories, and include a recreation area with a health club as the focal point. Parking would consist of 309 underground spaces at the main entry area off San Juan Creek Road. The Report further advised that this project was not subject to the current General Plan update urgency ordinance because the project site was less than 10 usable acres and because prior approvals existed. Under the revised proposal, the building mass would be spread throughout the site, with a major building structure located immediately adjacent to San Juan Creek Road, built into the hillside area leading toward the upper elevations. The Report indicated that planning opportunities and constraints to be addressed included a redesign of the Valle Road street improvements; traffic circulation improvements for San Juan Creek Road; the architectural theme and building massing; consideration of the hotel operator; and, the applicability of ine City transient occupancy tax to the proposed time-share rooms. Notice of this meeting had been provided to surrounding properties and homeowner associations. Staff Presentation: Conceptual site plans, artist renderings and the site plans approved in 1982 were on display. The Planning Director provided a history of the 1982 approvals, noting that the approvals remain in effect and the present applicant could request building permits for those approvals. He discussed the proposed design, noting that the new concept oriented the facility to a more resort -type hotel. He discussed street improvement issues, noting that alternatives were being explored that may eliminate the use of retaining walls for the Valle Road improvements. He further advised that staff had not completed a full review of the conceptual site plans and there would be significant changes following a full review. Applicant Presentation: (1) Jim Gianulias, applicant, 1105 Quail Street, Newport Beach, expressed his appreciation for the workshop. He noted that in comparison with the current approvals, their proposal would not require as much grading; would include more City Council Minutes -2- 12/7/98 397 ' open space; and, would address traffic concerns. He further advised that the family- owned Regent Hotels was on board with the project. (2) Gin Wong, architect, Gin Wong Associates, 10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, indicated he had spent time studying the City and its requirements. He appreciated the City's desire to maintain its historical integrity. He stated that the hill needed to be preserved; there should be minimum cut and fill; and, the buildings should be integrated into the hill to allow as much landscaping, sunlight, and open space as possible. He further indicated that the proposal would occupy less than 28% of the site. He described the proposed architecture and site circulation, noting that there would be no automobiles allowed beyond the entry area other than emergency vehicles. The architecture would include Spanish tile roofs, verandas, wood ceiling and vaults; therefore, he felt the hotel design would specifically tie into the community identity and would "belong" to the City. (3) Ms. Andy Culbertson, President of Culbertson, Adams & Associates, planning consultants representing the applicant, felt the proposal was superior to the current approvals for its elimination of the building massing and for attracting a high-quality hotel operator. She noted that although the proposal was in the very early stages and serious review was necessary, hotel siting in the City was a time -sensitive matter and the applicant wished to accomplish the reviews in an expedited manner to allow the ' realization of the project. Council/Commission Discussion: Discussion ensued with the project team regarding architectural and landscaping treatments that would be used to break up the building mass and the visual and grading impacts; the geotechnical work and amount of grading that may be necessary; the use of golf carts, which would minimize heavy road work; the vacation club concept in concert with hotel rooms, and applicability of the transient occupancy tax; and, the types of recreation proposed for the facility. Concerns were expressed regarding secondary access, sufficient parking to accommodate the conference use, queuing of cars in the lobby courtyard, and the timing of traffic improvements, including improvements to the Valle Road freeway ramps. Staff advised that the Planning Department was the only Department who had seen the plans and extensive review and input was still needed to address many of the issues. It was clarified that the original approvals for the site required full intersection improvements and that requirement remained in effect for the development. However, several developments were occurring in the area and the first development to go forward would be required to construct the circulation improvements. Andy Culbertson, planning consultant, advised that the applicant was conferring with the SunCal project team regarding coordination of the traffic improvements. Public Comments: Don Tryon, 27539 Paseo Mimosa, noted that a historical depiction would be required of the project and suggested that a bas relief would help soften the impact of a blank retaining wall along Valle Road. City Council Minutes -3- 12/7/98 oil The Council and Planning Commission expressed appreciation to the applicant for their _ efforts and expressed general support for the proposed project, stating it was an improvement J over the currently -approved project. The Council expressed confidence in the Planning Commission and the ability to work toward a project that would be acceptable to the community. COUNCIL COMMENTS None ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. to the next regular meeting date of Tuesday, December 15, 1998, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Respectfully submitted, CHERYL JOEWWWOTY CLERK ATTEST: City Council Minutes -4- 12/7/98