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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 2010 0615 PC SPC MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION Moorpark, California June 15, 2010 A Special Meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Moorpark was held on June 15, 2010, in the Council Chambers of said City located at 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark, California. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Hamous called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Joseph Vacca, Principal Planner, led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioner Di Cecco, Commissioner Taillon, Vice Chair Landis, and Chair Hamous. Staff Present: David Bobardt, Community Development Director; Joseph Vacca, Principal Planner; and Joyce Figueroa, Administrative Assistant. 4. PROCLAMATIONS, COMMENDATIONS AND SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: None. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. 6. REORDERING OF, AND ADDITIONS TO, THE AGENDA: None. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND REPORTS ON MEETINGS/CONFERENCES ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSION: (Future agenda items are tentative and are subject to rescheduling.) A. Future Agenda Items i. CUP 2003-05 National Ready Mixed (Continued from August 25, 2009 to a date uncertain) ii. Rescinding Toll Mazur DA, GPA, ZC iii. Housing Element Update Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Paget June 15, 2010 iv. ZOA 2007-01 Wireless Facilities — SB 1627 v. CUP 2010-03 Wireless Facility vi. Massage Establishment Regulations Mr. Bobardt briefly discussed announcements and future agenda items. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS: (next Resolution No. PC-2010-555) A. Consider Residential Planned Development No. 2009-02, a Request to Construct 133 Detached Single-Family Homes and a Private Recreational Facility; Tentative Tract Map No. 5860, a Request to Subdivide the 21.8 Acre Property Into 133 Residential Lots with Private Streets; Amendment No. 1 to Specific Plan No. 2, Moorpark Highlands, to Change Planning Area No. 7 From a School Site to a Residential Planned Development Site; Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2009-01, a Request to Amend Chapter 17.74 of the Moorpark Municipal Code to Create Zoning Development Standards for Planning Area No. 7; and Development Agreement No. 2009-01, Located at the Southeast Corner of Elk Run Loop and Ridgecrest Drive, on the Application of Pardee Homes. (APN 513-0-070-155) Staff Recommendation: 1) Open the public hearing, accept public testimony and close the public hearing; 2) Adopt Resolution No. PC-2010-555 recommending to the City Council approval of Residential Planned Development No. 2009-02, Tentative Tract Map No. 5860, Amendment No. 1 to Specific Plan No. 2, Moorpark Highlands, Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2009-01 and Development Agreement No. 2009-01 subject to the special and standard Conditions of Approval for Residential Planned Development No. 2009-02 and Tentative Tract Map No. 5860. Mr. Vacca gave the staff report. Questions from Commissioners followed regarding the opening of the secondary access for emergency and public use, south wall adjacent to the park, class 2 bike paths, landscaping, access to and lighting of the multi-purpose trail, if staff has any exhibits of what the pool is going to look like before it gets built, if there are other options in the area for a school site and what opportunities are there to add a school in the future, the total percentage affordable homes required for the project, setbacks, maintenance of the front yards by the Home Owners Association, will Mello Roos be part of this project, and if this project is approved, how long does the developer have to build the project. Chair Hamous opened the public hearing. Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page June 15. 2010 Jim Bizzelle, Vice President Community Development for Pardee Homes, thanked the City of Moorpark for approving Moorpark Highlands in 1999 and thanked staff for all of their efforts and involvement in helping process the revised project and proposed site plan. Mr. Bizzelle discussed the project and stated that he was available to answer any questions. A discussion followed among Commissioners and the applicant regarding the price range of the proposed homes, plans to have solar panels built in the roofs, mix of homes and flexibility to adjust as necessary in terms of what house gets on what lot. Loren Smets, Vice President of Architecture, Pardee Homes, discussed the architectural elevations of the homes and stated he was available to answer any questions regarding the architecture. Greg Ray, Vice President of Landscape Architect, Pardee Homes, thanked staff for allowing Pardee Homes to be a part of this master plan and stated he was available to answer any questions regarding landscape architecture. A discussion followed among Commissioners and Mr. Ray regarding Moorpark's water conservation measures and lighted walkways to the pool recreation lot. Dawn Johnson, resident, spoke in opposition to the project and expressed concerns about the project: who owns the site and as part of the zoning restriction did they donate the land to the City of Moorpark or Ventura County for a school site; and Mello Roos allotment that they would gift back ten-million dollars to credit the Mello Roos fees. In response to Chair Hamous, Mr. Bobardt stated that this is in the purview of the City Council and that at the meeting of June 16 the Council will be considering a resolution of intent to annex this property into the existing Community Facilities District. James Sloan, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and expressed concerns about the project: if there are other options to put the property on the market as a site for a charter school; and if there are future school sites in the northern areas of Moorpark; requirement for low income housing; if there is a way to take those out and get credit for the high- density areas that already exist in the Waverly Place neighborhood;, and concerns about the trail connection to Happy Camp, and gating issues. Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page4 June 15, 2010 Mike Johnson, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and expressed concerns about the project: that the future school site was a determining factor when he purchased his house and the school would increase the value of his home; how is it that after the original zoning was approved that the demand for the public school simply disappeared; what were projections based on; how much tax and permit revenue does the City expect to gain from the zoning change; and has anyone conducted a census to the number of school age children in the area compared to other areas in Moorpark. Mr. Johnson suggested that the City consider selling the property or having a private school buy the property from Pardee at market value. Tracy Weymout, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and urged the City to keep this as a school site and stated if a school is built the property values will go up. In response to Chair Hamous, Mr. Bobardt confirmed that the school board meetings are open and they do accept comments and this item would have been addressed at their meetings, and if Pardee does not build a school on the site, it would continue to be zoned for a school and it would be vacant as it is now. In response to Commissioner Di Cecco, Mr. Vacca confirmed that the school district does not want the site, and that they are the only people that can build on it based on the current Development Agreement. Kristin Showden, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and expressed her concerns about whether there are any other alternatives besides a residential development, and stated that a good neighborhood school brings up property values. Ivan Yeung, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and expressed concerns about alternative uses of the site; it being a non-gated community; and parking problems may occur. Mr. Yeung recommends a charter school be built on the site, and strongly urged the City to consider other alternatives. Martin Neder, resident, spoke in opposition of the project and expressed concerns about the Affordable Housing requirement, that it needs to stand on its own in the proposed community and recommended that the City consider upgrading the number of affordable units within the project; secondary access should have a gate because it may be used as a primary location for going in and out or the project and recommended that it be redesigned with a gate per fire guidelines. Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Page5 June 15, 2010 Scott Lundgren, resident, spoke in favor of the project and discussed a Moorpark Unified School District Board Meeting he attended regarding the bond money that the School District used to pay to Pardee for the school site land. Based on a lack of funding, the School District could not develop or pay to maintain the school site, and that Pardee is doing the existing residents a favor by not forcing the School District to spend fifteen-million to purchase the land. At this point in the meeting, Mr. Vacca read the language from the existing Development Agreement between the City and Pardee Homes related to the school site. A discussion followed among the Commission and staff regarding the transfer of the property which would have to go from Pardee or any current property owner to Moorpark Unified School District or whatever local school district entity is in place at that time. It is a current requirement that the site is solely transferred to Moorpark Unified School District for a District school facility. If Pardee were to sell to Toll Brothers or any other developer or entity, they would still have to deal with the School District. The City is party to the Development Agreement, which was put together in 1999; Pardee did not own the project or the property at that time. At the request of the Commission, Mr. Bizzelle returned to the podium. Mr. Bizzelle discussed how the construction of the project will be phased, right in and out exits, and that Pardee Homes bought this community with a public park, recreation facilities, a 22-acre school, and homes. When they opened up the community they advertised all these beautiful features, unfortunately the School District got into a situation where they could not go forward with acquiring the property or building a school. Mr. Bizzelle also stated that schools make great communities and believes a community is made up of public schools. Chair Hamous closed the public hearing. A discussion followed among Commissioners regarding the project and a recommendation was made to consider removing Special Condition No. 15 (page 64) that required a 6.5-foot high block wall adjacent to the park because the wall will block natural views from the backyards of homes. The Commission encouraged the public to attend the upcoming City Council meeting and let their voices be heard regarding this item. Minutes of the Planning Commission Moorpark, California Pacie6 June 15, 2010 MOTION: Commissioner Di Cecco moved and Commissioner Taillon seconded a motion to approve staff recommendation, including staff recommendation changes to Special Condition No. 17 and Planning Commission omission of Special Condition No. 15, including adoption of Resolution No. PC 2010-555. The motion carried by roll call vote: 3-1, Vice Chair Landis dissenting with a note, "The project is satisfactory, concerns with zone change, and lack of understanding possibilities for school site outside the School District or alternative school type uses." The City Council has final approval authority for this project. 9. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Cancellation of the June 22, 2010 Planning Commission meeting. 10. CONSENT CALENDAR None. 11. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION: Vice Chair Landis moved and Commissioner Di Cecco seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The time was 9:00 p.m. X'/ '�sLrn G.ICJ Bruce A. Hamous, Chair Davi A. Bobardt, Community Development Director