Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Planning Commission - Meeting Date: 1/4/2018 MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE GLENDALE,ARIZONA 85301 THURSDAY,JANUARY 4,2018 6:00PM CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:00pm. Commissioners Present: Commissioners Crow, Harper, Vice Chairperson Hirsch, and Chairperson Dobbelaere were present. Commissioners Absent: Commissioners Lenox,Moreno,and Gallegos were absent and excused. City Staff Present: Jim Cronk, Interim Planning Director, Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner, Paul Whalen,RLA/AICP, Senior Planner,Dru Maynus,Planner,James Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, Sam McAllen, Development Services Director and Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary. CITIZEN COMMENTS Chairperson Dobbelaere called for citizen comments. There were none. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chairperson Dobbelaere stated there were no minutes for approval. WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if there were any Withdrawals and Continuances. Jim Cronk, Interim Planning Director, stated there was a request for continuance for item ZTA17-01. ZTA17-01: Zoning Text Amendment Medical Marijuana -This is a request by the Rose Law Group to adopt a new Zoning Text Amendment(ZTA)pertaining to the regulation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. This will apply city-wide for properties that have the appropriate zoning for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries. Mr. Cronk stated the applicant wishes to continue this item to the February 1, 2018 Planning Commission hearing. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS Chairperson Dobbelaere called for the Public Hearing Items. 1. CUP17-12: A Conditional Use Permit request by Diana Heard with RPS Accounting & Tax P.C. services to allow for a Class II Home Occupation in the R1-6(Urban Residential)zoning district. The site is located at the northwest corner January 4,2018 Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 of 59th Avenue and Groves Avenue (5944 West Grovers Avenue) and is in the Sahuaro District. Staff Contact: Paul Whalen, Senior Planner. Mr. Paul Whalen, Senior Planner, stated this was a request by Diana Heard with RPS Accounting and Tax services to allow for a Class II Home Occupation in the R1-6 zone district. He said the site is located at the northwest corner of 59th Avenue and Grovers Avenue and is in the Sahuaro District. He explained that the applicant operates the business within her home. Private consultations by appointment are conducted with one client scheduled at a time on a periodic basis. He said adequate on-site parking is provided for appointment overlap. Since clients visit the home, the use is classified as a Class II Home Occupation within the R1-6 zoning district and,therefore, requires a conditional use permit. Additionally, the property provides three on-site parking spaces in the driveway. A stipulation has been added that on-street parking for business purposes shall not be permitted. Mr. Whalen stated that on September 15,2017,the applicant mailed notification letters to adjacent property owners and interested parties. He stated the applicant did receive one response regarding the request. Planning did not receive any response regarding the request. Mr. Whalen stated this request appears to meet the required findings. The Planning Commission should recommend approval subject to the three stipulations contained in the staff report. He said he would be happy to answer any questions. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked for the applicant's presentation. Diana Heard,applicant,stated the application was straight forward and offered to answer questions from the Commission. She stated her business hours and described the parking situation. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if the Commission had any questions. There were none. Chairperson Dobbelaere opened the public hearing. With no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Chairperson Dobbelaere called for a motion. Commissioner Harper made a motion to approve CUP17-12 subject to the stipulations listed in the staff report. Commissioner Crow seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Jim Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, stated the Planning Commission's actions are final subject to a written appeal if filed within 15 days. 2. CUP17-13: A request by Jennifer Meyers, Norris Design Group, representing Leadership Circle LLC — Pete Newmann, for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow an indoor recreation facility larger than 4,000 gross square feet in the SC (Shopping Center)zoning district. The site is located at the northeast corner of 59th January 4,2018 Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 Avenue and the Loop 101 Freeway(20225 North 59th Avenue)and is in the Cholla District. Staff Contact: Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner. Mr. Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior Planner, made staff's presentation. He said this was a request by Jennifer Meyers,Norris Design Group, representing Leadership Circle LLC—Pete Newmann,for a Conditional Use Permit. He said the property owner is seeking a CUP to allow an EoS Fitness gym. He said this use will be conducted in a 35,000-square foot portion of an existing building within a shopping center that will be renovated to accommodate EoS Fitness. He noted the site is located at the northeast corner of 59th Avenue and the Loop 101 Freeway. Mr.Ritz said the hours of operation will typically be 24 hours a day.He explained that the applicant has indicated that peak times of use will occur between 5:00am to 7:00am and 5:00pm to 8:00pm on weekdays. He said the gym entrance will be on the west side of the building,facing the parking lot and 59th Avenue. Indoor recreation facilities and health clubs are required to be parked at one space for every 100 square feet of building. As proposed, the EoS Fitness does not comply with this requirement. Instead of complying with this requirement,the applicant prepared a traffic study which indicated that adequate parking existed within the shopping center to accommodate the proposed use. He said that the Transportation Department did not comment on the study,however, Planning accepted the study. Mr. Ritz stated that on August 29, 2017, the applicant mailed notification letters to adjacent property owners notifying them of a neighborhood meeting to discuss their Conditional Use Permit proposal. On September 13, 2017, a neighborhood meeting was held at the Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center. He said no citizens attended the meeting. He added that the applicant was contacted by two homeowners who live directly behind of the proposed EoS Fitness. He explained that the two homeowners had similar concerns regarding the existing trees that are located along the eastern property boundary of the shopping center. Both property owners have pools and are concerned about the amount of litter the existing trees in the required landscape buffer produce. He said this is not a specific concern with the proposed use, rather it is an issue the property owners have been dealing with for some time. Mr. Ritz concluded that request CUP17-13 appears to meet the required findings for Conditional Use Permit approval and should be approved, subject to the stipulation listed in the staff report along with a second stipulation that all roof mounted and mechanical units shall be fully screened for the height of the tallest unit by parapet walls. He asked if they had any questions. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if the Commission had questions. There were none. Chairperson Dobbelaere called for the applicant's presentation. Mr. Jennifer Meyers, Norris Design Group, applicant's representative, stated she had nothing to add noting staff had done a good job with the presentation and the staff report. She offered to answer any questions. January 4,2018 Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 Chairperson Dobbelaere opened the public hearing. With no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if anyone had any comments on this item. There were none. Chairperson Dobbelaere called for a motion. Commissioner Crow made a motion to approve CUP17-13 subject to the stipulation listed in the staff report in addition to the one added stipulation. Vice Chair Hirsch seconded the motion,which was approved unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. Mr. Jim Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, stated the Planning Commission's actions are final subject to a written appeal if filed within 15 days. 3. CUP17-14: A Conditional Use Permit request by Lance Meinhold, Larson Associates Architects, Inc., representing SQFT, LLC, to allow for the LCF Car Wash in the C-2 (General Commercial) zone district. The site is located at the southeast corner of 67th Avenue and Olive Avenue (6657 West Olive Avenue) and is in the Barrel District. Staff Contact: Dru Maynus, Planner. Ms. Dru Maynus, Planner, made staff's presentation. She stated this request was by Lance Meinhold with Larson Associates Architects, Inc. representing SQFT, LLC, to allow for the LCF Car Wash in the C-2 zoning district. She noted the site is located at the southeast corner of 67th Avenue and Olive Avenue and is in the Barrel District. Ms. Maynus stated the applicant is proposing a new express car wash that will be located on a site that has been undeveloped for several decades. She said the property is zoned C-2 and per Sections 5.754-J and 2.300 of the Zoning Ordinance, a car wash is defined as a convenience use as it will generate higher traffic volumes than other commercial uses. She stated the project entails the removal of abandoned infrastructure and billboards located on site which will be replaced by a new car wash building and appurtenances. She added the new building will be approximately 6,000 square feet and will include a wash tunnel, equipment room, internal SES closet, fire rise closet, office,restroom area, and an external vending area that will be secured during business closure.Additionally,the proposed project includes covered vacuum stalls and pay station canopies that will total approximately 4,700 square feet. She said the proposed project has been designed to manage vehicular stacking with a minimum of six cars on-site; and includes a new driveway at Olive Avenue and a new right-in / right-out driveway at 67th Avenue. This will alleviate the potential stacking of customer vehicles in the public right-of-way. Ms.Maynus stated the hours of operation will be from dawn to dusk Monday through Sunday. She explained the new building has been designed to be setback approximately 83 feet from the property line to the east and 60 feet from the property line to the south;include a 15-foot landscape buffer on the east and south side of the property; incorporate an 8-foot tall block wall and lush January 4,2018 Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 landscaping along the property lines abutting residential areas. She noted the applicant will install the vacuum motors inside the enclosed building. Additionally, the applicant will also install the car wash dryers at the tunnel exit which is orientated to face Olive Avenue and away from the residences. She said these design features have been incorporated to aid with screening, provide security, and reduce noise from the proposed project. In addition,the proposed project will install 24-hour monitored video surveillance on-site and the applicant will sign an Authority to Arrest Agreement with the City's Police Department to further provide safety and to ensure that any trespassing persons or vehicles will not be located on the premises after close of business. Ms. Maynus stated that on October 17, 2017, the applicant mailed notification letters to adjacent property owners within a 300-foot notification area and interested parties notifying them of a neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposal. On November 1, 2017, a neighborhood meeting was held at the Glendale Christian Church. She said two citizens from the abutting neighborhood attended. One neither supported nor objected the project; and the Other objected to the project despite the applicant's attempts to provide mitigation measures to alleviate her concerns. After the neighborhood meeting,the applicant received one response from a neighboring business owner who was in support of the CUP request. She said Planning did not receive any response regarding the request. Ms. Maynus stated the Planning Commission should approve CUP17-14, subject to the four stipulations as listed in the staff report. She asked if they had any questions. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if the Commission had questions. There were none. Chairperson Dobbelaere called for the applicant's presentation. Lance Meinhold, Larson Associates Architects, applicant's representative, presented a slide presentation. He explained the carwash procedures and what they were doing to minimize noise. He stated the company's goal is to be a good neighbor and to be a convenience to the community. He also discussed security procedures and cameras they will use to keep everyone in the area safe. Mr. Meinhold expounded on each stipulation and stated they were in agreement with all four stipulations. Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if anyone had any questions on this item. There were none. Chairperson Dobbelaere opened the public hearing. With no one wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Chairperson Dobbelaere called for a motion. Commissioner Crow made a motion to approve CUP17-14, subject to the stipulations, as listed in the staff report. Commissioner Harper seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously with a vote of 4 to 0. January 4,2018 Planning Commission Minutes Page 6 Mr. Jim Gruber, Chief Deputy City Attorney, stated the Planning Commission's actions are final subject to a written appeal if filed within 15 days. OTHER BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if there was any Business From The Floor. There was none. PLANNING STAFF REPORT Chairperson Dobbelaere asked if there was a Planning Staff Report. Mr. Jim Cronk, Interim Planning Director, asked if there was a consensus from the Commission for the 5:00pm start time discussed at the previous Planning Commission meeting. He said the 5:00pm start time is being proposed in order to stay consistent with City Council's new meeting time. Vice Chair Hirsch expressed his concern with the 5:00pm start time since it would be difficult for citizens to attend the public meetings. He noted that he will go along with this reluctantly but believes it is not in the best interest of the community. Commissioners Harper and Crow agreed. Mr. Cronk stated that after listening to the discussion, the consensus from the Planning Commission was to keep the time at 6:00pm for the time being. Everyone was in agreement. COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS Chairperson Dobbelaere called for Comments and Suggestions. There were none. NEXT MEETING February 1, 2018 ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Chairperson Dobbelaere called for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Harper made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Crow seconded the motion, which was approved with a vote of 4 to 0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:51pm.