HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Planning Commission - Meeting Date: 11/17/2011 MINUTES
CITY OF GLENDALE PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
5850 WEST GLENDALE AVENUE
GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011
7:00pm
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00pm.
Commissioners Present: Chairperson Kolodziej (Yucca), Commissioner Petrone (Cholla),
Commissioner Sherwood (Sahuaro), and Commissioner Larson (Mayoral)
Commissioners Absent: Commissioner Shaffer(Cactus) and Commissioner Williams (Ocotillo)
City Staff Present: Tabitha Perry, Assistant Planning Director, Jon M. Froke, AICP, Planning Director,
Remigio Cordero, Planner, Deborah Robberson, Deputy City Attorney, Thomas Ritz, AICP, Senior
Planner, and Diana Figueroa, Recording Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chairperson Kolodziej called for Approval of Minutes.
Commissioner Sherwood made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2011
Workshop, the August 4, 2011, Public Hearing, and the October 6, 2011, as written.
Commissioner Larson seconded the motion,which was approved unanimously.
WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES
Chairperson Kolodziej called for any withdrawals and/or continuances. There were none.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEM
Chairperson Kolodziej called for staff's presentation.
CUP11-02: A request by Earl, Curley, and Lagarde P.C., representing M-Glendalex No. 1 LLC,
for a Conditional Use Permit to allow a thrift store in the C-2 (General Commercial) zoning
district. The site is located at the southwest corner of 61St Avenue and Bell Road (6161 West Bell
Road). Staff Contact: Remigio Cordero, Planner (Sahuaro District).
Mr. Remigio Cordero, Planner, made the presentation. He explained this is a Conditional Use Permit
request to allow a thrift store in the C-2 (General Commercial) zoning district. The site is located at 6161
West Bell Road. He said the property owner is seeking a CUP to allow a thrift store use for a Goodwill
Store. He said this use is proposed in an existing building that will be renovated to accommodate
Goodwill.
Mr. Cordero explained the site was rezoned from R-3 (Multiple Residence) to C-2 (General Commercial)
on May 28, 1991. On December 21, 1995, a conditional use permit for motorcycle and boat sales was
approved by the Planning Commission.
November 17, 2011
Planning Commission Minutes
Page 2
He said Goodwill is proposing to locate into a 26,466 square foot vacant building. He said the property is
approximately three acres in size and fronts onto Bell Road. There are three driveways that access this
site; one driveway is off of 61St Avenue and the other two are along Bell Road.
The applicant mailed 111 notification letters to adjacent property owners and interested parties notifying
them of a neighborhood meeting to discuss the proposal.
Mr. Cordero said the request appears to meet the required findings for Conditional Use Permit approval
and should be approved, subject to two stipulations. He explained three stipulations are noted in the staff
report and it is recommended that stipulation #2 be removed. The stipulations should read as follows: 1)
Development shall be in substantial conformance with the site plan, dated September 16, 2011, and the
project narrative, dated September 16, 2011, subject to design review approval by the Community
Development Group and 2) Provide two trees and adequate irrigation to the street landscape chokers on
61St Avenue as the applicant is responsible for maintenance.
With no questions from the Commission, Chairperson Kolodziej called for the applicant's presentation.
Mr. Mike Curley, Earl, Curley and Lagarde, 3101 North Central Avenue, introduced himself. He
explained the proposal is a retail store. Approval of this request will discourage homeless persons from
living near and around this vacant building.
Mr. Curley said Goodwill operates 46 retail stores and eight stand-alone donations centers throughout
central Arizona. He said 90 cents of every dollar generated from Goodwill of Central Arizona's retails
stores are channeled back into the community to help Arizonans prepare for and find work.
He personally visited 12 stores and talked with landlords and adjacent tenants. He indicated he observed
that the grounds were clean and well kept with each store being well maintained. Mr. Curley displayed
photographs of some of the existing stores.
Last, Mr. Curley indicated there was an extensive outreach to the surrounding community and displayed a
map showing the outreach area indicating which residents were contacted. He said they gathered 1,100
signatures in support of this request.
Mr. Curley stated he was available for questions.
With no questions from the Commission, Chairperson Kolodziej opened the public hearing.
Ms. Joan Krueger, 545 East Candebria Drive, Gilbert, stated she was in support of this request. She
added she is a Goodwill Advisory Board Member, a previous member of the Gilbert Planning
Commission and Gilbert City Council. Ms. Krueger explained when Goodwill Stores moved into a
vacant grocery store property in Gilbert the entire shopping center area improved. She highly
recommends Goodwill as a potential tenant.
Mr. Ralph Scaramella, 6195 West Bell Road, Glendale, owner of Big 0 Tires, stated he is in support of
this request as the vacant building needs a tenant. Also, increasing traffic in the center would possibly
generate business for his store.
November 17, 2011
Planning Commission Minutes
Page 3
With no further comments, Chairperson Kolodziej closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Larson stated he supports this request as the applicant has provided good circulation,
improved landscaping, and filling a vacant building.
Chairperson Kolodziej stated he appreciated the applicant's neighborhood outreach.
With no further comments from the Commission, Chairperson Kolodziej called for a motion.
Commissioner Sherwood made a motion to approve CUP11-02 subject to the revised
stipulations. Commissioner Larson seconded the motion,which was approved unanimously.
Ms. Deborah Robberson, Deputy City Attorney, stated this is final approval appealable to the City
Council.
OTHER BUSINESS
Chairperson Kolodziej called for Other Business. There was none.
OTHER BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
Chairperson Kolodziej called for Other Business From The Floor. There was none.
PLANNING STAFF REPORT
Chairperson Kolodziej called for the Planning Staff Report. There was none.
COMMISSION COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Chairperson Kolodziej called for Commission Comments and Suggestions. There were none.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, Commissioner Larson made a motion to adjourn the Meeting. Commissioner
Sherwood seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:28pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diana Figueroa,R cng Secretary