05-27-2021 PC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Arts &Innovation PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021, 9:00 A.M. VIRTUAL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT VIA TELEPHONE 3900 MAIN STREET PUBLIC HEARINGS PLANNING CASES P19-0775, P19-0776, P19-0777, P20-0307, P20-0308, P20-0309, P20-0310 and P19-0905 - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, REZONING, DESIGN REVIEW, VARIANCE, GRADING EXCEPTION, SUMMARY VACATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT - 9.44 VACANT ACRES NORTHWEST CORNER OF CENTRAL AVENUE AND SYCAMORE CANYON BOULEVARD, WARD 2 Proposal by Ken Assi of KA Enterprises to consider the following entitlements for the construction of a multi -family residential development, consisting of 237 residential apartment units, on 9.44 acres: 1) General Plan Amendment to amend the project site from C - Commercial to VHDR - Very High Density Residential; 2) Zoning Code Amendment to rezone the project site from CG - Commercial General Zone to R-4 - Multiple Family Residential Zone; 3) Design Review for the proposed site design and building elevations; 4) Variance to allow perimeter solid masonry walls and tubular steel fencing up to 6 feet in height within the front yard setbacks along Central Avenue and Sycamore Canyon Boulevard, where 3 foot high solid walls and 4 foot open fencing are permitted by the Zoning Code; and to allow project improvements to encroach into the 15 foot landscaped front yard setback along Central Avenue, required in the R-4 Zone when adjacent to an arterial; 5) Grading Exception to allow the height of retaining walls not open to public view to be up to 11.7 feet, where the Grading Code allows a maximum height of 6 feet; and to allow the height of retaining walls visible from the public right of way (Central Avenue and Sycamore Canyon Boulevard) to be up to 5 feet, where the Grading Code allows a maximum height of 3 feet; 6) Grading Exception to allow slopes with a ratio of 3.9:1 or steeper to be up to 28 feet in vertical height, where the Grading Code limits slopes having a ratio of 3.9:1 or greater to a maximum vertical height of 20 feet; 7) Summary Vacation for the vacation of excess right- of-way along Sycamore Canyon Boulevard and Central Avenue, totaling 19,200 square feet or 0.44 acres; and 8) Environmental Impact Report. Candice Assadzadeh, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. Ken Assi stated they were in agreement with the recommended conditions of approval. Ken Assi, Serafin Maranan, and Eugene Marini, gave a project presentation. There were no public comments. The public hearing was closed. Following discussion it was moved by Commissioner Parker and seconded by Commissioner Singh to recommend that the City Council find: 1.a) The draft project Environmental Impact Report (P19-0905) has been completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); 1.b) The proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environmental; and 2) Recommend that the City Council: Approve Planning Cases P19-0775 (General Plan Amendment), P19-0776 (Zoning Code Amendment), P19-0777 (Design Review), P20-0307 (Variance), P20-0308 (Grading Exception), P20-0309 (Grading Exception), P20-0310 (Summary Vacation), and P19-0905 Approved Planning Commission Minutes - May 27, 2021 2