HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - December 14, 1998 - CCCITY OF AZUSA
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14,1998 -6:38 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Azusa met in regular adjourned session at the above date and
,time in the Civic Auditorium.
Mayor Madrid called the meeting to order. Call to Order
I
ROLL CALL Roll Call
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: HARDISON, STANFORD, ROCHA, BEEBE,
MADRID
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ALSO PRESENT: Also Present
City Manager Cole, City Attorney Carvalho, Community Development Director Bruckner,
Rosedale Project Manager Brownfield, Deputy City Clerk Toscano
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING - on General Plan Amendment GPA 96-1, Zone Cont. Pub Hrg
Change Z-96-1, Rosedale Specific Plan, Vesting Tentative Tract Map TTM 52263, Rosedale
Environmental Impact Report, and Development Agreement, for property located at 18331 Project
East Foothill Boulevard, Azusa.
esthetic Impacts
Councilmember Rocha expressed concern regarding preserving the palms trees along Palm
Drive, at least up to the rail road tracks. Mayor Madrid stating that Palm Drive, the McNeil
House, Vosburg House, the ditch and the cemetery, are important parts of the history of
Azusa and should be moved to Cultural Resources section to be discussed: She also
expressed interest in loss of the knolls, how the project will look and asked what the status
was on the CAD drawings of the Rosedale project. Staff advised that there are budget
constraints and the cost would be about $3,000. Discussion was held. It was decided that
Mayor Madrid and City Manager Cole would go to a local business to try and create a CAD
drawing of the project. Community Development Director advised that with regard to the
digitized maps, the planning areas have not been designed yet, so there will be certain
assumptions made regarding the housing types on the maps.
Councilmember Rocha requested that close attention be paid to Planning Area #5, the area
of Old Mill Road and Pasadena. Councilmember Hardison and Mayor Madrid reiterated that
the mature trees will not be eliminated; they could build around them, if not, relocate, or the
issue can be addressed according to County standards. Mayor Madrid expressed concern
regarding loss of open space,'preservation of vistas, and view from Sierra Madre Avenue.
Councilmember Hardison questioned the proposed elevations from Sierra Madre Avenue
north and south. Mr. Pat Loy; the applicant, responded stating that from the railroad tracks
there is 760 feet elevation; east and west there is 760 feet elevation, on Sierra Madre Avenue
there is 840 feet proposed elevation, matching what exists east and west of the project.
Cultural Resources
-Mayor Madrid stated that she would like to expand and preserve the area as a cultural
resource zone, which would consist of the palm trees, driveway, gates, Vosburg house,
McNeil house, and ditch that would connect to the cemetery, to create a historical district.
Lengthy discussion was held among Councilmembers regarding the area and issue. Mr. Pat
Loy advised that with regard to a historical district, there are several different steps in the
process, such as, identification, evaluation of each reason to determine significant, mitigation,
and preservation of the development. He advised that it takes two-thirds of all the elements
in the district to qualify as a historical district. He further advised that in 1997, the McNeil
house and Manresa house did not qualify as significant historical structures.
Aesthetic
Impacts
Discussion
CAD Drawings
Council
concerns
trees/open
space
elevation
Cultural
Resources
City Manager Cole stated that there are options: the EIR states, to demolish with
documentation to preserve and protect the whole area. He suggested a range of options that
included preserving partial areas or not preserving in the exact area. Mr. Dave Linden of
Monrovia Nursery responded to questions by Council stating that the ditch is underground
from west part of the property across the nursery and above ground as it enters the property
from the west and the palm trees are scheduled to be along the two main streets. Discussion
was held regarding the maintenance of the palm trees. City Manager Cole noted that the
Vosburg house, and the cemetery are being preserved; the palms would be preserved, but
not in place and the gates possibly in place, but could be relocated and it's up to Council to
decide other options.
Mr. Edward Hlava, Chairman of the Cultural and Historical Landmark Commission,
addressed the issue detailing the proposal that the Commission had proposed which was to
maintain Palm Drive, the palms, and use them, use as pedestrian and bicycle access to the
project, incorporate the area north of the tracks into the landscape of the new development,
maintain the ditch uncovered, eliminate Area 19, and maintain the Vosburg house. After
further study the Commission realized the necessity to cover canal, suggests Palm Drive to
become a public park between tracks and Foothill Boulevard with pedestrian/bike underpass
or overpass. He then outlined the historical district he proposed, which is Lindley Scott
House, to Palm Drive, Vosburg house, McNeil house, canal, down 9' street to the packing
house. Discussion was held.
City Mgr
comments
options
E. Hlava
Cult & Hist
Landmark
Commission
comments
City Manager Cole suggested that staff meet with the applicant, and Chairperson Hlava, to City Mgr
study how to enhance the proposal to meet some of the concerns expressed. Mayor Madrid comments
expressed concerns regarding the bike path, stating that the MTA has grants available for
bike paths.
Recreation
Discussion was held between Councilmembers, staff and the applicant regarding the number
of acres for parks which, Mr. Steve McCormick responded, is proposed to be 9 '/z acres and
that they have the ability to put a main ball field on the community park and open areas in
Itheschool. Mr. David Linden responded that 5 %2 acres are joint use facility with the school
it is planned to be built with separate play areas, subject to a joint use permit between AUSD
and City. He answered questions posed. Consultant Lisa Brownfield responded stating that
there are 14.2 acres of park space, 1 acre for private recreation and 2.5 acres for hiking trail;
she then explained private recreation. Discussion was held regarding unusable open space,
park spaceand State Law requirement regarding level of acreage per population. Lengthy
discussion was held. It was consensus, by majority of Councilmembers, to eliminate
mitigation measures #3 and keep #1 and #2, on page 2-181 and 2-182 of the EIR.
Construction Impacts
City Manager Cole stated that during the discussion of Air Quality portion of the EIR there
was a suggested creation of a broad condition of approval/good neighbor policy, that would
address working with schools and neighbors for routing of trucks, grading, etc., added
suggestions included to be kept informed regarding tons of dirt being transported. Mitigation
measure #2 be changed as follows: hours of construction be changed for Saturdays from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m., and mitigation measure #4 be changed as follows: muffled construction
equipment shall be used at all times. It was consensus that construction workers display
proper behavior, no loud radios, etc. Lastly, concern was expressed regarding entrance to
site while under construction and truck routes. Consultant Brownfield responded stating that
they are currently establishing a truck plan specifically for the project that will be presented
within the next few days. Some typographical errors were noted at this time.
Councilmember Beebe stated that with regard to air conditioners in classrooms, every time
Saint Frances of Rome is listed, Azusa Unified School District and Dalton school should be
listed too. Councilmember Rocha stated that on page 39 on mitigation measures 96,
regarding telephone numbers and name of contact person be posted; he requested that the
notice be posted "thirty days prior to construction".
It was consensus of Council to recess.
TIME OF RECESS: 8:46 P.M.
RECONVENED: 9:00 P.M.
12/14/98 PAGE TWO
Recreation
Discussion
Construction
Impacts
Discussion and
changes
Recess
Reconvene
1
1
City Manager Cole addressed the issue of density and what it entails. He detailed the City Mgr
following: lot size, yard size; size of homes, social concerns, price, and housing type. He Density
spoke of gross and net density and stated that the proposed Rosedale project is lower in
density to all or at least five of the recent projects in the City. He then presented slides of
several housing projects displaying density and certain features comparable to housing being
proposed in the Rosedale project. He then presented options that could be used to deal with
density issue when the Council began deliberations, as follows: consider types of home for
the project, minimum home size, maximum home size, specify home type, minimum of
certain kinds of homes, and single setbacks minimums, he detailed the options.
It was consensus of Councilmembers to adjourn to Tuesday, December 15,1998, at 6:30 p.m. Adjournto
in the Civic Auditorium, in order to continue deliberations on the Rosedale Development 12/15 6:30 p.m.
Project.
TIME OF ADJOURNMENT: 9:40 P.M.
DEPUTY CITY CLERK
NEXT RESOLUTION NO.98-005
NEXT ORDINANCE NO. 99-017.
12/14/98 PAGE THREE