Note from TheGardeningSnail: This page was prepared by running a PDF Image File through a program which converts Image to Print. My apologies for any textual Gremlins that may have crept in. I may also have broken up some of the larger paragraphs.
MINUTES
LIVINGSTON PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 14, 2017
A regular meeting of the Livingston Planning Commission was held in the City Council Chambers on February 14, 2017. The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Contract City Planner Randy Hatch in the absence of a Chair and Vice-Chair.
ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Commissioner Adanan Bath, Commissioner Warren Urnberg and Alternate Commissioner Robert Wallis
Commissioners Absent: Chair Ranjeet Jhutti, Vice-Chair Mario Mendoza, and Commissioner Francisco-Mendoza Gonzalez (excused).
Staff Present: Contract City Planner Randy Hatch and Sr. Administrative Analyst Filomena Arredondo.
Others Present: Council Liaison Juan Aguilar, Jr.
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CHAIR
The Planning Commission voted to appoint an Acting Chair for this meeting as both the Chair and Vice Chair were not present.
Motion by Alternate Commissioner Wallis, seconded by Commissioner Urnberg, to appoint Alternate Commissioner Wallis Acting Chair. Motion carried 3-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Commissioner Bath, Commissioner Urnberg, and Alternate Commissioner Wallis
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Jhutti, Vice-Chair Mendoza and Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance to the flag was recited.
CONSENT AGENDA
ACTION MEETING MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 10, 2017, REGULAR MEETING
Motion by Commissioner Bath, seconded by Acting Chair Wallis, to approve the minutes of the Regular Planning Commission Meeting of January 10, 2017. Motion carried 3-0, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Acting Chair Wallis and Commissioners Bath and Urnberg
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Jhutti, Vice-Chair Mendoza and Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez
PUBLIC COMMENT
Acting Chair Wallis opened the public comment period at 7:05 p.m.
Juan Aguilar, Jr., 1191 Fernwood Way, introduced himself as the new Council Liaison for the Planning Commission. He commended the Planning Commission for doing a good job and stated that he is very excited to see development starting up again.
Acting Chair Wallis closed the public comment period at 7:06 p.m. there being no further public comment. He thanked Council Liaison Aguilar for his interest in attending Planning Commission meetings.
PUBLIC HEARING
SITE PLAN AND DESIGN REVIEW 2016-04, FOR THE PACIFIC COAST KHALSA DIWAN SOCIETY SIKH TEMPLE, 2765 PEACH AVENUE, APN#: 023-080-013
The Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple, owner, is a well-developed church and religious site within the Livingston community generally located at the northwest comer of Peach Avenue and Dwight Way. Representatives of the Sikh Temple are requesting a Site Plan and Design Review approval to expand the existing kitchen and dining hall located in the rear of the building.
The kitchen will be expanded by a little over 1300 sq. ft. and the dining hall by a little over 3400 sq. ft., for a total expansion of 4779 sq. ft. The Temple also seeks to remove an informal freestanding kitchen with a storage area and replace it with a 950 sq. ft. building containing a 500 sq. ft. kitchen and a 450 sq. ft. storage area. A new trash enclosure will also be constructed adjacent to the storage area on the west.
City Planner Randy Hatch displayed the site plan, floor plan, and elevations and explained the details of the project.
This proposal does not increase the parking requirements because the size of the worship area remains the same. There are 160 parking spaces on the site versus 126 parking spaces required by zoning. This also meets all the City standards with regards to setbacks, lot coverage, height and other characteristics and is compatible with the existing colors, materials, and details.
Staff routed this project to other departments and agencies for comments and only received comments from the Fire Department noting its typical fire standards which are included in the proposed Conditions of Approval.
City Planner Hatch added that upon looking at the history of the site, he discovered that there was quite some controversy several years ago among the Temple-goers when an expansion was planned on this site. The expansion was to be a larger dining facility and kitchen and it would be available for rent for people not associated with the Temple. Although that is not part of this proposal, the Planning Commission has the option to add an additional condition which specifically notes that the expanded kitchen and dining hall and the freestanding kitchen and storage area shall only be used as part of the Temple activities and shall not be available for rent to the general public.
Sikh Temple representatives were present to answer questions.
Planning Commissioners’ Comments/Questions:
Commissioner Urnberg
• Asked if the applicant was going to provide additional handicap parking.
City Planner Hatch said there are six handicap parking stalls there already and no additional handicap parking is required.
Temple representative, Harjinder Singh, 888 Vine Cliff Way, Livingston, explained that this new facility will be used by the same people, the only difference is that the open area will now be covered.
Acting Chair Wallis
• Thinks it would be convenient to add two more handicap parking stalls next to the kitchen area since all the handicap parking is currently located in the front of the Temple.
City Planner Hatch stated that handicap parking is a building code requirement and from a code point of view, they are in full compliance.
Mr. Harjinder Singh explained that people going to the kitchen area in the back must go in through the front door of the Temple.
City Planner Hatch said it is assumed that when people are going to church activities, they will go into the main entrance; therefore, that is where all the handicap parking is located for religious services and if they attend social services or celebration services, they will still likely enter into the front doors of the Temple.
• Asked if they were going to have running water on the water element proposed by the front stairs going into the Temple. Right now it is just a planter with sprinklers divided by a walkway on each side.
Temple Representative Harbhajan Singh, 498 Paradise Court, Livingston, said that will remain the same as it is now. They are not adding anything to that part of the Temple.
Commissioner Bath
• Asked if they plan to hold wedding celebrations at their new addition.
Mr. Harbhajan Singh replied they are not and added it is not their intention to rent it out to the general public. It is strictly for Temple activities and Temple users.
Mr. Harjinder Singh said they already use that open area for Temple activities, so the only change after the new addition is that all events will be held indoors.
Discussion followed.
Motion by Commissioner Urnberg, seconded by Commissioner Bath, to adopt Resolution 2017-04, Recommending to the City Council Approval of the Site Plan and Design Review 2016-04 for the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society Sikh Temple Project, subject to the ten (10) Conditions of Approval listed on Exhibit A of the Resolution. Motion carried 3-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Acting Chair Wallis and Commissioners Bath and Urnberg
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chair Jhutti, Vice-Chair Mendoza, and Commissioner Mendoza-Gonzalez
REPORTS
Planning Commission Acting Chair Wallis
• Asked Council Liaison Aguilar if the new Public Works computer software will allow Public Works employees to annotate when the curb in front of a fire hydrant needs to be painted red if they spot it while they are out :flushing hydrants. Currently, there are several areas in town that do not have the curb painted red in front of a fire hydrant.
Council Liaison Aguilar said he does not specifically know how the software works, but the public is welcome to report any concerns to City Hall.
• Asked City Planner Hatch when Panda Express is going to begin construction.
City Planner Hatch said they are currently going through plan check review of their building plans.
• Asked for the status of the Motel 6 project.
City Planner Hatch said some progress has been made in that Motel 6 has retained a new engineer to deal with the plan revisions to meet the code requirements, so that is currently being addressed.
Commissioner Urnberg
• Asked if they are still doing the flat work at the Motel 6 site.
City Planner Hatch said they are putting in curbs, gutters, sidewalks, parking areas and islands. They have received inspections for foundation work for the lighting standards and things of that nature. Work has been moving forward on the flat work, but not on the building itself.
• There are various potholes that need patching on Campbell Boulevard going south by the overpass and also on the Hammatt Avenue overpass as you turn to head southbound on Highway 99.
City Council Liaison Aguilar said he will report that to the City Council.
City Staff
No reports.
ADJOURNMENT
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