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NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES 100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, NEWPORT BEACH ZOOM THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021
REGULAR MEETING – 10:00 A.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Staff Present (Remote): Jaime Murillo, Zoning Administrator Makana Nova, Senior Planner
Chelsea Crager, Associate Planner Melinda Whelan, Assistant Planner
Tony Brine, City Traffic Engineer II. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCES None. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ITEM NO. 1 MINUTES OF JUNE 10, 2021 Action: Approved
IV. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS ITEM NO. 2 Guldjian New Office Building Lot Merger No LM2021-001 and Minor Use Permit No. UP2021-002 (PA2021-002) Site Location: 2122 and 2132 Orchard Drive Council District 3 Melinda Whelan, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description stating that the request is for a lot merger and minor use permit to merge two (2) contigous existing lots for the construction of an
approximately 9,500-squre-foot, two (2)-story office building. The proposed project includes 39 parking spaces in an on-site surface parking lot and two (2) new driveways, one on Orchard Drive and one on Birch
Street. The office development will include landscaping, a small outdoor seating area and screened roof-top mechanical equipment. The intended use of the office building is a law office operating from 8 a.m. to
5 p.m, daily. Project implemention includes the demolition of two (2), nonconforming single-unit dwellings and garages. The development complies with all of the Santa Ana Heights Specific Plan Design Guidelines
and development standards including setbacks, landscaping, screening of mechanical equipment and enclosed trash enclosure. The parking lot design, including the driveway locations at the furthest possible distance from the intersection of Birch Street and Orchard Drive, is the preferred design to promote the best circulation and minimize traffic impacts.
Ms. Whelan proposed the following changes to the resolution: correcting the number of parking spaces
proposed from 43 to 39, adding a condition to require a minimum 6-foot-tall wall along the property lines adjacent the neighboring lots, and adding a condition requiring the applicant to work with the Planning Division
to explore additional material options to go above and beyond the design guidelines.
Applicant Nathan Coffee, Architect, on behalf of the owner Christopher Guldjian, stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions.
Tony Brine, City Traffic Engineer was asked to speak to the existing traffic-related problems and anticipated
traffic conditions related to the proposed project. Mr. Brine explained that there is currently dense landscaping and a 6-foot tall construction fence along the corner of the existing properties that will be removed and will
greatly improve the sight distance. There are existing street signs along Orchard that state “No Stopping
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NEWPORT BEACH ZONING ADMINISTRATOR 06/24/2021
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Anytime” that are intended to prohibit parking near the intersection to improve safety. Mr. Brine explained that with the redevelopment, there will be an opportunity to improve the street signage to state “No Parking” to clearly convey vehicles shall not be parked along the street frontage.
The Zoning Administrator asked Nathan Coffee, architect to confirm that the exterior elevations were not accurate and in fact the photo simulations showed the accurate proposed mechanical equipment screening. The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing.
One member of the public, Jim Mosher, spoke and called for a correction to the resolution in Section 1.2 to add the demolition of the two (2) existing non-conforming single-unit dwellings. Mr. Mosher also asked for confirmation that the project is not subject to the requirements of the State Housing Crisis Act.
One member of the public, Mary Slouka, spoke to the existing traffic complications that exist at the intersection of Birch Street and Orchard Drive. However, she explained that the neighbors met with the project owners and
they are working on possible mitigation separate from the project. Ms. Slouka explained the project is an improvement for the area and is the best design possible, supporting the project. The Zoning Administrator closed the public hearing.
The Zoning Administrator explained that the subject properties are not a part of the State Housing Crisis Act. The Zoning Administrator agreed with the proposed changes to resolution and also called for the following
changes: insert the correct Executive Governors Order No. N-08-21 per Mr. Mosher’s written comments, add the demolition of the two (2) existing non-conforming dwelling units to the project description in the Resolution
Section 1.2, update all of the references in the Resolution for the parking to the correct number of 39 spaces, add to Finding E. Fact 3. to describe new driveway locations, add a condition to correct the exterior elevations
to match the HVAC screening in the photo simulations, delete Condition no. 4, and add the conditions stated by Ms. Whelan.
Action: Approved as Amended
ITEM NO. 3 J’Dermé Minor Use Permit No. UP2021-004 (PA2021-011) Site Location: 3412 Via Oporto, Suite 203 Council District 1
Makana Nova, Senior Planner, on behalf of Patrick Achis, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description
stating that the project is a minor use permit to establish a personal image and lifestyle consulting office. The project would be located within an existing 940-square-foot commercial office building of Lido Marina Village.
The Minor Use Permit is required because a portion of the tenant space would be used for ancillary aesthetic treatments (i.e., Botox injections), which is considered a Personal Services, Restricted land use. The floor plan
shows the Botox area to be limited to no more than 240 square feet in size and one seat. Hours of operation are conditioned as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. No on-site parking is available for the property, but adequate parking
is provided in the Lido Marina Village Parking Management Program. The project is located on the second floor and served by an elevator, as required by the Building Code. Applicant Heidi Linder, owner of J’Dermé, stated that she had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all
of the required conditions.
The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment, the public hearing was closed. The Zoning Administrator directed staff to update the first sentence of Section 1.6 Statement of Facts to read:
“A public hearing was held online on June 24, 2021, observing restrictions due to the Governor’s Executive Order No. N-08-21 related to COVID-19.” Action: Approve as Amended.
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ITEM NO. 4 908 NB Property Management LLC. Residence Coastal Development Permit No. CD2021-003 (PA2021-013) Site Location: 908 West Ocean Front Council District 1
Chelsea Crager, Associate Planner, provided a brief project description stating that the project is a coastal development permit to all the demolition an existing single-family residence and the construction of a new 3-story single-unit residence. The project complies with all applicable development standards and no deviations are requested. The project fronts a wide sandy beach. A coastal hazards report was prepared and concluded that coastal hazards are not anticipated to impact the property over the next 75 years and the property is at
minimal risk for flooding. The project is not anticipated to negatively affect the visual quality of the coastal zone or public access to the coastal zone.
The Zoning Administrator asked staff to clarify if the site was protected by a bulkhead. Associate Planner Crager
confirmed that there is no bulkhead protecting the project site.
Applicant Jeff Van Voorhis of Brandon Architects stated that he had reviewed the draft resolution and agrees with all of the required conditions.
The Zoning Administrator opened the public hearing. Seeing that no one from the public wished to comment,
the public hearing was closed.
The Zoning Administrator directed staff to update the first sentence of Section 1.6 Statement of Facts to read: “A public hearing was held online on June 24, 2021, observing restrictions due to the Governor’s Executive
Order No. N-08-21 related to COVID-19.
Action: Approved as Amended
V.PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
One member of the public, Mr. Mosher, inquired about the discrepancies between future Zoning Administrator
hearings being held online and recently City Council decision to get all Public meetings back in person. The Zoning Administrator confirmed that future ZA hearings would continue to be held via Zoom likely through
September consistent with Governor’s Executive Order No. N-08-21 due to the convenience for applicants and members of the public. As opposed to the City Council or a Commissions comprised of multiple decision
makers, Zoning Administrator consists of a single decision maker.
VI.ADJOURNMENT
The hearing was adjourned at 10:49 a.m.
The agenda for the Zoning Administrator Hearing was posted on June 17, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. on the digital display board located inside the vestibule of the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive and on the City’s website on June 17, 2021, at 2:10. p.m.
Jaime Murillo Zoning Administrator