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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/25/1938F. " ", MAY 25, 1938 THE NEWPORT BEACH CITY PLANNING COMMISSION met in adjourned session Wednesday. May 25, 1939 at 7 :30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall.' Since Chairman Hopkins was not present, Cam. Seeger moved that Com. Schnitker act as temporary Chairman. Seconded by Com. Briggs. Motion carried. ROLL CALL Commissioners present: Seeger, Briggs, Schnitker, Whitson,` Patterson, Findlay. Commissioners absent: Hopkins, Williams. Mr. Tilton, consultant, attended. MINUTES Cam. Whitson moved that the reading of the minutes of the meeting held May 18th be dispensed with as all members had received copies thereof and that they be approved as written. Seconded by Com. Patterson. Motion carried and so ordered. HEARINGS SECOND HEARING CONTINUED (ON AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FISH - SMOKING AS HOME INDUSTRY) For Mr. Tiltonts information, the Secretary read the pet - ition for rezoning of certain blocks to allow fish - smoking ® as a home industry as presented. He also read the petition presented by Mr. Johnson against the rezoning of block 219 A signed by 85% of the property owners in that block and the letter From Dewey Sander answering some of the objections to such rezoning as raised and his suggestions for the rsg- ulation and control of this industry. (Letter on file). Mr. Tilton inquired if there is general objection to the . idea because the residents in the district think that allow- ing this industry will lower the property values in the neigh- borhood. Mr. Johnson stated that he represented only the block 219A and could not speak for the residents of other blocks, but that the property owners in his block object very strongly to allowing this industry within their block. He said there must have been some good reason for this industry being class- Ified as a prohibited use when the ordinance was written and he was not in favor of changing it to a permitted use. Mr. Holland 'Rome - expressed the belief that it was a definite fire hazard even though it might not raise the fire insurance rates in the district. Mrs..Cordiero stated that she has been smoking ' fish for the past 10 years and that there is no danger of fire as there is someone in the building all the time the smoker is burs- ing. Com. Seeger concurred with the sentiments of Chairman Hopkins that fish - smoking as now conducted is unique in this locality and it controlled, might become one of the attractions of the district; however, the property; interests I of others must be considered and unless the objectibnable features can be eliminated he would not favor it. Cam. Whitson asked Mr. Tilton if this could be classified as a home industry. Mr. Tilton said that a home industry is any small business . conducted within the dwelling or its appertainances such as a doctor's office, real estate office, dressmaking, etc. Interpreting the wording of the ordinance liberally, it could be classified as a home industry. It would be unwise to recommend any radical change in the ordinance, however. It was explained that Mrs.: Cordiero wants to move and es- tablish her business in the block that submitted the petition of protest. Cam. Patterson said that he had moved to send this matter to hearing provided they could legally create such a district in the M -1 zone, personally he did not think it could be done. Mr. Tilton said that it would be very difficult to confine it to a home industry and confine it to an M -1 district, also this is fish curing and fish may be cured in the sun which is very objectionable. If the commission so desires, he will be glad to go over the ordinance carefully, give some thought to the matter and see if this problem can be worked out and submit a report. Cam. Whitson moved to continue the second hearing on the amendment to permit fish - smoking until Mr. Tilton's report is submitted at the meeting to be held June 15th, 1938. Seconded by Cam. Seeger. Motion carried and so ordered. FIRST ;MARING CONTIRM (OS AMBNDMM&T TO PERMIT SHOOTING GALLERIES)' Cam. Seager stated for Mr. Tilton's information that at the original discussion of this matter the sentiment of the com- mission was that modern shooting galleries are not a nuisance if properly conducted and that they would favor such an amend- ment if strict regulations were enforced and if the galleries' were allowed through a special permit granted in accordance with certain regulations which the City Council shall set forth in a regulating ordinance. Cam. Whitson presented the regulating ordinance drawn;up by City Attay. Thompson which was not yet completed in de- tail. Chairman Schnitker inquired if anyone present wished to speak on this matter. No response. Cam. Patterson moved to send this matter to second hearing at the meeting to be held June 1, 1938. Seconded by Cam. Whitson. • Motion carried and so ordered. APPLICATION FOR REZONING OF CITY- OWNF;D LAIM (FRONTING ON THE NORTH CHANNEL OF NEWPORT BAY) Application of the City of Newport Beach for the rezoning of the parcel of city -owned land fronting on the North Chanel of Newport Bay between the Bay and the Coast Highway cam - J prising some 2,500 feet of water frontage from C-2 to M-1 ` was read by the Secretary. Maps submitted with the application for the development of a trailer camp, boat ways and machine shop on this pro - perty were examined by the commission. • Mr. Hillue, representing the Irvine interests stated that he wished to protest such a development as not being to the beat interests of the city or the development of the harbor and as being detrimental to the high class development of residential property being attempted by the Irvine Company at Bay Shores. He hoped that the commission would give this matter careful consideration as to the effect it would have on surrounding property and the unfairness of putting the city into competition with privately owned business of this nature before any action is taken. If the development goes through he would like to see the machine works put at the west and so as to be farther away from their property. Com. Seeger stated that until the matter is advertised the commission cannot hold formal hearings. He moved that the commission take evidence at this meeting for the hearing to be held June 15. Seconded by Com. Patterson. Motion carried and so ordered. Mr. Smith, applicant for the lease on this property, stated that the motion picture companies would take more pictures • here if they had a suitable place to keep their boats and his idea in developing this project was to provide such accommodations. This would stimulate year -round business and provide employment for many of our residents. Many of the large boats now moored at San Pedro would like to come to Newport if adequate provision for storing such large boats was made available. His idea is to establish a high class' setup and make it the finest in Southern California. If there are objections to the location of the machine shops, they be moved 2 or j hundred feet west. Mr. Howe expressed the opinion that primarily we are a residential area and a trailer camp would not attract the type of ,;public we are most interested in encouraging to 'come to Newport. This rezoning would open up more property in competition with private owners and tax Mori engaged in thi business. Weshould always keep in mind the development of the city from the standpoint of attractiveness and beauty and a boat ways and machine shop with their attendant clutter . at this location on the bay would hardly add to the attract- iveness of the city. Com. Seeger: The commission is glad to have the exprossiors • of opinion from residents of the city when this matter does come up for hearing, but so far all the remarks have been of a personal business nature. we as a commission are inter- ested in the consideration of these matters from the stand- point of the planning of this community and the enjoyment of its natural attractions. I am opposed to the City of WPM tT' d u Sys h1c Newport Beach leasing aay of its bay frontage property to private operators. The city has only three parcels of bay frontage and the city should keep them for the accommodation of the visitors who come down to enjoy the recreations which we offer here. I am in favor.of retaining • all public -owned property for the entertainment of visitors and for park purposes. Com. Patterson moved to send this matter to first hearing and that the Secretary be instructed to advertise the matter for public hearing. Seconded by Coma Briggs. Motion carried and so ordered. PLANS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WATB& FRONT AT BAI,BOA The plan for the development of the water front at Balboa was presented for inspection and discussion by the members of the commissioh and anyone interested. Mr. Tilton "stated that the plan is more or less self- explan- itory. Ideas from the plan submitted by the Business Mens' Assn, and ideas suggested by Mr. Patterson have been incorpor ated in the present drawing. There are an infinite number of ways to solve the problem and if properly planned it will yield big dividends in usefulness and attractiveness. If the city is going to spend any money at all it should be spent on a plan that will satisfy the desires of the public as well • as offering the greatest usefulness possible, that is the kind of plan we should talk about. We should use what it will cost and if we find it will cost more than the city can carry then we should not scrap the plan but do it by degrees We have nothing on the West coast to compare with the East- ern beaches and yet all authorities claim that this Pacific southwest will eventually be the greatest recreational center in the world. We should get ready for it. As to the cost; the estimates have not yet been accurately figured. Mr. Patterson gave approximate estimates including the now pier and bulk head to exceed $100,000 for the complet- ed project which is of course, roughly estimated. This is a tentative plan and by no means the end of the planning of this project. Mr. Tilton said that he resented the publicity given him in the local paper concerning the high cost of his plan" before any estimates have been made; he considered this unfair as estimates had not made of the other plan which wou S probably run very close to the cost of the plan as suggested by him. Com. Seeger said that personally he believed that we should do this or something even better. Just because we are a small community we should not think that a project of this kind will not pay big dividends. It is the beat investment we can make, but toddy the city has no money to spend on a project of this kind. Newport Beach should avail themselves of some of the money that the government is now making available for developments of this kind, then pat the proposition np to "_";:1 the people in the form of a bond issue to furnish that part of the 'money not supplied by the government. It should not only Include this project but a new City Hall. Mr. Tilton suggested that he and Mr. Patterson might com- plete the plan and then present it to the planning Commiss- ion and Invite the public in to discuss it with them. If the people are enough interested in it to endorse it, that is the first step toward getting it done. Com. Patterson said that the government will furnish about 55% of the cost, however, the applications with plans and specifications must be in the hands of the W.P.A. and the P.W.A. by the first of July. He is now owrking on other projects for the city to be submitted by that time and they might all be included in one application. Mr. Tilton said that the plan has reached the stage now where the question arises, "IS this project of sufficient interest to go on with the plane or should we forget it?" Com. Whitson's opinion was that this development should be extended on down Main St. to the Bay and include a public pier where the Pavilion now stands. Mr. Tilton t1iought' this could be incorporated very readily in the plans. Com. Briggs moved that Mr. Tilton continue with this plan and work it out to a definite conclusion, extending the project through to the May front. Seconded by Com. Seeger. Motion carried and so ordered. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Com. Briggs, seconded by Com. Patterson and duly carried, the meeting adjourned. Next meeting date, June let, 1938• Respectfully submitted, C% *Ro!&�rdW. Seeger, ecretary, NEWPORT OR CITY PLANNING ISSION •