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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/19441.71 The Newport Beach City Planning Commission held its regular monthly meeting on July 20, 1944, at 7:50 p.m., in the Council Chambers, City ' Hall, Newport Beach, California. Chairman Hopkins being absent, Com- missioner Isbell moved that Commissioner Johnson be appointed Chairman pro tem. lotion seconded by Commissioner Baltz. Carried and so ordered. BOLL CALL Commissioners present: Seager, Allen, Johnson, Baltz, Nelson, Isbell, Patterson and Campbell. " absent: Hopkins. Commissioner Allen moved that Minutes of June 15, 1944, be approved as written. Motion seconded by Commissioner Isbell. Carried and so or- dered. MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Commissioner Seager, Chairman of the Master Plan Comittee, reported progress, stating that he had been in touch with various organizations and interested citizens; that a great deal of interest had been mani- fested and suggestions offered, which would receive consideration from his committee. TRAFFIC PLAN COMMITTEE Commissioner Johnson, Chairman of the Traffic Plan Committee, reported that his Committee expected to meet with members of a Committee of the Chamber of Commerce in the near future, after which he hoped to have laid the groundwork for a traffic plan to present to the Commission. He called upon Commissioner Patterson to explain in more detail what the Traffic Plan Committee hoped to accomplish. Commissioner Patterson said that as the Commission knew the City had a number of projects under consideration. He said that the State had allocated certain monies to assist the city in the preparation of plans and specifications, but the one project at a time would have to be com- pleted before financial assistance from the State would be forthcoming for another. Therefore, it was essential to pick out the necessary projects. He said his Department had already employed an additional man for that particular purpose. However, before his Department start- ed in on any one project, Commissioner Patterson said he thought the Planning Commission should more or less approve of its general features. He said there was some questionsat this time as to whether or not money coming from the State should be used for City Hall purposes. The money allocated is on the basis of the 1940 census. He estimated the approx- imate amount the State would advance, which amount, he said, the city would have to match. In addition, the State will allocate an addition- al sum for right -of -way purposes, only, and the City will have to match ' that, also. Commissioner Patterson said that he had talked with Mr. Welch# of;the: Chamber of Commerce, and that Mr. Weldh;. mentioned a number of projects. He told Mr. Welch that it was most essential so far as his(Patterson) Department was concerned that certain projects should be determined first so that they could get to work. In his opinion, Commissioner Patterson 172 said, there are three projects most essential: 1st, water supply; 2nd, widen- ing of Central Avenue and Coast Boulevard, and 3rd, a new City Hall. Accord- ingly, he had suggested to Commissioner Johnson that his Committee meet with the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce on the project of the widening of Central Avenue and Coast Boulevard. In this connection, Commissioner Patter- son estimated what in his opinion would be the cost of such widening with the resultant assessment to property owners. Regarding the water supply situation, Commissioner Patterson said that from twelve to fifteen thousand dollars would probably have to be expended. He said the water situation would only be relieved temporarily -just enough to take care of present needs. He cautioned that because of labor shortage, etc., the work should be started not later than Octyber. Regarding the City Hall project, Commissioner Patterson said the most import- ant question to decide at this time was the site. After that, he said, there would be ample time to prepare the floor plans and preliminary work in get- ting started on that project. In conclusion, Commissioner Patterson emphasised the necessity of completing one project at a time before the city could expect additional money from the State. Secretary Seager moved that the Commission instruct the Chairman of the Traf- fic Plan Committee to meet with the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Com- mittee as soon as possible and report back to the Commission. Motion second- ed by Commissioner Campbell. Carried and so ordered. Commissioner Jphnson, Chairman of the Traffic Plan Committee, said he would have his report ready to present to the Commission within two weeks, to -wit, August 3, 1944. UNFINISHED Mr. G. H. Wends, attorney of Glendale, California, presented himself to the BUSINESS Commission on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Blake, who had Appeared before the Commission on two previous occasions seeking approval of a building which they proposed to have moved to a site on Coast Blvd., Corona Del Mar. He said that the Blakes had abandoned their original plan, and had decided upon a new structure to house their museum. He presented a front elevation plan for approval of the Commission. Secretary Seager moved that the matter be referred to the Architectural Com- mittee and that such Committee be instructed to report back to the Planning. Commission at its regular meeting. Attorney wende said that he was advised that there was no Architectural Committee at this time. Secretary Seager re- plied that such a Committee c uld be appointed forthwith. In the general dis- cussion which ensued, Commissioner Isbell said that due to wartime conditions, priorities, etc., he thought the Commission should be assured that the Blakes would be able to complete the structure. At this juncture, the Chairman re- minded the Commission that there had been a motion presented by the Secretary. Commissioner Patterson, in order to get the matter under discussion, seconded the motion. It was decided Aiat iY ' Blakes should have to await the approval of an Archi- tectural Committee, which, at preseutt,was.pon existant. The Chairman suggest- ed that in order to clarify the situation ''Secretary Seeger his motion. Secretary Seeger withdrew his motion substituting the following motion: that the Planning Commission constitute an Architectural Committee and decide this F 173 matter immediately. Motion seconded by Commissioner Allen. Carried and so ordered. Secretary Seeger stated that the plans presented.by the Blakes were not sufficiently comprehensive to be passed upon. He said there was nothing to show what the rear of the structure would look like. He referred to the Ordinance which requires complete plans and elevations of all propos- ed buildings. He called attention to Section 11 of the Ordinance which provides that churches, museums, and libraries submit to the Planning Commission location and plans for exterior treatment and ground lay -out. Commissioner Patterson advised Attorney wends that the Building Inspect- or would require a complete sat of plans in any event, and suggested that the Blakes comply with this requirement. He then offered the follow- ing motions That the matter be laid upon the table until complete plans are presented in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance. Motion seconded by Commissioner Isbell. Carried and so ordered. Secretary Seeger moved that the Architectural` Committee: be dissolved-. - Motion. seconded by Commissioner Allen. Carried and so ordered. Commissioner'Patterson moved that the Chairman appoint an Architectural Committee. .Motion seconded by Secretary Seeger. Carried and so ordered. Mr. Arthur H. Pease appeared before the Commission with the verbal re- quest that two lots on the northwest corner of Park Avenue and Agate, ' Balboa Island, be rezoned from residential to business property. He stat- ed that when he bought these lots about four years ago they were zoned for business, and it was not until recently when he was negotiating the sale of the lots that he discovered they had be n rexoned to residential pro- perty. Commissioner Patterson eeminded Mr. Pease that the new Boning Or- dinance had been duly advertised - that, in fact, it had been under dis- cussion and consideration for a long time. Mr. Pease said he was aware of that, but that he, personally, had just found out the lots in quest- ion had been rezoned. The Commission informed Mr. Pease that his request for rezoning would have to be in the form of a written application and that the matter would thereafter be advertised for public.hearing. Mr. Leonard T. Thompson, appeared before the Commission with a written application for a front yard variance to do with lot 11, block 85, Corona Dal Mar. In explaining the reason for the application, Mr. Thompson said he had recently purchased a house on the lot in question; that he was not aware of the 18 foot setback requirement; that the house now sets back 22 feet, and that he had intended attaching a front porch approximately 7 feet in width. He had purchased the, lumber for this purpose only to learn for the first time of the 18 feet setback requirement. He said that by complying with the setback requirement his porch would be only 3 feet wide. He said there is only one other house in the block, and that that house is set back but 15 feet. He asks that he be permitted to bring his porch out to a 15 foot setback, which would conform to the set- back of the only other house in the block. Commissioner Patterson moved that the Secretary be instructed to advertise the application for public hearing on August 3, 1944 at 7`-30 pm, in the Council Chambers, City Hall, Newport Beach, California. Motion seconded by Secretary Sewer. Carried and so ordered. Secretary Seager read a telegram addressed to him, dated Woodland, Cal. ANNUAL ELECTIONS from Chairman Aopkins to the effect that he had wired Mayor Clyan Hall 174 his resignation from the Planning Commission because of the press of business matters. The Secretary said Mayor Hall had telephoned him asking that the Com- mission postpone its annual election for a month because of the fact that it , would be impossible to appoint a successor to Chairman Hopkins until the Coun- cil met. It being agreeable to the Commission to postpone the annual election for one month, Secretary Seager moved that the annual election of officers of the Planning Commission be postponed one month. Motion seconded by Commission- er Allen. Carried and so ordered. ADJOURN Secretary Seager moved to adjourn until August 3, 1944. Motion seconded by MENT Commissioner Balta. Carried and so ordered. Re pectfully submitted, HOWARD W. SEAG Secreta