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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/29/1973a - COMMISSIONERS Specie Place: Z p p p Time: R CALL Date: Present Motion Ayes Noes Abstained CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Planning Commission Meeting City Council Chambers 7:00 p.m. November 29. 1973 rage I of 8 MINUTES INDEX xXXXx EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS David R. Baade, Assistant City Attorney STAFF MEMBERS James D. Hewicker, Assistant Director - Planning Rod Gunn, Advance Planning Administrator Tim Cowell, Senior Planner Joanne Bader, Secretary Minutes of the Special Meeting of November 8; 1973 X X X X were approved as written. X Discussion - Water Quality in Newport Bay Item A -1 DISCUS - Robert S. Stone, Director of Environmental Health, Orange County Health Department. Sr0 -ql Robert E. Moore, Manager, Santa Ana WATER Watershed Planning Agency. UALITY Jim Anderson, Executive Officer, Santa Ana IN NEW - PORT BAY Regional Water Quality Control Board. Robert Stone of the Orange County Health Depart- ment appeared before the Planning Commission. Mr. Stone discussed the water quality of Newport Bay. In the course of his discussion he passed out copies of the Laws and Regulations for water quality and a summary of the findings of a survey the Health Department conducted in late 1972 and early 1973 to find possible sources of water pollution. He discussed the potential health hazards water pollution may have on the public and informed the Commission of a Comprehensive Environmental Quality Study the Orange County Health Department has proposed for Newport Bay. Jim Anderson of the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board appeared before the Planning Commission. Mr. Anderson discussed Page 1. 0 rage 2 of 8 '`COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH r• m i Z p p MINUTES T November 29, 1973 INDEX the Water Quality Control Act of 1970 in which water quality objectives were set for the State of California. He also informed the Commission of sewage and soil discharge requirements and the Siltation Control Program. Bob Moore of the Santa Ana Watershed Planning Agency, which is acting as a Consultant.to the Regional Water Quality Board, appeared before the Planning Commission. Mr. Moore reviewed with the Commission the many factors relating to water supply, water quality and water use. Mr. Moore then introduced Larry Davis, Consultant, Water Resources Engineers, to the Commission, who is presently in the process of developing a comprehensive water plan for the Santa Ana Watershed. Mr. Davis reviewed the future projections of the watershed and the effects of chanelization of the upper bay. He commented on how certain activities could affect the upper bay. He told the Commission the reasons he felt there should be some regard for a buffer area around the upper bay shore line and he discussed the elements that the Water Quality Management Plan may be comprised of. Mr. Moore then reappeared before the Commission and summarized Mr. Davis' speech and the current status of the consultant program. The Planning Commission recessed at 9:30 p.m. and reconvened at 9:40 p.m. Request to consider the acceptance of the Recreation and Open Space Item A -2 Element of The Newport Beach General Plan Environmental Impact Report EIR /NB - 73 -041. ENVIRON- MENTAL Initiated by.: The City of Newport Beach REPORT Mr. Gunn advised the Commission that the EIR NB - 73 41 Recreation and Open Space Element was approved on November 8, 1973 but -0 that the Enviroenta Impact Report was continued until this meeting. He further stated that the Environmental Affairs Committee had reviewed the Environmental Page 2. COMMISSIONERS D M Z S S A N • � � T p M Z P � ROLL GAIL Motion All Aye 0 0 Page 3 of 8 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH MINUTES November 29, 1973 INDEX Impact Report and had accepted it. Item A -2 ENVIRON- X Motion to accept Environmental Impact Report S EIR /NB - 73 -041. MENTAL IMPACT REPORT EIR NB - 3 APPROVED Request to consider the adoption of the Conserva- Item A -3 tion of Natural Resources Element of the eeport Ueacn General Plan and acceptance CONSERVA o T E nv1ronmenta 1 TM_P_a_C_t___Fe_po rt EIR /NB - 73 -043. TION OF Initiated Initiate: The City of Newport Beach RES� ROES Mr. Gunn discussed the report with the Commission -0FETHET and informed them that on November 8, 1973, NEWPORT the staff submitted 32 suggested revisions BEACH for this element. Mr. Cowell added that on G�VERAL November 12, 1973 City Council suggested an PLAN addition to the proposed amendment by the Citizens Environmental Community Advisory Committee, which would be added to Section 6 on Energy Conservation. He then read this report to the Commission. Chairman Agee opened the public hearing. Frank Robinson, Newport Beach, read page 10, item 4 of the Element to the Commission. Mr. Robinson suggested that something be done to change the Uniform Building Code to upgrade the quality of the grading ordinance to make it more effective. He used as an example the east bluff where some of the land was graded and left bare for four or five years and a huge amount of it ended up in the bay. He also discussed the fact that grading control in the past has had to do mostly with safety. Valerie Murley, Chairman of the Citizens Environmental Quality Control Advisory Committee, commented that the Commission has all of the Committee's recommendations and that she has reviewed all of the recommendations and find none in conflict with the Committee's. Page 3. Page 4 of 8 COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH T R F T ya m i • A = P M Z P P ROLL CALL Motion Ayes Noes Motion All Ayes • Motion All Ayes 0 Motion All Ayes MINUTES November 29, 1973 �nvtx There being no others desiring to be heard, Chairman Agee closed the public hearing. At this time there was a general discussion between the Commissioners as to whether Page 26,, Item 5 is out of context and whether it would better be fitted in the Transportation Element. X X X X X X Motion to replace Item 5 to read "Acts to encourage maximum reduction of air pollution from mobile sources." X Motion for adoption as drafted including cou.ncil's addition pertaining to speed and energy, 32 suggested revisions by staff, and the following: 1. Section 5, second paragraph should read: "Even though the area has not been extensively studied, well over thirty (30) archaeological sites have been discovered and recorded in Newport Beach; most of these are adjacent to and around the Upper Bay. These sites are on record with the Archaeologi- cal Survey Office at UCLA." 2. Section 5, Proposal, Item 3 should read: "Notify Archaeological Research, Inc. (ARI) and appropriate academic institu- tions prior to any large scale improve- ments on undeveloped publicly -owned Item A -3 CONSERVA- TION OF NATURAL property to determine if any scientific resources exist. RESOURCES ELEMENT X Motion to accept Environmental Impact Report. APPROVED Request to consider the adoption of The Housing Element of the Newport Beach General Plan Item A -4 THE HOUS- and acceptance of Environmental Impact Report EIR /NB - 73 -042. ING ELE- Initiated by; The City of Newport Beach MENT OF THE NEW- PORT BEACH GENERAL X Motion was made to continue this matter to the Special Meeting of January 10, 1973. PLAN Page 4. CONT. TO JAN. 10 Page 5 of 8 COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH • f+ m T A m Z p A ROLL CALL r 0 0 MINUTES November 29, 1973 INDEX Request to consider an amendment to the Land Item B -1 Use Element of the Newport Beach General-71an. Initiated by: The City of Newport Beach LAND USE L�—�ME­NT Mr. Gunn read portions of the staff report to OF —THE NEWPORT the Commission. Mr. Gunn explained the BEACH staff report and informed the Commission that GENERAL a commercial center would be appropriate in PLAN terms of the number of families in the area and the distance to the nearest existing convenience shopping areas but it appears it would not be compatible to the flora and fauna reserve. He further stated that a neighborhood shopping center is not essential in this area and for that reason the staff is requesting the Planning Commission consider an amendment to the Land Use Element of the Newport Beach General Plan. The residents of the area are asking the Commission to reconsider the sentence in the Element that reads: . "Alternative uses may include a commercial center at the southeast corner of Irvine Avenue and University Drive to serve the residents of the area." Chairman Agee opened the public hearing. Frank Robinson, Newport Beach stated that if the alternative to Open Space is low density residential, there would be some dedication of the area as part of the normal requirements for park areas which could, in turn, be con- solidated into this area. He stated that this area is needed for recreation and that this is the only area where you can get a complete panoramic view of the entire bay. Ray Williams, President of Friends of Newport Bay stated that they are in agreement with.the first choice of land use which is to leave it as open space. He informed the Commission that the bluffs and uplands are good fossil sites which he hopes will be available for study. He further stated that this bay is unique and, therefore, it is a valuable facility for educational purposes. He stated that a commercial area would be incompatible with the refuge below, would add congestion, air pollution, run -off problems and noise. He mentioned that the bay is unique and that a Page 5. Page 6 of 8 COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH (1 T • � � T �pF T m Rou tau p p November 4 MINUTES 29, 1973 INDEX shopping center is not; therefore, the shopping center should be put somewhere else. Dr. Simpson, Newport Beach stated that he concurred with the staff recommendation. He felt that the opinion among the residents of the area is almost unanimous against having a commercial development. Valerie Murley, Chairman Citizens Environmental Quality Control Advisory Committee, stated that the Committee supports the deletion of this commercial development and that these uplands are essential for preservation. She felt that it should be stated in the General Plan that only the least intensive uses would be supported. Mrs. Howard Baab, Newport Beach informed the Commission that she has presented the City with a petition which was signed by 1500 people who entirely support the position of ' the Friends of Newport Bay. The Commission questioned why Mrs. Baab's petition included people out of the bay area. At this time Mrs. Baab read the history of the petition. Larry Moore of the Irvine Company agreed that if at all possible, the upper area should be open space, but also stated that if it can't be done then there has to be some reasonable alternatives. Mr. Moore stated that the Irvine Company is asking that this area be residential with a neighborhood shopping center on the corner. He brought up the fact that the staff reported that a neighborhood shopping center is not essential. Mr. Moore mentioned that a neighborhood shopping center is never essential in a given area but they do have to go somewhere. He stated that this is an appropriate area for a shopping center. Frank Robinson, Newport Beach stated that he was not addressing his position as to whether or not a shopping center was appropriate or not. Mr. Robinson mentioned that he merely stated that he sees no reason to take a special ' area and use it as a shopping center site. Mr. Robinson felt that of all the'types of development to go around the bay, this is the most incompatible. Page 6. Page 7 of 8 COMMISSIONERS CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH r• T • T A T D� wl� ROIL CAIL ^` Motion Ayes Noes 0 • MINUTES November 29, 1973 INDEX Gus Patrick of Costa Mesa said that this is a beautiful bay and should be left alone. There being no others desiring to be heard, Chairman Agee closed the public hearing. At this time the Commission discussed the Item B -1 advantages and disadvantages of a neighborhood LAND USE shopping center. ELEMENT Motion that the Land Use Element of the General OF THE NEWPORT X X Plan be amended to delete as an alternative use BEACH X X X X the retail and service commercial aspect of GENERAL this particular site and accept recommended PLAN wording. Motion failed. FAILED Request to consider an amendment to the Master Item B -2 Plan of Bikeways portion of The Recreation and pen pace Element of The Newport Beach General MASTER Plan. PLAN OF Initiated by: The City of Newport Beach. BIKEWAYS Mr. Gunn discussed the report and explained that at the November 8, 1973 Special Meeting of the Planning Commission, a draft was inadver- tently given to the Planning Commission that did not include all the suggestions of the Citizens Bikeways Advisory Committee. Alan Beek, appeared before the Commission and requested that the Commission remove the two bicycle trails on the far.side of Corona del Mar from the controversial trails map and to remove the Balboa Island bicycle trails from the controversial trails map. He also mentioned the paragraph, suggested by the staff for the controversial trails map, which says that these additional segments were considered for designation but were rejected due to public objection. He stated that in most cases they were not rejected due to public objection, but were rejected due to a single individual. He said the bicycle trails on Balboa Island in particular were removed by the Committee and put back on in a meeting where the majority of the committee was absent and the minority had control. Page 7. .COMMISSIONERS a Z< Al CALL Motion Ayes Abstain Motion Ayes Abstains 0 Motion All Ayes • CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Page 8 of 8 MINUTES November 29. 1973 INDEX Harry Kamp, member of the Bicycle Advisory Committee appeared before the Commission and stated that he agreed with Mr. Gunn in that he felt the suggested material is correct as approved by the Committee on October 1, 1973. Mr. Kamp felt that Mr. Beek was speaking only for himself and did not express the opinion of the Bicycle Advisory Committee. X X Motion to amend the bikeways section by X X X X X including suggested changes as indicated in e X Items 1 - 5 of the staff report. X X Motion to change the first sentence of the ' X X X X X X last paragraph on page 50 of the Bikeways Item B -2 Text to read: "There are several additional segments MASTER PLAN F of the public right -of -way system which BIKEWAYS were considered for designation as .bikeways on the Master Plan, but which APPROVED were separated for further study." INFORMATION - Proposed Plan for a Park and Item B -3 Preserve in Upper Newport Bay by the,Friends of Newport Bay. INFO. - The Commission had a general discussion PLANOFOR regarding this proposal. Mr. Williams A PARK clarified the map opposite page 6. AND PRE- * * * * * * * * * * SERVE IN UM —R X There being no further business, Planni 9 NEWPORT BAY Commission adjou ned a 11 P.M. S PH OSENER, JR., Sec tary nning Commission City of Newport Beach Page 8.