HomeMy WebLinkAboutAlbertson's Off-Site Parking Ageement StatusPLANNING DEPARTMENT
CITY HALL
3300 NEWPORT BOULEVARD
P. O. BOX 1768
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA
92658 -8915
Memorandum
May 22, 2008
#q
To: Planning Commission
From: Russell Bunim, Assistant Planner
Re: Albertson's Off -Site Parking Agreement Status Report pursuant
to Use Permit No. 3650 (PA2007 -115) — 3049 East Coast
Highway, Corona del Mar
INTRODUCTION
On June 6, 2007, the Planning Commission received a report by staff concerning the
conditions of approval for Use Permit No. 3650 ( Albertson's Off -Site Parking
Agreement). In that report, staff documented that Albertson's was in violation of five of
the conditions of approval. The Planning Commission directed that staff work with
Albertson's management and return in one year with a status report. This
memorandum is intended to follow up on the Albertson's one -year review required by
the Planning Commission.
Background
On May 6, 1999, the Planning Commission approved a use permit for an off -site parking
agreement to permit a remodel and construction of a storage mezzanine within an
existing grocery store building. The application was appealed to the City Council by
near -by residents. On June 14, 1999, the City Council approved the off -site parking
agreement with additional conditions of approval.
1. Conduct a public hearing to receive any comments from the public;
2. Continue to June 5, 2008, to allow staff time to conduct additional field
investigations.
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DISCUSSION
On May 12 and 13, 2008, Code Enforcement and Planning staff conducted field
investigations to determine Albertson's compliance with those conditions of approval
that were being violated one year ago. Preliminary findings indicate possible violations
of the conditions:
Condition #9
"Deliveries and refuse collection for the facility shall be prohibited between the hours of
8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. daily, unless otherwise approved by an amendment to this Use
Permit."
On May 12, 2008, a bread delivery truck parked on East Coast Highway and the
driver unloaded the goods and wheeled them through the front door at 6:45 a.m.
On May 13, 2008, a delivery truck was parked behind the store on Jasmine
Avenue at 6:40 a.m.
Condition #18
"The owner of the market shall provide blue meter parking permits to all employees and
renew them on an annual basis. The permit shall be provided at no cost to the
employees. The employees shall be directed to park in the City parking lot on Bayside
Drive at Marguerite at all times space is available in the parking lot. After 7.00 p.m., the
employees shall park on site."
Staff cited one vehicle on May 13, 2008, with an Annual Parking Permit parked
on Iris at 3:30 p.m. At this time, the parking lot on Bayside Drive had spaces
available. After staff spoke with Albertson's management, their employee moved
the vehicle to the Bayside Drive lot. On the same site visit, four employees from
Albertson's were parked in the Bayside lot.
Albertson's management provided documentation that they had purchased 29 Annual
Parking Permits (APP) for their employees on March 13, 2008. Albertson's
management also provided a list of license plate numbers and APP numbers for each
employee who drives to work. According to Albertson's management, the grocery store
has approximately 70 employees total, and most of them do not drive a vehicle to work.
Staff requests that Albertson's management provide documentation that over 60
percent of the employees use alternative transportation to travel to work.
Condition #23
"During hours not available for delivery, the service bay shall be chained."
• No violations were observed during staff site visits.
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Condition #24
"Prior to the issuance of building permits the applicant shall obtain the appropriate
permits to widen the driveway closest to First Avenue from the parking lot onto Iris
Avenue. The work on the driveway shall be completed under an encroachment permit
issued by the Public Works Department. Upon completion of the driveway widening,
delivery trucks shall be required to exit the shopping center from this driveway and turn
right onto Iris Avenue. Delivery trucks shall be prohibited from driving south down Iris
Avenue and Jasmine Avenue beyond FirstAvenue."
• No violations were observed during staff site visits.
Finding #4 (also Standard City Requirement #9)
"The approval of Use Permit No. 3650 and the Off -Site Parking Agreement will not,
under the circumstances of the case be detrimental to the health, safety, peace, morals,
comfort and general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood or be
detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the neighborhood or the general
welfare of the City and is consistent with the legislative intent of Title of this Code...."
In May 2007, Code Enforcement reported maintenance workers at the site
creating noise from blowers used by the gardeners and a generator used by the
curb painters.
During the past year, Code Enforcement has not received any complaints about
Albertson's daily operations.
CONCLUSION
Some violations of the conditions have been observed and there is evidence of
additional violations. Additional field investigations are necessary in order to determine
if these are isolated instances or if there is a pattern of violations. Field investigations
also indicate that only a handful of employees are parking in the City lot at Bayside and
Marguerite. Staff would like Albertson's management to demonstrate that this is truly
reflective of the number of employees who drive to work and that their employees are
not parking elsewhere.
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