3B Public Hearing 2007 0716 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpt/rom the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Agenda No. 07-11 June 14, 2007 Page 2 0/5 arch spanning the space from the resident manager's building to the speculative building. The exterior uses contemporary California Spanish architecture, with both recessed and projecting features to add interest, and the clay tile roof originally approved for the project. (Mr. Landes had come back to the Planning Commission in January 2007 to explore the possibility of substituting a lighter-weight material for the clay tiles, but he was told to stay with the original proposal.) The speculative units have rollup doors that lend themselves to light industrial uses by future tenants. A sign program has also been developed for these units. With no substantive changes in the proposal, and considering that the development would enhance the underutilized and blighted property, staff recommends forwarding the proposal to the City Council with a recommendation for approval with the same conditions for another year. Commissioner Collier asked whether the project will be completed within the next year. Planner Penaranda said that he expected the project to be completed within a year after groundbreaking, but deferred to Mr. Landes for confirmation. Acting Chair/Vice Chair Dlugosh invited members of the public wishing to speak on this matter to come forward. Mark Landes, applicant and property owner, said he came to the meeting to support his application for renewal; and explained that they are about ready to break ground. Plans for the self-storage compound were completed six months ago; but the commercial building caused delay. He said they made some mistakes in the original design and had to re-do. Among the problems was a failure to account for the weight of the clay tile roof with the engineered structural system beneath it. Because the pre-engineered system would not work, they hired an engineer to design a system that would support the roof when the Planning Commission decided against a substitute roofing material. With the delay inevitable, he said they took the opportunity to make the building interior better than the original design. They will use wood - specifically an architectural-graded glu- lam exposed ceiling - instead of metal for the structural parts of the building. He said it is the kind that a high-end supermarket might use. Knowing the City's concern about the blighted look of the property, he noted that there were probably 100 truck and trailer loads of debris to clear when he purchased the property. They have since halved that, and is negotiating now for complete clearing of the property. He concluded by answering Commissioner Collier's question: Yes, the project will be finished within a year. Commissioner Nardine asked when the debris would be cleared from the property. Mr. Landes said that everything would be cleared within the next three to four weeks. He also explained that the debris is not like garbage, but rather pallets, industrial leftovers from the previous business, and so forth. What remains, he added, has been moved back from the street so as to be out of view, and he has onsite daytime help to keep trespassers out. His intention is to sign a contract with the debris removal contractor to demolish and remove the buildings on the property as a second phase of the cleanup just before taking out the building permit. Toxic materials (i.e., asbestos) were removed long ago. Commissioner Nardine requested clarification of his timeline for debris removal. Mr. Landes replied that the final details of the wording are being negotiated now, and he expects to sign the contract this weekend.