Results tagged “Planning Commission” from RCNow

The Planning Commission meeting is canceled today because of the holiday. City Hall is also closed.

Happy Veterans Day!

Commenters on this blog have brought up the issue of council members' age, saying the city needs younger representatives.

The average age of the current council is 61. Here goes the breakdown: Don Kurth, 60, Dennis Michael, 62, Diane Williams, 67, Rex Gutierrez, 49, and Sam Spagnolo, 67.

I would imagine it's difficult for young working people to find time to be a council member. That's why many people who run are already retired, like Michael, Spagnolo and Williams.

Does age matter? Is the current council too old?

Don Yoder was appointed by the Planning Commission to represent the bicycling community in the Trails Advisory Committee. Tom Tisler was appointed as an alternate rep. 

Final tally: 33 34 residents spoke opposing Carrari Ranch, including one Upland and one Claremont resident. Nobody spoke supporting the project.

The quote that basically summed up residents' attitude: "This is a project that has no reason for being," said Lee Nelson.

Honorable mention goes to the long-distance runner/ER physician named Gerard who evoked Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi." That song gives us the wonderful line, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

This might be the first time Joni Mitchell was quoted in the Council Chambers.


One resident asked if the initial study can be downloaded. Here it is:

Recirc Initial Study_June 2009.pdf

 

It's a full house tonight at the Planning Commission meeting because Carrari Ranch is on the agenda. Without a doubt, many here are not Planning Commission regulars.

Carrari Ranch, however, is later on the agenda. Right now staff is talking about amending a development code on wireless communications facilities. I think everybody is expecting fireworks but instead they're wondering what "nev dec," "CEQA" or "CUP" means.

"This is so boring," whispered the gentleman in front of me.

If you have an opinion on Rep. Gary Miller's plan to build 110 homes on Carrari Ranch, the scoping meeting Wednesday is for you. The public hearing is aimed to collect input for the draft environmental impact review. If you can't make the meeting, you can submit a statement this week to be included in the EIR.

Those likely to be in attendance are residents who call themselves the Save Our Mountains Alliance. The group has been planning to block this project since Miller first proposed it in 2005.

Mayor Don Kurth pointed out that opposition to development in the north part of the city is not new. Residents who oppose Miller's project now live north of residents who opposed their homes.

"There's no unanimity to this issue," Kurth said. "There are people who live below (Miller's opponents) who say, 'What are you talking about? How come you can say people can't build up there and yet you built above us?' "

The Planning Commission meeting starts 7 p.m.      

Tonight's Planning Commission meeting has been canceled.

My suggestion for the five-member commission: go to Victoria Gardens, where there will be taiko drumming at 6 p.m. and a pedestrian fair until 9 p.m.

The city has started a Healthy RC dining program, an effort to get local restaurants to serve good-for-you items. During the public hearing on the fate of Pepper's Mexican Restaurant last night, the owner indicated that he might participate in the Healthy RC initiative.

Last year, the Planning Commission wanted to take away Pepper's ability to serve distilled spirits because it had been operating outside of its permit. People were getting arrested for public intoxication, the bartender served to drunk patrons and the bouncer got into a nasty brawl. Not so healthy.

My what a difference a couple of months have made. My suggestion: Ditch the bouncer and serve veggie quesadillas with whole wheat tortillas. Very healthy.

The City Council, by the way, gave Pepper's a second chance and overturned the Planning Commission's decision. What do you think? A healthy decision?

Remember Pepper's?

It's the Mexican restaurant on 19th and Archibald that got a spanking from the Planning Commission last year for operating like a bar and not like a restaurant. For one, the owners called it a bar, that's a no-no. But also, it closed its kitchen, hired a bouncer and brought in a dance floor.

Because of this, the Planning Commission wanted to revoke the restaurant's conditional use permit and prohibit the sale of liquor.

In March, the City Council gave Pepper's a second chance, saying it'll revisit the issue in July.

At tonight's meeting, the city is expected to overturn the Planning Commission's decision because so far, Pepper's has been on good behavior.

The Planning Commission is looking for somebody to represent the bicycling community on the Trails Advisory Committee. Applications, downloadable here, are due June 10.

The committee advises the Planning Commission on location and design of trails in proposed development projects. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and live in the city. The committee meets on an as needed basis on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.

Information: (909) 477-2750

The Community Fair next Saturday at Central Park will give residents a glimpse of the city's future. There will be displays and presentations on the General Plan update with plenty of opportunities for public input. The planning department will show maps of land use alternatives that could be considered in the next decade as the city nears build-out.

Next year, the city is expected to complete its General Plan revision, a blueprint for future development in the city. This week, the City Council approved the guiding principles for the General Plan update.

The Community Fair on May 16 is 9 a.m. to noon.
  

The city is marking National Historic Preservation Month starting today. (It's already May!)

At the City Council meeting next Wednesday, proclamations will be given to non-profit historical societies at the start of the 7 p.m. meeting.

On May 9, there will be a Mother's Day tea event hosted by the Etiwanda Historical Society at Etiwanda Gardens. Call the historical society at (909) 899-8432 for information.

On May 19, you can check out the display of historic photos at the Biane Library from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

On May 27, a 6 p.m. reception at the Tri-Communities Room at City Hall will precede the Historic Preservation and Planning Commission meeting. At the 7 p.m. meeting, there will be an award ceremony and certificates presented to historic property owners.

Information: (909) 477-2750

Town hall meetings are usually the most effective when they are well attended but unfortunately, the joint City Council/Planning Commission klatch on the General Plan last night drew just two dozen or so. Gwyn Frost, the city's first first lady, pointed out that the first General Plan meetings during incorporation took place at Alta Loma High School and drew so many participants that the venue was standing-room only.

"This room is not as full as it should be," Frost said at Celebration Hall.

One reason last night's meet was subdued is because the Planning Department has already been through a pretty aggressive public outreach effort to bring the meeting to the people. They've conducted 40 or so meetings about the General Plan's draft guiding principles prior to last night's meeting.

There weren't a lot of people but the ones who came were sassy and outspoken. Frost said she was disappointed that the Founder's Day Parade has been commercialized by the Victoria Gardens venue. Some wanted a better recycling program. Others wanted stricter language on hillside development.

It wasn't the last opportunity to share ideas on the General Plan. A community workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m., May 16 at Central Park.

Might I suggest some bribing techniques to bolster civic engagment?

Food -- Ontario is known for its cookies offered during City Council meetings and so is dinky Montclair, which boasts three, count 'em, three kinds of cookies, coffee and two, count 'em, two kinds of creamer. Ahem, Rancho.

Drinks -- Wine guru Gino Filippi attended the meeting last night. Maybe he could have hosted a wine tasting. And since the topic of the evening was "Spirit of RC," why not some spirits?

I don't know, it's just a thought.

The station, pictured in 1966 and again in 1999, has seen a lot in the 50-some years it served as a fueling station on Route 66. The station closed in 1972. And "Dolly's Diner," a converted bus that served food behind the station, is also no more.

The building was built by Henry Klusman, who was also responsible for the Virginia Dare Winery, Old Stone Church and a host of other structures. From 1945 to 1971, the station was run by Arvid Lewis, who was the first full-time fire chief in Cucamonga.

For more information about the station, see the Historical Preservation Association's research on the topic. GasStation.doc   

The Planning Commission voted unanimously tonight to give the Cucamonga Service Station on Foothill near Archibald historic landmark status. The 94-year-old station was built by Henry Klusman and is currently owned by Lamar Advertising.

The matter will be forwarded to the City Council for a final vote. 

They say if you don't get involved, you can't complain. Well, here's your chance to earn your complaining rights.

The City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint workshop to solicit comments on the draft principles of the General Plan. The 6:30 p.m. meeting on Thursday will be held at the Victoria Gardens Celebration Hall.

The draft principles is a 950-word document that will act as a blueprint for all development in the city. Public comments made on Thursday will be forwarded to the members of the General Plan Advisory Committee, who will work on a final draft to be adopted by the City Council in May.

The city is half way through a two-year process of updating its General Plan, which is scheduled to be unveiled next spring. The Thursday meeting will culminate a public outreach project by the Planning Department to collect comments on the draft principles.   

Margaritas are ok for now, the City Council told Pepper's at a public hearing tonight. But the restaurant on 19th Street was warned that even though it's getting a second chance, it doesn't mean the business is off the hook.

Because Pepper's had been operating like a bar and not a restaurant that serves alcohol -- as it's permitted to operate -- the establishment faced losing its ability to serve liquor tonight. The planning department told the council that if distilled spirits is no longer allowed, Pepper's would resemble more like a restaurant, less like a bar. The police department agreed, saying no liquor would probably mean less service calls to that area.

But the City Council decided to give Pepper's one more chance, telling owner Frank Frias that he can continue serving liquor but must close at 11 p.m. Council members warned Pepper's that the city will monitor the situation and come back on July 15 to revisit the matter.

"I personally believe in the God of second chances," Mayor Don Kurth told Frias. "If I were you, I'd make sure I was squeaky clean."

Kurth, a former patron of Pepper's, also said something surprising about the strip mall establishment. When he was having lunch there once, Arnold Schwarzenegger was eating at the next table. There was no information about whether police calls increased that day.

I can't say I know much about Pepper's. Anybody out there have an opinion about that place?  

Pepper's -- a spicy issue in this city because the restaurant stands to lose the ability to sell liquor -- will be addressed by the City Council at 7 p.m. this evening. The Planning Commission has not been happy with this restaurant on 19th Street and voted in October to revoke Pepper's conditional use permit. The restaurant is permitted to operate as a restaurant that serves alcohol but the planning department believes it's operating as a bar. I think the bar stools, beer ads and DJs gave it away.

Restaurant owner Frank Frias has filed an appeal. If the City Council does not grant the appeal, it means no more distilled spirits at Pepper's.

Other noteworthy items on the agenda: Rod Hoops, the new sheriff in town, will get some love from the City Council. The former Rancho captain will be introduced at the start of the meeting. Also, the city will discuss an ordinance aimed to keep foreclosed and abandoned properties pretty. If this ordinance is adopted, the city can fine owners for neglecting their property. It would also allow the use of green spray paint to "beautify" dead lawns.

The Historic Preservation/Planning Commission will vote on a resolution to give the Cucamonga Service Station a historic landmark designation at the 7 p.m. meeting Wednesday.

The property on Foothill and Archibald was a service station during Route 66's heyday. It was built by Henry Klusman at least 94 years ago. The now neglected property is currently owned by Lamar Advertising.

With fears that the structure would be vulnerable to demolition without the landmark status, the Planning Commission initiated the landmark designation application without the owner's consent. If the commission approves the resolution, the matter will be forwarded to the City Council for final approval.

Feb. 26:  This item is continued until March 11.

The Planning Department, hoping to gather as much input as possible for the General Plan update, is taking their show on the road. An advisory committee has written "Spirit of RC," a draft document that will set guidelines for future planning decisions, and the city wants to know what you think about it. And by you, they mean, anyone who lives, works or plays in the city.

Community groups like Kiwanis and Chamber of Commerce have scheduled their road show. Organizations wanting a presentation from the Planning Department can schedule one by calling (909) 477-2750.

Don't dismiss all planners as map-touting white guys talking about the concentric ring theory. I got a sneak peak of this "road show" and although it was missing free food, it was a worthwhile presentation. The "Spirit of RC" is a pretty accurate snapshot of Rancho but if you disagree, you can be civic minded and throw your two cents in.