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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 05-15-1995 • • Regular Meeting - May 15, 1995 A regular meeting of the City of Dublin Planning Commission was held on Monda.y, May 15, 1995, in the Dublin Civic Center Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 by Comtnissioner Zika. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Geist, Jennings, Johnson, Lockhart and Zika; Laurence L. Tong; Planning Director; Dennis Carrington, Senior Planner; Ralph Kachadourian, Assistant Planner and Gaylene Burkett, Recording Secretary. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG Cm. Zika led the Commission, Staff, and those present in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE AGENDA The minutes of the May 1, 1995, meeting were approved as corrected. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None PUBLIC HEARING 8.1 PA 95-006 Valley Auto Center Conditional Use Permit approval request to allow the installation and use of a 56-foot tall chan~eable copv, electronic readerboard freestand'mg sign for the dealership located at 6015 and 6085 Scarlett Court. This nroject includes approval of a Site Development Review for up~rades and improvements to the facades of the dealership's showrooms and service building and for revisions to the landscaping. A Master Si~n Program Site Development Review approval is requested to establish a comprehensive si~n program for the entire automobile dealership facilitv. Commissioner Zika asked for the staff report. • • Ra1ph Kachadourian, Assistant Planner, presented the staff report. He outlined the project. He stated that the Applicant, Mr. Steve Haworth, General Manager of the Valley Auto Center, wanted to establish a Master Sign Program for the dealership facility, with improvements and modifications to the e~cterior facades. Mr. Kachadourian stated that the Applicant wanted to be able to provide better visibility and understanding of their products. He stated that the Electronic Readerboard Sign required a Conditional Use Permit approval. He stated the Applicant could use the readerboard sign for certain public service information, such as date, time and/or temperature. He stated that Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the draft Resolution for the Conditional Use Pernut for the changeable readerboard sign, adopt the draft Resolution for the Site Development Review for the building upgrades and landscaping improvements, and adopt the draft Resolution approving the Master Sign Program for the entire dealership facility. Cm. Geist asked what height the e~risting 35 foot sign would be when relocated. Mr. Kachadourian stated they would remain the same as before, 35 feet. Cm. Geist stated that they were shown at 45 feet on the plan. Cm. Zika asked with all the signs, are they still within the eausting limit of the Sign Ordinance. Mr. Kachadourian answered yes. Cm. Zika indicated that in the past, when they had discussion on other readerboard signs, there was a requirement on how much they wouid use the sign for public service. Mr. Kachadourian indicated on page 7 of 42, 2nd paragraph from the top indicated what they would be allowed to da Cm. Zika indicated that all that showed was what they were allowed to do, but did not show how much time would be allocated to public service messages. Mr. Kachadourian stated that Section 8.08.020 read in part that electronic readerboard or other changeable copy sign was intended prirnarily to promote items of general interest to the community, such as time, temperature and/or date. Cm. Zika stated he was looking for a specific percentage. Mr. Carrington stated that originally discussed on the Honda. proposal was to have 2 service type messages and one public service announcement. Mr. Kachadourian stated that in Condition 7, they stipulate that the Applicant will provide the public service signage on the readerboard and will submit a schedule to the Planning Director indicating the percentages. Mr. Tong stated that this was something that we would work out with the Applicant. Cm. Zika asked if the Planning Commission could offer guidelines that are not Conditions of Approval. • • Mr. Tong answered yes. Cm. Johnson asked what CALTRANS requirements were for this type of sign. Mr. Kachadourian stated CALTRANS had allowed different signs similar to this, including a few along Highway 99 and some were around the 80 foot height with 1,200 square feet per side. Cm. Johnson stated that on page 30 of 42, it had a size of 10' x 35'. Mr. Ka.chadourian stated that was referring just to the readerboard. Cm. Zika asked if the Crossroads Pontiac/Toyota site was wit,hin 1000 feet. Mr. Kachadourian stated it was not within 1000 feet of Valley Auto Center. Mr. Carrington made a comment that the distance between the panel and the ground of the readerboard sign was approved at 41 feet 6 inches. Cm. Zika asked the Applicant if he wished to speak. Steve Haworth, General Mana.ger, Valley Auto Center, tha.nked the Planning Commission for the opportunity to address them. He stated that the cost of expenditures keep raising, and they wanted to take advantage of the traff'ic on 580 for their advertising. He stated they have to compete with other Cities for their dealership, and wanted to place Dublin on the map. He stated he wanted to keep other manufactures from opening competitive points within the Valley. Cm. Zika asked the Applicant if he agreed to the Conditions of Approval. The Applicant stated he was very happy. Cm. Lockl~art asked how the Applicant felt about public service advertising. Mr. Haworth stated the more public service they could provide Dublin, ma.kes us stand out against other Cities in the area. I I Cm. Zika asked Mr. Haworth what ratio he was comfortable with on service advertising. ~li Mr. Ha.worth stated two per minute, or six to one ratia Mr. Tong suggested a low ratio on a day to day basis and during special events there could be a higher ratia ~ Cm. Zika asked if there was something that could be put in writing to protect the City in the event ' that Mr. Haworth was no longer with the company. Mr. Tong stated they could place a requirement in a Condition of Approval for community service messages. Cm. Jennings asked if item 7 on page 25 of 42 answered the question. • • Cm. Johnson asked if there was an accident on the freeway, could their sign advise people. I Mr. Haworth sta.ted as far as he knew, that was possible. ! Dave Cox, Western Regional Vice President for Whiteway Sign Corporation, stated that there were different ideas possible, some might be "Welcome to Dublin, it's 81° at 5:15" or "Prepare to Shop, Dublin, next e~ut", but suggested that they set a minimum that could always go up. He stated that with the new BART station, the 56 foot height sign was necessary on order to be seen ~ by eastbound traffic. i i Mr. Carrington suggested they have wording to the effect of "'The Applicant sha11 provide public ~''i service announcements no less than an average of three times a minute". i Cm. Zika stated he liked the four to one ratio. I ~ ~ Cm. Zika closed the public hearing. Cm. Johnson said the Economic Development Committee stated no one seemed to know where III Dublin was, and felt this would be good for Dublin. I Cm. Lockhart stated that anything they could do to help the local car dealerships would help put tax money in our coffers. ~ i Cm. Jennings stated she was impressed with the landscape scheme. I, Cm. Lockhart asked if the Qvale family was still involved in the dealership. I!i ' Mr. Haworth answered yes. Mr. Tong offered language for the public service/advertising raxio which would be added to Condition 7, page 25 of 42. "The Applicant shall provide sales/service rnessages and community services messages at a minimum ratio of four to one, with potential for additional community service messages on an occasional basis". Cm. Zika said that was OK, and asked the Applicant if he had problem with that. Mr. Haworth said that was fine. ~ On motion by Cm. Jennings, seconded by Cm. Lockhart, the Planning Commission unanimously voted to adopt the draft Resolution approving the Conditional Use Permit, adopt the draft i Resolution approving the Site Development Review and adopt the draft Resolution approvu?g the Master Sign Program Site Development Review with amendment to Condition 7 for PA 95-006. NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS II ~'I None ~ I . ~ ~ OTI-~R BUSINESS Mr. Tong informed the Planning Commission that Hansen Ranch Phase II will be going before the ' City Council at their May 22, 1995 meeting. He gave a brief outline of the Applicant's new ~I proposal. , i Cm. Jennings asked if the open space would remain. Mr. Tong answered it would be somewhat reduced. Cm. Johnson asked if it was the same plan as presented at the previous City Council meeting. Mr. Tong answered yes. Cm. Jennings asked if the Planning Commission meeting time would change. Mr. Tong stated he had just sent the memo to the Paxks and Community Service Director, and was awaiting a response. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, - lanning C ~ssion C ' erson ATTEST: •l ~ Laurence L. Tong Planning Director