HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_02_17 - SpecialMINUTES
Special joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission of the City of Redlands held on February
17, 2021 at 5 00 P M
Present
Staff
Mayor Paul Banch
Mayor Pro Tempore Eddie Tejeda
Council Member Paul Foster
Council Member Denise Davis
Council Member Jenna Guzman -Lowery
Planning Chair Conrad Guzkowski
Planning Vice Chair Steven Frasher
Planning Commissioner Joe Richardson
Planning Commissioner Mario Saucedo
Planning Commissioner Karah Shaw
Planning Commissioner Matthew Endsley
Planning Commissioner Angela Keller
Charles M Duggan, Jr , City Manager, Dan McHugh, City Attorney, Jeanne Donaldson, City
Clerk, Carl Baker, Public Information Officer, Brian Desatmk, Development Services Director,
Janice McConnell, Assistant City Manager, Brian Foote, Planning Manager
This was conducted as a virtual teleconference meeting with Council Members, Planning
Commissioners and staff participating remotely
In compliance with public health recommendations to limit public gatherings during the Covid-19
pandemic and acting as the City of Redlands Emergency Services Director, City Manager Charles
M Duggan Jr , directed Joint Special City Council/Planning Commission meetings be closed to the
public until further notice or until the current local State of Emergency has been lifted The City
Council will continue to meet to conduct essential business Public comments, up to 250 words and
received by 5 00 P M the day before the meeting, were read aloud by the City Clerk
Mayor Banch called the Joint Special Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission to
order at 5 00 P M and it was established all members of Council and Planning Commission were
present
PUBLIC COMMENT
All public comment received by 5 00 P M the day before the meeting were read into the public
record at the meeting
Comments related to specific agenda items are incorporated into the item discussion
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Homelessness & Measure T Funding - Andy Hoder wondered if the City Council can now reveal
exactly how Measure T funds will be used and how much of it will actually be devoted to
improving the homeless conditions in Redlands
COMMUNICATIONS
Draft "Transit Villages Specific Plan"
As public comment, Dennis Bell wondered who would be living in the transit villages and will the
City be using Measure T funds to pay for needed services around the villages Philip Terhorst
strongly supported the plan and encouraged the City to put higher density housing downtown
because more people living downtown and around the train stations will increase the vitality of the
area and support the retail Jerry Marinkovich liked the idea of transit villages but did not like the
idea of 4 to 5 story buildings, and he urged the Council to follow the wishes of the majority of
citizens who want slow, smart growth, with ample underground parking Several other people
voiced opposition to allowing high-rises in the downtown area, including John Bouzane, Marcia
Hemphill, Michael Hemphill, Suzanne Owens, James Dwiggins, Janet Dwiggms, Orville
Klein, Dr Leo and Jacqueline Connolly, Merry Smith, Nicole Rinehardt, Roger von Kaesborg and
Julie Ellis citing higher density buildings would intensify issues with parking, overcrowding,
unlimited building height and safety concerns, and they urged the Council to respect the voice of
the residents who overwhelmingly voted down Measure G with hopes that the City would create a
more acceptable plan for this area Marcia and Michael Hemphill moved from Pasadena because
their experience was it became unlivable and a place that was traffic -choked and parking starved
William Cunningham, representing Redlanders for Responsible Growth Management,
recommended the Plan be modified due to the environmental impacts that he stated, cannot be
properly mitigated to an acceptable level, and he added that Redlands suffers from a water
shortage and has been under use restrictions since 2013, while global warming is projected to
exacerbate the problem and there are no plans for provision of schools within walking distance of
the projected 6,000 residents of the downtown Transit Village area Orville Klein requested
Council abandon the Transit Village plan as he found it to be wholly disruptive to Redlands
historic "small town village" atmosphere, and failed to consider essential infrastructure, such as
water resources, sewers, schools, and efficient traffic thoroughfares Larry Leonard stated he
opposed the Transit Villages Specific Plan because it will allow for 2,400 dwelling units
downtown, 6,000 residents and buildings as high as 78' Tim and Dana Strunk were also opposed
to 78' buildings in the transit areas as these would be an imposing eyesore, not blending with
historic architectural landscape and high -density builds downtown would stifle the historic charm
of the area
City Manager Duggan briefly explained the purpose of the joint meeting was to present the final
draft Transit Villages Specific Plan (TVSP) and allow the City Council and Planning
Commissioners the opportunity to determine whether the substance of the plan was sufficient to
move forward with the next phase of the project, which included the circulation of a "Notice of
Preparation (NOP)" and preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Development
Services Director Desatnik outlined the goals of the meeting were to confirm consensus on the
TVSP vision, identitfy any major issues with the draft TVSP and to move forward with starting the
environment review process for the Specific Plan He reviewed historical precedents highlighting
several old photos, growth management measures including Proposition R, Measures N and U as
well as the failed initiative, Measure G, the guiding principles of the City's General Plan 2035, and
background describing the development of the draft TVSP
Director Desatnik welcomed Stefanos Polyzoides, Partner of Moule & Polyzoides Architects and
Urbanists, who presented an overview of the TVSP, explaining the document was organized into
nine distinct chapters and articulated a vision for future development for the plan area and
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included numerous objectives and development standards to guide future projects on private
properties He discussed the concepts and regulations in the draft TVSP, following the chapters as
listed Introduction, Vision, Redlands Mall, Development Code, Transportation & Circulation,
Parking, Open Space & Landscape, Infrastructure, Implementation A broad timeline for the next
steps was as follows Issue Notice of Preparation of EIR (March), EIR Scoping Meeting
(March/Apnl), Preparation of Draft EIR (March —October), EIR Public Review Period
(November -December), TVSP Adoption Hearings (January -March)
Council Member Foster thanked Director Desatnik for his concise presentation promoting a better
understanding of land use issues and Measure G He pointed out that after examination of the
transit village area map, it was clear much of the higher density designated areas have already
been developed or are under development, and he reminded everyone that any development
project to be processed through the City must comply with existing voter initiatives Council
Member Tejeda agreed that development was occurring in the Packinghouse District, leaving very
little open space, and he clarified that the City does not own the Redlands Mall site Council
Member Guzman -Lowery was pleased that core values have been represented in this plan with the
best interest of all Council Member Davis commended Director Desatmk and the consultant for a
plan that reflects public input, and she looks forward to its evolution All Council Members and
Planning Commissioners agreed the Specific Plan was ready to move forward with starting the
environmental review process
Planning Commissioners agreed the work was stellar Commissioner Richards added a critical
mission before the City would be to educate, inform and sell the public of the Plan's value, while
remaining aware of the mistakes made dunng the Measure G campaign Commissioner Shaw
stated the Plan addresses the publics' fears of building height, with height averaging and by
breaking up multiple volumes of mass Commissioner Saucedo pointed out the work of educating
should begin by bridging the communication gap and dispelling myths of what the plan is and
what it isn't Commissioner Keller concurred with the push for education, was pleased the Plan
was respectful of the City, and requested that moving forward, there be a discussion of how the
City's histoncal pieces will fit in and be incorporated in the Plan Commissioner Endsley agreed
that historic pieces must fit in with the vision, and he thought that the EIR process would help to
uncover and address the publics' fears and comments Vice Chairman Frasher urged the City to
retain its architectural heritage, making sure new developments match the tone of the surrounding
area and be respectful of the hentage Chairman Guzkowski respected the visioning, clarity, depth
of nchness of the Plan and after tonight's presentation saw a heightened sense of how this fits in
Redlands
Wrapping up with final thoughts, Mayor Banch thanked the Planning Commissioners for their
time and he stressed how much he desires to maintain the character of Redlands City Manager
Duggan also expressed appreciation of the time commitment, and he echoed the sentiment that the
plan was sound, offering good vision and a good fit historically
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Banch adjourned the special joint meeting at 7 13 P M
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