HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-06-15; Planning Commission; ; SP 146A - MAJOR-MINOR CHANGES SANTA ANITA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONMEMORANDUM
June 15, 1976
TO: DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE
FROM: PLANNING STAFF
RE: MAJOR-MINOR CHANGES -S.P. 146(A)
Requested by Santa Anita Development Corporation.
HISTORY:
The first Specific Plan for this project was approved in 1972 but was
amended in early 1975 as Specific Plan 146(A) (Exhibit "D", dated
January 21, 1975). This amended plan indicates 3 structures along
El Camino Real as Home Federal Savings, Bank of America and a commer-
cial building. There is one large commercial building along Marron
Road and more along Haymar Drive. The bulk of the buildings are to the
rear, along the easterly property line. Subsequently, the Planning
Director approved minor deviations (Exhibit E, February 1976).
The deviations appear minor for the most part. There is some breaking
up of the mass of building on the eastern property line and some reduc-
tion in the size of buildings on El Camino Real and Marron Road.
However, the circulation and parking for the buildilng on Marron Road
seem impaired, and the addition of buildings along Haymar Drive severe-
ly changes the plan. Circulation and parking are negatively affected
and the visibility and aesthetics of the Center are degraded into a
scene of strip commercial use with nearly complete screening of
interior buildings. The saving grace in this new building is a
fountain plaza area desi'gnedas a focal point. Again —these changes
have been approved as minor by Staff; therefore, modifications cannot
be made to Exhibit E, February 1976.
REQUEST:
Santa Anita Development has now submitted plans for further minor
deviations. The Planning Director has suggested that this latest
request for minor deviation be decided by the Planning Commission.
Therefore, the request will be on the Planning Commission agenda of
June 23, 1976.
The changes again appear severe. The small commercial building
along El Camino Real is now proposed as a McDonald's drive-in
restaurant. This has a major impact on the parking, circulation
and aesthetics of the Center. Another major change is to the
building on Haymar Drive. A drive-through banking lane is now
proposed, which will further hinder the impaired circulation. In
addition, the access to Haymar Drive is proposed through an ease-
ment on the service station existing at the corner. If measures
are not taken to properly channel traffic, great confusion could
result at this point. The saving grace - the focal-point foun-
tain - has been deleted. There are minor changes to some of the
buildings on the eastern property line.
In addition to all this —or maybe more appropriately, above all this •
a C.U.P. is required for a drive-in restaurant. A decision by the
Planning Commission approving the requested minor changes allowing
a drive-in restaurant is predisposing the upcomina required C.U.P.
hearing. Therefore, the Planning Commission may not even be able to
consider a minor change to this Specific Plan for a drive-in rest-
aurant. The applicant has been so informed, but has questioned this
interpretation and wishes to go forward with this request. As an
aside, an interesting problem will occur if the changes are considered
minor and the subsequent C.U.P. shows all the latest changes. This
would mean that the final approved plan for the Shopping Center is not
the Specific Plan, but the C.U.P. for McDonald's Restaurant.
The 3 plans discussed above are displayed at the Planning Department
for your information and will be available at the D.C.C.
The D.C.C. should prepare a report to the Planning Commission indi-
cating problems between the new plan and the approved plan and/or
explanations of why there are no significant changes.
Ralph (Bud) Plender
ASSISTANT PLANNING DIRECTOR
BPrcpl
(5/11/76)
-2-