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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1983-02-28; Housing and Redevelopment Advisory Committee Ad Hoc; MinutesMINUTES Meeting of: HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT Date of Meeting: February 28, 1983 Time of Meeting: j:OO p.m. Place of Meeting: City Council Chambers ADVISORY COMMITTEE CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Co-Chairman Matt Hall at 5:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Matt Hall Red Helton John McCoy Robert Holmes Roy Sanchez Thelma Hayes Eva Carney Laura Moralez Absent: Roy Ward ATTENDANCE : Chris Salomone, Community Redevelopment Manager Council Liaison Kulchin Patricia A. Cratty, Administrative Assistant APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Hayes asked for corrections in the Minutes of the January 31, 1983, Meeting, as follows: On page 2, the first sentence on the page should be changed to make two complete sentences by inserting a period following the word "area". On the same page, a typographical error in Item 4 should be changed to read, "Member Hayes said code should allow for bench signing . I' In Item 3, Member Hayes said that the number of signatures on diagonal vs. parallel, on tl three sets of petitions, varied greatly, as there were over 30 signatures for parallel parking and on the two for diagonal parking there were many fewer signatures and some duplicates. Far more expressed a desire for parallel parking, with over 34 signatures Member Holmes asked for a correction on page where the last sentence read "Member McCoy". That should be changed to read "Member Holmes The Minutes of the January 31, 1983, Meeting, were approved as corrected. Chris Salomone, Community Redevelopment Manager, introduced Council Liaison Kulchin. MEMBERS \ Hall Helton McCoy Holmes Sanchez Hayes Carney Moralez MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 2 DISCUSS ION : 1. Parallel vs. Diagonal Parking Chris Salomone reported on a meeting with Mayor Casler and Council Member Kulchin where it was decided to hold a special public hearing with this issue as the only item on the agenda. This meeting would allow Council and the Committee to personally hear all the merchants and property owners express their opinions and desires on this subject. It was felt by those attending the meeting that this was too important a decision to be made at staff level and should be made at the Council level. Staff was asked to set up a meeting for the month of March. Prior to that meeting, there will be notice of the meeting in the newspaper and all interested parties will be notified. At the meeting, staff will have diagrams, charts and proposed landscaping plans available for viewing and studying. The public will be given ample tim to express desires and concerns, inasmuch as the impact on the merchants and residents of the City will be significant. Co-Chairman Hall stated many people were in attendance at the Meeting tonight and he informed those people they could return on March 28 to give further testimony, but if anyone wished to be heard this evening, they had that option. The meeting was set for March 28, 1983, at 7:OO p.m., following the regular Committee Meeting, in the Council Chambers. Chris Salomone stated the Engineering Department is preparing diagrams and displays with actual numbers to go with them, and all available information on planned improvements to the area will be presented at the public meeting. Committee Members McCoy, Helton and Hayes express agreement with this planned public meeting for resolving the parking problem. Mr. Abel Garcia, representing his parents, spoke to the Committee, in opposition to parallel parki He stated his customers at the barber shop cannot find a place to park with diagonal parking, and with parallel parking this problem would be far worse. Many people do not like to parallel park; particularly, senior citizens. He is in favor of beautifying the downtown area, but not at the expense of parking space. The parking in front of the business is very important, as peopl will drive around until they find a spot close to the front of the store. MEMBERS 1 :* MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 3 MEMBERS ' Member McCoy asked Mr. Garcia if he felt the parking lot the City was going to put behind his barber shop would take care of any parking, and Mr. Garcia answered that he had a large lot which was 3/4 full with people who work near there. He felt there was no way they could compensate for the loss of parking in front if parallel parking were instituted in the downtown area. Ms. Lillian Walker , Carlsbad Liquor, spoke to the Committee to protest any parallel parking. She felt she might as well close her store if the parallel parking came into being. The parking spaces on the street are occupied all day long as the two-hour limit on parking is not enforced. Member Hayes asked how many parking spaces served the Liquor Store and Ms. Walker answered there were two in front and two on the side, plus the back parking. However, she added that customers do not like to park in the back. They tried unlocking the rear door to the store, to encourae people to park behind the store, but it didn't help. Ms. Walker added that liquor store bushes is "in and out" and parking is paramount. Member Hayes asked Ms. Walker if she had inven- toried the block to see if anyone used the diagonal parking in the front of the stores, and Ms. Walker answered she doubted it, as she knows no one from her store does. She said she used Mr. Garcia's lot. Member Hayes asked how many employees would walk one block, and Ms. Walker added that all of hers did. She stated she had used the Chamber of Commerce lot until the City dropped a tree on her truck and wouldn't pay for it. All employees USE back lots and do not park in front. There are supply trucks and soft drink trucks that park in front. She felt a 20-minute parking area in front would help for those needing to get in and out in a hurry. Member Hayes stated that there would be 80 space2 on the west side of State Street sometime this spring, but Ms. Walker added she understood thosc were for the merchants, but no help for the businesses. She expressed concern about a mediar preventing people pulling around the trucks that block the lanes. Mr. Bob Nelson, representing the property owners on the west side of State Street between Elm and Grand, spoke to the Committee. He added he also has a business in downtown Carlsbad. He strong12 advocated the beautification of the downtown area, but opposed the parallel parking. Again, the ability to park in front of the businesses was stressed and the need to keep the diagonal parking. MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 4 A speaker from the audience asked if it were possible to keep the diagonal parking and also beautify the downtown area. Member &yes asked if there was really room to have diagonal parking and the beautification program and keep it safe. She added that backing out from parking is dangerous now, and if the beautification were added, it could create a greater hazard. She felt the Traffic Engineer should speak on that at the public meeting. Member Hayes asked Chris Salomone to check the actual signatures on the petitions so it would be a matter of record. Also, she asked they check the signatures for possible duplications. The Committee postponed any further hearing until the March 28, 1983, public meeting, Chris Salomone announced there would be a Merchants' Mee-ing March 1, 1983, at 8800 a.m. to discuss downtown area issues and hold a question and answer session. 2. Community Development Block Grant Update: A. Jefferson Street Athletic Field B. Alley Improvements Project Chris Salomone gave a report on these two project: which were sent forward to the Council, to let the Committee Members know the disposition of the projects. A. The Jefferson Street Athletic Field will be behind the Jefferson Elementary School. The project is out for bid at this time and should be built before summer. The field will be a soccer field for young people and have a backstop for ball games, with bleachers and a drinking fountain, surrounded by landscaping. The project started about eighteen months ago and is now ready for construction. B. Roosevelt and Madison, south of Elm, was done a couple of years ago and $40,000 was allotted to complete the alley up to Elm. This contract should be awarded very shortly and the alley will then be completed. The southern portion of the alley between 3. Design Review Board Update: Chris Salomone gave an update on both of these projects which went to the Design Review Board in February and were approved. MEMBERS \ Hall Helton McCoy Holmes Sanchez Hayes Carney Moralez MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 5 A. Baker Taco Baker Taco stand on Harding Street north of Elm will reopen as Sunnys. restaurant and part drive-through with improved landscaping. The large sign there will be removed. It will be a sit-down B. Greek Restaurant This restaurant, located at 2943 State Street, will be a combination coffee shop and formal restaurant. Member Hayes asked if there were two entrances, and Chris Salomone answered there were two, but one would be closed. Both of these items will be on the Council agenda in March. 4. Sign Ordinance Co-Chairman Hall announced this item would be held until last on the agenda. 5. Sportsman Chris Salomone supplied the Members of the Committee with a copy of the applicant's proposed changes on this property. The new owner wanted the bottom floor for commercial and the upstairs for offices. There will be extensive remodeling as shown on a sketch supplied to the Committee. There are office tenants for the upstairs, but no tenant as yet for the downstairs portion. will be some type of a restaurant with outside eating areas on State Street. It UPDATES : (Given by Chris Salomone) 6, Mortgage Revenue Bond Program The City is still working to put through the program. mortgage bond will be number three on the April meeting of that State Committee, so Carlsbad is virtually assured of $21,000,000 in April for the single family mortgage bond program. There is a big push now to do away with the current structure of the multi-family or rental portion of that program and it should be known within two to four weeks whether Carlsbad would be able to put a multi-family program together in the near future. The allocation for single family Tax Increment The first payment was a little over $70,000, whicl. would pay off the debt so far. All the work to get the Redevelopment together has now paid off, and each time Carlsbad gets a payment, it can be used to further the program. Y MEMBERS . -. MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 6 Merchant's Association Chris Salomone distributed a flyer announcing a meeting March 1, 1983. The police will present a program on all facets, and with their renewed interest in the downtown area, hope to start dealing with the merchants and property owners in a more personal way. Booth The Booth manned by this Committee at the Fall Faire was successful and the Committee was asked if they desired to have a booth at the Spring Faire. Chris Salomone stated he would send a memo to the City Manager requesting space if the Committee agreed to volunteer to man the booth. The Members of the Committee all agreed this was a good idea and a good image-maker and should be continued for at least another year. Joint Meetiw The Joint Meeting of Council and Planning Commission addressed the Redevelopment area and expressed their desire to consider any projects that came forward at this time, particularly with regard to getting affordable housing in and around the Redevelopment area. The Committee discussed the public meeting to be held March 28, and the fact that no decision woulc be forthcoming that night, but that Council would consider the recommendations of the Committee. 4. Sign Ordinance Chris Salomone read the sign Ordinance to the Committee. Each Member of the Committee had been given a copy of the Ordinance prior to the Meeting. He explained that the Ordinance dealt with temporary signs in the Redevelopment area, where there are struggling businesses and the current sign Ordinance does not allow many of the things that are currently going on in that area. Slides were shown to the Committee, showing the many illegal signs and displays of furniture and wares on the sidewalks. Also, photographs were shown to the Members of the Committee, showing the many violations to the sign Ordinance that exist as of today. This temporary sign Ordinance would permit small movable signs not to exceed 5 ft. by 3 ft. and the permit could only be granted for a period of four months and then it would have to be renewed. The Ordinance would self-destruct in two years. This would take care of the transition period, and at the end of that two-year period the origins Ordinance would be in force again. When the landscaping and streetscaping programs are complet then the signs that are in violation should come down. MEMBERS Y MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 7 Member Hayes expressed agreement with what Mr. Salomone had said, but wondered if the City had the power to eliminate any excesses of that Ordinance and the signs that did detract. Chris Salomone assured Member Hayes that the City did have the power to pick signs up if the owners did not comply with the Ordinance. have displays that indicate illegal sign types. The City does Member Hayes expressed concern that everyone should be informed ahead of time so they would not invest in the illegal signs and Chris Salomor said they could have code enforcement people tell them, but it was really not that large an area. Member Holmes asked how this temporary sign Ordinance would affect newspaper stands and Chris Salomone answered that it wouldn't affect them at all as they do not come under the sign Ordinance and Carlsbad does not have a newspaper stand Ordinance. Member Holmes added that where they are on public property, whether it is a newspaper stand, a sign, a trunk, or whatever.... he felt it should not be allowed. He felt the four-month renewal time was a good idea in order to encourage business prior to the final up- grading of the area. However, once the upgrading is completed, he felt the illegal signs should be eliminated and all signs upgraded to fit in with the area. Member Helton agreed with Member Holmes and was very much in favor of the approach taken by the temporary Ordinance. Co-Chairman Hall stated he was opposed to the temporary Ordinance and felt it should not even be started; that it was not enforceable and would become a real headache by the end of the two year Member Hayes asked Chris Salomone what the charge for the permit would be and he said it hadn't been determined as yet, but would be minimal. Member McCoy stated that if illegal real estate signs are put up, the City takes it down and he felt if illegal signs were taken down by the City and taken away from the premises, the use of such signs would stop. Member Helton noted that this has been a problem for the City for a long time and will continue to be a problem as far as regulating signs. Co-Chairman Hall stated that the present Ordinance is not followed, and to relax that Ordinance would just create more problems. Chris Salomone explained that the City was pre- pared to enforce the sign Ordinance as it exists now, and they were ready to go out and abate all illegal signs. The Redevelopment area was to be the next area, when he asked them to hold off Y MEMBERS c MINUTES HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Page 8 until he had an opportunity to talk with this Committee. might be possible, to allow the people in the \ Redevelopment area to become more financially able to erect proper signs. The temporary Ordinance would only allow small signs made of wood and would get the merchandise off of the sidewalks, and, of course, nothing should be in the public right-of-way. It was felt that an interim agreemen Member McCoy stated he objected to signs that block the sidewalks. Signs should not be offensive and certainly should not be in the way He stated he would like to see the Ordinance enforced. Member Hayes mentioned the antique dealers and that they outnumber the other merchants, and she expressed concern about losing their good will if they can't display their merchandise. Member Holmes felt that signs could be hung in the windows of the stores; that looking at the overall picture of Carlsbad was important and when the Redevelopment program was completed, then the signs should be complementary to the Village. Member Hayes stated her displeasure at the bus benches and how unattractive they were. Member Sanchez suggested the Transit Company might supply benches that would fit into the atmosphere of the Village, and Chris Salomone added that there is one that Marty Orenyak and Council Member Kulchin located and moved into the area. The Committee adopted the Amendment to V-R Zone Temporary Signs Ordinance. NEW BUSINESS The Committee discussed having a Member of this Committee present at City functions, such as the ribbon cutting at Madison and Roosevelt. It was agreed the Committee should be represented. ADJOURNMENT By proper motion, the meeting was adjourned at 6:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Minutes Clerk MEMBERS ' Hall Helton McCoy Ho lme s Sanchez Hayes Carney Moralez