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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCUP 154B; Pacific Bell Vehicles Unlimited; Conditional Use Permit (CUP) (8)VEHICLES UNLIMITED ASSET RECOVERY CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT HEARING The following statements are intended to respond to the questions posed at the Planning Commission Hearing held on June 15, 1994. 1. Block Wall surrounding the property for the purpose of "screening" the site. Plastic screening attached to chain link fence has been installed at the City's request and will be maintained at all times to "screenuv the property. The west side of the lot is the only side directly visible to the general public. The lvscreening" effectively blocks what little of the lot that can be seen from the west side. Preliminary estimates for the construction of a 6 foot high masonry wall surrounding the expense would yield us a wall that would screen the property no better than it is at this time. It should be further noted that our neighbor to the west of us, and directly adjacent to the Planning Department Offices on it's west side (Hawthorne), stores vehicles and equipment with no masonry wall and little screening whatsoever. The lot is surrounded by chain link fence with a wrought iron entrance gate. Stored vehicles are routinely visible at this site from Camino Vida Roble. ? property have been stated at $48,000. This significant f? a -- 2. Criminal element wandering around the site. Security is provided by the following methods. A. Lack of visibility from Camino Vida Roble. B. Two 24hr cameras located an the roof of our suite directly west and adjacent to the subject site. C. Security patrols provided by Rancho Santa Fe Security. D. The routine presence of peace officers acts as a natural deterrent to crime. Attention should also be drawn to the fact that no breakins have occurred at this site or at our previous location in - Escondido. 3. The general public on the subject site. It has been and continues to be the policy of Vehicles Unlimited to conduct it's Business affairs and vehicle releases at our Creekside Business Park location directly adjacent to the subject site. No unauthorized personnel are allowed on the lot. 4. Limitation of cars on the site. The current proposal by staff is for 69 cars. Unfortunately, this limitation minimizes the usage of the lot and would therefore have adverse economic consequences to our company while providing no apparant benefit to the City. It should be noted that Hawthorne's lot is not striped for parking nor is there (I presume) a limit on the number of vehicles stored on their lot. our policy (and fire code requirement) of a 22 foot drive lane or clearance into the yard. This should allay the concerns of fire hazard relative to the number of cars on site while allowing us to cope with the flux of vehicle which is a part of our business. Therefore we would request an acceptance of 5. The site could turn into a recycling yard. Under the proposed conditions, it would be nearly impossible for Vehicles Unlimited, or any subsequent company to accomplish this. If a violation of the C.U.P. were to occur however, the process of review as indicated in the conditions would eliminate the problem before it became an established practice. 6. Our tractor trailer stops traffic. The subjects area is permeated with light industrial buildings requiring routine tractor trailer traffic. Our original verbal size estimate for our tractor trailer was 75 feet long. We recently measured this vehicle and found it to be only 58 feet long. The average tractor trailer measures at 50 to 75 feet long. Thus tractor trailers are not uncommon to the area, and ours is not atypically large. In addition, this vehicle dows not stop in the path of traffic. A blocking turn is made, but the vehicle is then immediately backed up into the lot. This process form start to finish, takes no more than three minuetes. No unusual requirements should be placed on us that have not been placed on other sites with similar minimal tractor trailer traffic. ,- '7. Comparison to retail towing companies. Vehicles Unlimited does not perform any of the following services which are common to retail towing companies and related "junk yards. A. No Auto Salvage. (1) Unlike most, we are not, nor will we become a license dismantler. B. No Storage Of Used Parts. C. No Commercial Towing ie: AAA etc. D. No Advertising For Commercial Towing. (1) All trucks are clearly marked **Not For Hire." (2) No yellow page or other media ads soliciting commercial business. E. No Private Storage Of Vehicles. F. No City Or County Abatement Work. 8. Environmental pollutants spilling on site. We have been in active correspondence with the City of Carlsbad Engineering Department to determine the appropriate measures that need to be instituted to comply with NDPES regulations. Best management practices will be initiated within the required time period, after CUP approval, to insure compliance and maintenance of these measures. To elaborate, we offer the following, A. Policies and procedures will be distributed to staff members to educate them in the proper collection and disposal of any surface pollutants. All present and future employees will be kept informed of these regulations. B. A sign will be placed inside the fence to remind staff of which materials are considered pollutants, and to dispose of those materials by an approved manner. C. Absorbent materials for use in containment of pollutants will be stored on site in an easily accessed location. D. The surface of the subject lot will be routinely swept. ,/- s E. Approved measures will be instituted to catch drainage from the lot containing pollutants. 9. Finally, please reference and consider the following findings as presented by the City of Carlsbad Planning Department. A. Alter the present or planned use of an area? B. Increase existing noise levels? NO NO C. Involve a significant risk of an explosion or the release of hazardous substances (including, but not limited to, oil, pesticides, chemicals or radiation) ? NO D. Generate substantial additional traffic? NO E. Impact existing transportation systems or alter present patterns of circulation or movement of people and/or goods? NO F. Increase traffic hazards to motor vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians? NO G. Obstruct any scenic vista or create an aesthetically offensive public view? NO H. Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? NO consistent with the General with the existinquses of -- -- --- the area." - "NO im acts have been identified as a result of -P- -- - project implementation." The answers to all other questions regarding environmental issues indicated that this usages was not incompatible or damaging to the area. This usage is permitted under the PM zoning subject to a conditional use permit. Finally, the negative declaration was proposed and recommended for approval by the Planning Director (Mr. Michael Holtzmiller) for the City of Carlsbad. Thank you for your objective and comparative review of this request. 1