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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0012_7_pcminutes 12-15-15Planning Commission Minutes December 15, 2015 Community Develop Director Grant Taylor gave a brief presentation of the Dream Center. Taylor explained that this Public Hearing Item was continued at November 17, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting. Taylor said the applicant describes the facility operation as a volunteer service for the "Adopt- A-Block Program" and other volunteer services and activities. The business license application states "the Dream Center Lake Elsinore" is a volunteer driven organization that finds and fills needs of individuals and families in the community. The primary function is adopting blocks to clean up trash, do some yard clean up, hold festivals for the community and visit seniors. Taylor said the City's Development Review Committee (DRC), consisting of internal technical staff from Planning, Building & Safety, Fire, Public Works and Engineering reviewed the application. The DRC met with the applicant to review code requirements, draft conditions of approval and areas of concern. Applicant also met with the Development Subcommittee consisting of two City Council Members with the City Manager and Community Development Director attending. The Development Subcommittee discussed potential impacts on Main Street and neighboring properties, and suggested public outreach and a public hearing process. Taylor said Staff has determined that the finding can be made for consistency with the General Plan, Downtown Master Plan and Zoning Code and appropriate Conditions of Approval if implemented and maintained would prevent negative impacts on adjacent properties and in the City. Taylor stated Staff's support of the project depends on the applicant and volunteers for the Dream Center observing compliance of all conditions of approval at all times. Failure to comply with conditions of approval would likely result in negative impacts, complaints and property being referred back to the Planning Commission for the consideration of modification or revocation. Staff recommends at least one year to ascertain impacts, complaints and potential modification of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Taylor concluded presentation by informing Planning Commission that applicant will be giving a presentation on the project. The applicant Brett Masters addressed previous questions concerns from November 17, 2015 Planning Commission Meeting such as: What is Dream Center planning to do. Why is this project a fit for the Downtown area of Lake Elsinore. What will the appearance of project going to be like and will the Dream Center centered in Downtown area, create a magnet for negative element to the Community. Masters gave a brief overview of the basic elements of who the Dream Center is and what they would like to accomplish. He explained that their mission is to restore and rebuild the people and property of Lake Elsinore with their outreach "Adopt-A-Block, a program that informally started in 2014. When this program started they adopted about one thousand houses and are ready to expand to another thousand. There is over five thousand volunteer worker hours invested in the last year. Nearly four hundred bags of trash picked up in the last year, just in the Downtown historic district. He explained that the mission of the Dream Center is to find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it. His belief that Lake Elsinore can be transformed during this process. He ended his presentation with Illustrations of elevations that their architect put together for their project and asked Planning Commission if there were any questions. Commissioner's said they would like to hear from speakers from the audience before asking any questions. Chairman Jordan summed up a letter from resident Rick Morsh regarding project. She said Morsh is in opposition of the location of the Dream Center. Kimberly Ryan - a business owner on Main St. and resident of Lake Elsinore spoke in opposition of project. Ryan said she thinks that the Dream Center is great but not the location. She believes that Main St. needs to have shopping and restaurants, something that generates tax revenue. Hector Zubieta a resident said he thinks that the idea is great but there is a time and place for things. He stated he does not think that the Dream Center is in the right location. He shared his concerns regarding safety and criminal element this project to bring to Main St. He spoke on behalf of Miguel Topete, a business owner of La Unica on Main st. and said Topete was opposed to project and what kind of negative impacts it may have to his business. Tim Dealy a new resident to the City of Lake Elsinore spoke in opposition of project. He stated that he did not think that this location would be good for the Dream Center. He said that he did not think Dream Center would solve Downtown problems, attract more business,generate jobs or bring property value up. Cameron Lemons spoke in favor of the Dream Center. He asked the Planning Commission to recognize if the Dream Center is asked to move out of the Downtown Community, part of what we are asking them to do is to compromise part of the contribution they are able to make to the Community. Kebra Deckert from Canyon Lake spoke in favor of the Dream Center. She shared her experience volunteering and said she has the opportunity to help and make a difference in people's life in the City of Lake Elsinore. Richard Siems said he was on the advisory board for the Dream Center. He explained that location is incredibly important and most of the people that are being helped have transportaton difficulties it is important to be close to these people with needs cause they can't get to you. He asked Planning Commission to think about the expected results of the Dream Center. He complimented Planning Commission on how thorough they were regarding this project. April Bates-Fearon spoke in favor of the Dream Center. She thanked Planning Commission for give her the opportunity to speak. She said she was a part of staff at the Dream Center and a resident of Lake Elsinore. We are offering hope and everything Brett is sharing about the organization and what they want to do is in this City. She commented on how this program would only improve the Community. Mike Deckert a volunteer for the Dream Center spoke about good direct impacts the Center is doing for the downtown area. The Dream Center is in a great location. The volunteers (free staff) are helping improve the image of Lake Elsinore week after week. The Center is basically a support system for the City. He gave some examples of how they been able to help downtown residents and business owners. Jorge Perez a business owner in the Downtown area said he likes the concept of the Dream Center. He came to tonight meeting to see what the Dream Center was all about. He explained he was not for or against it but shared his concerns with regards to the recovery portion of it. And believes that the recovery portion of this program brings a component to Downtown that may not desirable. He understood the Dream Center was to be a office and not a assembly. Would the Dream Center attract or discourage other potential businesses from coming to the Downtown area. What are the benefits for Downtown Lake Elsinore. Cheri Allen a resident of Murrieta told Planning Commission she was a site Captain for the Dream Center Adopt-A-Block program. She said the people that need the Dream Center's help are already here and residing here and that seems to be a oversight. The long term effects the Dream Center will be beneficial to the City. She said it's about taking people out of their circumstances and making them productive Community members. Timothy Waisanen said the beautiful thing about the Dream Center is it brings people together. Having this location would bring volunteers together to help the Community. He said he does not think there is anyone in this Community that hasn't liked the trash clean up or is against them going into the old folks homes where people can't fix their own things. It is the Volunteers going out and doing these things. These are people doing tangible practical things in the Community. If the City was doing it, it would cost a lot of money. How much better is it for the Community to have volunteer's come together in a location to minister to the needs of the Community. He encouraged Planning Commission to let the people of the Community volunteer and come together and do good, it will bless the Community. Fred West a former Planning Commissioner from the City of Plancentia said there is some discovery that needs to go on to whether or not this is going to adversely affect business in the downtown or positively help it. He explained that he is a volunteer at the Dream Center and he thinks about the business side of ministry in terms of encouraging and empowering businesses to thrive, that's a good thing. And we bring that type of thinking with the Dream Center because we want to see businesses thrive. If businesses thrive, people will thrive. People who need jobs will get hired. We can't ignore needs, people have needs. The Dream Center sees that clearly and they will do whatever it takes to take care of those needs but will not do it at the expense of business. We will encourage economic opportunity, train people how to get jobs for life for the good of the City. Benny Granillo said the people who need help in the Downtown area are already here. Pastor Brett Master's with the Dream Center is giving these people hope. Downtown has a need. There are other programs everywhere else but here there is nothing, this is a good opportunity to give people in need a second chance. All these businesses are closed in Downtown area, let's fix them up and give them curb appeal. The Dream Center can do that. This is were we belong. Chuck Klingman a retired pastor who is associated with the Dream Center. He works there, his job is to oversee prayer efforts. He explained that the his team of people would like to see the City succeed. We are apart of a solution that is needed and not the problem. Caroline Galvin said she assist the Lake Elsinore apartments. She explained it is a gated community, a lot of families are inside. The gates are seldom opened. Galvin said maintains upkeep of the property by cutting palm trees, cleaning up litter from the alley or the front of the street. She stated that last year was her first contact with the people from the Dream Center. They passed one day she let them in, they knocked on doors and passed out flyers. They have helped out so many of the residents. They changed many lives in the community, change of attitudes and the atmosphere. The families are joining together and talk together peacefully. They walk around the Downtown area at night. The whole atmosphere has changed now that the Community knows people are looking out for them. Heather Weeks said she works with the Dream Center on Saturday's and it is a wonderful opportunity. She is blessed to be a part of. She said she understood all concerns but see's the Dream Center as a investment in the people and the community. If you help other people it will inspire them to help others.She asked Planning Commission to please consider the opportunity for the Dream Center to be in the Community. Chairman Jordan thanked all speakers coming out to speak. She thanked the Dream Center for all the work they have done in the City, it is appreciated. Vice Chair Armit thanked audience for coming out to speak. He shared the that he had researched other Dream Centers and all most all of them share the Adopt-a-block program. He explained that most Dream Centers also provided food distribution but questioned Master's if he is ok with not distributing food. Master replied the reason for not doing food distribution is because Hope right around the corner. They do not see the need to duplicate it. So there is no problem with not doing it. Armit questioned the hours Dream Center would be open. Would 9am to 5pm be agreeable. Masters replied, the Conditions say from 7am to 10pm but we are prepared to accept that. Commissioner Fleming stated we appreciate what you are doing and would like to have Dream Center do this all over the City not just Downtown. Masters responded that he agreed. The reason we started in the Downtown area was because we believe the Downtown area represents the heart and the history and the beauty of our City best. Something that will inspire people from around our City and hopefully it will spread all around the lake. He stated you got start somewhere and this is our footprint because we feel like this is the heart of where Lake Elsinore is best reflected. He spoke of future plans to have Adopt-A-Block in other locations in the future. Masters explained that in the Conditional Use Permit they submitted a petition there are over 32 signatures of every Downtown Merchant. When he was getting petition signed he said he did not get any negative feedback. Most merchant owner thanked and welcomed the Dream Center. He spoke about speaking with Miguel Topete, (La Unica, Owner) with regards to Zubieta's comments. He said that Mr. Topete was supportive of Dream Center when he spoke to him about it. *Chairman Jordan Closed the Public Hearing as 8:30pm Commissioners discussed the project. Vice Chair Armit would like to limit the hours of the first 6 months and bring it back for review. Commissioner's dicussed hours of the Dream Center and changing Condition No. 12 to limit the use to shorter hours to 7am to 9pm. Community Development Director Grant Taylor agreed that the 7am to 9am is reasonable. Chairman Jordan questioned if all Commissioner agreed on the hours of 7am to 9pm and bring Dream Center back for review in 6 and 12 months.