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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-05-1989 Item 8.1 PA89-075 Goodwill Industries CUPCITY OF DUBLIN PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA STATEMENT/STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: September 5, 1989 TO: Planning Commission FROM: Planning Staff REPORT PREPARED BY, Rod Barger, Senior Planner SUBJECT: PA 89-075 Coodwill Industries Conditional Use Permit GENERAL INFORMATION: PROJECT: Conditional Use Permit request to establish a Goodwill Donation Station trailer in the parking lot of the Payless Store located at 7333 Regional Street APPLICANT/REPRESENTATIVE: Goodwill Industries c/o Mike Flynn 1301 30th Avenue Oakland, CP. 94601 PROPERTY OWNER: Lloyds Bank: of California Property Account #4245 9275 S.W. Peyton Lane Wilsonville., Oregon 97070 LOCATION: 7333 Regional Street ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER: 941-305-16 PARCEL SIZE: 5.41 acres GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: Commercial/Industrial - Retail/Office EXISTING ZONING AND LAND USE: C-1/Retail Business District Payless Shopping Center Site SURROUNDING LAND USE AND ZONING: North: Retail/Commercial - C-1 South: Retail/Commercial - C-1 East Retail/Commercial - C-1 West Ret:ail/Commercial - C-1 ZONING HISTORY: On December 3, 1969, the Alameda County Planning Department approved Tentative Map #3135 and Site Development Review, S-293, for the Dublin Plaza. The shopping center has nine lots, each of which has its own owner. Common rights of access are provided for each panel to allow cars to drive across parcel lines and share parking spaces. In January 1971, the Board of Supervisors also granted building code variances to the developers of the center to allow 1) buildings to be closer to the property lines than was allowed by the building code; 2) that these buildings could have openings in them (for doors and windows) that were closer to the property lines than allowed; and 3) that covered walkways could connect the buildings, where the building code required fire separations which would not have allowed connected walkways. COPIES TO: Applicant Owner ITEM NO. • File PA 87-075 On March 28, 1983, the Dublin City Council granted approval at the same building code variances mentioned above as well as a 105 space parking variance (PA 82-013). APPLICABLE REGULATIONS: The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan establishes policies and standards to control development within the downtown area. Section 8-48.2 q) of the Dublin Zoning Regulations (Conditional Uses) states that the C-1 Districts allows "recycling centers when operated in conjunction with a permitted use on the same premises" subject to approval of a Conditional Use Permit. Section 8-94.0 states that conditional uses must be analyzed to determine: 1) whether or not the use is required by the public need; 2) whether or not the use will be properly related to other land uses, transportation and service facilities in the vicinity; 3) whether or not the use will materially affect the health or safety of persons residing or working in the vicinity; and 4) whether or not the use will be contrary to the specific intent clauses or peformance standards established for the district in which it is located. Section 8-94.4 states the approval of a Conditional Use Permit may be valid only for a specified term, and may be made contingent upon the acceptance and observance of specified ccnditions, including but not limited to the following matters: a) substantial conformity to approved plans and drawings; b) limitations on time of day for the ccnduct of specified activities; c) time period within which the approval shall be exercised and the proposed use brought into existence, failing whicl, the approval shall lapse and be void; d) guarantees as to compliance with the terms of the approval, including the posting of bond; e) compliance with requirements of other departments of the City Government. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This project has been found to be Categorically Exempt under Section 15303 of the California Environmentzl Quality Act Guidelines NOTIFICATION: Public Notice of the September 5, 1989, hearing was published in the newspaper, mailed to adjacent property owners, and posted in public buildings. ANALYSIS: The Applicant is requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a Goodwill Donation Station in the parking lot of the Payless Store located at 6333 Regional Street. Attachment 1 shows the location of the facility- on the site. The donation station consists of a blue and white truck trailer standing 12 feet in height, 25 feet in length and 8 feet in width. Attachment 2 shows elevations of the truck trailer. Goodwill proposes as a primary use of this facility, the collection of glass, aluminum, and plastic for the purpose of recycling these materials (at another location outside of Dublin). As a secondary activity, Goodwill also proposes to collect used clothing and household items from this facility. As proposed, the location of the facility would take up approximately four parking spaces on the Payless site, all of which are rarely used and somewhat out of the way of the more intensely utilized main portions of the site. The City's Zoning Ordinance does not list a specific category for this use, however, the use is considered similar to a recycling center, which requires a Conditional Use Permit. -2- The proposed use appears to be inappropriate for the property for the following reasons: 1) 20/20 Recycling Centers presently has in operation at the Albertson's parking lot (directly adjacent to the Payless site), a recycling center which specifically collects aluminum, glass and plastic for recycling purposes. Allowing the Goodwill facility to be located in the Payless parking lot could result in an unnecessary over-concentration of two donation stations providing the same service within the same vicinity. 2) Goodwill presently operates a store in the Shamrock Village Shopping Center just across Amador Valley Boulevard (to the north) from the Payless site. In addition, they operate a Goodwill donation station truck on that site for the purposes of collecting used clothing and household goods. The close proximity of this Goodwill store and donation station in the Shamrock Village Shopping Center to the Payless site could result in an over-concentration of Goodwill facilities in the immediate vicinity. 3) The donation station would be highly visible from Regional Street. This would not be conducive to creating a positive image of the City. 4) The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (excerpts included as Attachment 3) sets forth polices for the subject site. This project does not comply with the following policies: a. The project does not impro,re the visual appearance of the downtown area. b. The project does not provide landscaping as a buffer nor as an attractive urban design feature. c. The project does not improve relationships between land uses in the area. d. Retail land uses are encou:.aged in Zone 6 of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan. The proposed use does not fit into this land use category. Because Staff feels allowing this use could result in an over- concentration of donation facilities in :he immediate vicinity and because the proposal might not comply with the standards of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan, it is recommended that the Plannin;; Commission deny this Conditional Use Permit request. RECOML IENDATION : FOR`LNT: 1) Open public hearing and hear Staff presentation. 2) Take testimony from Applicant and the public. 3) Question Staff, Applicant and the public. 4) Close public hearing and deliberate. 5) Adopt draft Resolution denying Conditional Use Permit PA 89-075 Goodwill Industries Donation Station, or give Staff and Applicant direction and continue the matter. ACTION: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the Resolution denying PA 89-075 Conditional Use Permit for Goodwill Donation Station. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit A: Resolution of Denial Back round Attachments: Attachment 1: Site Plan Attachment 2: Elevations Attachment 3: Excerpts from the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan as they apply to this proposal Attachment 4: Zoning/Vicinity Map -3- RESOLUTION NO. 89 - A RESOLUTION OF THE PANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DENYING PA 89-075 GOODWILL INDUSTRIES DONATION STATION CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REQUEST, PAYLESS PARKING LOT, 7333 REGIONAL STREET WHEREAS, Michael Flynn, representing Goodwill Industries, filed an application for a Conditional Use Permit to locate a 25-foot long truck trailer for a donation station in the Payless parking lot at 7333 Regional Street; and WHEREAS, the application has been reviewed in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is categorically exempt; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on said application on September 5, 1989; and WHEREAS, proper notice of said public hearing was given in all respects as required by law; and WHEREAS, the Staff Report was submi--ted recommending that the application be denied; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission heard and considered all said reports, recommendations and testimony hereinabove set forth; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE Dublin Planning Commission does hereby find that: A. The use is not required by the public need at the proposed location in that a Goodwill Donation Station would result in an over-concentration of Goodwill donation facilities in the area. B. The use is inappropriate for the si--e in that a 20/20 Recycling Center carrying out similar activities to --he proposed Goodwill donation station, presently exists within the same vicinity. C. The use, if permitted under all circumstances and conditions of this particular case, would materially affect adversely the health or safety of persons residing or working in t:le vicinity, be materially detrimental to the public welfare and injurious to property or improvements in the area, as all applicable regulations will not be met. D. The use will be contrary to the specific intent, clause or performance standards of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan in that: 1. The project does not improve visual appearance of the downtown area. 2. The project does not provide landscaping as a buffer nor as an attractive urban design feature. 3. The project does not improve relationships between land uses in the area. 4. Retail land uses are encouraged in Zone 6 of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan. The proposed donation station does not fit this land use category. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE Dublin Planning Commission denies the Conditional Use Permit request in PA 89-075. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of September, 1989. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Planning Commission Chairperson Planning Director 11? ?. z ?-J- i Tg.c,iloR. ?^^ar LOc.t1T i0?1 .Gr:!-? ?, c ?9 A m 7- n ? m z o d W PA b4-0'7 5 ?I r z p 1 N W C.? a ? C Ill. LO C 0 v ° CL o zQ >C 0 o0 ^? `V m N oa z I< ATTACHMEKT? City of Dublin Dublin Downtown SpPecif l ic . Adopted by the City Council on July 21, 1987 MEWW:UR=STERN BERNARDI AND EMMONS/ l? a, A Dublin "Restaurant Row" with restaurants, specialty shops, entertainment uses and second story offices is encouraged along Amador Plaza Road. I tithe special requirements ar visual appearance f downtown areas an encourage increased projects. Central Block Improvements protec adjacent residential pedestrian connections among A conceptual plan is suggested for review and discussion by property owners and merchants located within the major central area of Downtown Dublin. The plan encourages greater vehicular and pedestrian access among the various portions of the block, a clearer identification of entries from adjacent streets, and additional landscaping to improve the visual environment. It further encourages intensification of development by the selected infill of buildings where a substantial oversupply of parking spaces exist. A major feature of the concept is the potential for creating a structure and/or plaza space for a combination of public and private use. Since the downtown area does not currently contain an area where public events can be held, this element of the concept could assist in creating a greater civic focus within the area for the benefit of both city residents and downtown businesses. Urban Design Improvements The image and identity of downtown with the City of Dublin will be enhanced by a series of public urban design improvements which will be complementary to those recently imo_lemented by the city. They will consist of improvements to major downtown entries, the creation of continuity theme elements located in the medians of the major boundary streets, entry pylons to major projects and landscape and pedestrian amenity improvements along the proposed Dublin "Restaurant Row". Designs will emphasize colorful banners which may be changed seasonably to support downtown promotional efforts and will utilize the repetition of a Downtown Dublin logo. Implementation and Funding The Specific Plan implementation and funding.. strategies emphasize a public/private partnership, which includes flexibility and the utilization of a:variety of funding sources and methods. Costs of implementing the improvements and programs for which some certainty of interest and scope 2. SPECIFIC PLAN POLICIES ® A. GENERAL 1) The emphasis of Downtown Du;:)lin upon regional retail uses shall be maintained. 2) Improved relationships among downtown developments shall be encouraged and required. 3) Contingency plans to insure the retention of automobile dealerships within the City of Dublin shall be prepared. 4) The city shall seek to enhance the image of Downtown Dublin as a source of comml.nity pride. B. CIRCULATION 1) The city shall consider the location of a BART station in the downtown area after evaluating the actual impacts of the Park-and-Ride facility and estimated impacts of a transit station. 2) Circulation improvements wall be limited to normal street and intersection improvements without extraordinary elements such as elevated fly-overs or similar measures. 3) Downtown development shall not de?end upon additional - freeways ramps from interstate highways. 4) Emphasis shall be placed upon the improvement of downtown pedestrian circulation where appropriate. 5) The quantity of future development in the downtown area shall be limited to a level consistent with a realistic and affordable level of circulation improvements. 6) An annual report shall be prepared for the City Council on downtown traffic conditions at least annually to determine whether any future development limits or controls are necessary. 7) Internal vehicular and pedestrian circulation among adjacent projects shall be encouraged. g) The city shall work with regional transit agencies and will-consider all regional transportation programs which might have positive impacts upon Downtown Dublin. g) The city shall consider plans which propose new points of access to San Ramon Road. 10 An increase of height over a portion or all of the site up to that specified in the--Development Standards section of this report may be granted if the city finds that such t d jacen an increase would not be detrimental to a residents. ll) The city shall seek the creation of a downtown plaza space for joint public and private uses. E. URBAN DESIGN 1) Additional public improvements within the downtown area shall be used to identify the area more strongly with the City of Dublin. 2) The city shall require ade3uate landscaping between sidewalks and parking lots. 3) The city shall encourage and require a high level building, landscaping and signing quality. c) Properties adjacent to the freeways shall be required to adequately landscape the edges cf their property as part of any development approval. :Z) The use of tar and gravel roofs shall be discouraged. 6) Substantial areas cf sloped rocfs shall be encouraged. 7) The use of colorful fabric awnings shall be encouraged. 8) A strong pedestrian environment shall be encouraged along Amador Plaza Road. 9) Uses along San Ramon. Road shall be encouraged to increase their orientation toward that street and to implement appropriate building and landscape improvements. F. IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING 1) Implementation of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan shall be considered a joint pub:.ic and private sector effort. The city shall re-evaluate the plan implementation progress annually to dete::mine whether private sector participation and coopera"=ion warrants the continuation of projected public funding levels. 2) The city shall consider tie establishment a city-wide Business License Fee Program. 3) The city shall esta:)lish a Traffic Monitoring Program to periodically assess current and projected traffic impacts and shall take appropriate actions to revise the downtown or other area clans to maintain traffic congestion at levels acceptaable to the city. 12 4. DEVELOPMENT PLAN A. LAND USE PLAN 1) OVERVIEW Downtown Dublin includes a mix of retail stores, offices, restaurants, auto dealerships, warehousing and auto-oriented retail and service establishments as shown on Diagram 8. Occupancy rates are high and the area has performed well economically over recent years. However, two major downtown retailers have recently moved from the area and competition is increasing in the Tri-Valley Area where Downtown Dublin is being challenged by new retail and office areas which have been planned as integrated developments with carefully interrelated parts, a high degree of visual appeal, well-design ommon areas nd subs D r?,e ' ies. Downtown u lin, while containing a good f retail and service'uses to attract shoppers, fficient in these fec.tures and suffers antially from a development pattern which lacks and offers little in the way of visual appeal In addition, one of Downtown Dublin's greatest assets - the ease of reaching the area by car and moving quickly among the various downtown areas is being threatened by increased freeway and local street congestion. If Downtown Dublin is to con:inue to function as a strong retailing center, development controls are necessary to avoid the creation of a level of traffic congestion which would discourage shoppers from patronizing the area. Improvements contained in the Circulation Plan should allow reasonable traffic conditions for a new regional transit facility, a hotel and approximately 675,000 square feet of additional development. Market projections have indicated the likely demand for around 500,000 square feet of new development over the next 15 years. (See Item F, A Summary of Estimated Market Demand, in the Appendix.) Finally, some areas of downtown, such as the auto dealership properties, are susceptible to future major land use changes and need special attention. The primary objectives o` the Land Use element of this specific Plan are shown on Diagram 9 and summarized as follows: a) Encourage the retention of automobile dealerships but develop contingency plans for their potential relocation. 25 I' j/ `J \\, ? I ?? l i fA,, Iwo ludik Development Zones Ma.p DUBLIN DOWNTOWN PLAN; DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA 29 Diagram 10 Zone 3' Regional Transit fixed Use ® Identified as a site initially for BART's Park-and- Ride parking lot and later for parking related to a potential BART station in the I-580 median, this area is difficult to develop in the interim for high- quality commercial uses because of its relative isolation from Dublin Boulevard. A mix of uses integrating commercial uses similar to Zone 4 and transit-related parking will be encouraged in this location. Limitations on the quantity of commercial development will be necessary in recognition of the Dublin Boulevard and Dublin Boulevard/San Ramon Road intersection traffic capacity limitations. Zone 4: Planned mixed Use This area will be devoted to a wide mix of uses including retail, office, hotel, restaurant and commercial recreation facilities. Internal pedestrian linkages within the area and related to adjacent zones will be encouraged and required. Contingency plans for the integration of the existing automobile dealership property into the complex will be developed to insure compatibility should the dealerships relocate at some time in the future. Zone 5: San Ramon Road Retail Currently oriented almost: exclusively to Regional Street, uses in this area will be encouraged to increase their presence on San Ramon Road to improve visual appearances along that frontage. Proposals which provide new access to San Ramon Road will be considered. Pedestrian linkages to Zone 5 will be encouraged. Uses will cJntinue as a mix of retail and commercial services. A continuation of current retailing and service commercial uses will characterize this zone. Improvements to zone entries, internal circulation and parking lot landscaping will be strongly encouraged. Zone 7: Central Block Fast Mixed Use currently occupied by a mix of retail, service, restaurant and entertainment uses, this zone will be encouraged to develop additional specialty retail uses and additional restaurants. along its eastern edge to create a Dublin "Restaurant Row". As in Zone 5 ® improvements to entries, internal circulation and parking lot landscaping will be strongly encouraged. 30 In recognition of the goals of this specific plan ® the General Plan and Specific Plan will be reconciled as shown on Diagram 12- 5) ZONING ORDINANCE MODIFICATIONS The City of Dublin Zoning Ordinance will be amended to allow properties within Downtown Dublin to be designated as part of a Downtown Overlay Zoning District to supplement the current zoning designations. Land uses, development standards and interim uses will be as outlined in the Development Standards for each Downtown Development Zone and thesupporting diagrams outlining special recuirenents. The Zoning Ordinance and map will be changed to implement the purposes of the downtown.S?ecific Plan. To the extent that such chances are adopted as part of viewed and approved as b e re the Specific Plan, they will dures for amendment of the part of the regular proce Zoning Ordinance. Permits for new construction and other property rmance with the f o improvements will be subject to con the recuirements of both the Specific Plan, and to district and the overlay zone, or the more i ng underly restrictive of the two. Where a subject is not addressed by the overlay zone, the dinance will remain O r existing provisions of tae Zoning in effect. 5) DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS In order to tailor land uses and development re clcsely to the goals and needs or characteristics mo special Development Standards will Dublin , Downtown govern future chance within the downtown area. Table C and building tensity i , n contains land use, development tandards. An increase to the maximum building height s height and maximum floor area r=atio for a specific sidered through a Planned development proposal may be con Development rezoning process. For the purposes of these standards, "service commerci=al" the ground floor of d on uses which are to be locate to be interpreted as businesses which are structures are atible with and strongly supportive of the primary com ld b p e downtown retail character. Uses which wou tail continuity or which re substantially disruptivj e inappropriate to thls and policies of this ? j ar llowed a be Specific Plan will not . lowing standards shall apply to all areas of the The fol downtown: 3 E" jam' ? ? ? c ? p I - /' ?? ?/••'\??.•... ??/r? \\\/,`'\ n ')/. Q/ - S'am'( , { i In \ = _?•• ^\ '.,??f3 ??\ l i i r'1 _ 1?. ? L` _ ' ,1 I \.• \ O N Z!-I '?'??>}`,ice V its- _-- ? 1'''• % i mr ?.. ,,, ?f??,.,• A PART OE THE ZONING MAP CITY OF SANTINA + _ .. ADusuN THOMPSON,-c THE CITY Of I i? " [ - _+ - .<.._ .•. DUBLIN - $ uurn..u SEE SHUT ',C ATTACHMENT