INSIDE CITY HALL Here are a few...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are a few of the issues the Planning Commission considered

Monday:

APPROVAL OF BUSINESS PERMIT

The commission heard a request from Lillian Metteer, owner of

Canine Therapeutics, to continue operation of her canine physical

therapy business in an industrial park complex at 3303 Harbor Blvd.

Metteer has been operating without a permit since last May because

of a misunderstanding with her leasing agent.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission approved Metteer’s permit because it felt this kind

of business did not pose a problem in terms of compatibility or

traffic, said Chairman Bruce Garlich.

VACANT HARBOR LOT

The Planning Commission considered a request for a one-year

extension from Wesley Taylor, representing property owner Beacon Bay

Enterprises and property buyer Robins Properties, for a permit to

allow motor vehicle sales at the front of the lot at 2059 Harbor

Blvd. and for an exception from landscape setbacks for an auto

display.

The site is vacant. Robins Properties is in escrow to purchase the

property.

In June 2002, Taylor let planning staff members know that the

Harbor Boulevard half of the lot needed to be cleared of toxic

contamination from leaking underground fueled tanks before the close

of escrow. The cleanup is estimated to take at least another two

years, the applicants said.

The commission approved a one-year extension in December 2002 and

required certain improvements to be made. Taylor said these

improvements can’t be done until the site is cleaned.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission continued this item for a month to investigate

whether the improvements actually can’t be made until the site is

cleaned, Garlich said. Planning staff members will try to resolve the

issue by talking with county officials.

PERMIT FOR ROASTING COFFEE

The commission considered a permit application from business owner

Tony Wilson, representing property owner Kelly Hill of SA Hill

Enterprises. Wilson proposes to roast coffee beans inside the suite

of a multi-tenant industrial building at 1651 Placentia Ave. using a

gas burner and a fan.

Wilson has a permit to roast coffee beans at 1760 Monrovia Ave.,

but he has lost his lease and is looking to relocate. In January

2003, code enforcement received a complaint about odors generated by

the coffee roasting on Monrovia Avenue. But Wilson worked with the

Air Quality Management District and installed an afterburner, which

resolved the problem.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved the permit.

ORANGE AVENUE APARTMENTS

The commission was set to hear a request from Southern Sun

Construction Co., representing property owner Orange North Apartments

LLC, for approval of a design review and a master plan to replace six

nonconforming residential units with new two-story, six-unit detached

residential apartment units.

The project site, at 2653 Orange Ave., contains six units. These

units were built in 1959 and don’t conform to present density

requirements -- only five units would be allowed under current code.

The project does not comply with the city’s open space requirement

and with some of the residential design guidelines.

WHAT HAPPENED

The commission granted a continuance, based on Southern Sun

Construction Company’s request, Garlich said.

-- Compiled by Deirdre Newman