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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04111989 - T.9 1f 1 { T.9 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUN'T'Y, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on April 11, 1989, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Schroder, McPeak and Fanden NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisor .Torlakson ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Hearing� on Appeal of the La Casa Via Neighborhood Association from approval, with revised conditions, of the application of Elwood L. Kronick, M.D. to construct a two-story, 10,000 square-foot medical office building, in the Walnut Creek area. This being the time noticed by the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to hear the appeal of the La Casa Via Neighborhood Association fromlthe decision of the Contra Costa County Planning Commission (as the Board of Appeals) to approve, with revised conditions, the application by Elwood L. Kronick, M.D. to construct a 2-story, 10,000 square foot medical office building in the Walnut Creek area (LUP 2170-86) . Mary Fleming, Community Development Department, described the project and advised that Dr. Kronick had revised the plan to reduce it to a one-story, 7 ,500 square-foot building on the Northeast corner immediately adjacent to the congregate care facility, and is proposing that the remainder of the site be left for residential development to provide a transition from the medical and office uses to the North and the large-lot, single family residential to the South. The Planning Commission reviewed the revised plan and approved that plan, whichidecision is now appealed by the Casa Via Neighborhood Association. Mary Fleming advised that staff ' s recommendation is that the the Board approve the Land Use Permit as recommended by the County Planning Commission, approve the conditions as recommended by the Commission, adopt the Commission' s findings, accept the Environmental Review as being complete and adequate, and deny the appeal of the La Casa Via Neighborhood Association. The Chair declared the hearing opened and the following persons appeared•'. Elwoodl-Kronick, M.D. , 266 La Casa Via, applicant, advised that he needs to 'move his office to be near John Muir hospital. He spoke about the difficulty of parking at his present location in Walnut Creek. He commented that the area around the John Muir Hospital is no longer rural, that John Muir Hospital is a massive presence. He advised that he is proposing a very nice, one-story, well landscaped and camouflaged office building. He stated that he felt the small amount of traffic that would be produced by his office, considering the number of people and the hours worked, would be less than if large houses were to be built on the property. He noted that the time schedules of the office do not coincide with the nursing schedules at John Muir Hospital. He stated that traditionally a medical office has not been considered a commercial intrusion into a residential neighborhood. Jerry Loving, Architect for the project, using the mapboard exhibits, explained the project as currently planned, and advised that they had tried to be good listeners, listening to the concerns of the neighbors. He commented that Dr. Kronick' s property is impacted by the growth of John Muir Hospital, the Walnut Creek Psychiatric Hospital, and other uses, and therefore there is a transitional issue. Mr. Loving noted Dr. Kronick .has agreed with requests and recommendations of the Planning Commission. He suggested that the project, with its placement, water feature and landscaping provides a small, low-key building to be the buffer and to provide an entrance solution to the beautiful valley. He urged the Board to approve the project. Arthur Garry, general surgeon, 450 Arbol Via, Walnut Creek, a resident of the' La Casa Via Valley, indicated his support for Dr. Kronick' s project, commenting that he did not believe it would impact on the community in any adverse way. Merideth Pence, Director of Women' s and Children' s services at John Muir Medical Center, spoke in favor of the project. Evelyn Munn, Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek, declared that the City of Walnut Creek strongly urges the Board to uphold the appeal of the La Casa Via Neighborhood Association and reverse the decision of the Contra Costa County Planning Commission approving the project. Ed Martinez, 275 La Casa Via, 'Vice President of the La Casa Via Neighborhood Association, presented a petition in opposition to the project, which he stated contains 137 signatures of virtually all residents of the �La Casa Via Neighborhood. Nancy Wallace, 1440 Corvey Court, expressed opposition to a commercial building in her residential area. Ed Parks, 160 Brodia Way, President of the La Casa Via Homeowners Association, objected to the use of the word "transition" and objected to the approval of the proposed commercial development. Richard Schulze, 1599 La Casa Court, commented that John Muir Hospital has been a good neighbor with activity in the daytime and quiet at night. He indicated no objection to the proposal and declared that hej'did not believe that the building proposed by Dr. Kronick would severely increase the traffic problem. Paul Winn, M.D. , 1874 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek, indicated that he favored doctors having their practice in close. proximity to a hospital, and that as a former resident of La Casa Via, he did not believe that traffic from the hospital or Dr. Kronick' s proposed office building would impact the residential portion of La Casa Via. Marshal'Nelson, 30 Terra Verde Court, along with her daughter Katie Larcher and a young neighbor, Ashley Hendrick, representing "a lot" of mothers in the neighborhood, discussed the traffic and expressed her opposition to the proposed project. Allen Hoskins, 3428 Springhill Road, Lafayette, appeared in support of the proposed medical center. Paula French, 196 Escondido Drive, Martinez, appeared in favor of the project. Mike Gorman, 332 Castle Rock Road, Walnut Creek, Chairman of the Walnut Creek"Planning Commission, appeared in favor of the appeal and in opposition to the proposed medical office project. He stated, that in response ' to a question by Supervisor McPeak, he would like to provide some background with respect to Walnut Creek' s position on Senior Housing. Carol Foster, 39 Tierra Verde, Walnut Creek, commented on the community of � the neighborhood and advised that people are serious about keeping it .residential. She suggested alternative sites for Dr. Kronick' s office: She urged the Board not to approve the medical office building project. Carol Dimaggio, 230 La Casa Via, appeared in favor of the project. Susan Callister, P. O. Box 94524, Concord, appeared and spoke in support of the project. Marg Kimmerer, Planner with the City of Walnut Creek, advised that she was present to address planning questions. She advised, in response to a question earlier by Supervisor Schroder that Walnut Creek' s zoning code does not allow commercial developments in residential areas''. She advised that Walnut Creek is looking at this project as a land use issue, not the merits of the project, the need for the facilities, nor the design issues. Sandra Reese, Assistant Vice President, Patient Care Services at John Muir Hospital, appeared in favor of the project and advised that the hospital is trying to address traffic issues at the Center,- that they do provide an active TSM program for employees, and that as part of the phase-three authorization by the City of Walnut Creek, the Hospital will be required to widen La Casa Via where it turns onto Ygnacio Valley Road. Bill Stopford, 363 La Casa Via, appeared in opposition to the project, citing traffic impact as one of the major reasons. Acting Chair, Nancy Fanden, read remarks left by the following in support of the project: Edward Johnson, 2026 Magnolia Way, Walnut Creek Joan Ward Kronick, 266 La Casa Via, Walnut Creek Sandra Woods, 116 Wawona Circle, Martinez Shirley Callister, 845 Maria Way, Lafayette Besty Haberman, 2375 LaSalle Drive, Walnut Creek Jerry Loving appeared in rebuttal, responding to various comments made during testimony. Don Anderson, 600 Montgomery St. , San Francisco, appeared in rebuttal, and summarized the application, commenting that the application was reduced from 10,000 to 7 ,500 square feet and from a two-story to a one-story office building with the provisions to establish the boundary or limit of any other non-residential development on La Casa Via by the gate entrance. He declared that the single-story office building is a good transition into the residential area, especially when considering the water feature and the setbacks on this parcel. He urged the Board to approve the application. The public hearing was closed. Supervisor Schroder commented on the ,change the area has undergone. He commented that if he were .to make a decision today, it would have to be to recommend denial of the application as it is proposed. Supervisor McPeak commented that the County 'does have an ongoing planning process with the City of Walnut creek and it would be important for the Board' s representatives to have the opportunity to meet and discuss this project with the City. She commented that the next meeting with the City' s representatives is scheduled within the next week and she would therefore request that this decision be deferred for at least a week to provide an oppoutunity for the Board' s representatives to meet with the City of Walnut Creek. Supervisor Fanden commented that she liked the idea of the landscaping, the ';fountain and trees and the building in the back of the lot, but if she were to approve the project, she would want conditions that would guarantee that the rest of his lots would remain for single family. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that decision is DEFERRED to April 18, 1989 on the determination calendar, and Supervisors McPeak and Schroder are REQUESTED to meet with the City of Walnut Creek to discuss the project in the interim. i nereby certify that this is a true and correct COPY of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: 11' 1 y d 9 — PHIL BATCHEL ,Clark of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator _. By (d �IGr >� ,Deputy cc: Dr. Kronick Jerry Loving, La Casa Via Homeowners Association c/o Ed Parks, President 160 Brodia Way, Walnut Creek Community Development County Counsel