CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
DIAMOND BAR CITY HALL WINDMILL COMMUNITY ROOM
21810 COPLEY DRIVE, DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765
JANUARY 24, 2023
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Chou called the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Windmill Community Room, Diamond Bar City Hall, 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.
M/Chou asked for a moment of silence in memory of the Monterey Park victims.
Consistent with State Assembly Bill 361, members of the public were encouraged to participate and address the City Council during the public comment portion of the meeting via teleconference. City Council Members and staff participated in person and telephonically.
ROLL CALL: Council Members Ruth Low, Chia Yu Teng, Steve Tye (telephonically), Mayor Pro Tem Stan Liu and
Mayor Andrew Chou
Commissioners Naila Barlas, Mahendra Garg, William
Rawlings, Vice Chair Kenneth Mok and Chair
Raymond Wolfe
Staff Present: Dan Fox, City Manager; James Eggart, Assistant City Attorney; Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace Lee, Senior Planner; May Nakajima; Associate Planner; Dat Tran; Associate Planner; Cecilia Arellano, Public Information Coordinator; Ryan Wright, Parks & Recreation Director; Stella Marquez, Administrative Coordinator; Kristina Santana, City Clerk Staff Present Telephonically: David Liu, Public Works Director; Hal Ghafari, Public Works Manager/Assistant City Engineer; Ken Desforges, Information Services Director; Marsha Roa, Public Information Manager
Also Present: Consultants Neal Payton and Nicolle Cotes, Torti Gallas + Partners.
Appearing Telephonically: Derek Wyatt, RCLCO Real Estate Consulting; Consultants Jonathan Chambers, Gibson Transportation Consulting, Inc.; Marie Campbell, President, Sapphos Environmental, Inc.; Laura Male, CEQA Team Supervisor, Sapphos Environmental, Inc.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: As presented by M/Chou.
1. JOINT STUDY SESSION:
1.1 TOWN CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN – DISCUSSION AND
CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVE LAND USE STRATEGIES:
JANUARY 24, 2023 PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL
Presentation and response to Council Member and Commission comments and questions by Neal Payton, Jonathan Chambers, and CDD/Gubman.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Paul Deibel (telephonically) believes the City and consultants have done an excellent job reflecting the input and preferences of the community.
From an economic development and housing affordability standpoint, he believes the Council should move forward with as much density and commercial buildout as possible to make it economically feasible and viable as a local and regional draw that provides a pedestrian oriented downtown district with a sense of place, and congratulated the City for adoption and certification of its Housing Element which speaks to a higher density design that includes Affordable Housing.
Paul Sherwood said he was concerned that because Diamond Bar Boulevard is a major arterial for freeway access during commute times that narrowing the street would create traffic safety and congestion issues and was not clear on how parking at the center would be accommodated.
Eric Chen likes the designs and felt that staff and the design consultants did a great job, but is concerned about proposed access through his property and his liability, and hoped to work closely with the City to move the plan forward.
Saman Mahmood was somewhat perplexed about the slimming of Diamond Bar Boulevard and costs and aesthetics of a parking structure.
Consultants Payton and Chambers responded to public comments and concerns.
Council and Commission discussion ensued culminating in the following direction to staff.
1) Diamond Bar Boulevard Design – Support in concept reduction in lanes and lane widths subject to further detailed traffic analysis, including appropriate length of turn-pockets.
2) Buildout Scenarios – Support the higher Buildout Scenario 3 subject to appropriate environmental review including analysis of traffic and circulation impacts.
3) Design Alternative Preference – Subject to further consideration with emphasis on common green, north/south/east/west pedestrian connectivity and visibility of the mountains and civic/cultural building (combination of Alternatives 1, 2 and 4).
JANUARY 24, 2023 PAGE 3 CITY COUNCIL
4) Inclusionary (Affordable) Housing – Support incorporating inclusionary housing requirements into the TCSP regulations.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, Mayor Chou adjourned the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
________________________________
Greg Gubman
Community Development Director
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved by the Planning Commission this 14th day of February, 2023.
Raymond Wolfe, Chairperson
Respectfully Submitted:
________________________________
Kristina Santana, City Clerk
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved by the City Council this 7 th day of March,
2023.
Andrew Chou, Mayor