Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

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I'd like to officially call to order the planning commission meeting of December 4th, 2025. Let the record reflect that Commissioner Barahas is absent and all other commissioners are present. At this time, I'll lead us in the pledge of

allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have one item tonight under presentations and director Gail Arian will introduce this item. Yes, thank you. Uh from our public works department, Joe Claudio will uh provide a presentation for you.

Thank you, Gail. Good evening, uh Chair Luton, uh members of the commission, city staff. Again, my name is Joe Claudio. I'm one of the engineers in the public works department and this evening I'll be presenting an update on the capital improvement program or CIP for the third quarter of 2025. Now the third quarter runs from July 1st through the end of September. And since the city's fiscal year starts on July 1st, this will be the first CIP update of the current fiscal year. Now, technically, the council approves a 7-year CIP. However, public works updates that CIP every two years. So, the current CIP that we're in is the 2527 CIP. In the 2527 CIP, we have 43 projects budgeted and 15 carryover projects from previous fiscal years, making up the total 58 that you see you see on the screen. Those 58 projects are budgeted at $54.5 million and broken up into five general categories. Parks and recreation, traffic, streets, environmental, and facilities rated projects. This evening, I'm going to be starting off with the projects that have been completed since the beginning of the fiscal year, then moving on to projects that are in currently under construction, then preconstruction. So meaning we've either in the uh advertisement phase or pre-awward phase but not actually starting construction design and then lastly pre-esign. So we've completed seven projects so far

since the beginning of fiscal year. In July, it looks like we completed the Baker Ranch Community Park turf replacement project and the El Toro irrigation conservation project. The NOOCC's, which stands for notice of completion, were filed in mid July for both of these projects. Now, it should be noted that the city is expecting to get about $77,000 reimbursed in grant funding from the Metropolitan Water District for the El Toro job. We completed two projects at the Lake Forest Sports Park, the turf replacement project and the roof repairs uh project in August. The Normandale Open Space Renovation Project basically repaired an area that was damaged from a fire in the late 2023 and also installed uh some chainlink fencing to secure the access to the site. this zone D project, this asphalt repairs. So, typically when you see zone a zone project that relates to a slurry seal, an annual slurry seal project. So, the city is broken up into seven zones currently and zone D is the largest of the zones. Because of that, we had to break zone D into two phases. The first phase, which we u essentially have completed, was to perform localized asphalt repairs. Next year we will do a slurry seal over all of the streets in zone D. The slide that you see on the screen now is actually Kinyatta Road which is in zone D. But since Kenyatta Road gets a lot of

vehicular traffic, we decided to do an a full width asphalt overlay on Kenyatta Road from Dimension to Lake Forest. So the entire uh limits of Kinyatta Road actually received over a two-inch overlay asphalt overlay. So that'll last a lot longer than just a slurry seal treatment. Lastly, we completed the citywide street name signs and went from the green theme to the blue theme. So partial to blue myself. Those seven projects uh completed represent an investment of $4.5 million in improving the community of Lake Forest. It says 30, but in your agenda report, we actually have 14 projects that are currently in various stages of construction. Heroes Park, we have the Heroes Park field renovations. So, we renovated field one, which is the largest of the four fields there, and field four, which is a little leak field. Both were complete renovations. We added a warning track, um outfield fencing. We also added uh LED lighting. Those were the first baseball fields I've ever been involved with. So, uh definitely a challenging project. the citywide restroom renovations. We have completed painting of all the restrooms in all the city parks. We are awaiting delivery of the fixtures and we'll be installing those at the Foothill Ranch Community Park. On the picture on the right, those are stairs at Vintage Park where we did some

concrete spall repairs as well as installed some uh tread tread guards. Uh I believe we all also will be repairing the slope on Vintage Park. There are some railroad tie retaining structures that are going to be um evaluated and then look like like we're going to try and improve those. We also have a number of developerbased fee projects. The first of which is this lake forest transportation mitigation or lift projects. So these are developer feebased and funded projects. The first group of these is actually a bundle of three projects that are deemed intersection widening projects. And the purpose of those three projects is to create a de facto right turn lane. So what a deacto right turn lane is basically a wide enough curb lane that can accommodate a through movement as well as a right turn movement. Now all of these three accomplish that. However, the lossos rock field that you see on the screen, the lake forest and rancho were primarily doing striping changes and some minor slurry or paving improvements, also some um video detection improvements. But the Lake Forest and Geronimo uh intersection widening, that was a physical widening. So we actually widened the west side of Gorono by about three feet north of Lake Forest Drive. So when you do a physical widening, you typically have utility relocation. That makes it more complicated. Uh you also have to do modifications to the existing traffic signal system so that the um the lanes and the signal heads and the video

detection all line up. Speaking of more complicated, if you've driven on Bake and Tribco, you have another Lyft and funded project, the Bake and Tribco intersection improvements. So, as you can see here, this is clearly a physical widening. We are relocating the northerly curb on Bake Parkway of Tribco by about 9 ft to the north. So this involves a lot of utility relocation which makes it that much more complicated since we don't completely control and govern the timing of the utility relocation work. So this project um at the end of this project which is estimated to be completed in summer of next year you'll have dual left turns in all directions at that intersection. terms of lift and design, we have this Bake and Geronmo Road intersection widening project which is an city of Irvine le project and that project will also um end up with a tiered landscape slope that you see in sorry that you see in the photo. At the end of that project we will be providing additional left turn pockets again in all directions. um of that intersection. The Meadows is another developer feebased program and that project in design is the Bacon Toledo project. This is another physical widening project where we'll be adding dual left turns as well as a de facto right turn lane. The foothill circulations phasing program or FCPP is the last of the developer feebased

program that I'm going to talk about tonight. And on the September 2nd council meeting, we awarded the El Toro road corridor improvement project which is a bundle of actually four projects. The first project, El Toro Geronimo widening, that again is a physical widening. The additional rightaway acquired um for that project was through the eminent domain process. So that is a very complex project. Um because of the eminent domain project, we have a defined time limit, a defined area of work called a temporary construction easement. So that project is not going to get the green light until all our tees are crossed and our eyes are dotted. Uh because we cannot um go beyond that. If we do go beyond our six-month time limit on that, then there's going to be legal repercussions. The next two, the El Toro raised medians and the El Toro resurfacing is basically to construct a raised landscape median on El Toro Road from Geronimo to Tribco as well as rehabilitate El Toro Road. And the last of that uh bundle is the El Toro Tribco arterial median which is going to construct a raised finger median on Tribco Road north of El Toro just to replace the existing stick down delineators just for to enhance public safety there. Terms of FCP design we have the Losisos Murland intersection widening which is another physical widening project. As you can see here, it'll be adding dual lefts in all directions of traffic. Because of this location is basically at the border of city of Lake Forest and the city of Mission VJO. I believe it's around the center line of the street. We are coordinating not only with the city

of Miss VJO, but also the school district on that southeast corner. So, another complex project where there are rightaway impacts acquisition. We're in the final stages of design there, but u we need to make sure all of the stakeholders are in agreement before we finalize the design. Traffic signal synchronization projects or TSSP are funded uh through the OCTA or Orange County Transportation Authority. So I am not a traffic engineer, but I'll do my best here. So, we have four shown or I'm sorry, three shown here for um design purposes. The Bacon Rockfield TSSP, Portola and Santa Margarita TSSP, and Irvine Boulevard TSSP. Terms of preconstruction, we have the Lake Forest Sports Park HVAC, which apparently has been awarded, but construction has not been started. Uh, so they're doing pre-construction coordination activities with the contractor. Pickle ball court installation at El Toro Park. Uh, I believe that will be to replace the existing sand volleyball court with two pickle ball courts. And the Foothill Ranch box lacrosse will be to replace an existing roller hockey rink with a box lacrosse project. Streets design. We have arterial wall enhancement in southwest lake south southwest lake forest. On the top right you see kind of a depiction rendering of what um all of the public outreach has resulted in and all the um stakeholders have decided on. It's basically to enhance the look to these uh residential communities. CDBG ADA ramps CDBG stands for community development block grant. So that funding

will be used, this is again grant funding to be used for either removing and reconstructing or constructing new ADA ramps, which is basically wheelchair or curb ramps to comply with the Americans and Disability Act. And then lastly, the citywide street sidewalk repairs. Other projects in design, we have the slurry seal zone D. So that as I mentioned earlier will be to do phase two of zone D where we will actually slurry all the streets in zone D. You can see on the map on the right um zone D is is quite a large area. That picture is actual picture of a slurry p uh slurry machine. We're going to try to u piggyback that with the civic center parking lot slurry seal job as well as the bake parkway resurfacing. Now, I shouldn't mention the bake parkway resurfacing is not a slurry seal. That is a an actual asphalt overlay treatment. It's going to be an actual structural section where we will continue from the end of the baked tribucco job. So, Baked Tribco goes from Cromwell to Artist Way. The limits of the Bake Tribco job currently under construction. And so, this bake job will go from artist way to the northeasterly limit of the city. We also have the citywide park concrete trail repair. So a concrete trail is basically the concrete walkway within the city parks. Nature and lake forest parks have existing um decomposed granite trails which have these lodgepole fencing that border them. And uh this is a typical design of the lodge pole fencing which we're going to be replacing. Peachwood Park. I believe they are looking at uh constructing a brand new circulation trail throughout that park.

Now, even though we have more than six projects, these six projects are currently funded and they're in pre-esign. So, we haven't actually hired a design consultant to to start the design. We're still in the scoping phase. The first four projects, Kavanaaugh Park, Etnne's skate park, Lake Forest Sports Park building renovations, and the Etnne skate park building renovations. We're we're meeting with staff. We're meeting with the community stakeholders just to develop a scope of work so that when we do go for an RFP to get a consultant on board, uh, we know what to ask them. The Lisa Creek drainage repairs is something that's already been scoped in a sense, but it's going to need to be a phased approach to the that design. We have um obviously an environmentally sensitive area of Aliso Creek. So the consultant will have to come up with a design and cost estimate that will have you know minimal impact environmentally. the nature park trail connection. We have an existing 10- foot wide decomposed granite trail and nature park that we are trying to extend to connect to the Meadows development. That project also has rightaway acquisition um implications because of the Nass property and the Toll Brothers properties. So we are evaluating you know the alignment and um potentially acquiring a larger piece of property u for that that project. So in summary, we've of the 43 projects in the 2527 CIP, seven have been completed, 14 are currently under construction, various stages. Actually, a number of them have are essentially completed. Um we're just waiting on

final punch list items. Three are in pre-construction. Uh 13 are in design and the last six I showed you are in pre-esign. Uh, that concludes my presentation and I'll do my best to answer any questions you may have. Any commissioners have any questions? Okay. Thank you very much for your presentation. You're welcome. Yes. Thank you.

At this time, members of the public may address the commission regarding matters not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the planning commission. Comments shall be limited to three minutes per person. you'd like to make a comment, please fill out a speaker card and submit it to the commission secretary. Speaker cards are available at the agenda review table by the entrance. Madame Commission Secretary, have we received any speaker cards? I have not received any. Okay. And now we're down to this is the time for the commission to consider matters listed under the consent calendar. Have we received any comments from the public regarding the consent calendar?

None received. Okay. Have we received any Okay. Do any commissioners wish to discuss the items in the consent calendar? Is there a motion to approve the consent calendar? So moved. So moved. We have a second. Okay. Okay. Okay, I guess we can go ahead and vote. I guess I have one question on that. Since I was not at the September meeting, do we need to pull that item and then vote on it separately? I wasn't either. So, I can take those separately if you'd like. I'll

Okay, why don't we do that separately? So, we'll take item number two first. We'll vote on item two. What's item two? I don't have it in front of me. I'm sorry. Planning Commission meeting of October 9th.

Okay, there we go. So, can I again uh get a first and a second on this item? Okay. So, moved. I'll second. Thank you. Okay, now we'll move on to item three. Do we get a a motion in a second, please? I'm still waiting for um votes on item two. Okay, it still hasn't come up yet. Okay. Thank you.

Are we good for item three now? That motion passes unanimously with Commissioner Brahas absent and Commissioner Bilwok abstaining. Okay. Can we get a motion for approval of the minutes of the planning commission meeting of September 4th, September 2025?

I'll second it. I actually have a comment on that if I can before we vote. Chair, I I think on the minutes and I'm looking at you Amy. I think that it lists me as the chair. So in that absence of the chair, um that might have been something that we should switch because it may have been vice chair standard that stepped in that that meeting to my recollection.

September 4th So, do we need to amend the motion at this point? Yes. Okay, we have a motion. I'll make the motion to change out the chair from from uh Commissioner Billwalk to Commissioner Stan.

Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you. And with that correction on the minutes, that motion passes unanimously with Commissioner Barahas absent and Chair Leen abstaining. We now like need a motion for item number four, the 2026 planning commission meeting calendar. Do we have a motion in a second? I'll move it.

Second. The motion passes unanimously with Commissioner Baras absent. Thank you very much. I'll now open the public hearing for item number five and director Gail Arian will introduce this item. item. This item is consideration of uh an ordinance amending the Lake Forest Municipal Code regarding accessory dwelling units and uh Ron Santos is here this evening with presentation.

Evening Chair Leon and members of the planning commission. So uh this item is a draft ordinance amending municipal code section 9.146.050 050 which governs accessory dwelling units or ADUs and uh junior accessory dwelling units or JADUs. These amendments are intended to ensure compliance with recent changes in state law. The attached draft ordinance updates the city's ADU regulations to align with state law that will become effective January 1st, 2026. The commission's action tonight is advisory and would be in the form of a resolution providing a recommendation to the city council. Although California law increasingly increasingly limits local authority to regulate ADUs and Jedus, our existing local ordinance includes supplemental requirements and standards that are allowed by state law, such as a requirement for driveway sharing and a front setback requirement and height limits for ADUs that meet certain criteria. These standards will become null and void unless readdopted together with the new state law requirements. In this instance, all of the proposed code amendments are necessary for consistency with state law. On December 2nd, the city council adopted an urgency ordinance that is identical to the ordinance on the agenda this evening, except for the urgency provisions and findings that allowed it to go into effect immediately. Tonight, we are re reviewing the non-urgency version of the ordinance, which follows the normal adoption

process and requires a planning commission public hearing as well as a city council public hearing. California Assembly Bill 1154 narrows owner occupancy requirements for JADUs and prohibits short-term rentals. SB9 and SB543 is that's Senate bill voids local AD ordinances that are submitted to the California Department of Housing and Community Development within 60 days. I should say that are not submitted within 60 days. California Senate Bill 543 clarifies key aspects of ADU law, including including size definitions, fee exemptions, and combinations of ADUs that must be permitted. It also requires more structured permitting timelines, including completeness determinations within 15 days and appeal rights to the planning commission. AB462 introduces a narrow exception allowing a detached ADU to receive a certificate of occupancy before the primary dwelling unit under housing disaster related circumstances. Otherwise, the primary dwelling unit must receive a certificate first. The draft ordinance aligns with the city's general plan housing element by supporting a range of housing types. Updating our ADU regulations ensures compliance with state law while continuing to address regional housing needs. To date, no public comments have been received on this item. Staff recommends

adoption of the attached resolution recommending approval of the draft ordinance to the city council. Following the commission's action, the city council would consider this item in January and it would become effective 30 days after the second reading. Lastly, staff made a minor correction to the draft ordinance title which is reflected on the yellow sheet copies placed on the dice before the start of the meeting. That concludes staff's presentation on this item and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you very much, Ron, for that presentation. We appreciate it.

Madam Secretary, have we received any comments from members of the public on this item? I have not received any. Do any members of the commission have any questions or comments for discussion on this item?

I have one just to so this this is an ordinance that is required by the state. So so this the city doesn't have a choice in whether this is adopted ultimately by the city council but our recommendation is city council to adopt what is actually a mandatory ordinance. Well, um technically it's not required, but it's necessary to achieve consistency with state law. If if the ordinance isn't adopted, then it um not by not adopting the ordinance, then we revert strictly to state law. So, all of the supplemental requirements that the city has adopted in past ordinances would not be enforcable.

Right. Okay. But but but as a matter of process, this is more of a housekeeping item um from an ordinance standpoint. Correct.

So, okay. So, that was the the first part just questioning the process. Second, I'll just um editorializing this is a u this is an attempt by the state legis le the state legislature and the governor to uh attempt to to climb out of the housing policy crisis that our state's been under last 40 years or so. And so this is one of those quote unquote solutions that's been purported to um be adopted by the state and then and then forced down to the cities throughout the state uh for adoption at the local level. Um and so just this it's a well-intentioned um legislative u uh set of laws that were were were were adopted at the state level to do this. Um and unfortunately it's just not going to have the desired effect at the state level. This is a band-aid that will that will um um not have any demonstrable um change to inventory of homes that are available for families to live in. But it's at least a well-intentioned uh uh quote unquote solution for that. So u with that I I'll I'll still go ahead and make the motion if it's if uh when the appropriate time comes to adopt it. um with those those comments. So, Mr. Chairman,

thank you very much. Any other comments from any members of the commission? I have one chair. Go ahead, Ron. I know we saw the ADU ordinance I don't know last in the last four or five years has come across the commission and one of the things that was part of that ordinance was specific to the utilities had to have independent connections. Does this have the only changes to what's being recommended is what was in the presentation and what's in this resolution. Is that correct? There's no changes to any of those other items that are in the city's ordinance.

That that's correct. The ordinance would provide only for those changes necessary for consistency with state law. Otherwise, the city's ordinance would remain intact. Okay. Thank you. You have anything, Commissioner Standard? I guess I have one question to the staff. Are we seeing a big increase now in people applying for ADU permits?

I wouldn't call it a big increase. You know, we the lot size in the city is not as conducive to ADU development as some of the cities in more central Orange County. Some cities have um are processing in the hundreds of applications. We've been fairly consistent, maybe 12 a year. Now, in areas where they have an HOA, do you still have to have HOA approval before they can submit to the city? I don't believe so. Ron, do you have any um

I was curious about that. So, uh, typically HOAs will require that applicants get approval for any any, um, work on their property that affects design, architecture, that that sort of thing. Um, so, but but that's something that's separate from the city's processes. We don't um enforce the CCNRs or or have any role in that. Very good. Thank you. At this point, I'll close the public hearing. Do we have a motion to consider approving this item? I'll make the motion. I'll second. We can vote.

The motion passes unanimously with Commissioner Baras absent. Thank you very much. Now is the time for director's comments. Uh I have no specific comments other than to wish you all a happy holiday season. Thank you. City Attorney, do you have any comments tonight? Uh, no comments, but happy holidays everybody. Thank you, Commissioner Greyel.

Same as the holiday season, so we're right in the thick of it. So, and and I'm on uh uh pins and needles waiting to hear the announcement of our second granddaughter who's due today, but apparently isn't interested in uh appearing quite yet. So, but happy holidays to everybody. Thanks, Chair. Just merry Christmas. Happy holidays. And my eldest daughter turned 12 today, so happy birthday to Brooklyn. She's at dance right now, so we'll be getting ice cream after this meeting.

Very good, Vice Chair Standard. Well, I don't want to be the odd man out. So, merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone here and thank you to the staff and to the commission for all the great work this year and I look forward to continuing next. I'll echo your words and wish everybody a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy new year since I don't think we'll meet before New Year's. So, and with that, the meeting is adjourned. Our next regular meeting is scheduled for January 8th, 2026.