TO: PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2024
SUBJECT:
Title
TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 84585, REQUEST TO SUBDIVIDE A PARCEL (APN: 8307-003-066) TO CREATE TWO PARCELS LOCATED AT 735 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD. APPLICANT - ANDREASEN ENGINEERING, INC. FOR CLARE PROPERTIES, LLC.
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SUMMARY
The applicant, Andreasen Engineering, Inc., is requesting approval of Tentative Parcel Map 84585 (TPM 84585) to subdivide an existing parcel (APN: 8307-003-066) to create two parcels; one new parcel for the existing Armstrong Garden Center business and one new parcel for the remaining vacant land. The subject parcel is approximately 7.9 acres and will be subdivided to have the existing Armstrong Garden Center on a 1.2 acre parcel (Parcel 1) and the remaining vacant land to the east on a 6.7 acre parcel (Parcel 2). The subject parcel currently has a General Plan designation of Commercial and an underlying zoning designation of Commercial Highway (CH). Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 17.010.010, a tentative parcel map is required for a subdivision creating four or fewer parcels.
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission find that the proposed map is appropriate and consistent with the General Plan and zoning land use designations and subdivision standards, and therefore approve TPM 84585, subject to conditions included in the draft resolution in Attachment A.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Planning Commission:
A. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 84585 TO SUBDIVIDE ONE EXISTING PARCEL (APN: 8307-003-066) INTO TWO PARCELS LOCATED AT 735 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD. APPLICANT - ANDREASEN ENGINEERING, INC. FOR CLARE PROPERTIES LLC; and
B. Find this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Continue the item for additional discussion and/or information.
B. Determine that the findings set forth in Section 17.050.070 of the Claremont Municipal Code cannot be met for approval of Tentative Parcel Map 84585 and continue the item to the commission’s next meeting for adoption of a denial resolution.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
All costs associated with the proposed map will be borne by the applicant.
ANALYSIS
Background
The intent of the map is to subdivide an existing parcel to separate the existing Armstrong Garden Center business from the vacant area to the east for the purpose of selling the resulting parcel.
Proposed Tentative Parcel Map 84585
The proposed tentative parcel map will create two unified parcels, one that contains an existing commercial business (Parcel 1), and an undeveloped parcel (Parcel 2). The legal description defines the aforementioned parcels as follows:
THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
PARCEL 2 OF PARCEL MAP NO. 27023-1, IN THE CITY OF CLAREMONT, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS SHOWN ON MAP FILED IN BOOK 317, PAGES 98 AND 99, OF PARCEL MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY.
APN: 8307-003-066
The proposed map also includes easements identified as follows:
A) An avigation easement in favor of the City of Claremont, recorded June 19, 1997, as instrument no. 97-917067, of official records.
B) An easement for sidewalk and landscaping purposes, in favor of the City of Claremont, as shown on parcel map No. 23719, recorded in parcel map book 277, pages 28 & 29.
C) 150-foot-wide non-buildable strip of land per note, as shown on parcel map No. 23719, recorded in parcel map book 277, pages 28 & 29.
D) A variable width nonexclusive easement for ingress and egress, in common with others, reserved for the use and benefit of parcels 1 & 2 as shown on parcel map No. 23719, recorded in parcel map book 277, pages 28 & 29 and recorded July 7, 1992, as instrument No. 97-1006306 of official records.
Basis for Recommendation
The approval of a Tentative Parcel Map requires that the Planning Commission make certain findings set forth in Section 17.050.070 of the Claremont Municipal Code. Staff believes that the approval of the Tentative Parcel Map will bring the arrangement of parcels into compliance with the California Building Code and that all of the necessary findings can be made for approval of the proposed map, as identified in the draft resolution (Attachment A).
CEQA REVIEW
The request to subdivide the existing parcel is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15315 (Class 15) for minor land divisions, in that the project entails the division of land into two parcels, and is in conformance with the General Plan and zoning, requiring no variance or exceptions, all services and access to the proposed parcels to local standards are available, and the parcels were not involved in a division of a larger parcel within the previous two years. Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the Nhi Atienza at natienza@ci.claremont.ca.us.
On Thursday, October 3, 2024, the property was posted, and written notices were mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the boundary of the subject property. Notice of this public hearing was also published in the Claremont Courier on October 4, 2024. A copy of this staff report has been mailed to the applicant and any other interested parties.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Daniel Kim
Community Development Director Assistant Planner
Attachments:
A - Draft Planning Commission Resolution
B - TPM 84585
C - Legal Description
D - Applicant’s Justification Letter