HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. Planning Commission Minutes 11-15-23MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, November 15, 2023
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 PM
Chair Ortiz called the November 15, 2023, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at
6:35 pm, at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by Commissioner Duarte
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Horacio Ortiz, Jr., District 5, Chair
Carmela Uva, District 4, Vice Chair
Miguel Duarte, District 1
Mario Guerra, District 2
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Irma Huitron, Director of Community Development
John Funk, City Attorney
Alfonso Hernandez, Principal Planner
Abraham Luna, Associate Planner
Ria Ioannidis, Planning Secretary
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Vice Chair Uva responded that she has none. Commissioner
Duarte responded he has none. Commissioner Guerra responded that he has none. Chair Ortiz
responded he has none.
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS: Community Development Director Irma Huitron congratulated
Chair Ortiz for his victory on the Council seat . Community Development Director Irma Huitron also
reported on upcoming development projects in the City, including code enforcement related activities.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: Chair Ortiz asked the commissioners if they had any questions or
comments on consent calendar item or motion to accept. It was moved by Vice Chair Uva and seconded
by Commissioner Guerra, and passed by a vote of 3-0-1, with Commissioner Duarte excused from
passing the Consent Calendar.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PLN-23-00136 (Tentative Parcel Map): Chair Ortiz opened the public hearing for PLN-23-
00136, and Planning Secretary affirmed proof of publication.
Associate Planner Abraham Luna presented a request to subdivide a 29,209 square-foot parcel into
two parcels. The property is located at 12020 Rives Avenue, Zoned R-1 5,000 Single-family
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residential. Upon completion of the presentation, Associate Planner Luna recommended the Planning
Commission adopt a resolution approving Tentative Parcel Map (PLN-23-00136). Associate Planner
Abraham Luna addressed questions from Planning Commissioners related to the property.
Vice Chair Uva asked Planning Staff about parking requirements for each parcel.
Commissioner Guerra disclosed concerns related to conflict of interest due to the proximity of the
project to his primary residence.
City Attorney John Funk informed there is no conflict of interest in Commissioner Guerra’s
participation.
Commissioner Guerra asked Planning Staff about driveway placement and architectural design of the
future buildings.
Associate Planner Luna stated that due to the specific request of a subdivision the project design and
layout are preliminary and the project is conditioned to comply with all development standards to be
reviewed during the building permit process.
Commissioner Guerra commented the subject property has the potential to also construct Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs), and expressed concerns related to the potential maximum dwelling units.
Associate Planner Luna confirmed that was correct, but noted none were proposed at this time.
Community Services Director Huitron added the R-1 zone per state law allows one primary dwelling,
an ADU and a junior ADU dwelling.
Disclosures: Vice Chair Uva and Commissioner Guerra drove and walked by the site separately.
Commissioner Duarte and Chair Ortiz had none.
Chair Ortiz asked the applicant to give testimony.
The Applicant welcomed questions from Commissioners.
Vice Chair Uva asked the Applicant of their future development plans.
Commissioner Guerra asked about plans for future ADUs and driveway placement.
The Applicant stated that a home and one ADU will be proposed on each lot. In addition, the Applicant
stated they were open to constructing two separate driveways.
Commissioner Guerra asked Planning Staff on notification procedures to surrounding residences.
Community Services Director Huitron verified notices were mailed out to property owners within a 500-
foot radius and also publicized the public hearing on the Downey Patriot, a local newspaper..
Correspondence: None.
Public Comment: Speaker Justin Philips, mother lives next door to subject property, shared concerns
related to traffic congestion, traffic safety, and construction noise.
Chair Ortiz closed the public hearing.
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Associate Planner Abraham Luna recommended the Planning Commission approve PLN-23-00136
Tentative Parcel Map) and adopt the proposed resolution.
Deliberation:
Vice Chair Uva, Commissioner Duarte and Commissioner Guerra requested that conditions of
approval be added to the resolution related to driveway placement and construction hours.
Commissioner Guerra asked if conditions of approval can be added limiting the construction of ADUs.
Community Development Director Huitron and City Attorney Funk clarified state law related to ADUs.
Commissioner Guerra requested to address the applicant. Chair Ortiz opened to public hearing.
Commissioner Guerra asked the applicant if the property is in use or vacant, and complimented the
maintenance of the property.
The Applicant stated the property was vacant, but regularly maintained.
Chair Ortiz closed the Public Hearing.
Community Development Director Huitron, at the request of the Planning Commission, drafted
modified conditions of approval related to driveway placement and construction hours.
Chair Ortiz opened the Public Hearing.
Chair Ortiz asked the applicant if they agreed with the newly drafted conditions of approval.
The Applicant responded that they were accepting of the new conditions of approval.
Chair Ortiz closed Public Hearing.
It was moved by Commissioner Duarte, seconded by Vice Chair Uva, and passed by a vote of 4-0 to
pass Tentative Parcel Map (PLN-23-00136).
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PLN-23-00119 (Conditional Use Permit): Chair Ortiz opened the public hearing for PLN-23-
00119, and Planning Secretary affirmed proof of publication.
Associate Planner Abraham Luna presented a conditional use permit application to locate a new
rooftop mounted wireless communication facility on an existing building. The property is located at
12006 Lakewood Blvd at the Downey Landing.
Commissioner Guerra asked to confirm the height measurement of the unscreened portion of the
antenna.
Associate Planner Luna confirmed the measurement is 24 inches.
Disclosures: Vice Chair Uva had none. Commissioner Guerra stated that the same paint is used as
the building. Commissioner Duarte had none and Chair Ortiz visits the site frequently.
Chair Ortiz opened to Public Hearing:
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The Applicant Justin Robinson, representative of Verizon, confirmed the measurements of the
antenna.
Correspondence: None
Public Comment: None
Chair Ortiz closed the Public Hearing.
Associate Planner Luna recommended approval of Conditional Use Permit for PLN-00119 and adopt
the proposed Resolution.
Deliberation: The Commissioners stated they were ready to make a motion.
It was moved by Vice Chair Uva, seconded by Chair Ortiz, and passed by a vote of 4-0 to pass PLN-
23-00119 (Conditional Use Permit).
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Ortiz adjourned the meeting at 7:20 pm, to Wednesday, December 6, 2023,
at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of February, 2024.
Chair
City Planning Commission
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Minutes were duly approved at a Regular meeting of the
Planning Commission held on this 7th day of February, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Ria Ioannidis, Planning Secretary
Community Development Department