HomeMy WebLinkAbout3. PLN-13-00047 - Downtown Downey
STAFF REPORT
DATE:
MARCH 6, 2013
TO:
PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM:
BRIAN SAEKI, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DAVID BLUMENTHAL, SENIOR PLANNER
SUBJECT: PLN - 1 3 - 00 047 ( CODE AMENDMENT INITIATION REQUEST ) – A REQUEST TO
A CODE AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECI FIC PLAN TO
REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR HOOKAH /CIGAR LOUNGES.
LOCATION:
DOWNTOWN DOWNEY
ZONING:
DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECIFIC PLAN
REPORT SUMMARY
The Downtown Downey Specific Plan, which sets zoning standards for an 131 - acre portion of the
City, cu rrently allows hookah/cigar lounges by right in portions of Downtown Downey. Recent
events have raised a need to require Conditional Use Permits for this type of use. As such, staff
is recommending the Planning Commission initiate the Code Amendment , via minute action .
BACKGROUND /DISCUSSION
The Downtown Downey Specific Plan was adopted in October 2010 and set forth the zoning
standards for 131 acre area, which is generally bounded by Brookshire Ave to the west,
th
Paramount Blvd to the east, the railroad to the south, and 5 St to the north. Among the many
uses that are permitted or conditionally permitted in the Specific Plan area is “Hookah/Cigar
Lounges”, which are allowed by right in two (Firestone Blvd Gateway and Downtown Core) of
the five land us e districts.
Since adoption of the Downtown Downey Specific Plan, the City has approved business
licenses for two hookah lounges in Downtown Downey. However, r ecent events have raised a
concern with staff on how the operations of these businesses are i mpact ing the area negatively .
As such, staff feels that additional regulations might be needed the future establishment of
hookah/cigar lounges. As such, staff is requesting the Planning Commission initiate the Code
Amendment, thereby allowing staff to a nalyze the requiring Conditional Use Permits for
hookah/cigar lounges set the matter for public hearing.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State of California Code of Regulations, staff has found
that this request is not subje ct to CEQA since initiation of a Code Amendment does not have the
potential to create an environmental impact. Should the code amendment be initiated, an
environmental assessment will be conducted to analyze impacts of said Code Amendment.
PLANNING DIVISION
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
Exhibit s
Location
Downtown Downey Land Use Districts
Code Amendment Initiation (PLN - 13 - 00047)
March 6 , 201 3 - Page 2