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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes 01-07-15MINUTES REGULAR MEETING DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 6:30 P.M. Chairman Kiefer called the January 7, 2015, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:40 p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the Flag Salute, Secretary Cavanagh called roll. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Matias Flores, District 4 Jim Rodriguez, District 5 Hector Lujan, District 1, Vice Chairman Robert Kiefer, District 2, Chairman COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Louis Morales, District 3 OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development Yvette Abich- Garcia, City Attorney William E. Davis, City Planner David Blumenthal, Senior Planner Mary Cavanagh, Secretary PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE /MEETING REPORTS: Commissioner Rodriguez wished everyone a Happy New Year. PRESENTATIONS: None, REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. PLN -14- 00222: (Conditional Use Permit): Chairman Kiefer opened the public hearing for PLN -14- 00222, and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication. City Planner William Davis gave a brief PowerPoint presentation of the request for approval of a conditional use permit to allow the Trinity Baptist Church property at 8219 Florence Ave, zoned C -P (Professional Office), to be used as a substitute off - street parking location for medical uses located at 8067 -8069 Florence Ave. Mr. Davis reviewed the Code requirements for parking as it pertains to general office use and medical office uses. The shared parking agreement will enable the property owner to provide the off - street parking spaces needed to meet the Code requirements for medical uses. Mr. Davis reviewed the shared parking agreement and the conditions of approval that state that it must be a perpetual agreement that is attached to the properties. The agreement shows that it is a 5 -year agreement, however, Condition No. 7 requires that it must be: 1) a perpetual agreement; 2) requires a Covenant to lock the properties together, and 3) the City Attorney must approve the lease before the Covenant is recorded. Planning Commission Minutes January 7, 2015 As such, staff is recommending approval of the request for the shared parking agreement, subject to the Conditions of Approval. The Commissioners reviewed the parking requirements for medical and commercial uses with Mr. Davis, and the process for breaking the lease (parking agreement). Applicant/Owner Gabriel Garcia, 8067 -8069 Florence Avenue stated that he lost a prospective medical tenant because of the length of time to approve the parking agreement. Therefore, he decided that it would be advantageous to have the agreement in place and have the space ready to lease to his perspective tenants, most of which are medical uses. The Commissioners discussed the parking agreement and the specifics as to where the employees and the customers would be required to park, with Mr. Davis and the City Attorney. It was moved by Vice Chairman Lujan and seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez, and passed by a 4 -0 -1 vote, with Commissioner Morales absent, to adopt Resolution 15 -2902, thereby approving the request for a Conditional Use Permit (PLN -14- 00222). NON - AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: 2. Aoaroval of the Minutes from November 19. 2014 3. PLN -14 -00244 (General Plan Consistency) Commissioner Rodriguez pulled Item No. 3 of the Consent Calendar for discussion. It was moved by Commissioner Rodriguez, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and passed by a 4 -0 -1 vote, with Commissioner Morales absent, to approve Item No. 2 of the Consent Calendar. 3. PLN -14 -00244 (General Plan Consistency) —A request to find that the sale of Community Development Commission Housing Authority owned property located at 9010 Buhman Ave is consistent with the General Plan. Commissioner Rodriguez asked staff for a summary of what is the status of this property and what are the plans for it. Director Schindler responded by saying that this property was acquired by the former Redevelopment agency in 2008; since then, it's had a tenant that no longer resides there and the property has been vacant for approximately three to four years. Director Schindler continued by saying that when he came on board he did an inventory of what we (Downey) own in terms of property and anything that was under the purview of the Community Development Department. He came across this property and others located at 9066 Firestone, which is in a long -range property management that is managed by a successor agency. The others are located at 11911 Woodruff Ave and 9064 Stewart & Gray Rd, which are non - agency properties. He stated that there are many challenges in dealing in the public arena in renting property and received support by the City Manager in his recommendation to sell /dispose of the property. The finding of -2- Planning Commission Minutes January 7, 2015 consistency is so that it will not be turned into a 25 -unit apartment complex, but will be sold "as is ", as a single family residence, and shall remain as such. The Commissioners inquired as to why the City would have purchased the property, to which Director Schindler stated that at the time the City had a Home Improvement Loan Program, and when the owner went into default, the City owned $39,000 of it and bought it at auction. The intent could have been for affordable housing, and the profits from the sale must go back into affordable housing. It was moved by Commissioner Rodriguez, seconded by Commissioner Flores, and passed by a 4- 0-1 vote, with Commissioner Morales absent, to adopt Resolution 15 -2903, thereby approving the General Plan Consistency Finding (PLN -14- 00244). OTHER BUSINESS: None. STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Commissioner Flores asked for an update on the clean -up efforts at Paramount and Florence, to which Director Schindler reported Code Enforcement has made numerous visits and issued citations, and now is working with the business owner who has requested an extension. Director Schindler stated that he had sent an email invitation to the Commissioners to attend the conference for the League of California Cities 2015 Planning Commission Academy and recommended they attend, as it would be very informative. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to discuss, Chairman Kiefer adjourned the meeting at 7:25 p.m., to Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21St day of January, 2015. Hector ujan, ice hairman City Planning Commission I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Minutes were duly approved at a Regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 21St day of January, 2015, by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Lujan, Flores and Rodriguez ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: Morales and Owens NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None i a Mary Ca anagh, Secret ry City Planning Commission -3-