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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. PC Draft Minutes - 11-04-15 DRAFT MINUTES REGULAR MEETING DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 6:30 P.M. Chairman Lujan called the November 4, 2015, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:34 p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh called roll. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Patrick Owens, District 2 Louis Morales, District 3 Matias Flores, District 4, Vice Chairman Jim Rodríguez, District 5 Hector Lujan, District 1, Chairman COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney William E. Davis, City Planner Jessica Flores, Associate Planner Mary Cavanagh, Secretary PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Commissioner Morales advised everyone that the Rotary Club is holding their annual golf tournament at the Rio Hondo Country Club this Friday. PRESENTATIONS: None. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None. REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. PLN-15-00176 (Conditional Use Permit): Chairman Lujan opened the public hearing for PLN- 15-0176, and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication. Associate Planner Jessica Flores gave a brief PowerPoint presentation of the request to operate a 1,230 sq. ft. martial arts center (commercial recreation), on property located at 9948 Lakewood Blvd., and zoned C-2 (General Commercial). Ms. Flores reviewed the subject site and the surrounding uses, which included Single-Family Residential uses to the north, east and west, with General Commercial uses to the south. The subject site is improved with a one-story inline multi-tenant commercial building, which contains a variety of retail, and restaurant uses. The applicant proposes to teach various types of martial arts, including American Kenpo karate, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Planning Commission Minutes November 4, 2015 - 2 - Brazilian jujitsu, cardio kickboxing, and boxing in both private individual classes and group classes with 2-25 students. Associate Planner Flores reviewed the proposed hours of operation as Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. She stated that the applicant will use amplified music during his instruction at a low volume and should not be a burden to residential neighbors as the tenant space does not have a rear door; however, conditions have been added to avoid disturbing commercial neighbors. The Development Review Committee (DRC) met on September 3. 2015; they generated standard conditions for Planning, Fire and Public Works Departments. The Building Department expressed concerns regarding the egress because the space does not have a rear door and was mitigated by limiting the occupancy to 25 people. Vice Chairman Flores noted that the hours of operation were listed on the staff report but not shown in the conditions of approval, to which she advised him that it was an oversight and should have been listed in the conditions of approval. Commissioner Rodriguez asked if egress is an issue, shouldn’t the maximum occupancy been a condition of approval, to which Ms. Flores explained that the occupancy load for a use could change with tenant improvements, and as such, a general condition had been included, stating the occupancy load be posted and the use must comply with the Building Code, so as to not restrict the tenant in the future. Chairman Lujan called for disclosures, to which there were none. Applicant, Carlos Macias, 9948 Lakewood Blvd., stated that his goal is to teach kids to be better people and teach them self-defense. Commissioner Rodriguez asked what is the origin of American Kenpo, to which Mr. Macias responded by saying that is a Hawaiian. Vice Chairman Flores asked Mr. Macias if this was his first time operating a business and if he was agreeable to the hours of operation, to which he replied that he had previously operated several other businesses with his instructor and he agreed with the hours of operation as stated. Chairman Lujan advised Mr. Macias to be careful with the noise level when playing music and reminded him to be mindful of his neighbors. Chairman Lujan called for correspondence, and he invited the audience to speak in favor, or against the application. There being none, Chairman Lujan closed the public hearing. The Commissioners said that this is a good business and a positive sport/activity providing good training for young people to learn how to handle themselves. Their only concern was to address the hours of operation in the conditions. Commissioner Rodriguez stated that Condition Nos. 6 and 10 were duplicates and suggested that condition no. 6 be revised to reflect the hours of operation, which are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Planning Commission Minutes November 4, 2015 - 3 - It was moved by Commissioner Rodriguez, seconded by Vice Chairman Flores, and passed by a 5-0 vote, to adopt Resolution 15-2949, thereby approving the request for a Conditional Use Permit (PLN-15-00176) with a revision to Condition No. 6 to reflect the hours of operation as stated. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: 2. Approval of the Revision to the Adopted Minutes from October 7, 2015 It was moved by Vice Chairman Flores, seconded by Commissioner Morales, and passed by a 5-0 vote, to approve the Consent Calendar. OTHER BUSINESS: None. STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Director of Community Development Aldo Schindler stated that the Promenade should be coming online in December and thereafter; this will bring a lot of job opportunities. The City has partnered with the Southeast Los Angeles Work Investment Board to help with anyone seeking employment at the Promenade. Job seekers can go to www.selacowib.com to apply. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to discuss, Chairman Lujan adjourned the meeting at 6:54 p.m., to Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 2015. Hector Lujan, Chairman City Planning Commission I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Minutes were duly approved at a Regular meeting of the Planning Commission held on the 18th day of November, 2015, by the following vote: AYES: COMMISSIONERS: ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: NOES: COMMISSIONERS: Mary Cavanagh, Secretary City Planning Commission