HomeMy WebLinkAbout3. Draft PC Minutes 06-05-19DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Dominguez called the June 5, 2019, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:31
p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Secretary
Cavanagh called roll.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Steven Dominguez, District 3, Chair
Dimitrios Spathopoulos, District 4
Nolveris Frometa, District 5
Miguel Duarte, District 1, Vice Chair
Patrick Owens, District 2
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None
OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development
Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Crystal Landavazo, City Planner
Guillermo Arreola, Principal Planner
Alfonso Hernandez, Associate Planner
Madalyn Welch, Assistant Planner
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: None.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL: None.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PLN-18-00188 (Conditional Use Permit): Chair Dominguez opened the public hearing for PLN-18-00188
and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication.
Assistant Planner Madalyn Welch presented the request by Mariscos Yandicris located at 10244 Lakewood
Boulevard, zoned C-2 (General Commercial) to operate with a Type 41 (On Sale Beer & Wine Eating Place)
Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) License. The subject site is located within a 12-tenant retail complex.
Assistant Planner Welch reviewed surrounding uses and parking requirements for the proposed use. The
space currently operates as a juice bar, which the applicant proposes to convert into a seafood restaurant
with interior tenant improvements and the outside patio will be fenced before approval for the sale of alcohol
will be granted. The sale of alcohol must be incidental to the sale of food. There will be no live entertainment.
This application was presented to the Development Review Committee (DRC) on December 27, 2018; the
Police Department reinforced that the patio must be closed in with a fence and no entertainment or television
on the patio and the remaining departments granted the standard conditions of approval.
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The Commissioners made inquiries regarding the on or off site sales of alcohol; the sale of alcohol for orders
that are being picked up for delivery; does the ABC License allow for sales of sealed containers of alcohol;
requirements to keep the sidewalk clean and the proposed fencing.
Staff advised the Commission: Condition number (9) nine prevents the restaurant from selling alcohol for off-
site consumption; the restaurant will not be able to sell alcohol for delivery or with carry out orders; the sale
of sealed containers requires a different ABC License; and the fencing shall be a 42 inch wrought iron fence.
Disclosures: Commissioner Spathopoulos stated he drove by the subject site the day before the Commission
Meeting. Commissioner Frometa stated he visited the site the night before as well as the day of the meeting.
Chair Dominguez stated he is familiar with the area.
Applicant representative Alex Berrola (sp) stated the tenant does not intend to sell alcohol for off-site use.
She intends to make sure the area will look great to attract customers. The fence will go along with the look
of the building. The storage of alcohol will take up about five percent of the storage area and will be stored at
room temperature and put in the display case as needed.
Commissioner Spathopoulos asked if they had operated a restaurant before and why did they decide to go
into the seafood restaurant. Mr. Berrolla (sp) stated the owner already sells limited food at the juice bar and
is changing everything to become a full fledge restaurant.
Commissioner Owens asked about the hedge that is shown in the rendering. Mr. Berrolla (sp) stated that the
hedge is already in existence and the fence will be behind the hedge and there will be ample sidewalk
available in front of the hedge to get to other businesses in the retail center.
Commissioner Frometa asked if the patio fence gate and meeting the ADA requirements. Mr. Berrola (sp)
confirmed, the gate will meet all the ADA requirements.
Chair Dominguez requested an added condition that states the restaurant will be responsible for keeping the
sidewalk in front of the restaurant clean. Mr. Berrolla (sp) stated the owner is willing to meet that condition.
Commissioner Owens asked about the signage. Mr. Berrolla (sp) sated the sign will be smaller and more
inline with the other signs already on the building and meeting all the requirements to meet the City of
Downey sign requirements.
Correspondence: None
Public Comments: Armando Herman stated an interpreter should have been at the meeting. He added a
restaurant must be able to sell alcohol.
City Attorney Yvette Abich Garcia addressed an inaccuracy brought up by Mr. Herman. An applicant can
request to have a translator attend the Planning Commission Meetings. In this case, the applicant brought
their own translator and he did everything correctly.
Staff recommended approval of the request for Conditional Use Permit (PLN-18-00188).
Chair Dominguez closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Spathopoulos requested adding a condition to add no entertainment, speakers, or television.
City Planner Landavazo stated it would be best to add it to condition number 8 since that condition already
has no live entertainment. The amended condition was passed by a 5-0 vote.
Vice Chair Duarte requested a condition requiring the applicant maintain the sidewalk in front of the
business. City Planner Landavazo suggested adding the condition as number 15.
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Commissioner Owens spoke in favor of the restaurant.
City Planner Landavazo provided the language to modify the conditions of approval as follows:
8. There shall be no live entertainment within the business at any time. Exterior speakers and
televisions are prohibited in the outdoor dining area.
15. Must maintain Lakewood Boulevard, from the northernmost edge through the southernmost
edge of adjacent tenant spaces, free and clear of trash and debris during all hours of
operation and up to (2) two hours after closure
It was moved by Chair Dominquez, seconded by Commissioner Owens, and passed by a 5-0 vote, to adopt
Resolution No. 19-3093, thereby approving the request for Conditional Use Permit (PLN-18-00188) with
added condition and amended condition as stated.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: Armando Herman spoke about the first amendment.
Solomon Alvar and his wife live near the Tempo Cantina and complained of noise generated by the
restaurant by the music and patrons gathering outside. The noise goes on until 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The noise is disrupting their quality of life. Mr. Alvar said there were no
issues with the former owners; it has only been an issue since the new owners took over in November, and
the new owners must follow the same conditions as the previous owners. Mrs. Alvar said they are calling the
police every week and sometimes the noise is less and asked for assistance.
Chair Dominguez asked staff to obtain a Police Report of the noise complaints and bring the applicant in for
review of their Conditional Use Permit. Director Schindler thanked the residents for coming forward and
advised the couple to continue to call the Police Department as often as they need to if there is a disturbance
that becomes bothersome. He suggested they also contact Code Enforcement Officers and also provide
Assistant Planner Welch with their contact information to allow staff to contact the couple to help address
these issues in the future. For the Planning Commissioner, because the issue was brought to our attention,
we will provide the Planning Commission with reports for calls for service beginning with the opening of the
restaurant, and any issues they’ve had with Code Enforcement. The Conditional Use Permit runs with the
land, therefore, the new business must comply with the terms of the Conditional Use Permit.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
2. Approval of the Minutes from September 19, 2018
3. Approval of the Minutes from October 17, 2018
4. PLN-19-00090 (General Plan Consistency) A request to find that the Capital Improvement Program
for the 2019-2020 fiscal year is consistent with the General Plan
5. PLN-19-00089 (Final Tract Map No. 81331) 11856 Old River School Road
Public Comment: Armando Herman made comments that were not relevant to the Consent Calendar.
It was moved by Commissioner Owens, seconded by Chair Dominguez, and passed by a 5-0 vote, with
Commissioner Spathopoulos abstaining from items number 2 and 3.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
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STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Director Schindler reminded the Commissioners of a retreat scheduled for
June 17th at 6:00 p.m. located at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. There are also minutes from a
meeting for which there is a lack of a quorum. It was determined that Commissioner Owens will watch the
video from the November 7, 2018, meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Dominguez adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m., to Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at
6:30 p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave., Downey, CA 90241.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of October, 2019.
Steven Dominguez, 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 2nd day of October 2019, by the following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission