HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes - 03-04-20MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2020
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Duarte called the March 4, 2020, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:31 p.m.,
at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh
called roll.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Miguel Duarte, District 1, Chair
Steven Dominguez, District 3
Dimitrios Spathopoulos, District 4
Nolveris Frometa, District 5, Vice Chair
Patrick Owens, District 2
OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development
Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Crystal Landavazo, City Planner
Irving Anaya, Associate Planner
Madalyn Welch, Assistant Planner
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
Scott Loughner, Downey Police Department Lieutenant
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: None.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
1. PLN -20-00028 (Special Event Permit}: Chair Duarte opened the public hearing for PLN -20-00028 and
Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication.
Principal Planner Guillermo Arreola presented the request by Bastard's American Canteen, located at 11045
Downey Avenue and zoned DDSP (Downtown Downey Specific Plan), to conduct their first Saint Patrick's
Day Event on Wednesday, March 17, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. As in previous years, the event
includes live entertainment from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; a beer garden and trailer selling food and drinks,
with Alcohol consumption restricted to the beer garden only. There will be no street closure or vendors for
this event, and crowd control barriers will be installed around the perimeter, with six (6) licensed and bonded
security guards throughout the event, and two (2) Downey Police Officers from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. This
application was presented to the Development Review Committee Meeting, who provided the same standard
conditions of approval as in previous events.
Disclosures: None.
Applicant: Larry Lopez stated this is the first Saint Patrick's Day event and it will be a smaller scale version of
previous events; there will be no vendors and shorter hours due to it falling on a weekday.
Correspondence: None.
Public Comments: None.
Planning Commission
March 4, 2020 Minutes
Staff recommended approval of the request for a Special Event Permit (PLN -20-00028).
Chair Duarte closed the public hearing.
The Commissioners spoke in favor of the event.
It was moved by Commissioner Dominguez, seconded by Commissioner Spathopoulos, and passed by a 3-
0-2 vote, with Vice Chair Frometa and Commissioner Owens absent, to adopt Resolution No. 20-3115,
thereby approving the request for Special Event Permit (PLN -20-00028).
2. ,PLN -19-00189 (Conditional Use Permit): Chair Duarte opened the public hearing for PLN -19-00189
and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication.
Assistant Planner Madalyn Welch presented the request for a Conditional Use Permit, to allow the operation
of a new full-body massage establishment (Relax Spa), on property located at 9422 Firestone Boulevard and
zoned C-2 (General Commercial). The massage establishment will offer full-body massages consisting of
combination of hot oil, Swedish, and deep tissue massages; foot massages will be focused on foot
reflexology. The requested hours of operation are daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Ms. Welch reviewed
the City and State regulations pertaining to Massage Therapy establishments and their staff. Along with the
certification requirements for all massage practitioners, massage establishments are required to abide by
new operational regulations. These requirements relate to lighting, visibility, maintenance of records, as well
as sanitary standards. Such standards have been added as conditions of approval as well as integrated in
the plans for the tenant improvement to make certain that the establishment is in compliance with all current
massage establishment operating requirements. Staff has included Conditions of Approval to reiterate and
emphasize the CAMTC (California Massage Therapy Council) and operational requirements for owners and
employees of massage establishments. The Conditions require owners to maintain a current roster of
massage practitioners and their valid CAMTC certification on file with the Planning Division at all times.
Disclosures: Commissioner Spathopoulos disclosed he had driven by the site the prior evening.
Applicant/Owner Ning Li, together with her Translator Roger Chan, were present to address questions or
concerns of the Planning Commission.
Mr. Chan said they have curtains, not doors, to separate the massage rooms, and all therapists are required
to display their licenses.
The Planning Commission discussed the details of the CAMTC certification process; the owners' work
experience as a Massage Therapist; the conditions applied to previously approved massage establishments;
and the use of curtains vs doors.
Correspondence: None.
Public Comments: None.
Staff recommended approval of the request for a Conditional Use Permit (PLN -19-00189).
Chair Duarte closed the public hearing.
The Commissioners discussed requiring the applicant to use curtains only, no doors, and options to require
that all massage establishments follow suit.
City Planner Landavazo suggested modifying the Planning conditions of approval to include Condition No(s)
30 and 31 as follows:
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Planning Commission
March 4, 2020 Minutes
30) All massage areas shall be separated from common areas be a curtain only. Doors
shall not be permitted for massage areas.
31) Any City Official authorized to enforce and uphold the Downey Municipal Code shall
have the right to periodically enter and inspect any establishment for the purpose of
ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
It was moved by Commissioner Spathopoulos, seconded by Commissioner, and passed by a 3-0-2 vote, with
Vice Chair Frometa and Commissioner Owens absent, to adopt Resolution No. 20-3116, thereby approving
the request for Conditional Use Permit (PLN -19-00189) with added conditions as stated.
NON -AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
3. Approval of the Minutes from January 15, 2020:
Due to a lack of quorum, the Consent Calendar was continued to the next Regular Meeting of the Planning
Commission.
OTHER BUSINESS: Commissioner Dominguez commented on being struck by some of the language in the
Pledge of Allegiance.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: Director of Community Development Aldo Schindler informed the
Commission of a few updates. The City Council approved a 90 day pilot program with Sun Scooters to allow
electric scooters on some streets within the city. Additionally, new art was installed at the northeast corner of
Downey Avenue and 2nd Street, and at the southwest corner of Downey and 3`d Street near the Mason
Building, with more to come in the theater plaza once construction is complete.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Duarte adjourned the meeting at 7:10 p.m., to Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at
6:30p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 1St day of July, 2020
Migu uarte, 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 1St day of July, 2020, by the following vote:
AYES:
COMMISSIONERS:
Dominguez, Spathopoulos and Duarte
NOES:
COMMISSIONERS:
None
ABSENT:
COMMISSIONERS:
Frometa
ABSTAIN
COMMISSIONERS:
Owens
Mary C nagh, Secre ary
City Pla ng Commssi
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