HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Minutes - 08-19-20MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Duarte called the August 19, 2020, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:33 p.m.,
at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh
called roll.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:
Patrick Owens, District 2
Dimitrios Spathopoulos, District 4
Nolveris Frometa, District 5, Vice Chair
Miguel Duarte, District 1, Chair
Steven Dominguez, District 3
OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Director of Community Development
Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Crystal Landavazo, City Planner
Guillermo Arreola, Principal Planner
Alfonso Hernandez, Senior Planner
Irving Anaya, Associate Planner
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: None.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. PLN -20-00045 (Conditional Use Permitl: Chair Duarte opened the public hearing for PLN -20-00045
Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication.
Associate Planner Irving Anaya presented the request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to allow an
existing industrial building to be converted into an indoor shrimp food production facility with a retail
component on property located at 12510 Columbia Way within the C -M (Commercial Manufacturing) Zone.
The proposal is to construct a new 600 square foot retail space, with a 464 square foot storage/warehouse
room. The bulk of the structure's interior will be utilized to produce/grow shrimp in several large pools/tanks
and house the equipment. The proposed hours of operation are Monday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. Minor site improvements will be made to the property, such as a new exterior paint scheme, new
decorative wall lighting, landscape maintenance, resurfacing of the front parking area, removal of an existing
chain link fence at the front of the property abutting the Columbia Memorial Space Center site and
replacement of an existing gate. The uses surrounding the site include institutional/recreation to the north,
residential to the west, and manufacturing to the east and south. This application was presented to the
Development Review Committee (DRC) at which time the Public Works Department provided conditions
requiring the existing driveway entrance to comply with the current City standards. Other departments
expressed no concerns with the project and standard conditions of approval were applied.
Draft Planning Commission
August 19, 2020 Minutes
The Commissioners discussed potential odors produced by manufacturing food and AQMD (Air Quality
Management District) regulations.
Associate Planner Anaya informed the Commission that the applicant has explained the food manufacturing
process does not create odors; however, as a precaution to safeguard surrounding uses, Staff included
Condition of Approval No. 18 to address this concern:
"The applicant shall implement an environmental control system that is adequately compatible with
any odor control prevention and ventilation systems at the site. For purposes of this condition,
"adequately compatible" means that any environmental control systems and odor control systems
operating at the site operate concurrently to prevent odors from being detected outside the site,
while still allowing the applicant to successfully produce shrimp to the satisfaction of applicable
construction codes and the City Planner."
City Planner Landavazo directed the Commission to Condition of Approval No. 16 to show that
consideration had also been given to prevent and/or minimize odors created by trash:
"Trash shall be collected as frequently as a daily basis to ensure that there are no odors or
nuisance due to the nature of the use."
Applicant Stephen Sutton advised the Commission that the food production does not create odors. He
explained the process of growing/producing the shrimp, and the process of recycling 100% of the water
through a natural process utilizing seaweed. Additional benefits are the education aspect and selling directly
through the Farmers Market(s).
Public Comments: Secretary Cavanagh advised the Commission there were no public comments.
Chair Duarte called for written correspondence: Staff received one email correspondence. Secretary
Cavanagh read the following email into record:
From: Jim Rodriguez
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2020 5:43 PM
To: PC Public Comment
Subject: 12510 Columbia Way TransparentSea
Dear Planning Commissioner's,
I would like to express support for this project.
After reading the CUP agenda package, it appears that this usage is well-suited for the neighborhood
The improvements Steve is willing to make, including the fagade improvements, painting,
landscaping, lighting, asphalt resurfacing as well as the new Iron -gate, should add to the property
aesthetics and the area as a whole. The retail aspect doesn't appear to be any problem given the 43
parking spaces, and is really more suited to the changing landscape of the area. The overall concept
seems like it would be a good improvement for the area as well as the city of Downey as a whole.
As a property owner in the area I welcome and support this usage and this applicant.
Regards, Jim Rodriguez
The Commissioners spoke in favor of the project.
It was moved by Commissioner Owens, seconded by Commissioner Spathopoulos, and passed by a 4-0-1
vote, with Commissioner Dominguez absent, to adopt Resolution No. 20-3128, thereby approving the
request for Conditional Use Permit (PLN -20-00045).
NON -AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
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Draft Planning Commission
August 19, 2020 Minutes
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
2. Approval of the Minutes from September 4, 2019
3. Aanroval of the Minutes from June 17. 2020
It was moved by Commissioner Owens, seconded by Vice Chair Frometa, and passed by a 4-0-1 vote, with
Commissioner Dominguez absent, to approve the Consent Calendar.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: None.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Duarte adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m., to Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at
6:30p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of October, 2020.
Nolveris Frometa, Vice Chairman
City Planning Commission
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Minutes were duly approved at a Regular meeting of the Planning
Commission held on this 21st day of October, 2020, by the following vote:
AYES:
COMMISSIONERS:
Frometa, Owens and Spathopoulos
NOES:
COMMISSIONERS:
None
ABSENT:
COMMISSIONERS:
Duarte and Dominguez
ABSTAIN:
COMMISSIONERS:
None
&A-,�z L
Mary Cav nagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission
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