HomeMy WebLinkAbout3. Draft Minutes 08-05-2020
DRAFT MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Duarte called the August 5, 2020, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:39 p.m.,
at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh
called roll.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Nolveris Frometa, District 5, Vice Chair
Patrick Owens, District 2
Dimitrios Spathopoulos, District 4
Miguel Duarte, District 1, Chair
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: 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
Madalyn Welch, Assistant Planner
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
Perry Miller, Downey Police Department Sergeant
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: None.
PRESENTATIONS: None.
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PLN-20-00029 (Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit): Chair Duarte reopened the public
hearing for PLN-20-00029 continued from the July 1, 2020 meeting.
Principal Planner Guillermo Arreola presented a request to approve a revised Site Plan Review to allow two
vacant commercial properties to be remodeled into a new bar/lounge, and a Conditional Use Permit to
operate the establishment with an Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Type 48 (On-Sale General – Public
Places) license with live entertainment, on property located at 11002 Downey Avenue and 8304 Third
Street, within the Downtown Downey Specific Plan (DDSP). This request was originally presented to the
Planning Commission on July 1, 2020; after deliberation, the Planning Commission determined the proposal
was a desirable business in the Downtown Core District and instructed Staff to return for an approval of the
project. As previously discussed, the proposed remodel is focused on the primary corner tenant space. The
proposed improvements include decorative horizontal wood siding along the upper portion of the building; a
prominent black beam separating the horizontal wood siding from the remaining stucco portion of the
building; metal paneling with a coal black finish around corner entries; cloth awnings and light fixtures along
both facades, with decorative iron work along 3rd Street; and the storefront windows along Downey Avenue
will be replaced with foldable glass doors/windows. The Planning Commission was receptive to the
proposed façade updates and required no changes.
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Principal Planner Arreola explained the original application identified prepackaged food and charcuterie to
be provided as an accompaniment to the bar use. At the meeting of July 1, 2020 the applicant presented the
Planning Commission with photos of several food items that would require temperature control and some
level of food preparation. As a result, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health was contacted to
confirm the proposal would be able to comply with all required Health Department regulations.
As a result, the applicant made revisions to the plans to show that the proposed business will expand into
an adjacent tenant space at 8304 3rd Street, formerly occupied by a bail bonds business, to serve “back-of-
house” needs such as a kitchen prep area, and storage purposes to comply with Health Department
requirements. The prep kitchen will not include any cooking appliances so it is not a full kitchen and does
not classify the business as a restaurant. The revised proposal is for a 1,769 square feet bar/lounge
business within the Downtown Core. Additional revisions have been made to the proposed plans to reflect
compliance with building and ADA regulations as noted throughout this report.
The proposed project requires a CUP to operate a bar/lounge without a restaurant and to provide live
entertainment. A Site Plan Review is also under review by the Planning Commission for the façade
improvements proposed to the primary bar/lounge space facing Downey Avenue and 3rd Street.
The proposed bar/lounge will operate with a Type 48 ABC License which allows the establishment to serve
beer, wine, and distilled spirits. This license carries restrictions that prohibit minors from entering the
establishment. The bar/lounge will also provide live entertainment. Staff identified concern over the service
of distilled spirits without a kitchen and meal service in an open air setting that encroaches into the public
right-of-way. The Planning Commission however, determined that there was desire for this type of use in the
Downtown and instructed staff to prepare a Resolution of approval and address the stated concerns through
plan revisions and conditions of approval.
The Planning Commission determined that a bar is a “similar use” as described in the Downtown Downey
Specific Plan and, as such, was permitted to have outdoor seating. The applicant was instructed that all
accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) must be met for any seating area
encroachments. As a result, the applicant revised the plans to show the proposed planters encroaching into
the right-of-way would be replaced with a glass fence to enclose the outdoor eating area along Downey
Avenue and the east corner of 3rd Street. Similarly, the outdoor seating area along the 3rd Street, west of the
door has been removed because there was difficulty meeting ADA requirements.
Mr. Simonian asked the Commission to consider modifying the conditions pertaining to annual reviews, 50%
food sales, television(s), live entertainment, and cover charges.
Mr. Padilla, 25 year Downey resident and business owner spoke in support of the project.
Mrs. Simonian expressed her enthusiasm in being part of the project and believes that having a television
would be good.
Chair Duarte closed the public hearing.
The Commissioners discussed the changes in the characterization of the project originally presented and
requested City Planner Landavazo to provide modified conditions to reflect their deliberation.
The following conditions of approval were proposed:
1) The approval of Site Plan Review and Conditional Use Permit (PLN-20-00029) allows a
proposed bar to operate with a Type 48 (On Sale General – Public Premises) ABC license as
described below:
e) A standing room area enclosed by a glass rail is permitted along 3rd Street, subject to ADA
compliance and a Public Works encroachment permit.
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16) As the first “bar only’ use in the downtown, six month reviews shall be conducted by staff, at
staff level, for an 18-month period following opening for a total of three reviews; shall be
presented to the Planning Commission only if warranted by calls-for-service.
18) Live entertainment hours of operation are permitted as follows: Friday – Saturday: 9:00 p.m. –
1:30 a.m.
23) Two televisions and/or a projector are permitted to play genre movies only, no pay-per-view or
sports shall be permitted.
28) Gross receipts for the establishment must reflect 20% of all sales is for food items.
35) Cover charge for the admission to the business shall not be permitted at any time, except for
charity events and a New Year’s Eve event.
36) There shall be no form of pay-per-view events at this location.
63) Upon the determination by the Chief of Police that the operation of the business requires on-
site security, the applicant shall submit and obtain approval of a security plan to the Chief of
Police. The number of security guards shall be determined by the Chief of Police and may be
increased or decreased as the Chief of Police determines is necessary. The initial security
plan shall be submitted to the Police Department within fourteen (14) days of being
requested. Should the Police Department request any additional information or modifications,
the business owner/permittee shall submit said revisions within forty-eight (48) hours of
notification.
It was moved by Vice Chair Frometa, second by Commissioner Spathopoulos, and passed by a 4-0-1 vote,
with Commissioner Dominguez absent, to adopt Resolution 20-3126, thereby approving the request for a
Site Plan Review and a Conditional Use Permit PLN-20-00029, with amended conditions of approval as
stated by the City Planner.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
2. General Plan Consistency Finding: A request to find the General Plan Consistency for the new Rancho
Los Amigos Care Village Project.
3. Approval of the Minutes from March 4, 2020
It was moved by Commissioner Owens second by Vice Chair Frometa, and passed by a 4-0-1 vote, with
Commissioner Dominguez absent; thereby approving the Consent Calendar.
OTHER BUSINESS:
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS:
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Duarte adjourned the meeting at 9:53 p.m., to Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at
6:30p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
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APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of June, 2021.
Miguel Duarte, 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 16th day of June, 2021.
2021, by the following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission