HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. Draft Minutes 05-19-21
DRAFT MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Duarte called the May 19, 2021, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:35 p.m., at
Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA. After the flag salute, Secretary Cavanagh called
roll.
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Miguel Duarte, District 1, Chair
Patrick Owens, District 2, Vice Chair
Arturo Montoya, District 3
Horacio Ortiz, Jr., District 5
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, Senior Planner
Irving Anaya, Associate Planner
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Vice Chair Owens thanked Staff for providing information in
response to complaints received regarding the Tempo Cantina which he had communicated to Council and
Director Schindler.
PRESENTATIONS: None
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Director of Community Development Aldo Schindler reported the
City Council approved the Residential Standards and Design Guidelines that were previously presented to
the Planning Commission.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. PLN-20-00124 Planned Sign Program): Chair Duarte opened the public hearing for PLN-20-00124
and Ms. Cavanagh affirmed proof of publication.
Associate Planner Irving Anaya presented the request for a Planned Sign Program to approve the size,
location, and appearance of signs on an existing multi-tenant commercial building located at 8017 Florence
Avenue, within the C-2 (General Commercial) zone. The proposal includes one (1) illuminated channel letter
wall sign for each tenant space, and a secondary channel letter wall sign, not to exceed half of the allowable
square footage of the primary wall sign, for the tenant spaces located at the west corner of the commercial
building, oriented toward Florence Avenue. Mr. Anaya reviewed the size, locations and proposed materials of
the wall signs.
Applicant/Owner Harry Daglas was present to address any questions or concerns from the Commission.
The Commissioners discussed the color scheme for the Planned Sign Program with Mr. Daglas and
expressed concern that limiting the tenants to two specific colors may affect the long term existing tenants
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that do not utilize the proposed colors.
City Planner Landavazo explained that the intent of a sign program is to present signage that is consistent; it
is typical for sign programs to identify specific colors and fonts. She clarified that the proposed sign program
allows for businesses that have a trademark or a certain logo that is associated with it. A standard color
palette is used for smaller businesses that do not have trademarks or a recognized image. She further
explained that it is at the discretion of the Planning Commission to remove limitations to color.
The Commissioners discussed removing the limitation of two colors. Chair Duarte requested a modification to
remove the color restriction.
City Planner Landavazo proposed modifying the Sign Program by removing the following from the Planned
Sign Program that discusses color limitations: Remove Subsection B and the two color blocks from pages 8
and 9.
The Commissioners unanimously approved the revisions to the Planed Sign Program.
Public Comments: None
Chair Duarte closed the public hearing.
It was moved by Vice Chair Owens, second by Commissioner Ortiz, and passed by a vote of 4-0, to adopt
Resolution No. 21-3139, thereby approving the request for a Planned Sign Program (PLN-20-00124) with
modifications to the Sign Program as stated by the City Planner.
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS:
2. PLN-21-00047 (General Plan Consistency): A request to find that the Active Transportation Plan is
consistent with the General Plan
3. Approval of the Minutes from March 3, 2021
The Commissioners spoke in favor of the Active Transportation Plan and discussed street repairs within the
City of Downey with Deputy Director of Public Works Ed Norris that were unrelated to the items of the
Consent Calendar.
It was moved by Ortiz, second by Montoya, and passed by a vote of 4-0, to approve the Consent Calendar.
OTHER BUSINESS: None
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: The Commission and Staff congratulated Commissioner Montoya on his
recent graduation from law school. Director Schindler informed the Commission that Commissioner
Spathopoulos recently moved out of the City of Downey and subsequently resigned from his position as
Planning Commissioner. The Mayor is looking for a replacement and hopes to fill the seat in the near future.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Duarte adjourned the meeting at 7:21 p.m., to Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at
6:30p.m., at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
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May 19, 2021 Minutes
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APPROVED AND ADOPTED this this 7th day of July, 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 7th day of July, by the following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission