HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Reso 21-3143RESOLUTION NO. 21-3143
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DOWNEY RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECIFIC PLAN TO
INTRODUCE AND ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR A RESTAURANT WITH A
DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY AND ACCESSORY MONUMENT SIGNAGE
WITHIN THE FIRESTONE BOULEVARD GATEWAY DISTRICT OF THE
DOWNTOWN DOWNEY SPECIFIC PLAN.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Downey does hereby find,
determine and declare that:
A. On November 18, 2020, the applicant submitted a request for a Specific Plan
Amendment, Conditional Use Permit, and Site Plan Review, for the remodel and
reconfiguration of an existing 29,886 square foot site with the addition of a restaurant
with a drive-through facility. The project was deemed incomplete on December 18, 2020;
and,
& On May 24, 2020 the applicant submitted additional information, and on June 24, 2020,
the application was deemed complete; and,
C. On July 8, 2021, notice of the pending application and public hearing was published in
the Downey Patriot as a 1/8th page ad and mailed to all property owners within 500' of
the subject site; and,
D. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on July 21, 2021, and after
fully considering all oral and written testimony and facts and opinions offered at the
aforesaid public hearing adopted this resolution recommending that the City Council
approve the Specific Plan Amendment.
SECTION 2. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that the
proposed project was reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), and is categorically exempt from CEQA, pursuant to Guideline Section No. 15332
(Class 32 — In -Fill Development Projects). Class 32 exemptions consist of projects that are
consistent with the city's general plan and municipal code, on a site no greater than five (5)
acres and surrounded by urban uses, with no value as a habitat for threatened species, in which
an approval would not result in any significant impacts and the site can be adequately served by
all required utilities. The site is served by existing utilities and a Traffic Impact Analysis was
conducted, and it was determined that the proposed project would have no impact on the
existing level of traffic.
SECTION 3. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at
said public hearings regarding the Specific Plan Amendments, the Planning Commission further
finds, determines and declares that:
The proposed location of the development and proposed conditions under which it will
be operated or maintained is consistent with the goals and polices embodied in the
General Plan and other applicable plans and policies adopted by the Council. The
Resolution No. 21-3143
Downey Planning Commission
proposed Specific Plan Amendment will create additional commercial opportunities
within an area of the Specific Plan that has lacked significant improvement since the
Specific Plan was adopted. The proposed amendment to conditionally permit a drive-
through facility at the subject site is consistent with the following goals and policies of
General Plan:
Goal 1.1— Provide sufficient land areas for uses that serve the needs of residents,
visitors, and businesses.
o Policy 1.1.1.1. — Maintain a balance of land uses
o Policy 1. 1.5 —Provide an appropriate amount of land area for recreation and
entertainment.
o Program 1.1.5.2 —Promote Downtown Downey as a destination draw for
entertainment and dining uses
The proposed amendment introduces a new use in an area that has lacked economic
investment since the adoption of the DDSP. The amendment to conditionally permit a
restaurant with a drive-through facility will provide local and regional appeal to this part
of Downtown and allow the site to compete with the commercial properties to the west.
o Policy 8.1.1 — Promote architectural design of the highest quality.
o Policy 8.2.2 — Promote the upgrading of properties.
The proposed amendment includes development standards that lead to the orderly
development of the site and regulates this type of use and allowing the drive-through use
to complement the subject site and surrounding uses, and not be detrimental to
properties or improvements in the vicinity or the general welfare of the City.
2. The proposed development is in accordance with the purposes and objectives of this
article and the zone in which the site is located. The goal of the Downtown Downey
Specific Plan, Firestone Boulevard Gateway District is to provide "lively areas consisting
of high intensity/density development with flexible retail, office, and residential space".
The proposed amendment will provide additional opportunities, such as a restaurant with
a drive-through facility not presently permitted in the DDSP.
3. The development will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare of
persons residing or working in or adjacent to such a development, nor detrimental to
properties or improvements in the vicinity or the general welfare of the City. The
proposed amendment will conditionally permit a drive-through facility at the subject site,
in the Firestone Boulevard Gateway District of the DDSP. Development and operational
standards have been incorporated into the proposed amendment to the DDSP so that
the use will complement the site and transitional area of the Specific Plan subdistrict
along with the surrounding uses. As proposed, the development standards incorporated
through the amendment will not be detrimental to properties or improvements in the
vicinity or the general welfare of the City and will complement the surrounding uses in
the DDSP and the surrounding General Commercial areas of the City.
4, The Specific Plan and resulting development will be consistent with the provisions of
Article 8 of Chapter 3 of the California Government Code, commencing with Section
65450 as may be subsequently amended by the State. The California Government Code
8300 Firestone Blvd. — PLN -20-00120
July 21, 2021 - Page 2
Resolution No. 21-3143
Downey Planning Commission
sets forth specific requirements and standards for the content and adoption of Specific
Plans. This includes that the Specific Plan is consistent with the City's General Plan. As
noted in the first finding of this section, the proposed amendment to the Downtown
Downey Specific Plan is consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan in
that the proposed amendment introduces a new use that maintains a balance of uses,
promotes Downtown Downey as a destination draw for entertainment and dining uses,
and promotes high quality architectural design and the upgrading of properties.
SECTION 4. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 through 3 of this resolution,
the Planning Commission of the City of Downey hereby recommends that the City Council of the
City of Downey amend the following sections of the Downtown Downey Plan to read as follows:
a. Chapter 2 - Land Use Districts, 2.3 - Permitted Uses, Table 2.1: Permitted Uses by
Land Use District:
Note: Only a portion of Table 2.1 is shown as this is the only section of Table 2.1 that will be
amended. Table 2.1 will be amended as follows:
Table 2.1: Permitted Uses
by Land Use District
Permitted Uses Key:
C — Conditionally Permitted
P — Permitted Use
2nd P i 'tt d U
Permitted Uses by District
erma se on
Second Floor or above
NP — Use Not Permitted
T — Temporary Use Downtown Downtown
A — Accessory Use Core Residential
Eating and Drinking Establishments
Alcoholic Beverage Sales,
On-site
o License Type 41 and 47
o All other License
Caterina Services
Restaurants
Drive-Thru Restaurants
e
e
Firestone
Boulevard
Gateway
P
C
P
P
KID C"
Paramount
Boulevard Civic
Professional Center
e
RM�e�
Outdoor Patio Seating or P P P P
Dining
*Refer to Section 2.4.5 - Restaurants with Drive -Through Facilities
b. The following section will be added to Chapter 2 - Land Use Districts:
e
e
2.4.5 - Restaurants with Drive -Through Facilities
o Minimum Lot Size: 25,000 square feet-,
o Vehicular Access:
o A minimum of two (2) driveways onto a public street are required. Access to the site
must be by way of one Maior Arterial and one primary or secondary arterial•
8300 Firestone Blvd. — PLN -20-00120
July 21, 2021 - Page 3
Resolution No. 21-3143
Downey Planning Commission
o A driveway entrance to a drive-through business shall not be within five (5) of a curb
return;
o The distance between driveways shall be at least twenty-five 25 feet;
o Drive -Through Lane Standards. The re uired vehicle stacking space per service lane
shall be as follows:
o The drive-through lane may not be located between the building and Firestone
Boulevard.
o Before order board: 4 vehicles (minimum)
o Between order board and ick -Lt window: 4 vehicles minimum
o Each stacking space shall be computed on the basis of a vehicle being nine (9) feet
in width and twenty (20) feet in length. Each stacking large shall be a minimum of
eleven (11) feet in width.
o The stacking lane shall be independent of any on-site parking,parking maneuvering
areas _public streets or alley or traffic was serving other on-site and/or off-site uses.
C. The following section will be added to Chapter 3 — Urban Design Standards, Section 3.7
— Signage Standards and Guidelines:
3.7.3.A — Permitted Signs within Downtown
o Canopy or Awning
o Marquee/Theater
o Multiple -Tenant Complex
o Projecting
o Wall
o Monument
d. The following section will be added to Chapter 3 — Urban Design Standards, Section 3.7
— Signage Standards and Guidelines:
3.7.4.G — Monument Siqns
o Monument signs may only be permitted in conjunction with a drive-through restaurant.
o Maximum Sign Area. One-third (1/3) square foot per lineal footage of building frontage
with a minimum of fifteen (15) square feet of sign area per side of the monument sign
o Maximum Sign Copy Area. Seventy five (75) percent of the sign area
o Maximum Height. Eight ht (8)feet unless the sign is within the intersection visibility
triangle in accordance with Section 9614.04 e
o Setback Requirements: Permitted within the front and street side setback but not closer
than five (5) feet from the street property line
o Maximum Number of Signs: One per street frontage
o Illumination Re uirements. Internally illuminated or indirectly illuminated
o Menu Boards and Directional signs per DMC Section 9512, Exempt Signs
SECTION 5. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 through 4 of this resolution,
the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council of the City of Downey approve the
Specific Plan Amendment (PLN -20-00120), as proposed in Section 4 of this Resolution.
8300 Firestone Blvd. — PLN -20-00120
July 21, 2021 - Page 4
Resolution No. 21-3143
Downey Planning Commission
SECTION 6. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21St day of July, 2021.
r fj
MigueI66uarte, Chairman,
City Planning Commission
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the
Planning Commission of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 21 st day of
July 2021, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Ortiz, Montoya, Owens and Duarte
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS: None
Mary Ca anagh, Secret
City Planning Commissil j,
8300 Firestone Blvd. — PLN -20-00120
July 21, 2021 - Page 5