HomeMy WebLinkAbout3. Draft PC Minutes 11-03-21
DRAFT MINUTES
DOWNEY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE
DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
6:30 P.M.
Chair Duarte called the November 3, 2021, Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6:30
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
Arturo Montoya, District 3
Horacio Ortiz, Jr., District 5
Carmela Uva, District 4
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Patrick Owens, District 2, Vice Chair
OTHERS PRESENT: Aldo E. Schindler, Deputy City Manager
Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Crystal Landavazo, City Planner
Irving Anaya, Associate Planner
Alicia Duarte, City Clerk
PLANNING COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS; REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS; AND
CONFERENCE/MEETING REPORTS: Chair Duarte attended the Harvest Festival and Día de los Muertos
events and found them to be enjoyable and looks forward to other city events.
PRESENTATIONS:
1. The Planning Commission presented Nolveris Frometa with a Certificate of Appreciation for the time and
efforts he put into the Commission, and his care and consideration in representing his District and
community.
REPORT ON CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Deputy City Manager Aldo Schindler reported the City Council
approved a Specific Plan Amendment for the electronic freeway sign for Giant RV, and the Rancho South
Campus Transit Oriented Development Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR), both of which
were previously presented to the Planning Commission with a recommendation of approval of the City
Council.
A comprehensive downtown parking study that was completed approximately 8 years ago with a
recommendation to have smaller follow-up annual reviews of the parking in the downtown. Follow up studies
were completed two years in a row, however, the 2020 study was not completed due to the pandemic. A
private consulting firm, who is a subject matter expert in parking and surveying is continuing the study this
week. The data collected will reference our current parking inventory in our public lots and what’s happening
on the street(s). This year, the City requested that they review the City’s parking structure to see how it can
be better utilized, the City’s parking permit program and parking waivers for businesses. After the data is
collected, it will be presented to the Planning Commission and to the City Council at a later date.
Lastly, the City Council requested a presentation on the status of the citywide temporary outdoor dining
parklets, specifically to the parklets located in the Downtown. Staff consulted with the Downtown Property
Owners Association, “The District at Downey”; the Council’s direction was to allow the continuation of the
temporary parklets until December 2022, with a follow up in June 2022. Based on the District at Downey
recommendation, where there are no parklets, K-rails are to be removed. Parklets that consume more than
Planning Commission
November 17, 2021 Minutes
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the restaurant’s tenant frontage are to be reduced to no greater than the width of their storefront; and remove
2 of the 3 parklets located on 2nd street, one of which has been removed and the other will be removed
shortly.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. PLN-21-00124 (Conditional Use Permit): Chair Duarte opened the public hearing for PLN-21-00124
and City Clerk Alicia Duarte affirmed proof of publication.
Associate Planner Irving Anaya presented a request for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), to allow an existing
restaurant (Le Coco) to operate under an Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Type 41 license (on-site
consumption of beer & wine). The restaurant is located at 11901-11903 Lakewood Boulevard, within a
commercial center zoned (C-1) Neighborhood Commercial and (P-B) Parking Buffer. The business currently
operates as an ice cream bar and café offering both meals and desserts. The proposed request will allow
the applicants to serve alcoholic beverages such as Mimosas and wine with the purchase of food to
complement the existing establishment’s menu. The alcoholic beverages will be served and consumed within
the dining areas of the tenant space. The establishment contains two (2) dining areas, providing a total of 9
tables and 35 chairs for customers wishing to dine in the space. Staff has included conditions that restrict
alcohol beyond the interior tenant space and require the sale of alcohol to be supplemented with food. The
hours of operation for Le Coco are Monday through Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Disclosures: None.
Applicant, Marlon Ramos explained that the ice cream bar was their original intent; however, they later
changed the business plan to an ice cream bar /restaurant when they found that the site included a full
kitchen. The restaurant has been a success and he agreed to the conditions of approval.
Correspondence: None
Chair Duarte closed the public hearing.
Public Comment: A local resident spoke in opposition of the CUP due to existing issues with patrons of the
commercial center parking in the alley and blocking the residents' access, and also expressed concerns
regarding intoxicated patrons from the existing liquor store causing a nuisance and thought the problem
would worsen if another establishment in the center offers alcohol.
Applicant’s Rebuttal: Marlon Ramos stated he was not aware of any issues with intoxicated patrons and the
alleyway being blocked and suggested the problems may occur during the late hours (after 8:00 pm) when
the restaurant is closed.
Deputy City Manager Aldo Schindler stated, Staff will forward the concerns presented regarding the blocked
alleyway to the Police Department.
It was moved by Commissioner Ortiz, seconded by Commissioner Montoya, and passed by a vote of 4-1 in
favor with Vice Chair Owens absent, to adopt Resolution 21-3155, thereby approving the request for a
Conditional Use Permit (PLN-21-00124).
NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS: None.
OTHER BUSINESS: The Commissioners wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.
STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: None
Planning Commission
November 17, 2021 Minutes
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ADJOURNMENT: Chair Duarte adjourned the meeting at 7:06 p.m., to Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at
Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this this 2nd day of March, 2022.
Patrick Owens, 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 2nd day of March, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Mary Cavanagh, Secretary
City Planning Commission