Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Madam Chair, we're live. Thank you so much. All right. At this time, I would like to call this meeting to order. This is the regular meeting of the Balden Park Planning Commission. The date is March 25th, 2026, and the time is 7:06 p.m. Commissioner Pena, may I ask you to please lead us in the flag salute? Okay.

Thank you so much. Um, planning secretary, can you please call roll? Thank you. Chair Escobosa here. Vice Chair Miranda Dib here. Commissioner Rodriguez here. Commissioner Pñena present. And let their record reflect that Commissioner Aras is absent. Thank you. Do I have a motion to excuse Commissioner Aas? I motion. I will second. Chair Escoa. Yes. Vice Chair Miranda Dib. Yes. Commissioner Rodriguez. Yes. And Commissioner Pñena.

Yes. Motion carries. Thank you.

All right. At this time, I'm going to declare oral communications open. Anyone wishing to address the commission on anything other than the items listed on the agenda may come to the podium at this time. All right. Um, seeing no further interest, I will now declare oral communications closed and move on to the consent calendar. The loan item on the consent calendar is the meeting the meeting minutes from the previous planning commission meeting held on February 25th, 2026. Would any commissioners like to pull this item up for discussion? Um, seeing no interest in pulling any items up from this meeting. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes for the meeting on February 25th, 2026?

I move to approve. I'll second it. Thank you. The roll call. Uh, Chair Escoa, yes. Vice Chair Miranda Dib, yes. Commissioner Rodriguez, yes. Commissioner Pñena. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you. Um the first case on the agenda is a request for approval of a conditional use permit to allow an alcoholic beverage control or ABC license type 21 for the sale of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and distilled spirits for an off-site consumption in conjunction with an existing convenience store aladina drive-thru in the general commercial zone. This is located at 4390 Main Avenue. Do I have a staff report?

Yes. Thank you. Um, good evening, chair, vice chair, and honorable members of the planning commission. Uh before you is a conditional use permit application CUP 2603 requesting approval to allow general alcohol sales in conjunction with an existing convenience store within the C2 general commercial zone. Next slide. On March 2nd, 2026, the planning division received the aforementioned conditional use permit application from Maurice and Yang on behalf of Altadena uh Aladena Drive-Thru located at 4390 Main Avenue. The convenience store is located on the southeastern corner of Main Avenue in Los Angeles Street. The subject property is surrounded by existing commercial and residential uses. Next slide. As mentioned, the project site is located within the general commercial zone in the city of Bolvin Park and has a general plan land use designation of general commercial. The existing convenience store is requested uh requesting a license upgrade that that is consistent with the general plan and the city's zoning code requirements. Next slide. The existing convenience store currently sells a variety of snacks, dairy products, and soft drinks. The business is also also currently holds an existing type 20 ABC license which allows them to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption. Next slide. The applicant is requesting an upgrade

from the current type 20 license to a type 21 alcohol license to allow for the sale of beer, wine, and distilled spirits for off-site consumption in conjunction with the existing convenience store use as defined by the state department of alcohol beverage control. The applicant is not proposing any tenant improvement or building improvements for the existing convenience store which consists of a cashier counter, office space, storage room, and one restroom. Next slide. The subject convenience store is located within census track 4051.02, 02 which is authorized to have five on sale licenses and two offsale licenses per ABC regulations. Pictured on the current slide is a proximity proximity map that shows that there are currently two establishments uh with active offsale licenses within the census track. Per ABC standards there will not be an overconentration of alcohol uses in the area. The applicant has agreed to surrender their current type 20 license to obtain the type 21 license. Staff has determined that uh granting of the type 21 license to the applicant will not create an additional impact to the surrounding properties in the census track. The applicant will serve alcohol for off-site consumption during business hours, which are between 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and between 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The applicant has also stated the safety features that will be installed uh to safely secure all distilled spirits uh on the shelves. In addition, with the added conditions of approval and those uh conditions required by ABC, the

applicant's request will not be detrimental to the public. Next slide. To conclude, staff recommends that the planning commission approve resolution PC 2603 to approve CUP 2603. both uh planning commission and the project applicant are available for any questions and comments uh regarding the project. Thank you.

Um sorry I think I telepathically asked this question but I have to say it out loud. Are there any questions of the commission to staff? I have a few questions um for city staff. Do we do we know if um typically um is there an increase of loitering or public intoxication when we issue a type 21 license compared to compared to the um type 20 license? Have we seen that?

We've not seen that. Uh we did inquire within um internally within the city, code enforcement, police department if there was issues particularly with uh with this site and they did not uh respond that there was. And then um my second question was um within the um parameters of that area um are there any schools or parks or daycare within 500 ft of that location? data. I am I'm not certain of that answer.

Okay. And then my um third question was I read that there were um that they have a clean record in terms of um not having any like issues. But um I was wondering if um between that time has that been since the owner has had um has owned that property. In other words, I think they said that um for the last what was it five years they've had a clean record and is has that owner been the owner of that property for those last five years?

Uh that would be I think that would be a better question for the owner uh to speak on? He is here today and can answer that question directly. My final question has any um of the N because it said it was a res there's a residential um neighbor to the east. Is that correct? Yes, there's a residential uh neighbors nearby. Has any of the Have we received any communication from any of the neighbors? We've received no uh no communication at all from from any residents. Okay, thank you.

Sorry. Um are there any further questions from the commission? Um, I can now declare the public hearing open. If there's anyone in the audience that wants to speak for or against this item, please come up to the podium. I do ask that you do state your name. Yeah, start.

Hi, my name is Jose Gomez and I've been working at the dairy establishment for about four to five years now. During that time, I've gotten to know many of our regular customers and the surrounding community. We are a small neighborhood business and we take pride in serving people respectfully and keeping a safe and clean environment. In my experience working there, I have seen how important it is for us to follow the rules and be responsible, especially when it comes to selling alcohol. We already sell beer and are careful about checking identification, refusing service when necessary, and making sure we operate in a way that does not disturb the neighborhood. Being able to obtain a liquor license would help the the business grow and stay competitive, but we understand that this is also comes with responsibility. I can say from firsthand experience that the owners and employees take their responsibility seriously. We want to continue being a positive part of the community and provide a safe place for customers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you. Is there anyone else that would like to speak? on this issue. I would like to note that the the the business owner is in attendance and I I I I do uh understand that uh Commissioner or Vice Chair Miranda Deb had question for uh for the owner uh regarding how long uh or how long the tenure has been from ownership. So, Mr. Inyang can answer that question.

Hello, my name is Maurice Singing. Hi, Mr. D. So, to my know, well, actually, not to my knowledge. Sorry. To my knowledge, there is no schools nearby or daycarees that I know of. Um, and since you've been since you've been the owner there, there um it's it the report said that you've there's been a clean record and that's been since you've been um an owner of of that establishment. Correct. I purchased it the February of 2020. Okay. Thank you. Um is it now proper to ask questions of Okay. Um, in terms of of the sales, the sales for the distilled liquor, that would be only for walk up,

correct? Yes. So, no, none. Um, there won't be sales for the drive-thru. No, everybody has if they're purchasing alcohol, they do have to come to this sales counter. Okay. I also I did notice something a a discrepancy maybe if I'm if I read it correctly in in the letter that you provided it said that the hours would be at 8 a.m. in I believe in the summer but the the report that we received it said it would um the hours are 10:00 a.m. So, uh, our summer, sorry, our se summer hours are usually going to be 8 to 10. Like right now, how it is right now it is Sunday through Thursday 10 to 8 and then Friday, Saturday, it's 10 to 10. So, the summer is a little

correct. Yes, it's a Okay. And then in terms of um lighting and surveillance, is that is that part of your establishment as well? Yes, we do have uh 16 cameras surrounding the building and we do have our lightings. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Would anybody else like to ask the applicant any questions? Okay. All right. Um, no further interest, I will now close out the public hearing and ask for a motion on this project.

I will motion to approve. I'll second. Can I please get roll? Yes. Uh, Cher Scaposa. Yes. Vice Vice Chair Miranda Desim. Yes. Commissioner Rodriguez. Yes. Commissioner Pñena. Yes. Motion carries.

Thank you so much. The planning commission has voted to adopt resolution PC 2603 adopting approving CUP2603 a resolution of the planning commission of the city of Baldin Park approving alcohol sales for beer, wine, and distilled spirits, also known as a type 21 license for offsite off-site consumption in conjunction with the convenience store in the C2 general commercial zoning district pursuant to table 153 of the Baldwin Park Municipal Code. Um, congratulations. Your project's been approved. Thank you so much. All right, we're going to move on to the second case on the agenda. This is a request to the planning commission to recommend approval to the city council for an ordinance that amends chapter 153 part 11 of the Baldwin Park Municipal Code relating to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units in response to changes in state law. amending amending it in its entirety. Chapter 153, section 153.135, relating to the objective design standards and finding the action to be statutoily statutoily exempt from SQA under section 211080.17. I please get a report.

The big subject line um so good evening honorable chair and members of the commission. Next slide please. Before you all tonight is a proposed zoning text amendment to revise chapter 153 part 11 of the municipal code otherwise referred to as the city's ADU ordinance as it relates to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units uh in response to changes in state law. Next slide please. Um, as the planning commission may recall, um, this item was originally brought brought to the commission's attention for review and consideration last year as a followup to an urgency ordinance intending to revise sections of the city's ADU ordinance to comply with new state laws. After the item was considered before the planning commission back in February of last year, the item was scheduled for consideration before the city council on April on the April 2nd uh, council meeting date. However, the item was pulled for consideration or for continued discussion upon receipt of public comments which had requested for further review of the noted changes in the ordinance. City staff then elected to come back to the planning commission with the revised version of the draft ordinance that addresses the comments provided. That's the version that's before you all tonight. Next slide, please. So since that time, there have been multiple state bills that directly or indirectly relate to the construction of ADUs or Jedus in the state of California. And the ordinance brought before the commission tonight has been revised to address these changes. Staff would like to note for the commission's consideration that the city has been in continued conversation with both our legal council Jones Mayor and Cal and the California Housing and Community Development Department or HCD for short in drafting the in the drafting of the ordinance presented uh tonight for the com commission's consideration. This was done to ensure that the language noted in the ADU ordinance is in line with state ADU law. Next slide, please.

Shown on this slide are summaries uh of the changes to state ADU law that staff would like to highlight for the planning commission's attention. Um starting from the top down, AB2521 and SB897 allow for more lenient height requirements and also allow for ADUs to be located in the front yard in extreme circumstances. Um AB2533 makes it easier to legalize unpermitted ADUs or JDUs. SB1211 increases the number of ADUs that can be placed on a multif family lot, though it only applies to lots with existing multif family developments. Um, AB1154 limits the o owner occupancy requirement for JADUs when said units have independent bathrooms and amenities from the main home. Um and lastly, SB uh 543 revises the language regarding the processing and timing of ADUs and JDU reviews such as limiting the review to determine application completeness uh to 15 days from the date of submitt. Um this is not a complete list of all the changes. Um these are just some quick hits of all the items that we wanted to bring to the commission's attention. Next slide please. And while the main purpose of the ordinance update is to comply with changes made to state ADU law, city staff also took the opportunity to improve upon the existing AD ordinance in three specific instances. Um, first, it is proposed to grant a taller height allowance than the minimum set by the state, which for attached ADUs uh is 25 ft or the height of the house, whichever is lower. Um here it's proposed to uh allow an attached ADU to match the height of the house um to allow for a streamlined design that is more consistent uh with the existing architecture. So you can imagine if an existing home is 27 ft and a person wants to uh build an ADU on top of the second floor, they can choose to match the existing height instead of being hardcapped at 25 feet.

Um second, state law allows for a series of parking requirements for ADUs um provided that they are uh located on a lot located uh more than half a mile from p uh from public transit. Staff is proposing to eliminate parking standards for ADUs because there are no lots in the city of Alen Park that are located more than half a mile from some form of transit. So the proposed changes bring in the code in line with current practice. Um, this essentially exempts uh ADUs from providing um on-site parking uh citywide because again from a survey that we've conducted um there are no properties or residential properties within the city that qualify to build ADUs that are not already within that um exemption buffer. Um and lastly, state a state law allows for replacement parking for Jadus when they are created through garage conversions, but is proposed to eliminate this requirement. the cost associated with replacing the parking negates the savings gained by doing a conversion versus new construction. So, the requirement is a barrier to development. Um, and staff would also like to bring to the commission's attention that the language presented before you as it relates to the these three points uh is identical to what was considered for approval last year and also aligns with the language that was included in the urgency ordinance that the city council approved in November of 2024. So, these are not um new additions so much as a refresher of the three changes that go beyond state law that staff is recommending with this ordinance. Next slide, please. Um notices of public hearing uh for this item were published in the local newspaper on March 12th to 2026. To date, only one written comment was received regarding this item, which expressed support of the proposed changes before the commission tonight. This comment was received from the California Housing Defense Fund who whom had initially provided the comments requesting for further review of the previous ordinance. A copy of this comment has been provided to the

commission for your records. That is a document before you all tonight. And additionally, staff would like to point out that pursuant to California Public Resources Code 211080.17, the adoption of the proposed ADU ordinance is exempt from the provisions of SQUA as it implements section 66310 of the government code, otherwise referred to as state ADU law. Next slide, please. In or in conclusion, staff does recommend that the planning commission approve resolution PC26-02, recommending the city council approve AZ25-01. City staff are available for any questions or comments. Thank you.

Thank you so much for that. Um, are there any questions from the commission to staff about this project or this proposal? Just for my own clarification, essentially what is being asked is to align municipal code with state law. Yes.

Okay, that makes a lot of sense to me. All right, checking in again one last time. Any questions? No, the thing obviously it's it's self-explanatory and ultimately uh we do have a housing crisis. Um so of course it is through state. Um but of course we just want to make it as easy as possible for um our residents and homeowners to build additional housing whether it's for rental or for multi-generational families. So stay together.

Absolutely. I agree. I I would like to point out that in the letter of support that we received um it's mentioned that and verbatim it says intergenerational households help seniors age in place

and so as you all know I do work in the homeless systems and we are seeing a significant increase in seniors losing housing because they don't have that opportunity. So, I think this is a really good opportunity for Balden Park to do something meaningful. That being said, we're going to close out public hearing. Okay. My apologies. I And I do want to check in. I don't know if anybody's called in. I know there's no one in the audience.

Uh, no. So there is no there is no one wishing to speak for or against this project. And so now I will officially close out public hearing and ask my colleagues for a motion. I move to approve PC26-2 recommending city approval of a a ZC2501. I'll second, but I think you're making fun of me. I'm not never. All right. Can I get roll, please? Yes. Uh, Chair Escaposa, yes. Vice Chair Miranda Dzip,

yes. Commissioner Rodriguez, yes. Commissioner Pena, yes. Motion carries.

Thank you so much. All right. So, the planning commission has voted to adopt resolution PC2602 recommending approval of AZ2501, a resolution of the Bald of the Planning Commission of the City of Baldin Park, recommending that the city council amend chapter 153, part 11 of the Balden Park Municipal Code relating to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units and amending in its entirety chapter 153, sections 153. Okay, I think that is it. Um, are there any non-public hearing items? There are none. Right. Any reports of officers?

Not at this time. Any communication from staff or commission? Sure. I just have one. Um, so again, I thank the city of Balden Park uh for uh funding uh giving us the opportunity to attend the planning commission academy. Um certainly it was very very um insightful. It's nice meeting other planning commissioners from other cities around the state. Um I did get the chance to meet the community development director of the city of San Fernando. He looked very very familiar. Thank you. Know him as Ron Garcia as well. Um but no overall just thank you for the opportunity and it was very insightful.

Thank you. Any other communications? Um, I just want to ask maybe a future meeting if we could get an update on like a couple or where we are with our park projects. Um, I know we have several projects that are um, Barnes Park and then the other part. I've I've been asked a couple of times and I I really don't know where we are in what phases we are. So, nothing in depth, just a brief summary if possible. Sure, be happy to do that. All right. If there are no further comments by the commission, I will accept a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn.

I'll second. Chair Escoa, yes. Vice Chair Miranda Dizip, yes. Commissioner Rodriguez, yes. Commissioner Pñena, yes. Motion carries. Thank you so much. We are now adjourned at 7:34 p.m. Thank you everyone.