Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. This is the planning commission regular meeting of August 13, 2025. I will call this meeting to order at 6 pm. Can we have a roll call, please? Commissioner Kulie here. Commissioner Copelan here. Commissioner Qua present. Vice Chair Smith here. Chairman Southern here. Uh take us to item B, public comment period. Items not on the agenda. This meeting will be open to the public and conducted in a virtual format to be inclusive of all participation preferences. Public comment participation is encouraged by emailing any comments to the city clerk's office or by calling in using the phone number provided on the front of the agenda. Do we have any public comments on items not on the agenda tonight?

I have no written requests. Benny, do we have any callers on the line? No callers. And chairman, if uh this is probably my fault I did not highlight this section here, but if you want to jump back to um the pledge or any adjustments. Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped all right through all that, didn't I? My fault. Perfect. Uh can we uh have uh Vice Chair Smith lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please? Please rise to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Do we have any adjustments to the agenda? No changes to the agenda. and any conflict of interest disclosure. Seeing none, move back down to item C. Uh this is our action items, public hearings and requests. Uh item C1 is approval of amendments. Uh can I ask uh for a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Second. Have a motion and a second. Can we get a roll call vote, please? Commissioner Kulie, yes. Commissioner Copeland, yes. Commissioner Qua. Yay. Vice Chair Smith. Yes. Chairman Sard. Yes.

Takes us to item C2. Uh, our general plan conformity determination for purchase of vacant and unimproved land on Fifth Street East of the Pass Biz Hub property at 514-516 California Avenue. Can we have a staff report, please? Good evening, commissioners. Joseph Kale, a management analyst for the economic development department. Tonight, staff is requesting a general plan conformity determination for the proposed acquisition of four vacant and unimproved parcels located along Fifth Street directly east of the Pass area Biz Hub property located at 514 and 516 California Avenue. These parcels are identified as assessor parcel numbers 418 091 013 41891 014 418 019 015 and a portion of 41891016. So some background for you. The city of Bumont is actively pursuing the acquisition of these parcels to support continued development of the pass area business resource center and to further our downtown revitalization efforts. Under California government code section 65402, the planning commission must determine whether the location purpose and extent of a proposed acquisition is consistent with the city's general plan before the city can proceed with the purchase. Some details about the property for you. Uh the total area is approximately 0.326 acre or 6 uh 15,682 ft. The general plan designation is downtown mixed use as well as the zoning is downtown mixed use as well. The site is currently vacant and unimproved except for a wireless telecommunications tower and associated equipment enclosure located on a portion of APN 418091

016. That facility will be excluded from the transaction through a lot split processed via tenative parcel map prior to the close of escrow. staff has reviewed and proposed uh reviewed the proposed acquisition and finds it consistent with the general plans goals and policies. The city intends to improve the property as a parking lot. This proposed use aligns with the downtown mixeduse designation and supports our objectives to enhance parking capacity, improve downtown accessibility, and encourage economic activity in the area. So with that, staff recommends that the planning commission determine the the purchase of these parcels. Uh APN 418091013 or 0 Yeah. 013 41891014891015 and 41891016 to be in conformance with the city of Bowmont's general plan. That concludes my report and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. Thank you.

Perfect. Thank you for your report. Uh, Commissioners, do we have any questions for staff?

Yeah, I do. Um, what are the adjacent buildings and businesses there that justify the need for a parking lot or is it not is it just being used to hold? So, I'm not sure if you're familiar with our uh new pass area business resource center that will be opening in the coming months. Uh, but we plan on having a lot of activity there. Um the county is going to be there as well as MSJC and uh quite a few other organizations EDDD and so we're expecting that the need for parking is going to increase significantly. Um as well as I'm sure you're aware that um there is currently a moratorium on down on parking in downtown and so a lot of businesses are coming in um not having to adhere to the amount of parking that they would normally require. Uh, an example of that is, uh, I'm not sure if you're familiar with the Proso's, um, tire shop that is, uh, just around the corner. We are expecting for a, um, a business, a uh, a restaurant to be going into that building here coming very soon. Um, so directly support that business as well as any other. So that go into that um, key sixth street corridor of our downtown.

Okay. So has the uh um trying to think the term you're using. Um so is is the um is the restaurant on the books? Do we have a a developer or someone who's interested in it or is it we hope to have it? We're actively working u on their application. So they have applied. Okay. And is this uh the business center, the the government center, is that actively going forward?

Yes. Uh we'll be taking the last of our uh agreements for the center on September 19th, that council meeting. Um that'll conclude all of the um currently planned uh tenants for the space and we're planning on having a grand opening um here in October. Thank you. I have a question. Will the parking have meters or will it be free parking? Free parking.

So free parking. Will there be um some sort of monitoring of who uses it? My question being, uh, other businesses uh, around the area might be tempted to take advantage of a free parking lot and move their parking there as opposed to their own uh, properties. Is there any way to stop that from happening? But isn't that kind of the intent with the downtown parking plan is to allow for densification of those parcels and creating opportunities for shared kind of regional parking facilities. It's right that's that's why we adopted that plan. Right.

But that enhances the the uh business activity that we're trying to bring in as well as uh retail shopping that kind of thing. I'm talking about other businesses that are already in this area taking over this parking lot. There's no way to stop them from doing it. There should be.

Yeah. Just in general, u the city is exploring all sorts of options to increase the amount of parking for everybody in our downtown. Um so we're not going to be enforcing to my knowledge um any sort of parking or you know checking who's parking there or anything like that. It's just going to be uh public parking hopefully to support the Biz Hub and the rest of the businesses in the downtown area.

So the answer to I guess the answer to my question then is no. So if any person, business or resident wanted to park something there, a resident could park their RV there and have free parking there. U or a business could park trucks there. There's no way to stop them from doing it, right? Guess it would be treated the same as any of our other city-owned lots, which is what? Do we have any ordinances?

Um, so so it's like anything if it's a nuisance or it it would be handled through a code compliance issue, but they're not I mean parking public parking is not intended for like someone to park an RV overnight, for example. It's it's as Joseph um described, it's to support the businesses that are there as well as new businesses or uses that come into the downtown area. So, we will have adequate signage indicating that. So, um I don't want I can't park my RV there because there's a sign telling me if I do, I could get cited.

I mean, it's similar to like our parking lot across the street. It's a lot that's used for for everyone and there's there's signage of who can park where, but it's not intended. So if you know if we see someone who's there you know 24/7 with an RV then they would be cited through typical codes that we have in on the but there is signage or will be signage. Yes. What is it not everybody obeys the implied rules?

Correct. But there are codes like vehicle codes uh zoning codes that don't allow for that type of use where it's a permanent 24-hour parking for someone. Not trying to be argumentative, but um if the average resident here or business owner wants to park a commercial vehicle on a lot that is a violation of code, but there's no signage saying that, we're going to have potentially a disgruntled person who then makes an issue out of it. It would be easily resolved to simply say, "We'll put a sign on it. will put at the entrance or the exit will have a sign saying you know these are the vehicles that are not prohibited.

So if like other cities do. So if I may um the parking lot will come up in the future, but the purpose of this uh staff report and why we're here today is just for um the commission to determine if the uh if the parcel is in conformity with the general plan. Is there a reason in the municipal code that requires a map that they couldn't just do a lot land adjustment or a parcel merger if they're the common owner of all four parcels? because that could be a quicker a quicker way to go about that uh for what's before the commission today or

well no it just says in the staff report that a map would they'll process a parcel map but you know it seems like if they're the common owner of all four they could process a lot line adjustment or parcel merger and meet the same meet the same requirement um correct and I I believe this particular property owner is looking to do like a lot line adjustment correct that was just my question recovering engineer so Any other questions from the commission? Seeing none, uh, do we have any requests to speak on this item? I have no written requests. Benny, do we have any callers on the line for this item? No callers.

Okay, we'll bring it back to commission for uh discussion. No, I mean given that the the parking lot would come back at a future date, you know, a regular determination here. I have no further discussion. Anyone want to uh make a motion? Sure. So, I'll move I have comment.

Sure. Go ahead. Um, I think that one of the things we need to do is think outside the box. And I want to I suggest that we add a condition that adequate restrictive signing be placed on it when it comes back to us for that element. So it's not conveniently or accidentally overlooked in the future. Well, there's no condition we can add to this action. So I think it's just direction to staff at this point that that point be taken. Okay. Yeah. A recommendation in the record. Yeah.

So with that I would um move that the planning commission uh finds that the subject property is in conformance with the city of Mar plan. I'll second. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Can we have a roll call vote, please? Commissioner Kulie. Yes. Commissioner Copeland. Yes. Commissioner Qua? Yay. Vice Chair Smith, yes. Chairman Suther, yes. Okay, that item passes unanimously. That takes us to item C3, plan 2025-0223, consideration of a second amendment to the Sundance Corporate Center signage program. Uh, can we have a staff report, please?

Good evening, chairman and commissioners. Katie Jensen, planning staff. An application for a signed program amendment for the Sundance Corporate Center was submitted to the city on May 21st, 2025 to revise miscellaneous language, add two additional tenant wall signs, and add directional signage in the commercial center. The original sign program was approved in 2007, and the first sign program amendment was approved in 2022 to increase signage area across the site for tenants to align with the expanding development. With the proposed second amendment, the language revisions include changing less C and lesser to tenant and landlord and adding language that requires tenants to use a specific sign contractor and a repair or maintenance contractor that is preferred by the Sundance Professional Centers um association. The proposed amendment is also looking to add two tenant wall signs for building B labeled as B4 and B5 with an allowable maximum signage area of 28.98 square ft which is consistent with the maximum sign area allowed in the existing sign program. The applicant is also requesting to add 5x3 directional monument signage labeled as DR1 and the proposed amendment. The property is zoned Sundance specific plan and has a general plan land use designation of single family residential. The site is currently developed as a mixed office and retail complex which is primarily focused on medical and health related services and includes multiple tenant suites here. The proposed project is exempt from SQA as a class 11 accessory structures categorical exemption. This item is not required as a public

hearing and staff recommends to approve plan 2025-0223 and direct staff to prepare a notice of exemption for the applicant to file with the Riverside County Clerk Recorder. This concludes concludes my presentation. Um I'm happy to answer any questions you have. I believe the applicant might be on the phone line if you guys have any questions for them as well. Perfect. Thank you for your report. Uh do we have any uh questions from the commissioners here? So this is just minor non-substantive text updates and pedestrian scale wayfinding on site. That's correct. Okay.

Okay. Seeing no other questions from commissioners. Uh are there any requests to speak on this item? I have no written requests. Benny, do we have any callers on the line? No callers. We do have um we do have the applicant though. Is that correct, Benny? That is correct. In case there's any questions, I do not. Seeing none from the commission here. Um go ahead and bring it back to us uh for discussion and a motion. I'll make a motion to approve the second amendment to the Sundance Corporate Sign Program. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Can we have a roll call vote, please? Commissioner Kulie,

yes. Commissioner Copelan, yes. Commissioner Qua, yes. Vice Chair Smith, yes. Chairman Southern, yes. All right, that item passes unanimously. That takes us to item D, staff comments. Uh, cancellation of September 10th, 2025 meeting.

Yes. Good evening, chair and commissioners. the September 10th meeting is cancelled for the state of the city. And so you may have already received your invitations to the state of the city, which is the reason for the cancellation. Again, tickets are available for purchase. So, I did want to clarify that uh there are no reservations or or reserved tickets. They're available for purchase when you are ready. And then a couple other items. Um Commissioner Kob's comment is noted for downtown parking. It makes sense to have signs. Right now, our signs, for example, across the street, say unauthorized vehicles are towed. And so, if there's a recreational vehicle or even someone that's blocking more than what the delineated spaces would show, we'd have that authority to get them out of there. Yes, absolutely. And then, uh, with regard to staff updates, we have a new assistant planner who's here today, Kylie Prissi. Started with us in July and we welcome her. The new planning manager is expected to begin next week on Monday. And so being staffed up helps us accurately report and make sure that we have timely processing and analysis and the reports for your review and consideration like the Regency Centers, Target and Bulmont's points uh 5 million square ft and 240,000 ft of industrial and commercial and their 125 room motel. all these large projects that we're getting, we're able to make sure that they get the appropriate attention so that we can help streamline the process for uh vertical development and better manage existing and impending language entitlements. So, planning will be full and uh that'll help. So, we do anticipate that uh in October you'll see the zoning code update. We're wrapping up our comments and getting final touches on that for public release and the zoning code update will help us implement the general plan that you all did that that great work on for the 2040

general plan. Uh this afternoon a request for input and feedback was presented to the economic development committee. So, our staff worked on and compiled a report that would uh look at the pros and cons of a voluntary program or an ordinance for designated spaces for Purple Heart license plate holders. And the committee gave some good feedback. So, what we'll do is compile that report and uh report back to the council. you may be seeing that if there's an ordinance directed uh council could could make that a priority and then we'd be updating the zoning code and expecting your recommendation on that. But it's very likely that first we're going to start with the volunteer pilot program and see how that how that wraps up. But it is for the council to decide based on their direction. And the other project is uh staff worked on that uh is of note food truck permitting uh streamlining. The council did ask for a report after the 2022 update to the title five for food trucks. The process was never really brought back. So, we're going to do that for them and then talk about how the uh permitting has gone and whether or not it makes sense to update that. So, you may not get a direct review of that or a request for your recommendation on that because it's title five and business licensing, but it could happen. But it's just uh so you know that your staff was working on food truck permitting uh analysis of what the what works and what hasn't worked and what could be done to improve that process. And then the last thing is well a couple of more things actually. Bowmont Church we're working on. We received your request. I do want you to know we're working on getting you guys some shirts. So, that that'll uh that'll be upcoming as well. And then the last things are

staff communications. So, staff's always available for clarifications and questions. So, I do feel like uh you can feel free to contact your staff. Thank you, chair, for meeting with us yesterday. I'm happy to report that there were no questions or or issues for tonight's meeting, but that is an option that you have for us to be prepared for answers in the open format and not be caught off guard. I'd like to prepare and keep the staff ready for any inventualities that could uh lead to delay. If we don't know answers or we have to go back and research, then processes stop and projects get delayed. We want to make sure that we can continue in our public hearings uh appropriately by preparing for anything that you guys might need clarified or questions answered, even technical issues. If you can't get in your email, we want to be able to help you with that. Feel free to give us a call or email and uh we're there for you. We are your staff. So, thank you for your service. We know your commitment goes beyond just tonight's meeting. So, uh, the fact that you can consume the information and consider it with, uh, with an eye towards thoughtful decision-m is appreciated. And that's, uh, it for staff comments. Thank you. I I that's it for me. I don't know if our staff has anything that I've missed. I should have asked before. I didn't. I think we're okay.

Perfect. I appreciate those comments, Director Jones, and and yeah, thank you for your time. Uh, I thought that was very helpful and appreciate staff's always been very uh, gracious with time and answering questions. So, we greatly appreciate helps us do our job better, too. So, greatly appreciated. All right, that takes us to commissioner comments. Uh, commissioners, any comments you want to make here tonight? Just welcome. Yeah, absolutely. Welcome aboard. You got a good team here. All right. Uh, we'll go ahead then. Uh, we'll adjourn our meeting here at 6:24 p.m. Have a good night, everybody.

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