Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Seriously. Okay. We're going to call to order the uh planning commission meeting uh on January 7, 2026. Um would you please do the roll call? Uh cler Oh, well, we can do we'll do the flag salute for in invocation on there. Please rise for our flag salute. I've asked uh Mr. Cycl if you can lead us in our pled please. You right on your heart. I pledge algiance 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.

I've asked Mr. Luhan if you lead us on our invocation. Please keep standing up and just bow your heads for a second. I just want to ask our Lord uh for his wisdom, his his goodness, so that we can make some good decisions here tonight. We have a big group here that we're hopefully we can all come together uh work together in the community, make sure that the community keeps working moving forward and we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you for that. Okay. Now, M. If our uh secretary would please call the role. Yes. Commissioner Luhan, present. Commissioner Sakali, present. Commissioner Legospi,

present. Vice Chair Uba, present. And Chair Gara, I'm here. Thank you. Um, is this is the time set aside for oral communication for the planning commission? Any commissioners to wish to make any announcements, report any conference meeting or request items for a future agenda? Mr. Lespie, I have none. I just want to wish everyone a happy new year and it's great to be back with everybody. Great. Vice Chair Uber, I have none. And same happy new year and it's nice to see a nice crowd of people here tonight. Mr. I have none. And Commissioner Luhan, no. And the second uh happy new year to everybody.

Yeah, I feel the same way. Uh my only uh uh announcement from I did go by the location I uh several times in several days uh just to get ready for this once we got our agenda for it. So I just wanted to disclose that. So does the community director u deputy development director have a report on a city council action or any further general updates? We have none tonight. Okay, great. So now's the time set aside for public hearing PLN2500159 conditional use permit and there does the planning commission secretary Rio have proof of publication? I do.

Great. Thank you. Will the community development director introduce staff making the presentation? Thank you, Chair Gara. Tonight we have our associate planner Marissa Montero providing a PowerPoint presentation and our deputy director of community development overseeing planning Swatty Mesum will also be assisting with the presentation. Thank you chair. Thank you.

It's good evening. You got to turn on your mic. There you go. They didn't turn on. Can you hear me?

There you go. Now we can. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Gara, Vice Chair Uba, commissioners, and members of the audience. The item before you is PLN-25-0000159 for Unique HQ at 12510 Columbia Way. This is a request for a conditional use permit to allow the operation of a fitness facility within an existing 18,140 ft building. uh fitness facilities are considered a commercial recreation use and are allowed in the CM zone with the approval of a CUP. The subject property is approximately 42,78 square ft in area and is developed with 118,100 square 140 ft singlestory building. The building was most recently uh used for a food manufacturing use um which was approved in 2020 and the building has been vacant since late 2024. This is a photo of the site with the existing building taken from Columbia Way. Uh the subject property is owned commercial manufacturing and has a general plan land use designation of mixed use. Surrounding the subject site immediately to the north is the Downey Landing specific plan. To the south and east is commercial manufacturing and to the west is medium density residential. Unique HQ's business model is to provide a fitness facility for community members and for per private personal trainers to host and train their individual clients. The proposed hours of operation are Monday through Friday 5:00 a.m. to 12:00

a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Daytoday on-site operations will be managed by the ownership team consisting of five members until such time that administrative staff are hired. Um, janitorial services will be conducted during the off hours. Uh, the facility will be open to members who train independently and will also allow up to 20 personal trainers to utilize the space to train clients. Each trainer is permitted to have up to 20 clients and will be able to train up to two people per hour, which uh limits the number of clients present at the gym during a certain time. The applicant anticipates approximately 275 active members per month, which does include the personal trainers, clients. Um, and the busiest period is expected to be between 6:00 and 7:30 p.m. during the week with an estimated 75 to 100 people in in that space. The proposed floor plan includes offices and a lobby area with a small retail component in the front. Um the retail component will sell related materials uh like merch, water bottles, uh protein powder and other gym and fitness accessories. Uh there's a functional training area, free weights and machines, a cardio area. Um and additional areas include restrooms, storage areas, uh for technology equip or technology space, uh equipment and cleaning supplies. Um, there are a few rollup doors shown on the slide that will be open during the day, but will close at 700 p.m. to minimize potential noise impacts. This has been included as a condition of approval. Additionally, a condition of approval requiring all activities to incur uh indoors has been added and the use of any exterior amplifiers or

loudspeakers outside the business establishment shall be prohibited to further address noise concerns. The project s um excuse me, the project includes site improvements such as restriping the existing parking spaces, repainting the building, removing non-compliant tarp coverings, and updating the landscaping along Colombia Way and within existing planter areas uh that screen mechanical equipment, all of which have been included as conditions of approvals. The subject site will maintain the existing 43 parking spaces. Um the site is located within a highquality transit area and pursuant to state law is not required to provide more parking or I'm sorry not required to provide parking beyond what is currently available. And I'll discuss this in more detail on the next slide. So, Assembly Bill 2097 applies to this project site because it is located within a half mile of a high quality transit stop. Further, as shown on the slide, the property is located within half mile of 13 highquality transit stops. Um oh I apologize it's a bit difficult to see but these blue um dots on the screen are identified as highquality transit stops. Um and this screenshot this data is taken from the California state geo portal that identifies these locations.

Can I ask you how many uh it's 43 uh within this and this was like what 2022 this new law that came in. Uh this is the state of California telling us as a community what we can and can't do again because it does include the commercial. What how many parking spots under Downey Municipal Code would this be allowed? Yes. Uh good question. Under the Downey Municipal Code, uh a commercial recreation use of this size would require 63 parking spaces. And the state's telling us we can we can use 43. Correct. Yeah. We actually have no discretion in that from parking. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Um, so yes, to my next point, the subject site is exempt from providing on-site parking yet maintains 43 parking spaces. Excuse me. Yes. Can you elaborate more about the exemption from providing on on-site parking? Yes. Um, so assembly bill 2097 is a state law. I believe um you all have been handed a handout. Um,

just got it right now. Yeah. So if a property is located within half mile of one of these identified highquality transit stops um they are exempt from providing any onsite parking. Um so just to elaborate or just to confirm their parking requirement would be zero but they are maintaining the 43. It's it's absolutely insane that a state can enforce this on a city. I'm not talking about this project but saying you can do it without zero on I understand residential because they want the transit areas they want people to commute on transit but on a commercial property it's another state

uh commissioners c may I supplement that uh just a tiny bit so the assembly bill AB2097 u applies to properties with developments which are commercial residential and even some industrial projects as long as they're within half half a mile of a major transit stop. And the definition for a major transit stop has been provided which is in this particular case would be intersection of two um uh bus services which have a frequency of at least 20 minutes and that's how there are other things in the state law but as applicable to this project those would be the uh criteria that apply

and we get it. It's yeah, high quality transit stop is the key buzz words. Okay, thank you. Yeah, and and just for reference, the nearest highquality transit stop to this location is located at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Colombia Way, um which is about a three-minute walk to the subject site. It's right next to the Colombia Power Box. Yeah, the corner.

Okay. Um so the development review committee uh discussed and evaluated the project as it pertained to planning, police, fire, public works and building and safety matters. All departments had uh did not express concerns or opposition over the project and issued standard conditions of approval. Staff reviewed the proposed project for compliance with SQA and determined that the CU CUP is exempt from further review under SQA guidelines 15301. Um on December 19th, 2025, the notice of the pending public hearing was mailed to tenants and property owners within 500 ft of the subject site. And on December 25th, 2025, the notice uh of the pending public hearing was published in the Downey Patriot. As of the date that this report was published, staff has received no correspondence in response to the public hearing notice. Uh therefore staff recommends the planning commission adopt resolution number 26-459 approving PLN-25-0000159 thereby allowing the operation of a fitness facility located at 12510 Columbia. Uh this concludes my presentation. I am available for any questions. Thank you.

I'll start off with my right there vice chair. Yes. Um couple questions. They're just kind of for clarification purposes. Um the park um the hours of operation, was that staff uh directed as to the hours or was that applicant suggestions? Uh so when reviewing applications like this, we uh the applicant proposes hours of operation and through our review, we uh determine whether that's um consistent with businesses of that type. So, in this case, they provided the hours and we uh found concurred or whatever. Okay, got it.

Um the parking question was was asked and and answered. So, I appreciate that. I just wanted to know how many would have been required. Um but then I also just wanted to thank you and staff for um including tenants in that notice of the hearing because I noticed when I did my um my driveby over there and visited the property, there were several apartment buildings directly across the street. So, I'm very glad those tenants got the notice as well. And that concludes my questions. Thank you, Commissioner Cycling. No questions, Mr. Luhan. No, thank you for the presentation. Thank you for the presentation. So, uh, no, there's no questions and hopefully um the resolution can come. Okay, cool. Thank you.

I just have a comment and a quick question. Uh, Miss Montero, thank you for your presentation. Very well done. Um just to clarify, are we proposing or the applicant is proposing to um uh use the entire building? We're not talking about just portion. Correct. Correct. The entire building the uh entire 43 spaces would be allocated just for this business. And um and that's clear, right? Okay, that's it. Thank you for your presentation. Thank you. Could you I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead.

I just thought I want one more question. Of course. uh for the utility facilities that's in the in the building uh for the peak hour between 70 to 100 people um how is the u uh the uh developer or the um going to handle the use of the facilities with such a high volume at one time?

Yes. Um so the applicant is not proposing to make any um modifications to the building. Um they do however they are they have applied for a building permit application because this change of use uh requires a change of occupancy. Um so that component will be reviewed during the building permit process. Okay. Thanks.

Could you bring your PowerPoint back up again and go to like the third slide, the second or third slide? The one that's got the overview, the picture of the overview. Um yeah, but keep going further before one more the one this one here. Okay, so there's the the outline of the building. Mhm. So right next to it, that dirt field. Okay, that's going to be the we broke ground and we the city of Downey broke ground on in November for the new inspiration uh event center and historical building out there. Was there any discussion or thought process that event center can is going to be able to hold four or 500 people?

Okay. So, with these hours of operations, I don't know. I mean, it's it's a year away. I mean, but the ground is broken and there's metal there. So, is there any discussion there how we would handle parking?

Yeah. Thank you, Chair Garrett, for asking that question. And um the um the way that there's a there's a couple of things I want to bring up uh to respond to your question. When we're evaluating a business that's coming in and occupying the property, we evaluate the impacts being caused by that business. So that is um that is part of uh the answer here is that the impacts uh and the parking demand in this case they're exempt from um parking adding more parking uh because of AB27. Now the second part to be more practical um Colombia Space Center expansion creates a demand for parking on its own which would be a separate topic for the city to address. Um, in reviewing entitlements, uh, the planning commission's review, uh, would be limited to what the applicant is causing as an impact, uh, but not necessarily fixing, uh, or addressing the parking needs of the Columbia Space Center. The third part here is that the Columbia Space Center in itself and this is not related to this entitlement is going to be a very active site. Um I think the city staff and city manager's office is aware that you know in approving and kicking off and having that um that groundbreaking we had recently that it's an exciting project but that in itself is going to create a demand for parking. Um, and then also the close proximity to the park and all the activities happening there. So, I I think that's a bigger issue that I can uh bring up to our city manager's office. Um, on your behalf and if other commissioners have a similar concern, I

can convey that. But to bring it back to the item before you, uh, the commission is limited on evaluating the impacts caused by this proposed business. So, hopefully that explains it. I want to be practical, but I also want to be fair to the applicants.

Sure. And I get that. Could you show that vid? Could you put that slide back up again? Okay. Cuz the the parking that goes across the street too is is impacted on there. When we showed that project to the city council, that's the first thing that several of the council people said, where are you going to put barking? And there was no answer to that. So that's why I'm just saying this kind of, you know, is an issue here there for that particular I think it's a great issue to have. But yeah. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. So before I open the public hearing and call the applicant or their representative, this would be the time for planning commission disclose any prehering sites or prehering discussions that commissioners may have had about the project. U anybody? I'm Go ahead. I'm sorry. Um, I drove by the the property. Um, Chair Gar and I, um, I I just looked around. I did visit the property yesterday. I, uh, was given a tour by the applicant. Uh, Benjamin took me on a tour of the facility. So, I did visit it personally yesterday. Mr. Mr. Luhan, anything?

Okay. Um, yes, ma'am. I I had a long meeting with uh um manuati uh before these meetings regarding this particular project as I do with every planning commission meeting. Okay. Yes, ma'am. You have it.

Chair G. I just wanted to provide some additional information that's not included in the report. Uh so one I wanted to commend staff for guiding uh Mr. Benjamin Campos and his team on navigating the entitlement process. um their lease was becoming effective soon and they were going to have to start making some payments. So, we did provide assistance to try to expedite this item to come uh early in January. Um I also want to commend the applicant for being proactive in engaging with our fire department and the building and safety division um and preparing plans and starting to work through the occupancy requirements that go into effect when you're bringing a use like this. it does require an evaluation from both the building and the fire code to make sure that the building is equipped to to meet those codes and that's something they've already started. Um the other thing I I wanted to share with the commission is that you know as the report indicated this building has been vacant since 2024 and uh the planning division and we conduct a lot of zoning reviews and then we did in the past have some uses that were uh maybe not compatible with a museum a city museum or the residences that are nearby. Uh, one of them I was sharing with Chair Gara before this meeting uh during our our premeating uh in preparation for tonight had to do with um dirt, believe it or not. Um managing of dirt and so again that didn't get very far but we staff we did have some concerns and just also overseeing the code enforcement division. I had concerns over the safety of the building that it wouldn't be vandalized or occupied by uh trespassers and that's always a concern when we have vacant buildings. So uh we are happy to bring this item before you and per staff's recommendation. We are recommending approval with conditions of approval, but we're happy to hear uh the commission's deliberations and any

questions that you may have for us or the applicant. Thank you.

Great. Great. Um to give you a little historical perspective, we used to have the Downey dirt mound. We used to have the mount that it's called the Downey Mountain. We used to have a big dirt thing on there. And all of us that are old remember that there in that historical site right behind there. So, uh that's a good thing that we don't have it anymore. Okay. So, uh okay, the public hearing is now open. Would the uh applicant or representatives please come forward to give testimony? Welcome. Good afternoon. Uh, my name is Benjamin Compose and I just want to thank you for your time tonight and for the work you do for the city of Downey. Um, our goal is not to build the fitness space, but to allow the opportunity for others, trainers, small business, and members of the community to grow alongside us. Um, we've done this successfully in the city of Paramount and we where we built a strong positive community and I'm excited to bring that same approach and energy to Downey. Um, I think being located next to the upcoming science center is especially exciting for us. We see it as a chance to be a part of a forwardinking area that promotes growth, education, and long-term community investment. Um, sorry. Um, yeah, I also have um family here in Downey and um, man, we're excited to actually be able to be a part of Downey now and see what we can do and grow as see what community we can create.

Thank you, Benjamin. Thank you for investing here. Any questions? I do have a couple questions for you, Benjamin. Um, don't be nervous. It's just the most important day of your life. Okay, but we're all friends. You're like, "Darn, I almost got out of here." Um, just a couple. Welcome. Welcome to uh City Hall. What do you plan to do with your Paramount location? Is it is this a so second location or you plan to merge? He's a realtor. He's trying to get the listing for we're completely we're completely moving to Downey. He'll be moving to Downey. Yeah, we'll completely be moving to Downey. Okay. Okay. Good. Good. What what's the size difference? I'm sorry to interrupt you, but what's the size difference between the Paramine and this one?

It's actually about five times bigger, the Downey one. We're at like 3,000 square feet and u where we're currently at and we're moving into 18,000 foot lot. So, you've brought all your trainers just to prove that you actually have trainers. Okay, I see. See how it goes. Everybody's here. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. Okay. I want to look like you guys when I grow up. So, yeah. Yeah. We better get this approved. They're all buff. No, on a serious note, um, and I'm going to challenge you a little bit, Benjamin, because I am curious about the parking, okay? And, um, as we know, AB 2097, we understand the concept,

but we also have to be realistic, right? How many of your trainers or members actually take tra uh, public transportation to your gym currently? And it's okay to be honest. Okay. Very few, I would say. That's that's what I would think. So, um, with a maximum, what's your maximum capacity with 18,000 square feet? I mean, um, 18 realistically, how many people could you at one point have in there roughly?

Well, to be, uh, to be like realistic, um, currently at the location we currently are in, it's like 3,000 square feet and we only have about 20 parking spots. Um, and we have about like 300 members and on our peak time we have from 50 to 75 and it it works. I mean we have um they use all the parking there's some street parking that they can use. Um yeah, so we we do the best we can to um to accommodate the the parking situation. And I mean any we're always open to any suggestions or anything like that that we can do to to get this going. Mhm. Yeah.

Thank you for being honest. Okay. Um and my last question is um if all goes well, what do you propose your uh grand opening to be? First quarter, second quarter roughly? First quarter. First quarter. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Hold on, young man. I have a question for you. Uh what is the average time of an individual that goes in trains come out? So, since we're like a se we're a semi-private gym, um it's a lot more private than like your public gym. So, you have a specific individual that goes in in 45 minutes, just comes in and goes out. Um we're not you we're we're a lot different than like your public gyms where you have a group of five kids go in at once and are stuck on a machine for like an hour or so. Um for us it's more of get in, get out and um you know get your workout in which is what we go for.

As our commissioner mentioned regarding the 43 spots that you have. So basically I go in and exercise 1 hour and I get out there's a there's an empty spot and somebody else come pick it up. So this going to go on throughout the day. Yes. So that would allow you to have more people coming in within limited space that you have. Mhm. Yeah. So, so yeah, for the most part it's like it's it's pretty fast. It's if you're in there for an hour if if that. Um, and for us it's more of keeping it controlled as well. We don't want to let it get out of control, but we have the power to control who's coming in, who's coming out. Um, making sure that coming in to get what to do what they need to do. Thank you.

Anybody else? Mr. Lan. Uh, yes. Is your membership your membership going to stay the same price that you had in Parammont or are you? No. Yeah, we're increasing. So, you think all the 300 members going to continue? Yes. Yes. We have a we we we built a pretty good community and um they they're excited for us. They're following us pretty much wherever we go. The release is going to be five times more expensive. I think it's going to go on. It has to go. Yeah. Because usually when when you have the trainers and you work with a client, is it usually one or two people at one time or Yeah, it's usually it's it's private, you know, it's either one-on-one um or they can have two two in that same hour.

All right. Mr. Sley or Vice Chair, um all of my questions have been um asked and answered, so I appreciate that. I wanted to thank you yesterday for the the tour. It was very nice. And for those of you that didn't get to go inside, it's it's very nice on the inside. I mean, 18,000 square feet, there's a lot of room in there to have separate and unique areas for different things. It was really nice. So, thank you. And we'll hopefully we can get you approved tonight. Thank you.

Great. Great. Have you um have you discussed with staff or maybe internally on their head to having a parking plan, if you will, because those things are going to happen. you're already parking on the street where you're at and this is you know five times bigger and you know like maybe having some of your trainers parking in another location and bringing them over or something. I mean some kind of parking plan it's going to be an issue. Um just me and uh me and um the group of uh my partners are we are looking to come up with a strategy so we won't have an issue and we won't run into any issues.

Good. And and thank you. Thank you for uh you know reusing this building on there. It's been an eyesore and it's been uh you know in a commercial zone. So we welcome you from that. Um I also recommend that you uh go meet uh Ben do the executive director over at the Colombia uh and have a relationship there you know and maybe you guys can help coordinate. There's about five times a year where like you know 3,000 people are going to be there on a Saturday. Okay? you know, I can name you Rocket Fever, you know, uh, City of STEM, all kinds of different things. So, you know, that way at least you guys can coordinate your time so you you know what's coming. You don't want to show up on a Saturday and have 3 4 thousand people there and like, what the heck just happened to me? So, I would just suggest that

and then you're going to be part of history. That inspiration building is going to be uh an amazing tribute to what happened at that uh in that site right next to you there. So, yeah. We're we're excited to be able to be a part of it. Good. Okay. Well, welcome to Downey. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Um is there any um anyone that would like to speak in favor or opposition besides you? Okay. There's there's uh Yeah, we're right now. Go ahead. Who's got number two? Oh, you got number one. Okay. All right. So, we'll go from there. So, number one. Go ahead, sir.

All right. Good evening, everyone. Hope everyone had an amazing holiday. Um, first I want to thank you for your time. I'm extremely excited. I'm one of Benjamin's partners for the new project. I wasn't originally in the Paramount location, but now coming into this it's it's it's a blessing. I grew up in the city of Downey. You know, I went to uh Alama Elementary, Susman, a carpenter, and Downey High School. So, being able to come and open a business here, you know, if if we, you know, pass um would be uh amazing. Um, you know, I think this is going to something really good for the community. We've already been talking to PD, uh, you know, fire and the impact and the asset that we can be as much, you know, to help each other, but it's goes beyond we're super excited. So, other than that, I um, you know, I just want to say uh, thank you overall. Yeah.

Thank you. Okay, number two.

Good evening. Uh, my name is Lily Hernandez. I'm Ben Benjamin's girlfriend and um I'm also a Downey native. I attended I attended Downey schools, grew up in this community and like so many others, Downey is not just where I live, but it is my home. U my mom went to Downey High School, too. So, I have I'm just, you know, I've been in Downey my entire life. But, um, I'm here today just to speak on Unique and why it truly is a gem for the city. Uh, Unique HQ is more than just a gym. It's a community hub hub. It's a place where people come together, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. Over time, we've hosted countless community centered events that bring residents together in positive, uplifting ways. Um events that encourage wellness, creativity, collaboration, and local support. These gatherings aren't just about attendance or just working out. Um they're about building relationships, and strengthening the fabric of Downey. Uh, one of the things I'm most proud of is that Unique HQ HQ creates an environment where people don't feel like they need to leave Downey to experience something special. For years, I've had to go to gyms outside of Downey, and I'm just very happy to be able to stay in my city and um, enjoy everything that uh, Unique has to offer. Um, Unique HQ helps change that narrative. So, I am happy to be a part of that. It also allows people to enjoy meaningful experiences right here. So, as someone who grew up in Downey, it means everything to me to be able to contri contribute something positive back to the place that shaped me. Being able to build and support a place like Unique HQ is the very in the very city I was raised in is incredibly fulfilling. It represents growth, invest, reinvestment, and pride in our local community. Um, we have already for Thanksgiving, we were able to do a turkey giveaway. Um, and we gave over like 200 turkeys to the residents of Downey and people that were just in need. So, we're more than just a gym. And we want everyone to feel welcome

when they come in through the door. We're not looking just to like judge you or anything like that. We want anyone that just wants to like move their body and be healthy, just to come in and feel like any of the trainers behind you are going to like lead a helping hand and just like show you um the ropes and everything. But yeah, so I'm I advocate for Unique HQ all the time, up and down. Not just because I'm his girlfriend, but because I do believe in like the message behind everything. Um but yeah, thank you. Thank you. The the senior center has a small little gym there. Okay. If you guys in the next year while you're building out use that's what I use. Okay. Very. Yes, sir.

Hello. Good evening.

Uh my name is Charles Casan and I'm actually one of Benjamin's partners. So I'll try my best to keep it short. So I actually just recently became partner early this year. actually walked in for the first time at Unique in January and instantly I just fell in love with the energy, the environment that was present. And so when I had the opportunity to be a part of this, I just jumped on it. So I've been able to actually, you know, walk through the entire process as we're moving into Downey. But I just want to be a testament of of uh what Benjamin has created and what he is trying to bring over here to Downey. Um it truly is more than just a gym. This is like my second family. Um, I'm not originally from Downey, but I actually had the pleasure of living here for seven years from 2017 to 2013 or 2023. So, for me to come back here, it's it's it really hits home. It really hits home to me or to heart. So, with your blessing, with God's blessing, this is literally just like one of the biggest milestones of my life that I do want to bring bring forth. So, I hope we're hoping we're able to make it happen tonight.

Thank you. We have a we have an old saying in Downey. You weren't born here, but you got here as quickly as you could. So, and now trying to come back as quickly as they can. There you go. Thank you, sir. Okay. Number four.

Well, good evening. My name is uh Nick. I am also a partner of Benjamin. Um, I've been at Unique since I want to say late 2022. I started off as a trainer. Um, from there I actually was given the opportunity the same time as Charles. Um, just wanted to say I'm not from Downey. This is actually my first time being a part of the city and um I have been in the fitness industry for a while now working at different cities at different gyms and I can say that uh down is different you know from the get- go um you the hospitality from not just the fire department and the police department but the staff Ria you've been great Marissa I haven't met you personally but you've been great as well from what I've heard so thank you but yeah I just want to say um thank you for the hospitality and uh I'm excited for the future.

Okay. Thank you. Number five,

honorable chairman and members of the planning commission. You guys, for better or worse, you all know me at some point in time or before. uh Kirk Carttoi and I'm the broker in this and I'm here and I'm really excited not only for Benji and his partners uh but for the community uh from the beginning when they came to the site and me having known a little bit about the history seeing it from a forklift company actually it was Rockwell's uh from way back but to a forklift company then what was uh could only be described as a chop shop for a little while uh then later the shrimp farm and uh after a one-year hiatus we're going to at Unique HQ. Um, so the landlord uh who our firm represents uh Mr. Cohenoff is excited uh about this. He's been working uh with the applicant and trying to uh reasonably get them into the space without too many additional fees because it is uh costly to have a nice piece of real estate sitting vacant. Uh I do want to share a couple of things as relates to parking and I do appreciate staff um not only for their work with the applicants over the last few months uh but in describing the reason why there's essentially a a buy right um for the parking but uh Benji uh and I have have spoken a little bit about what that parking plan might be. Uh they're still doing the striping but I'm pretty certain there's there will be more than 43 spaces. Uh but additional to that because a lot of these staff trainers or other employees will be working the same hours um I believe a lot of them can look at maybe rear loading there's parking in the back where uh they could maybe park in tandem they can park in uh maybe even produce a valet system as well. So, uh I believe if the need is going to be there, they will find the solutions and uh just excited to see uh where where they are, how they've come uh this far and hopefully we get a

positive result and uh I think everyone should try to sign up too because I will be a member myself. Thank you. Okay, is there number six? That was it. Okay, great. Um, so there's no rebuttal there for the applicant. Um, okay. So, at this time, the public hearing. Well, first of all, is there anything any final questions or any last thoughts before we close the public hearing? Okay. At this point,

I asked that. Yes, sir. Yeah. Anybody in opposition on that, too? So, okay. There's the one parking person in the back. No, I'm kidding. Okay. Okay. So now the part the uh public hearing will now be closed. So at this point um any deliberation from the planning commission. Um I'll start with the vice chair. Uh I think it's a great great improvement to that that building and I think it's a kind of business that we would love to have. Um I think you're going to be very successful and I I thank you for bringing it to Downey. We really appreciate that. Okay. Great. Uh, anybody else? Mr. L.

Well, I'll second that. Um, there's a lot of cities to choose from um in SoCal and you selected the best city and I I personally welcome you to the city. Okay, I think

it's it's great to have you around. I think it's a good positive thing to have for the city of Downey. Um uh and I I believe you guys can do your your own work as far as uh maybe you can uh do some right sharing to allow more spaces for the public. Um another option you have maybe you could uh instead of having all the trains at the same time maybe you can have them uh at different time. Basically you got to look out for the public uh to allow them to have more space. So the more space you have, the more they're going to come in basically the more money you're going to make because more people coming in. So but thank you for coming over to the city of Downey Commission.

Yes. Also as well that you know we welcome you guys to Downey and definitely we're all moving in the direction of trying to get healthy and and it's another option for people here in Downey that can come and some of us walk and walk there. So, you know, it's something that we'll look at, consider it, and and you know, because there's a neighborhood in areas that I'm sure they'll come over to you um and and and have an impact, a positive impact in the community. So, you know, thank you for choosing Downey. Great.

My comments is uh congratulations to all of you. We are happy. I echo all those comments. I do have a concern. I think Mr. Carttoian laid out some things and I know you guys will work on it as you keep growing it. It will be an issue. Hopefully, it'll be an issue. that means you're being successful. But tandem parking, all kinds of different things on there. Um it well while normally I'm very supportive of this. Um there's something I've always said to people when um when you abstain for on a vote, it's because you have a conflict of interest financially or so forth. It's not because you're being wimpy uh on on not knowing which way to go. I I think you guys are going to be very successful. I'm really happy for you and for Downey. I'm uh I'm going to abstain uh as an abundance of caution. I haven't talked to our city attorney. Uh I'm involved with the Colombia project, the inspiration building. So, it wouldn't be right for me to vote one way or the other on that. So, I am going to, you know, uh abstain, but it's not because of anything you guys did or whatever. I just think it's other. So, uh I always say that to people. It's like, you know, unless it's in, you know, something that could conflict on there. What are you doing? right now. So, um but with that, I will ask for a motion in a second. Not me. I

I have one. I have one for you, chair. Um I'll make a motion to accept staff recommendation and approve PLN2500159. I'll second. We will second. We'll second.

Okay. All right. Any other further thing? So, if you guys uh please vote. Okay, it passes uh 4 Z. So with one absential congratulations and now that you've said that, you guys can all, you know, buy a tile at the Columbia Center there next door. So that's the plug. Okay. Uh consent calendar items, there are none. Uh there's no minutes on there. Any other staff comments at this time, city attorney? No other comments from staff.

Okay, great. All right, it's good to be back. From a planning commission standpoint, uh the the the third meeting, third week of this honor, we will not be having a meeting. Our next meeting will be the first uh Wednesday in February. Okay. Uh and so forth. I will not be here for the first one in March. Uh I will be going to Rosscomin, Ireland. Our sister city is a birthplace of John Gaitley Downey. So um anyways with that said uh I will adjourn the meeting. Okay. Thank you. At 7:18. So thank you. Congratulations.