Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Ready to go.

Good evening. I would like to call the January 6, 2026 regular planning commission meeting to order. Please note this meeting this meeting being hosted through live stream on the city website and by teleconference via Zoom. Id like to remind the planning commissioners to have their microphones turned on in position so the audience can hear. Director Monnique, may we have roll call, please? Thank you, Chair. Um I received um correspondence from Commissioner Barona um that she will be uh resigning from the planning commission. She will not be here this evening. Uh, further information will be provided to the commission and the city clerk. Uh, Commissioner Vier Montes

here. Commissioner Hill is absent with notice. Vice Chair Worth here. Chair Beamsterfer here. And since Commissioner Hill is absent with notice, u Vice Chair, would you mind doing invocation flag?

Sure. start with the invocation. Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to to come together and serve our community. We pray for uh the wisdom to make the right right decisions and thank you for this uh this opportunity. beginled 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.

Agenda item four is the public comment period for items not on the agenda. Are there any members of the public that's present that would like to comment on an item that's not on the agenda or via teleconference or zoom? Chair, I do not see anyone requesting to speak on Zoom. No requesting to speak. Moving on to agenda five A is the approval of the minutes from the meeting of December the 2nd, 2025. Does the commission have any comments or corrections? No comments. May I entertain a motion?

I motion to approve minutes of planning commission meeting of December 2nd, 2025. I second. We have a motion by Commissioner Ver Montes to approve minutes of December 2nd, 2025 with a second from Vice Chair Worth. Uh can I get a roll call, please? Um Commissioner Ver Montes. Yes. Uh, Commissioner Hills absent with notice. Uh, Commissioner Barhona is absent with notice. Uh, Vice Chair Worth. I. And Chair Beam Sturfer. Yes. That motion passes three to zero with uh one absence or one one absence.

Okay. And now we're going to move on to item 6A, the extension of time for the Holiday in Express. Can we get a report from staff, please? Good evening, chair, Mr. Mr. Chairman, members of the commission. Jordan Walton, associate planner with the community development department. Uh, today for your review is extension of time 25-002 for holiday and express. Uh this project aligns with goals one, two and four of the he strategic uh plan integration and the property owner is SS and JS Patel Family Trust and the applicant is Ace Design LLC. Um this project is located at the east of the northeast corner of West Florida Avenue and Cen Avenue. So, this project was originally approved as CUP19-015 and SDR19-012 for the construction and operation of a 48,698 uh square ft four-story 80 room hotel. And on January 16th, 2024, the planning commission approved EOT24-001, which set the expiration date of the entitlement to January 18th, 2026. The applicant is requesting another extension of time uh to work through their engine work through their civil plans with the engineering department as well as obtain financing for the project. The planning commission has the

authority to approve a time extension of up to 3 years after the original expiration date which in this case would have been January um 18th of 2024. Uh because this project was previously granted a two-year ex extension in 2024 which set the expiration date to January 18th, 2026. Um the project is eligible for a one-year uh time extension which is uh what is here before you tonight. Then here is just the aerial photo. It is uh the vacant light uh on the east side of of this um this map exhibit here uh between Florida Avenue and Canton Avenue. And then here is the um zoning the general land plan land use designation. Uh this the land use designation is uh community commercial and the zoning destination the zoning designation for this property C2 general commercial. And then here is the site plan of what was originally approved. And then here is some architectural elevations as well. And then here is an exhibit that shows the unit plans for uh the 80 rooms. Here's the first floor plan, the second floor plan, uh the third floor plan, and the fourth floor plan. And then this is also the conceptual landscaping of plans that were approved. They did submit landscaping of plans after they did receive their original entitlement and the extension and those have been approved. Uh a previously adopted uh categorical exemption um in accordance with SQA uh SQA guideline section 15332 infield development uh was adopted on January 18th, 2022 and a notice of determination

was filed in accordance with SQL requirements. And then uh property owners and occupants within a 500 foot radius were notified of the public hearing today. Uh the project was also notified in the press enterprise newspaper. Um as of this time uh staff has not received any public comments for this project. Uh so with that being said, it is respectfully recommended that the planning commission adopt a planning comm planning commission resolution approving a one-year extension for the CUP19-015 and SDR19-012. And um uh that concludes my presentation. I'm available to take any questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Associate Planner Walton. Does the commission have any questions for staff? Yeah, just a couple of qu or just one question. Um, has this applicant been like actively trying to get permits for building? That is correct. They've received building permits. They've gone through engineering plan checks as well. Several engineering plan checks related to civil plans, WQMP, hydrarology. Um, most of those plans have been approved. Um, the uh deputy city um the deputy city engineer anticipates that they'll be uh done within the next couple of months or so. Uh for the most part, their the engineering review is completed. Uh so it's just a matter of fi finalizing those final permits and as well as obtaining uh financing for the project.

Okay, that's great. Yeah, no point if it's just sitting there, but yeah, it's good that they're actively trying to get permits. So, thank you. Thank you. Are there any changes to the uh the original COAs as part of the coot? There's no uh changes to the conditions of approval. Okay. And just kind of out of curiosity, if they've been active this whole time, what's the was the original EOT not not long enough? Was the process to

So uh the applicant is online via Zoom to uh better answer that question. Uh the information that was provided to me um more sporadically, but uh it was something to do with the engineering as it related to the engineering plans uh due to the the way that the parcel next to them was constructed. Gotcha. Uh, so they had is they had several issues with that. So they're going back and forth with the engineering division trying to get that solved. Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. No, no other questions.

The city council approved the special tax for hotels or was is that still in the process? There was I think there was a a special tax that they were using on hotel stays from what I remember. I mean, I could be wrong, but um at this time I wouldn't um have a definite answer for you. I can definitely look into that to see if I can get you. Yeah, it's all right. The only two questions I have were those two. So, okay. Um, okay. Thank you very much. Thank you.

So, we're going to go ahead and open up public hearing. Are there any members present that would like to make a comment about this item? So, we do have the applicant uh Shatal Patel on the line here uh who's able to take any questions that you may have. I I don't have any questions, but would he like to make a comment? Just a minute. They're they're connecting you.

Yeah, we're we're getting you connected, Mr. Patel. Give us one second.

Okay, Mr. Patal, can you please try speaking again? Yeah. Can you hear me now? Yes, we can.

Okay. Uh, thank you for bringing this up. Um, just to give you guys a recap, we originally started this project in 2018 August. We submitted a preliminary plan to the city um, planning department and we've been going back and forth ever since. The biggest setback of this project has been um, the drainage. And the problem that the gentleman was referring to is with the Hampton Inn. Their drainage actually comes 90 ft. It's not at the north end. It comes 90 ft down south from the north end of their property and then the drainage comes into our property and it was developed below grade. So they didn't go per plan and somehow the city approved it and ever since then the property east of us not the one that's directly east of us but the next one over they I believe they're above grade slightly. So for us, it's always been how to get that water down and we it's been apparently it's been on us to fix the plan. So we've been going back and forth and then finally we worked out an easement with the neighbor to solve the problem. Now it's just finalizing these small little um issues on I believe they have it roughly finalized, but um the drainage issue should be resolved. Um, I think the city is supposed to be working with us on it. Um, and then after that, once we get the final approval from the city that everything's approved and there's no further changes to our plans, then I could go back to the lender. Originally, I had a loan approved in 2022, 2023, where we spent $20,000 on that to get it approved and then we've been waiting ever since. So, the bank at this point um no one wants to see

anything until I have final, you know, final approval just because of the back and forth that's been going on. So, this extension would help us at least for the time being to a get those final details approved from this from this uh planning department or engineering department and then go to our lender. But if you have any questions, I'm more than happy to address those at our commissioners.

No questions. Just uh thank you for the explanation and uh thank you for your perseverance in uh uh continuing to want to build here and and get the project going. So look forward to uh you getting final approval and the funding and construction starting. All right. Thank you. I don't have any questions about you. No questions. Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Patel. Are there any other public comments?

There are no uh further e comments. Okay, with that, we're going to go ahead and close public hearing. And does the commission have any additional comments? If not, can I entertain a motion? Sure. I will move to excuse me adopt a resolution approving a one-year EOT for CUP19-015 and SDR19-012 for the holiday and express. I second that motion. We have a motion uh by Vice Chair Worth uh second by Commissioner Viamontes. I'll have a roll call vote, please. Uh Commissioner Viamontes. Yes. Uh, Commissioner Hill's absent with notice. Uh, com Commissioner Barona is absent with notice. Um, Vice Chair Worth

I. And Chair Beam Sturfer, yes. Uh, that motion passes with uh three to zero or three to zero with uh two absences.

Okay. Great. And we're going to have Director Monnique approach the podium. I would I would say we're going on to uh discussion item 6B, but I believe you have something to say before that. This is all for you to say. Okay. Thank you, chair. I apologize for that. Uh so in regards to the uh public hearing for the extension of time um an appeal of the planning commission's decision may be um agrieved by party to the city councils subject to the hemet municipal code sections 2-38 through 2-43. Any such appeal shall be filed within 10 calendar days of the planning commission's decision by completing an appeal application on forms provided by the community development department.

And this is for um the commission and the public. The appeal application shall include information such as specific action appealed from specific grounds of the appeal, relief or action sought from the city council, um address or notice can be sent to the applicant and required appeal fee established by city council resolution. The city community development director shall schedule the appeal for a denovo public hearing before the council within 30 days. The council may affirm, modify or reverse the planning commission decision making findings required by the himmit municipal code or state law and the decision of the city council shall be final.

Okay, thank you very much. So we'll go ahead and move on to 6B ordinance of the city HMT California reappiling and reinstating chapter 90 zoning article 9 section 90-321 of him code. Can we get a report from staff?

Thank you chair members of the planning commission and city council. My name is Monique Galanise Flater, community development director. Um, this evening's uh zoning code amendment public hearing is in regards to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. In recent years, the California legislature has approved and the governor has signed into law a number of bills that impose limits on local authority to regulate ADUs and JADUs, uh, which is accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units, which we will discuss momentarily. On October 8th, 2025, a letter was received from the Department of Housing and Community Development, HCD, regarding the status of the city's adopted ADU ordinance, which was last updated in 2021. The letter from HCD indicated that if an existing ADU ordinance fails to meet the requirements of state law, the ordinance is null and void and the local jurisdiction must apply the standards set forth in state law until it adopts an ordinance that complies with the state law. As such, HCD recommended that the city either repeal or amend the current ordens to provide clarity for ADU applicants who may otherwise rely on an outdated ordinance. Just to clarify what an accessory dwelling unit is as defined by state law. An accessory dwelling unit means an attached or detached residential dwelling unit which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and

sanitation on the same parcel as a single family or multifamily dwelling. The uh accessory dwelling unit can be attached or detached. It can be located within an existing or proposed dwelling, garage, storage area, or similar use. An accessory dwelling unit um can also be as small as an efficiency unit defined by the health and safety code which is 150 square feet and can also be a manufactured um home. A junior accessory dwelling unit is an an accessory dwelling unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and is contained entirely within single family residences. It includes its own separate sanitation facilities, kitchen or shares sanitation facilities with the existing or proposed single family uh dwelling structure. Since uh 2016, the uh state ADU laws have continued to evolve to further lower barriers to the development of more affordable housing. And as the leg legislature works to address the housing crisis across the state um of these laws, HCD's goals is to ensure consistency and clarity in the application process. And as provided by HCD, the benefits of ADUs um include that ADUs are affordable. They're affordable type of home to construct in California. ADUs can provide a source of income for homeowners. Adus allow extended families to be near one another while maintaining privacy. Adus can also provide as much living space as a new apartment and are well suited for couples, small families,

friends, young people, and seniors. They provide um an ADU provides homeowners a flexibility to share independent living areas with family and allowing seniors to age in place as they require more care such as an inhome uh care provider. And additionally um the uh ADUs count towards cities he the city of Hemtt's regional housing needs allocation which is outlined um in our city of Hemet's housing element of the general plan. Uh the reena refers to the share of regional housing needs that has been allocated to the city as mandated by the state of California for the period of 2021 to 2029. Um, and that was the original housing needs total um that must be planned for within that period of 6,466 residential units. Um, I'm happy to report we are nearing our goal um in u for ADUs in this period. A total of 119 building permit applications have been applied for for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units. Uh, of that a total 83 83 dwelling units have been uh final for in and receive occupancy. This doesn't even include um this does not include the recent approval of the Tresto specific plan amendment that had um additional accessory dwelling units. So we are um exceeding our goals uh for accessory dwelling unit construction. I'd like to highlight some of the key changes as noted in the staff report. The California legislature amended the state laws multiple times since 2019. And what we did is we uh prepared an ordinance that not only repeals the

existing ADU, but amends it to comply with current state law all the way up to the legislation that is currently in effect as of January 1st, 2026. So, some of those notable changes include uh 15-day completeness determination for ADUs when they submit for a building permit, we do have to provide them um a completeness determination uh within a 15-day period and if if it is not complete, we have to provide written description and explanation what is missing or incomplete. There are the school fees um are ex there is an exemption for school fees uh for ADUs and JDUs of 500 square feet. In addition, impact fees are exempt. Um, there is an impact fee exemption for ADUs up to 750 square feet. ADUs and JADUS are are intended only for short-term um in addition to owner occupancy. Uh short-term if they're going to be rented, short-term rental is prohibited and it must be rented more than 30 days. Some of the other cleanups include subjective design st standards, the removal of subjective design standards from the code, update to the development criteria which includes the building height, setbacks, uh maximum unit sizes, number of units on the lot that can be permitted as well as parking exceptions that are allowed per state law. Owner occupancy is not required for a junior accessory dwelling unit if it has separate sanitation facilities. Owner occupancy is no longer required for accessory dwelling units. Separate addresses um may be required by the city to facilitate emergency response and fire sprinklers are only required um if it is required for the

primary residents. We also included provisions from state law u that refer to Senate Bill 9 lot splits as well as con and uh as well as conveyance to to the property. The proposed ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act under California Public Resources Code section 211080.17. SQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of government code 66310 to 66342. Additionally, SQA uh does not apply in accordance with the SQA guidelines section 15061B3 of the SQA guidelines. Um in in that uh it only applies to projects that have the potential for causing a significant impact on the environment. On December 16th, the city gave a 20-day public notice by advertising in the press enterprise prior to the holding of the public hearing at which the project would be considered by the planning commission. It is respectfully uh recommended uh in addition to the report that was received this evening that the planning commission find the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act in accordance with the public resources code and SQA guidelines sections referenced as well as adopt the planning commission resolution recommending that the city council adopt the zoning ordinance amendment an ordinance of the city in Hammet, California, repealing and restating chapter 90, article 11, section 90-321 of the Hammock Municipal Code, regulating accessory dwelling units and

junior accessory dwelling units in accordance with the state law. Uh, this concludes my presentation. I'd be happy to answer any questions at this time. Thank you for that presentation, Director Monnique. Does the commission have questions for Director Monnique? Um yeah just to clarify so the last time um he municipal code was updated was 2021. That's correct. Okay. And so the people where the dates conflict like let's say the law changed from 21 to 2 2026. Are they grandfathered in to certain rule changes?

Um so the the code amendment that is encompasses all of the state law changes that have occurred since 2019. Okay. All right. Thank you. Um ju just to piggy back on that question. So any that are in process so we so of that 119 there's 70 something that have been final for occupancy are the ones that are would any of the ones that are in process that haven't been finaled would any of these changes be applicable to them in the process? And and and if so, are they grandfathered or or do do they because this is more lenient, if you will, right?

Exactly. So, would they get the more lenient? They would they would be permitted to have more leniency.

Gotcha. Um and and and I appreciate uh the opportunity yesterday to to to meet with with you and deputy director Pap. Um, and one of the discussions was in regards to the maximum size and if there was something um, I just wanted to kind of clarify for the for the for the record that what what our what the city's um, requirements are are only up to what is required by law in terms of leniency. Um, what is the max size ADU? Could you I forget what that number was. Isn't it a percentage of the original lot or something?

Yes. So, there's different criteria uh that would apply. Um typically it would be 50% of the size of the home. However, um you are allowed to have an attached ADU. You could convert within the floor space of your home a JADU as well as have a detached ADU. So, what we've done is we've outlined what the size uh limitations are in accordance with state law. So the maximum interior living space of an attached ADU would be 8 850 ft for a studio or onebedroom and thousand square feet uh for two two or more bedroom. Um as well as the allowance uh for 150 ft for a covered patio area. The maximum interior livable space for a detached ADU would be 150 ft. Um or onebedroom unit would be 1,000 square ft. I'm sorry. What was the first the

um for a detached would be uh 850 for a studio uh or onebedroom and it increases to a,000 square feet for a two or more bedroom. Okay. And and that's that's irre irregardless. I'm not sure if that's actually a word irregardless if that's regardless of uh the lot size.

That is correct. So, so is there um you know, if the city wanted to, we could maybe, you know, if if the lot size would afford, you know, something maybe 1,200 or something larger, the city would have the um the flexibility to to increase that maximum size beyond what the state law requires. Yes, absolutely. Under our current ordinance, um we currently were more flexible, but keeping with the state law is what we were proposing, but um we've allowed up to,200 square feet for a detached accessory structure in the city.

Gotcha. Gotcha. Okay. Um the only uh the other question I just um just the so it's my understanding that you uh you need a a separate address in order to get electrical service an additional electrical service. Is there any pro and but with this what with some of the changes allows for a separate address for for the purpose of emergency response. Is there anything within the the law changes that facilitate the ability to get us an address for the purpose of or I mean is there anything that that allows to to make it uh easier to get a second electrical service? I know that that can be a challenge if you're trying to serve another ADU off of a single electrical service of 100 amp or 200 amp or or or whatever's to to the house. I know personally we had a challenge with that years many years ago prior to this this the ADU thing of getting electrical service for the ADU. Is there any any pro provisions from a from a law perspective that allows for that or is it the address that just simply by allowing for an address that would provide a mechanism to get another service from Edison?

I'm sorry if I may. So I just want to make sure you're I'm clear. Um you're saying is there anything within the law that um does not permit one to have a separate electrical meter run to the ADU but have a different but let me maybe re reate one of the challenges with ADUs is electrical service because you end up having to come off the same electrical service and my experience personally was that you were not able to get an additional electrical service for a second unit without having a separate address, right?

We were able to work through that, right? Okay. But I'm just wondering relative to this this this making housing affordable initiative with the state, is that considered as part of either from a law standpoint or is it and and maybe it's not a question for here, but but or or is it as a or the the law requiring or allowing for the issuance of an additional address for emergency response kind of circumvents that and allows for the application for an additional electrical service.

I don't know if that was the intent of the um requirement for that separate address. I don't know if the separate address coincides with the ability to have a separate meter because I think that's two separate issues. maybe um I know it's not a requirement to have a separate meter or a separate electrical but the address is a different issue because it's pertaining to you know selling the house or selling it separately. So I don't have a definite answer but I kind of want to say no I don't think it's law it's in the law that says that

but I can look into that. Well, and I'm and I guess um with with our experience with those 118, do you any sense of how many of those may have included a a separate electrical service or No, I'm just

I I wouldn't have I don't have that information. Um I know the intent of the of the ADU law is to minimize um potential costs associated with utility connections. Um, so I I I don't have the answer though to that specific question. Yes, I'm I'm just it's more it's more out out of curiosity just simply because that was one of the significant challenges that I personally went through in getting um a a a second unit set up just simply because of the location of where my service was and and the capacity of the existing panel and you know all electric home and it was like well if you're going to add a whole another setup it was it was problematic. So, I'm just kind of curious. It's um but but aside aside from from that, the only other thing is do we expect um if you were fortunate to any more changes coming down from the state

especially with your question that you just posed because I don't think they've touched on that issue and I'm sure there's others that have run into the similar situation. So, I'm I'm the way that I've seen from past history. It looks like that. Yeah. Yeah. I I would also assume there's going to be some adjustments or have to be some adjustments relative to water and sewer service because I know that there's a significant impact on that. So, but thank you so much for the for the for the report. Nothing further. Thank you.

And same thing, I had the opportunity to meet up with staff yesterday too and uh a lot of questions got answered. Um unfortunately, there's no cap to residential or ADUs. every basically every house in a housing track can have an ADU back there which completely changes the the density level but that that's something that the state is letting slip I guess approve it no matter what. Um, and then we also discussed about making sure it's posted online in plain English for the city to be able to go on the website and be able to see like uh deputy director Pap said like a little marquee going across the website so people can see it, click on it and be able to see what the rules are. Um, and are we working on that idea ABC kind of floor plan options where it's just an easy pack and go concept? Yes, that is actually um one of our program implementations for that for our housing element. Yes. To

allow it to execute quicker process of that. Um, I also just again I brought up yesterday, but it's AB2 uh AB 628 and that's the new law in effect January 1st of this year uh requiring any rental units to have on top of the hot water, heating, plumbing, electrical, and weatherproofing is to expand on stoves and refrigerators. And uh I just want to make sure that we when we present that to the state that that's included in it because it's brand new, something new that we're we're finding out. Um I don't think I have any other questions. It just, you know, it just it's a process that's happening fast and we're stacking new bills upon new bills that we haven't even fixed the old bill with and iron things out and we're already stacking things up and and it's just frustrating to see how it only meets Reena the Rena numbers for moderate income which I don't necessarily agree with. It should be lower to moderate lower people are there to save money and and do this idea but it's the state it's not us so we can't do anything about it. Um, but I have no other questions for staff.

I got one question just out of curiosity. You're saying that the ADU needs its own address. Um, and if if for for Edison, how does that work with the postal with the like the um the mailboxes that are like numbered 1 through 10, not like one that you know you like a traditional mailbox like one of those standing ones. How does that work? Like do they have to add another box in in in my situation? I I I was able to get an additional address from the county when that when that happened, which I wasn't technically supposed to.

Um, so we have a separate mailbox and whatnot. I don't know. As far as if it's like, you know, like those set ones you see at those neighborhoods like they just upgrade the entire thing. I imagine it's a whole different type of permit to pull when you're starting to go through lot separations and everything. I would imagine that it would have a separate box. I don't think I mean just federally I don't think it's they can co-ingle mail, right? So I think that would be something that the county would you know probably guide and I I don't know if um Commissioner Worth if that was your experience with the county but did they install it for you or

No. And we're we're we're in a in a rural area so so so they're all the the Oh, it was a post hole digger with my kids. Oh, nice. Okay. No, the question. Good question. Yeah, but it just I but it to the kind of the general point is there's a lot of unintended consequences. There's a lot of good objectives, right? You know, and goals, but as you start implementing, it's like what about this, what about that? What about

Hence, that is why we've we're constantly I'm redlining and amending all these ordinances because we're trying to catch up. Gotcha. Okay. Um, any other questions for Director Monnique? Nope. Nope. All right. Thank you for the presentation, Director Monnique, and we're going to go ahead and open up public hearing. Are there any members of the P public present or online that wish to make their comment? And then uh chair I see no one uh v via zoom who is requesting to speak. Okay. And with that we're going to go ahead and close the public comment public hearing and uh and ask commission for any additional comments or corrections or entertain motion.

I have no other questions. I'll uh entertain a mo. You guys have any other questions? I'll entertain a motion uh to receive and consider the staff report and attach documents related to the proposed zoning ordinance amendment number 2025003 and find that the project is category categorically exempt from SQA in accordance to California public resource code section 2180.17 as defined as section 66314 to 66332 to the government code and SQL guidelines section 15061B3, the common sense exception, as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed ordinance may have significant effect on the environment and adopt planning commission resolution recommending that the city council adopting zoning ordinance amendment number 25-003 and an ordinance of the city of Hemtt, California, repealing and restarting chapter 90 zoning article 11 section section uh 90-321 and the Hemet Municipal Code regulating accessory dwelling units in accordance with state law. I'll second. I have a motion by Commissioner Ver Vera Montes. Uh second by Vice Chair Worth. May I have a roll call vote, please? Uh Commissioner Vera Montes.

Yes. Uh Commissioner Hills absent with notice. Uh, Commissioner Baron is absent with notice. Vice Chair Worth, I and Chair Beam Sturfer. Yes. That motion passes three to zero with two uh absences. Okay. And now we're going to move on to department reports. Uh, city attorney Leo Sari, what do you have for us today?

Thank you, Chair. I'd like to share a um as we're speaking on legislation, a recent legislation which is Senate Bill 415 which refineses and expands a statewide warehouse regulatory framework originally established by AB98 making technical and conforming changes to logistics use development provisions. The bill establishes comprehensive standards for logistics use developments, warehouses, and distribution centers to reduce community impacts, improve air quality and energy performance, and to direct truck traffic to appropriate roadways. The bill requires cities and counties to adopt truck route ordinances identifying specific travel routes that prioritizes interstate divided highways, arterials and major thoroughares while avoiding residential areas and sensitive receptors with deadlines of January 1st 2028 for most jurisdictions and January 1st 2030 for smaller jurisdictions. Jurisdictions in designated warehouse concentration regions must update their circulation elements by January 1st, 2026. Jurisdictions outside the warehouse concentration, such as HEMT, have until January 1st, 2028. The law mandates that logistics operators submit detailed truck routing plans before receiving certificates of occupancy describing operational characteristics, hours, goods stored routing to avoid sensitive receptors and measures to prevent street queuing and perking. SB 415 imposes strict sitting and design standards including 300 to 500 foot setbacks from sensitive receptors, loading bays oriented away from residences, on-site buffers, separate truck entrances, and anti- idling signage, and compliance

with the 21st century warehouse energy and green building codes. Local agencies must post conspicuous truck route signage and publish routes in GIS format for public access and distribution for to warehouse operators and drivers. The California Highway Patrol must provide commercial vehicle enforcement training to local law enforcement by January 1st, 2027. And jurisdictions adopting required ordinances must have at least one trained enforcement officer. The attorney general may sue non-compliant jurisdictions with courts authorized to impose civil penalties up to $50,000 every six months plus investigative costs and equitable relief. Projects with entitlements begun before September 30th, 2024 are grandfathered. That's the end of my report. Um question on the grandfathered projects that are started and what's the what's the started threshold? What does that mean?

Um well it it from the bill when I read it, it just said projects with entitlements. So they've so that have already been have already gone through public hearing and Okay. So any of the pending ones that we have would be um subject to this new requirements. Correct. Anyone they wanted to push through?

Any question? Okay. All right. Well, thank you for that update and we're going to move on to community development reports. Director Monnique. Thank you, Chair. I just want to report as a reminder that um the 2026 uh planning commissioners academy is um being hosted by the League of California Cities on March 11th through March 13th. And I will be reaching out to the commissioners uh to um just confirm registration uh for those who are interested in attending in the next um in the next week or so.

Okay. Thank you very much. It's in Anaheim, correct? Yes. Okay. And now future Dend items, Director Monnique.

Okay. Um we do have the facade um the commercial uh grant um facade program uh that will be uh coming to the planning commission. Um we had intended on the the 20th of January. However, uh due to the economic development director's um attendance at a at a conference um we will be extending that date to our first meeting in February. We also have the Weston Park redesign coming forward. Cost Square conditional use permit development. Uh via de los treseritos tenative track map 38979. the RTA uh Wentworth facility, the pro housing designation program as well as our 2025 general plan annual progress report and housing um progress report.

Thank you very much. Do you know in the future if we have anything that's going to be joint meetings with council at all? There may be some opportunities um in the in 2026 for joint counsel. Um, I don't have that information at this time, but there but there certainly could be. And, uh, with that, future agenda items. Director Monnique, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Planning Commissioner report. We just did that. Thank you. Uh, Commissioner Vermont, I have nothing to report.

Okay. Vice Chair or Commissioner Hill absent. Uh, Commissioner Barent. Vice Chair Worth. I just again want to thank uh staff for the meeting yesterday. I I I'm I and the ongoing that I really appreciate that looking forward to it. Um and then um the uh if there's an opportunity to get uh uh maybe in in a future meeting an update on the traffic the CIP traffic study project or what whatever that that effort was and kind of see where that's at. Maybe we can have our traffic engineer come face the fire. Um uh and then um one can't think of it. I guess that's it. So, thank you.

Okay. Thank you, Chair Beamster.

Just a few new things for the state. As of this year, minimum wage is now 1690 statewide. Uh as I mentioned earlier, landlords are required for working refrigerators and stoves, AB 628. Single-use plastic bags are in now banan as of now. Tortillas are now required to have folic acid to help prevent birth defects and food delivery uh apps are guaranteed a refund if you did such as Door Dash, GrubHub, Uber Eats if you did not get what you ordered. Um ultrarocessed foods are now removed from schools and ebikes are now required to have reflectors for the state of California. Um, I want to also follow up. Uh, again, thank you for the staff for meeting with us and answering some questions. And I wanted to just update I I brought a an issue with the water drain issue on on Harvard Street and uh Councilwoman Clark came over and met with the store owner and she sees the concerns and she reached out to public works and within shortly after they came with the truck and siphoned out all the extra water that was sitting there. And so the the store owner was happy to see that, but also it's just something that we need to kind of go down that rabbit hole and see why why things are the way they are for drainage in downtown because it is our downtown and and we can't keep just overlooking it. And it it going to bring other concerns later on if we keep doing it. Um and the other thing I have more of a question on is the the warehouse on Kirby. My understanding was they were in order to get the CO they had to complete the truck routing the road that goes out to Sanderson and it with the curb and a patch a piece of asphalt to come off the curb. I don't think that's complete but what's what's going on with that part because it's it's not an entry really a legit entry or exit way. It's still a

curb with a piece of asphalt for them to roll up onto to get onto the street. But I'm just curious how they got away with that that CO without having that part of the curb carved out and have an entry point for that road. Um, so maybe we can hear about that the next meeting, but I'm just curious how they they were able to open having that. And uh, with there being no further business to discuss, this meeting is being adjourned to next planning commission meeting scheduled for January the 20th at 6 PM.