Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Or else you just All right, everybody. The time is now 7:31  and we will call this meeting to order. Um,   first item on the agenda is the pledge  of allegiance. Uh, please stand and   follow Commissioner Sheffler in the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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. Thank you, Commissioner Sheffler. Could we please  have a roll call? Yes. Commissioner Jalet Brown   and Commissioner Vashani are excused. Commissioner  Cheryl Rose will be serving as active chair or   acting chair. Commissioner Austin here. Brown.  Excuse me. Excuse. Sheffller here. Stira here.   Acting chair Rose here. All right. Uh I believe  technically I'm still the chair. Yes. And we   have one more. We have our new commissioner. Uh  Commissioner Janisk here. Excellent. Now we're   all present and accounted for. Um moving right  along. Next item on the agenda given that it's   a new year is uh reorganization. I believe uh  director Berjo you have a briefing for us. Uh   yes uh chair Sahara thank you very much. Thank  you for serving for the uh 2425 fiscal year. The   planning commission I think you've had a great  year. There's been a lot of work that you've  

led the commission on including a lot of housing  element implementation tasks. Um, so I wanted to   thank you and I'm sure the commissioners will have  some words as well. But as the commission knows,   each July we go through a reorganization um where  we um the commission recommends the selection of   a new vice chair and chair and um the policy is  the city follows a specific policy and generally   speaking the vice chair is next up to serve as  chair. as a commission knows um Commissioner   Bill She did not um reapply for that appointment.  So there's currently a vacancy. Um and then we we   follow the next uh formula to fill then the vice  chair position. So the first term commissioner   that was serving at least one year and in this  case this would have been commissioner uh Jal   Brown. Now, she's not with us tonight, but she  would be up next to serve as in the vice chair   role because that's vacant. She's next to serve  as chair. And then um for the uh the next in line   um after commissioner uh Jalet would be Cheryl  Rose. So, um, staff recommends that the commission   that Commissioner Jallay Brown be elected as chair  of the planning commission and that Commissioner   Sher Rose be elected as vice chair. Um, and the  selection process does require a motion in the   voting. Um, before we get into discussion  of that, I just wanted to thank everyone   uh for the great year. It was uh my distinct  pleasure to serve as the chair for the last   year and I think we accomplished a lot uh as a  group and I'm proud to uh have been a part of   that. Um and of course want to recognize uh all of  the hard work and the efforts from the city staff  

um uh and uh thank our council liaison um Edward  Beldin um for his part participation as well. Um   so thank you all. Uh but moving along to the order  of business at hand. Uh do we have any discussion   on the reorganization? [Music] I can make a  motion. I will take your motion. Commissioner,   I move that we elect Galile R. Brown as chair and  Commissioner Ro Cheryl Rose as vice chair for the   commission year 2526 fiscal year. All right.  I have a motion. Do I have a second? I have a   second. Fantastic. Can we please have a roll call  vote? Yes. Commissioner Austin? Yes. Janisk? Yes.   Sheffller? Yes. Stira? Yes. Rose? Yes. Fantastic.  With that, the motion carries. So, our new chair,   uh, presuming she accepts will be Commissioner  Brown. Um, and, uh, that makes our new vice chair,   Commissioner Rose. Uh, and I believe at this  point it would be uh proper to hand the reigns   over for the rest of the meeting to Commissioner  Rose. Commissioner Rose, thank you. Thank you.   Thank you, uh, Commissioner Sahara, and thank  you for your leadership last year. You did a   more than fabulous job. We appreciate it. Um,  Sherry, are you are you doing the introduction   of new commissioners? Sure. So, are we is that a  is that a it's an official part of our agenda this   evening and we would like to introduce Mr. Lyall  Janisk who was just appointed to the commission   um this year. Tonight's his first meeting.  He does have some land use background and   um we met his family this evening and  he's very excited to be here and I think   you're going to be a great addition to  the commission. Thank you. Welcome and  

we're happy to have you. Thank you so much.  So, moving on. Um, approval of the minutes,   the minutes of our regular meeting of June  11th. Are there any corrections, additions,   discussion, the commissioners? If not,  um, could I have a motion and a second   to approve? Motion to approve the minutes from  June 11th, 2025 regular meeting. I'll second. We'll just do a voice uh voice vote. Uh all in   favor? I I Any opposed? Any  abstensions? I will abstain. Okay. Motion carries. Now moving on to um public input. This  is a time when anyone in the public   um that wants that wants to speak on an  item that is not on our agenda can come   to the podium and address that item. Is  there anyone here that wants to do that? Seeing none, um we'll move on to public hearings. First public hearing on the agenda is CUP 2025-00005. This is uh to approve a conditional use permit  for the state alcoholic beverage control type 41   license to allow the incidental incidental sale  and on-site service of beer and wine for on-site   consumption for a new restaurant, Sushi Kyo. The  subject property is located in the NC neighborhood  

commercial zone. And I believe we're going to  hear a staff report from Mr. Austin Arnold.   Thank you, acting chair Rose. And good  evening, commissioners. Tonight before you,   we do have a conditional use permit um to allow  incidental sale and on-site service of beer and   wine for a new restaurant, Sushi Kio. And this is  at 131 to 141 South Myrtle Avenue. And Mr. Yim,   who's in the audience with us representing Sushi  Kio, is with us tonight. So, the subject site   um is located in the Foothill Park Plaza. Some  of they may remember this is the Bonds Shopping   Center. It used to be called Safeway back in the  day. And this is near the corner of West Foothill   Boulevard in South Myrtle Avenue and is located  in the NC neighborhood commercial zone. And the   reason it's before you tonight is uh the municipal  code specifically section 1744025 does require a   CUP when alcohol is sold or served within 500 ft  of any residential zone, park, school, rec center,   religious assembly, or hospital. Um now the  subject site is located within 500 ft of library   park the community recreation center and is also  um within 500 ft of the international full gospel   fellowship church. So that is the reason it's  before you tonight. A little bit of background.   Uh the subject site like I said was in the is is  in the Foothill Park Plaza Shopping Center. It has   previously been occupied mostly by restaurants  for this specific location, this tenant space.   um also with alcohol service. Most recently,  Chronic Tacos. Um unfortunately, Chronic Tacos,   um they received their approval in 2021, but  sadly they have left the city. Um and they the   space has been vacant since November of 2024. And  as such, that CUP, that previous CUP has expired,   and the new restaurant is requesting a new one.  And currently, Sushi Kio is currently completing   their tenant improvements as we speak. They  anticipate to be open in the next month or two.

Regarding the business operations, the applicant  is proposing incidental sale and service of beer   and wine for a new restaurant. It'll be a first  full service restaurant. It'll offer Japanese   cuisine um in the form of specializing in high  quality sushi. They provide a variety of menu   options including sushi, sashimi, poke bowls,  bento boxes, all in a casual indoor dining.   Additionally, the restaurant would like to include  the incidental sale and service of beer and wine.   Specifically, they'll be adding Japanese beer and  saki. Um, it should be noted that the project was   fully um and duly noticed within 300 ft of the  subject property uh with a mailed postcard and   newspaper notice. No comments have been received  up to this point and no comments or input was   provided at the advisory review before DRC on um  June 18th. Um it'll include indoor dining about 72   seats. Um the hours of operation are proposed from  Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 to 9:30 p.m.   and Friday and Saturdays from 11:30 to 10:00 p.m.  Um this does require a type 41 which is a beer and   wine license from the alcohol border control.  So alcohol beverage control. Um and again the   cup before you tonight. Here we have the proposed  floor plan. Um, as you walk in, if you're facing   westbound, um, north being, you know, upwards of  the street at the bottom of the image, you'll have   a small reception area. As you walk in, you'll be  greeted and sat by by typically a server or back   of house person. You would also have uh the  dining area in kind of the yellow color. Um,   this is 72 seats in total. About 16 of those  would be the bar seating or the sushi bar. Um,   one of those being uh one additional seat, I'm  sorry, for ADA space, which would have a lower   countertop. Um the rest of it would be the back  of house kitchen and two ADA restrooms which is   almost the exact same floor plan as the chronic  tacos just with a facelift. So uh they we are  

requesting pertinent conditions of approval. Um  some of the more specific ones that any change   or intensification um would require an amendment  to the CUP that would be brought back before you   tonight um at a later date if so if they choose  to. Any window signs will be placed and maintained   to ensure a clear and unobstructed view from  the in of the interior from the exterior of   the premises. The business hours of operation are  limited as they have proposed them. Staff has re   made no recommendation of changes to what they've  proposed. Any modification would require DRC   review um if they choose to modify those hours.  Um the on-site service and sale of beer and wine,   this does have to be operated by as a bonafideed  eating place subject to ABC. That's their first   condition. All quarterly gross sales can't exceed  33% of their gross overall sales. And then alcohol   service is limited specifically to the indoor  dining area. No outdoor dining is proposed at   this time and that um all alcohol does should  be accompanied by food. That does conclude my   presentation. Staff is recommending approval with  conditions as listed in the staff report. Um I am   happy to answer any questions and the applicant  as well um if there are any. Thank you so much.   Thank you. Thank you for that report. Uh do any  of the commissioners have any questions regarding   the staff report? Just simple. Yes. Um the type  41 covers sake like a rice or like a like a wine   product. It's a rice technically it's a rice  wine. So it is under wine. I don't think we've   had that before. Well, I forgot. Okay. Thanks. Any  other questions? Staff. Um, one thing I noticed,   we've approved um several uh permits for  ABC licenses in the last um year or so. Um,   and the hours for the other restaurants were all  11:00 a.m. to 12 midnight. Um, was there a reason  

that this one is uh a little bit less than that?  And is there any downside to expanding the hours? Staff typically proposes it as the applicant  requests the hours. We are always happy to if   they would like to stay open later. So if the  commission would like to increase their hours   so that they do not have to come back to ask  for later hours, we would be happy to amend the   conditions to do so. Okay. Um is that something  that you want to have considered? Uh yeah,   I would consider uh so let's save that until  after the public hearing is closed. Um,   right now is the time for questions only.  Um, but we can have this discussion after   the public hearing. Thank you. Thank you.  I I have one more question. Um, I noticed   um condition number 24. Um, it just caught my  eye. It says, "No happy hour, drink specials,   or other bar promotions are ped permitted to be  advertised outside or in the window/door area."   Um and that was um a condition that was in some  of our recent cups that we've approved but not in   the one for filt. Um is there a reason uh  that we've added this condition recently? We it typically it has been more of  a standard condition of approval.   there has been some back and forth with regards  to what can or can't be said in terms of signage   um per the law. Um so I think most recently  um that was probably removed from filt and   um as such I we can also remove that  condition as well. Yeah, I noticed   it's it's in Sichuan Garden and Kin Cowo Thai  Eery and this one, but not in the one for filt.

I don't have a opinion either way, just  a statement, but just an observation and   curious about the background. Okay,  that's all my questions. Any others?   Okay. If not, I will now open the public hearing  to testimony. Um, we'll receive testimony in this   order from the applicant first, then persons  in favor and persons with concerns. So,   is the applicant here? And would the  applicant like to speak to the commission? to say anything. Uh, no. You you choose you don't have any anything  to add or to address the commission with? Okay.   All right. Anybody in the audience that's in  that wants to speak in favor of of the CUP? Spoke in favor, but silently.  Okay. Anyone opposed?   No. All right. So, we don't have any rebuttal. And do the commissioners have any questions of  the applicant? Since the applicant is here,   um, do the commission do any of the  commissioners have questions of the applicant? None. Okay. Um then I will  close this public hearing   and ask for a motion to move this item forward or there can also be a discussion before. Oh, I'm  sorry. Yes. Is there any more discussion? Now is   this when we can discuss what uh Commissioner  Stura? Yes. Yes. Now is the time. Okay. Thank  

you. Yeah. I would propose to make it consistent  with the other cups that we've approved recently   and just change the hours to 11 a.m. to 12  midnight unless there's any downside to that.   I no staff doesn't believe there's any downside  and I think being a business friendly is very   is very much Monrovia. Yeah. Um the other item  that I wanted to um address was the condition   of approval. So I think we have some older cups  conditions of approval that limit the type of   signage on what you can put. But um the there  are stricter sign regulations that are in place   um and freedom of speech law. So staff is  actually the city is not able to regulate   um we can only regulate signs based on place time,  place and manner. Is that your understanding? Yes,   we can't regulate signs based on content.  Correct. Um just time, place, and manner. So,   why don't I recommend that we we uh remove  that condition um for further consistency   moving forward? And we'll make sure we're  making that move forward in all of our   applications. That sounds fair. Yeah, that's  condition number 24. Everybody in agreement   with that? Yes. Okay. Can I ask for a motion,  please? So, I move to approve CUP 20225-00005 uh as amended with the hours updated  daily 11:00 a.m. to midnight and   with condition number 24 regarding  happy hour advertisement stricken. I'll second that. Okay. Can I uh get a roll call  vote, please? Yes, Commissioner Austin. Yes,   Janisk. Yes, Shoffler. Yes, Stira. Yes, Acting  Chair Brown. Excuse me, Acting Chair Rose.  

Yes. Apologies. It's okay. Right, moving on to  administrative reports, which there are none,   but we have community development director  report and um director Sher Bjo will talk   about commission assignments. Yes, thank you. So,  it feels different. We're all sitting in different   places. Um we're getting a little our names  confused because it's it's all changed up. So,   we appreciate your patience with us this evening.  Um but another thing that the commission does   every the beginning of every fiscal year is  discuss commission commissioner assignments.   So the planning commission does support two um  review bodies. One is the art and public places   committee and the second is the board of appeals.  Each of those committees have different um time   commitments. The board of appeals um has been  meeting just once a year. Um they the the purpose   of the board of appeals is really to consider  appeals of the administrative decisions and   determinations all contained in the building and  construction codes and that's in title 15 of the   Monrovia municipal code. um that would occur if um  a developer or an applicant um wants to an appeal   one of the decisions of the building official then  or fire code then a meeting would be held and like   I said um in the last couple years they've been  meeting once a year uh generally every August so   presently we do have three commissioners that are  serving there are some requirements in order to   make good sound decisions we do um the municipal  code requires exper experience in either building,   construction, planning, architecture,  fire science, engineering. Um for the   last several years, we the commissioners serving  in that capacity have been commissioners Austin,  

Sheffller, and Vashani. Um it's up to the  commission to either discuss um selecting new   appointing new members to that committee or the  uh the commission can also keep uh the committee   status quo. It's it's under your perview. So we  can um why don't we want to discuss that one first   among the commission and then I can move on to  the art and public places committee. I guess the   question would be is Commissioner Austin still um  wanting to participate on I can participate at the   annual meeting. We got close one time to having  a meeting. Close. And and Commissioner Sheffller.   And do we just um let Vashani um sail with the  ship as well? Since since he's not here today and   can't defend himself, he's reappointed. He's in  it. Very very nice. Okay. Um so, uh so why don't   we why don't we vote on that just to memorialize  it? Do we need a roll call or can we do a voice   vote? Um maybe do a a roll call just Okay,  let's do a roll call. Yes. And a motion, please. Uh I I move to uh reappoint commissioners Austin,   Sheffller, and Vashani to the board  of appeals. And I'll second that. Commissioner Austin, yes. Sheffller, yes. Stahira,  yes. Janisac. Yes. Acting chair bros. Yes. Okay. Motion passes. And um the next committee  that um the planning commission participates in   is the art and public places committee. And that  committee is made up of one planning commissioner,  

one historic preservation commissioner, community  services commission um commissioner, and then a a   resident at large. Um the purpose of the art and  public places committee is to review public art.   Um Monrovia is full of public art. It adds to the  entire ambiance of the city. It celebrates art   um the the history of of the city and it also  has discretion in the use of art and public   uh places funds that are collected through  different types of development projects.   So, for the past year, Commissioner Jallay  Brown has served in that capacity. Um,   and it was the commission's decision decision  in January of 2020 to bring it back to the   commission to see if anyone else um was interested  in participating in that. Um, to date, we've had   both commissioners Bill She and then uh new chair  Jleet been participating. So, we would just like   to see if the commission would like to select a  different commissioner to serve or um maintain   status quo. It's completely under the commission's  purview. Has um Commissioner Brown, did she notify   you that she would still be interested in doing?  She did not. Um I I actually spoke with her and   she is interested in continuing. Okay. For  what that's worth. Thank you. I I mean I   wouldn't want to vote for her to be on that if  she didn't have the time or didn't want to do   it any longer. So with that, can we have a motion  then to move forward with uh Commissioner Brown   being on the Arts Commission? Yeah, I'd like  to make the motion to reappoint Commissioner   Brown to serve on the Art and Public Places  Committee. I'll second. Second. A roll call,  

please. Commissioner Austin, yes. Sheffller, yes.  Stira, yes. Janice, yes. Acting Chair Bros, yes. All right. Thank you very much. Um, and then the  next item, I just wanted to brief the commission   with a few of our um updates. Um, the inclusionary  housing ordinance has gone through its first and   second reading and it will go into effect next  week. time passes quickly. Um, the other update   I wanted to provide you, the commission received  an email regarding the release of a new draft EIR   for the project at 701 South Myrtle Avenue. This  is a mixeduse project um that's proposed. Um,   the EIR is going to be circulated for a 45day  period. It's accessible on the city's website. Um,   and anyone who has public comments regarding  that, we'll be able to facilitate them through our   planning email, which is planning monrovacca.gov.  Um, and we will be providing copies, hard copies   of this document for the commission. The project  will likely come to you later in the fall,   so we will keep you posted. It they're very big  documents, so we just wanted to give you a head   start on the review. Um, and then last but not  least, um, I wanted to share that our neighborhood   business services team has been, um, very active  in soliciting folks who want to use our Monrovia   area partnership, um, block party trailer. Um,  this past week, um, channel 7 did a little news   clip of one of the use of the trailer. This was  on, uh, Highland, uh, place. Was very fun. Um,  

you can Google Monrovia block party and you'll  get to see who was actually on the news. Yes, I was. It was really fun. It was We really  had a good time. I was able to be there. Uh,   Mayor Becky Shovelin was there. There were so  many kids out there playing. The block party   trailer has so many different activities, tables,  chairs, games. Um, it was a really nice event. Um,   and it was event that really felt Monrovia. It was  just very wholesome and special special night. So,   I think Channel 7 did a very good job  kind of showcasing Whoops. Excuse me. The   um the activities that we do here in Monrovia  that are meaningful. How do we uh how do we how   do folks Yes. If you're express interest in them,  Absolutely. If you're interested in this program,   you can come to the city's website under  community development and it's the Monrovia   Area Partnership Block uh party trailer. You can  contact our um our city uh line um 626-932-5565 and we will connect you um with the sign  up. Um we do ask that you give us several   weeks in advance to to book it if in case  it is booked. And the city does offer a   small stipend if for need um in the amount  of close to $250. It's generally dropped off   on a Friday and then picked up on a Monday.  Okay, good information. Did you put the um   did you put the uh clip on the the uh community  development website? We are going to Okay. Yes,   we are going to. That's always good for um PR and  Absolutely. Do it. Absolutely. Good. Okay. Boy,  

this has been a short one, huh? I said to the to  our new comm commissioner that um he got to step   into the low end of the pool for this this meeting  because the deep end's coming up. So with that,   are there any other announcements or  reports from any of the commissioners? No, we're good. Okay, then I adjourn this meeting  at 8:00. Thank you all. See you next month.