Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Today is Tuesday, March. Welcome to the planning commission meeting. If I can call this meeting to order. If I can please get assistance with roll call. Of course.

Planning Commissioner Cuevas.

Present.

Commissioner Morales. Present. Vice Chair Lomelli. Present. And Chairperson Medina is absent tonight, but we do have a quorum and able to proceed with tonight's meeting.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you. If I can please have everyone stand and face the flag for the pledge of allegiance. Put your right hand over your heart. Freddie, you begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God and indivisible, for liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Are there any corrections to the agenda?

Good evening, commissioners. There are no corrections to the agenda for tonight's meeting.

Okay. Thank you. Do we have any public comments?

No. No public. No public comments.

Okay. At this time, the general public may address the Commission Committee on any items listed in the agenda, including items not listed in the agenda, non agenda items, and that are within subject matter jurisdiction. Please be aware that the maximum time allotted for members of the public to speak shall not exceed three minutes per person. State law prohibits the Commission Committee from taking action or entertaining extended discussion on a topic listed on the agenda. Please show courtesy to others and direct all of your comments to the chairperson. Are there any staff communications?

There are no staff communications.

I will then proceed to the meeting minutes.

I'll go ahead and approve the approval of special planning commission minutes on 02/10/2026.

I'll second that. Sorry.

That's okay. Given that I was not present, do I just abstain from this motion? Okay. I will abstain.

Commissioner Cuevas?

Aye.

Commissioner Morales? Aye. Vice chair O'Malley? Abstain. And motion passes. Thank you.

Well, I now

open Regular business.

Regular business? Okay. Regular business. Director Columbia?

Yes. Thank you, madam vice chair. So item two on tonight's agenda is a regular business item regarding a request for the planning commission to make the required findings. And this relates to the proposed acquisition of properties located at 602604608, And 610 West Whittier Boulevard, consistent with the city's general plan. And our planning manager, Viviana Esparza, will provide a brief presentation on this matter.

Thank you.

Good evening, vice chairperson O'Malley and members of the Planning Commission. The item before you deny is a city initiated request for the Planning Commission to adopt general plan conformance findings for the city's acquisition of real property located at 602604608, And 610 West Whittier Boulevard. Pursuant to government code section 65,402, before the city may dispose or acquire any real property, the Planning Commission must first find that such disposition or acquisition conforms with the city's general plan. This process ensures that the city's real property transactions are consistent with its adopted land use policies objectives and long term planning vision. The city intends to acquire the properties from seller TUVF Montebello LLC as part of its ongoing efforts to support revitalization within the city's downtown area.

The subject property consists of four separate parcels totaling approximately 16,290 square feet and is currently developed with a vacant commercial building with a combined building footprint of approximately 11,669 square feet located within the Downtown Montebello specific plan zone. Upon the acquisition, the property will be retained under the city ownership and control to allow the city to strategically manage the site and evaluate future development opportunities. The city will hold the property until it determines that the site is appropriate for resale and development, consistent with the goals and policies of the city's general plan and other applicable regulations. The proposed acquisition is consistent with the goals and policies of the Montebello General Plan. Policy p 2.2 within the our prosperous community element of the city's general plan promotes corridor development and supports infill development on vacant and underutilized sites, including surface parking lots, particularly along corridors and within the downtown area.

Additionally, policies within our well planned community element policy P 3.2 encourage growth and increased density through the redevelopment of underutilized downtown parcels. Policy P 3.3 encourages non residential uses that are accessible to residents while policy point three.4 promotes the development of diverse neighborhoods rather than single housing types. Collectively, these policies support the proposed acquisitions and are consistent with the city's general plans emphasis on directing and redevelopment to our downtown areas and corridors and promoting economic vitality through future development opportunities. The proposed action is not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines sections one five zero six zero c two and one five zero six one b three as it constitutes as an administrative activity that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change to the environment. Therefore, at this time, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt resolution three twenty three, finding that the acquisition of real property at 602604608, And 610 Westwoody Boulevard is in conformance with the Montebello General Plan pursuant to government code section 65,402.

And this concludes my presentation. And if the Planning Commission has any questions for city staff, we'd gladly answer this. Thank you. My apologies. It's it's zero three two six. Resolution 03Dash26.

Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Do any of the commissioners have any questions for city staff?

No questions, but comments. And, you know, it's again, I think we talk about this all the time. Every time we see something in this area where things are kinda in my opinion, at least as I can tell and as I can see, a lot of things are falling in place in terms of the long term objective of, you know, enhancing this area and kinda shepherding it to, you know, potential objective in terms of developing that area. So I think it's a good move. So good job. Thank you to the staff and, of course, the city. Yes.

Absolutely. I I'll second what Commissioner Cuevas has just stated. And also just to see this area, to continue, you know, moving forward in this general plan for the city of Bonobello. So definitely commend the the city.

Okay. Do you have any comments, director?

I would just I would just like to add. The this is obviously strategic for many reasons. The city currently owns the what used to be a law office right next door, which is at 612 West Whittier. In addition to that, we control the surface parking lots in the rear. I think collectively with with with if this fall if this falls through, I mean, if this moves forward and city council ultimately approves this, we would control approximately 2.7 acres collectively, which is a good footprint for future development, especially considering that we have approved the the specific plan that calls for mixed use development in that area.

So it is a great opportunity, and I think for the future of Downtown Montebello, it's it's it's gonna it's it's it's great that we're moving in this direction. So I just wanted to share that.

Amazing. Thank you, director Palombe. With that being said, I agree with everybody. I think this is a great opportunity for us to continue to grow downtown Montebello. Congratulations. Yeah. Thank you. May I entertain will anybody like to entertain a motion?

That is a great question. This is a regular business item, so it is not a public hearing.

Alright. Easy peasy. Yeah. Okay. A

motion to approve a request to make findings at the City of Monte Balo's acquisition of real property located at 602604608, And 610 West Whittier Boulevard from TUVF Montebello LLC is in conformance with the city's general plan pursuant to government code section 65,402. With the recommendation, it is recommended that the planning commission takes the following action to adopt resolution number 03Dash26, Finding that the acquisition of real property from TUVF Montebello LLC is in conformance with the Montebello General Plant pursuant to government code section six five four zero two.

I'll second that motion.

Okay. Can we get a roll call?

Aye. Commissioner Cuevas?

Aye.

Commissioner Morales? Aye. Vice Chair Lomelli? Aye. And motion passes. Thank you.

Thank you. We will then proceed to Planning Commission Orals, if any. No? Okay. And with that, we'll go ahead and adjourn this meeting.