Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I would like to call the meeting of the Planning Commission to order at 6PM. Planning Commission Secretary, may we have a roll call, please?

Commissioner Sarno?

Here.

Commissioner Cervantes? Here. Commissioner Flores? Present. Vice chair Ayala?

Here.

Chair Jimenez?

Here.

All present.

Thank you. Okay. I would like to call upon commissioner Sarno. Again. Would you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance?

There's a lot of people here that can please put your hand over your heart. Ready to 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, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Ex parte communications. This section is attended to allow all planning commissioners the opportunity to reveal any disclosure regarding site visits or ex parte communications about public hearings. Are there any ex parte communications?

Yes. I do. I think it's Number 3, The Freeman. Is it is it Freeman Avenue? What what's the address? Oh, RomaDell. Item 4. Item 4. About six months ago, myself, the city manager, Kwan went out to go look at the site, and I know the owner of the building. So I think I'm gonna excuse recuse myself from this one.

Okay. Great. Thank you. Anyone else?

None. None.

None. Alright. Great. Moving on to both agenda and non agenda item exempt except public hearing items. At this time, the general public may address the Planning Commission on both non agenda and non public hearing agenda items.

Comments relating to public hearing items will be heard during the public hearing. Please be aware that the maximum time allotted for members of the public to speak shall not exceed three minutes per speaker. State law prohibits the Planning Commission from taking action or entertaining extended discussion on a topic not listed on the agenda. Please show courtesy to others and direct all your comments to the chairperson. Planning Commission secretary, do we have any members of the public present who wish to speak?

None. Okay. I will now close public comment and move on to the next item. Consent calendar. All matters listed under the consent calendar are considered to be routine. Any consent item a planning commissioner wishes to discuss should be designated at this time. All other items may be approved in a single motion. For consent item one, is there a motion and a second for the approval of this consent? I'll move number one.

I'll second.

Okay. We have a first and a second. Can I get a roll call vote, please?

Certainly. Commissioner Sarnam? Aye. Commissioner Cervantes? Aye. Commissioner Flores?

Aye.

Vice chair Ayala? Aye. Chair Jimenez? Aye. Justice, five zero.

So ordered. There is a fourteen day appeal appeal period for anyone wishing to appeal these matters. We will now begin with item number two on the agenda. At this time, I will open the public hearing at 06:03PM. I now call upon administrative intern, Peter Welenga, to introduce this item. How is that pronounced, sir?

Yeah. It's Welenga.

Welenga. Okay. Welenga.

Okay. Next slide. Alright. Good evening, commissioners. I will be presenting on alcohol sales conditional use permit, number 95. Okay. Next slide. Alright. For some background, on this site, the address is 8039 Norwalk Boulevard. The land use designation is mixed use.

The zoning is also mixed use. And the applicant is Tacos La Huerta, LLC DBA, Bureau Guanatos 100%. The property size is about 16,350 square feet. That's for the parcel. And then the tenant space is 1,900 square feet.

The existing use is a multitenant commercial plaza, and the existing use of this specific unit is a restaurant. Alright. And then continuing on the background. So the applicant is an existing restaurant within the city. The applicant has operated under different restaurant names and locations within the plaza, but has recently moved back into the current space that they're in now.

They serve traditional, authentic, Jalisco style Mexican cuisine. The units the unit that they are in has operated as a restaurant for over twenty years. And then, like I said, it's located in a commercial plaza. And there's also an additional existing restaurant there that serves on sale alcoholic beverages. All right.

As part of their continued restaurant operation, the applicant is looking to now provide beer and wine on sale. So this request for ASCUP ninety five is to allow for the on sale of beer and wine in conjunction with a bona fide public eating establishment with the following alcoholic beverage control license request: Type 41 on sale beer and wine eating place. There will be no off-site consumption. There'll be no and all consumption will be done indoors within the building. There'll be no bar or lounge area with the primary purpose of alcohol sales or consumption.

And then approval will be contingent on obtaining an ABC license within one year. And then this request is consistent with Section 155.628 of the city's zoning code. All right. For the hours of operation, every day from 9AM to 12AM midnight, they will have four employees on-site at a time, and all employees will receive training in responsible alcohol service, conflict de escalation and operational requirements. For the security on the site, it will only be open to the public during normal business hours, which staff will be present.

There will be a manager on duty at the site at all times during business hour operation, and there will be 20 fourseven surveillance cameras and an alarm system. And then lastly, they will also submit a security plan to the Department of Police and Community Services as condition 12 states in the condition of approval. For storage, the alcohol beverage will be stored in employee only accessible locations, including the storage room, manager's office, and in a small amount behind the counter for serving. As for the environmental review, staff proposes that the project be exempt from CEQA pursuant to the section 15,301 class one, which is existing facilities. And that is because they're not making any changes or expansions to the building's footprint.

There's no increasing operational intensity from the existing use on the site, and they're not anticipating any significant environmental impacts as a result of these operations. For the public hearing notices, on 04/30/2026, it was mailed to all property owners within 500 feet, of the site. It was posted in the Santa Fe Springs City Hall, City Library, and Town Center Kiosk. And then on 05/01/2026, it was published in the Los Cerritos Community Newspaper. And to date, staff has not received any comments.

So the key considerations for this site and this permit, commercial context for this site restaurant, again, is located in a commercial plaza, which includes another restaurant that, already has an on sale license and serves alcohol. The concentration, so the number of on sale licenses in the census tract is below the limit allowed by the ABC. So the ABC allows for, up to nine on sale licenses within this census tract. Currently, there are seven operating in that census tract, and the applicant will be the eighth. So therefore, there's no belief that there will be an oversaturation of on sale licenses.

And then, again, for security, there'll be trained staff, secure storage and adequate cameras and alarm system. And then lastly, all consumption will be on-site. All beverages will be consumed on-site inside the building in the presence of staff. So with that, staff recommends that you determine that the project is categorically exempt under, section 15,301, Class I, existing facilities of the CEQA guidelines, approves the ASCUP Case No. 95, subject to the conditions of approval within Resolution three-twenty-twenty 26 Exhibit A and adopts Resolution three-twenty-twenty 26, which incorporates the Planning Commission's findings and actions regarding this matter.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir. We will now move to commissioner questions or comments. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for the staff?

No. None. I have one.

On the hours, is it 9AM to midnight, days a week?

Yes. That is correct.

K. Does any members of the commission have any questions or comments for the applicant?

None. None. Okay.

We will now open public comments for this item. Planning Commission secretary, did we receive any speaking cards or written comments for this item?

None.

Okay.

I will close public comment for public hearing item number two. If there are no more further commission questions or comments, I will now close the public hearing at 06:11. May I have a motion to approve alcohol sales condition use permit case number 95 and adopt resolution number 320Dash2026, which incorporates the Planning Commission's findings and actions regarding this matter. May I have a motion and a second, please?

I'll move. Sorry.

I'll motion.

I'll second. Okay. We have a first and a second. Planning Commission Secretary, please conduct the roll call vote.

Commissioner Sarno? Aye. Commissioner Cervantes? Aye. Commissioner Flores? Aye. Vice chair Ayala? Aye. Chair Jimenez? Aye. Justice, five zero.

So ordered. There's a fourteen day appeal period for anyone wishing to appeal this matter. Item number three on the agenda. At this time, I will open the public hearing at 06:12PM. I now call upon assistant planner Cynthia Alvarez to introduce this item.

Good evening. So I will be presenting, development plan approval case number 10 18. Next slide. Next slide. So this site is located at 13772 Firestone Boulevard.

The current land use designation is freeway commercial, but the zoning is m two freeway overlay zone. The applicant is Lafell Manufacturing Company. The property size consisting of the two parcels is 7.95 acres and the project is 0.47 acres. So that's the only affected area highlighted in blue. The proposed addition size would be 9,943 square feet, and the existing uses of manufacturing.

One of the buildings is also, occupied by a different tenant, which, operates as a trucking car rental. Next slide. LaFalle Manufacturing Company was established in 1930 and has been a long standing part of Santa Fe Springs, starting their business here since 1950. It's an employee owned business. They specialize in the production of high precision metal tube components, mainly in the aerospace and aviation industry.

The property currently is developed with eight operations buildings and one parking structure. And like I mentioned, one of the eight buildings is used for a truck and car rental operation from a separate business. Next slide. The request for DPA ten eighteen to construct the new 9,943 square foot concrete building located at 13772 Firestone Boulevard and the request to find and determine that pursuant to Section 15,332 Class 32 infill development projects of the California Environmental Quality Act, CEQUA, the project is categorically exempt. Next slide.

So this is the site plan of the overall facility. And so it is consistent of two EPNs, two parcels, but specifically the affected area would only be the blue highlighted, which is on the left north corner of the site. Next slide. So the building measures is proposed to measure 81.5 feet by 122 feet. The office space would be limited to 400 square feet.

It is setback from Mark Ward 86.5 feet. The rear setback is eight feet, and the setback from Firestone is a little bit over two fourteen feet. The site maintained road circulation on property of 26 feet, which is consistent with fire and our zone code requirements. And there is a proposed total of four roll up doors, two of which will be on the north side, so on the lower side of this picture, and two facing the west side. Next slide.

So the proposed project would also have a screening, although not required for this project. The applicant has proposed the tree on Rosecrans just to create some visual relief from the public view. But like I mentioned, it's set back 86.5 feet as well. The proposed project requires a total of two zero eight parking spaces, eight of them being accessible stalls and 52 compact. But the applicant will be able to provide two twenty one, which satisfies the parking requirement.

You may also notice that the building currently is proposed on the property line. However, there has been a lot line adjustment submitted and it's currently being processed to merge the two parcels owned by Lafayette. Next slide. So as mentioned, there are a total of four rolled up doors, two on the north side, and those would be set back two fourteen feet from Firestone Boulevard, and there would also be a 10 foot fence to add some screening from there. As seen in the elevations, the general elements of the Lafayette facility is maintained, specifically with the window glazing remaining blue and their height as well.

There wasn't any proposed windows in a lower section mainly because of how far set back the building is. You would only see the upper portion of the building. It also maintains the decorative form liner and the color variation of the two tan brown colors. Next slide. So this is the west and east elevation.

So those are the two additional rolled up doors, and those would be oriented towards the interior of the property, so they would also not be visible from the public view. And then the east elevation, as mentioned, is set back 86.5 feet from Alondra Boulevard. Next slide. So given that the project satisfies the Class 32 requirements, the project would be exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15,332, Class 32 infill development. So it's consistent with the general plan and zoning.

The site is no larger than five acres and as mentioned, although the facility is larger, the impacted site would only be 0.47 acres given that the rest of the facility is already developed. The site has no sensitive habitats, would not result in significant effects to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and can be adequately served by all utilities and public services. Next slide. The public hearing was sent out to property owners within 500 feet of the site on April 30 and posted in the following locations and was published to the Los Cerritos Community newspaper on May 1. And to date, staff has not received comments.

Next slide. Some key considerations would be the expansion of the existing facility and use. So located on an undeveloped portion of the property, the proposal would maintain the use and allow for efficient site utilization. It's a relatively small footprint with approximately 9,943 square feet. The business is not expected to make a significant change to the character of the existing facility.

Less than significant traffic, the manufacturing use is not expected to generate significant vehicle or truck traffic. The industrial context, so the facility is surrounded with other, industrial rental uses, and is also surrounded with the M2 and M2 FOZ zones. And, the last point, business retention. So this Lafell has been here for over seventy years, and so the project would support retention by allowing it to accommodate increased demand while continuing operations within the city. Next slide.

So the recommendations are to determine that the project is categorically exempt per section 15,332, Class 32, Info Development of the CEQA guidelines, approve EPA case number ten eighteen subject to the conditions of approval within Resolution three twenty one-twenty 26 Exhibit A and adopt Resolution three twenty one twenty twenty six, which incorporates the planning commission's findings and actions regarding this matter. That concludes my presentation. Oh, and the applicant is here if there's any questions.

Great. Thank you. We will now move to commissioner questions or comments. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for staff? None. None. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for applicant?

None. None. None. Actually, I do have a comment.

Yes.

Fun fact. Yeah. Do you know how many parking structures there are in the city of Sanford Springs? One. Nice.

That was based upon it.

Great. You

just think that, you know, with all the trucking parking in there, they're the only ones that have it. It's a beautiful facility. You guys have it, maybe one day you can go check it out. Great.

Thank you. Thank you for that fact, Kwan and Jay. Okay. We will now open public comments for this item. Planning Commission Secretary, did we receive any speaking cards or written comments for this item?

We did not. None were received.

Alright. I will now close the public comment for public hearing item number three. If there are no further questions or comments, I will now close the public hearing at 06:23PM. May I have a motion to approve DPA case number ten eighteen and adopt resolution number three twenty one dash twenty twenty six, which incorporates the Planning Commission's findings and actions regarding this matter?

I'll second.

K. We got a first and a second. Planning Commission Secretary, please conduct a roll call vote.

Commissioner Sarno.

Aye.

Commissioner Cervantes. Aye. Commissioner Flores. Aye. Vice Chair Iyalov.

Aye.

Chair Jimenez.

Aye.

Passes five zero.

So ordered. There's a fourteen day appeal period for anyone wishing to appeal this matter. We will now begin with item number four on the agenda, new business. I will call up

oh, yes. I'll be over here. Okay. Don't go too far.

I will call upon economic development specialist Claudia Jimenez to introduce this item.

Hi. Good evening, chair, commissioners, staff, members of the audience, and legal counsel. I'm here tonight to present item number four, which is modification case number 1377 and 1378. So the applicant, Zhu Dong, on behalf of HTA Group of Los Angeles is requesting modification case number 1377 and 1378 for the property located at 10140 Romandale. And the project site is approximately 10,700 square feet and Zone M2 in the heavy manufacturing zone with the general plan designation of industrial.

The request pertains to modifications associated with the existing industrial use to support HTA Group's operation. HTA Group is a global company specializing in metal heat treatment services and support a range of industrial sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace and defense. The project site located before you here is located at 10140 Romeo And Juliet Avenue. APN number is 806 within an established industrial area of the city. The property is surrounded by a mix of manufacturing and industrial related uses and making it suitable for continued industrial operations and employment generating activities.

A little background of HTA. Global Los Angeles is an established global metal heat treatment company with decades of industrial experience and expanding operations within The United States and also in Australia. HCA Global LA provides specializing heat treatment services that enhance and strengthen the durability and performance of metal components used in manufacturing, aerospace and defense related industries, like mentioned before. And the company's operational contribute to advanced manufacturing capabilities and support skilled employment opportunities and represent continued private investment within the local community. Next slide.

So before you hear us modification permit case number 1377. It's a request for approval to temporarily reduce on-site parking from 22 spaces to 11 spaces to accommodate a secure outdoor storage area within the existing parking area. Although 22 parking spaces are required under our current code, the site was originally developed with 21 spaces, which is a legal nonconforming, condition. This request recognizes the existing parking condition and seeks to temporarily reserve 10 spaces to allow for outdoor storage while remaining the 11 on-site parking. So before you here before you is the proposed site plan parking layout.

And the proposed site plan illustrates the modified parking layout associated with the modification number thirteen seventy seven, which proposes 11 on-site parking stalls. And although the site historically provided 21 parking stalls, the city's current parking centers require 22, and resulting in a legal nonconforming parking condition recognized by the city. So due to site constraints, the applicant requests approval to provide 11 parking stalls at this time and reserves the remaining 10 required spaces for future provisions. The green highlighted area before you is the identifies the location of the proposed temporary outdoor storage area, and that's in reference to modification number 1378. Next one.

So the justification for parking reduction. So the parking reduction is supported by the facility's limited operational hours and low staffing demand. The business operates Monday through Friday with no weekends no weekend and operations, employs about 10 staffs with staggered shifts, peaking at 10 employees on-site at one time, and that's between eleven thirty and three I think it was 03:00, so about a three point five hour window. And so the proposed 11 parking slots are sufficient to accommodate employee parking during peak hours, and minimal visitor demand is expected. Additionally, I want to add that they also there's two employees at Carpool, so there'll be an extra parking stall there as well.

The next one. So as part of the application, the applicant also submitted an alternative site plan identifying the location where the 21 originally approved parking stalls could be should they need to accommodate in the future. This is before you. So modification permit case number 1378. So the applicant is requesting approval of modification permit case number 1378 to temporarily allow a taller screen fence gate within the required 20 foot front yard setback.

Roman Del is a secondary highway, and so the setback for that would be 20 feet from the front yard. Pursuant to Section Code 155,248 of the city zoning code, fences and gates located within the front yard setback are limited to a maximum height of three feet six inches. And the proposed project includes an eight foot six inches high fence and gate, requiring that an additional five feet in height is adequately screens the outdoor storage area from public view. Also wanted to add, the applicant is also proposing some equipment that's going to be about eight feet three inches. And so therefore, the eight foot six inches would be will accommodate the height for screening purposes.

Accordingly, approval of modification permit is required to permit the increased fence and gate height and associated setback encroachment. That's the reason for the modification. And so this is an aerial view. The aerial view identifies the location of the proposed temporary outdoor storage area associated with modification permit number 1378. And the outdoor storage is necessary to support the applicant's operations as the site currently does not contain a design a designated, storage area.

So they would be using part of the parking area to store their equipment, which is necessary to be outdoors. Next slide. So elevations and line of sight analysis. So this slide illustrates the proposed fence and gate elevations and demonstrates how the eight foot six inch screening fence will adequately screen the outdoor storage area. And the equipment, which is not to exceed no more than eight feet three inches in height from public view.

The line of sight analysis further demonstrates that the proposed screening improvements will minimize visibility from both the south, the west facing views as well as from surrounding properties as well. So staff determined the project qualifies for a categorically exemption under Section code 15,301 for the existing facilities as the project involves minor modifications to an existing development, and with no additional building area proposed. Therefore, no further environmental review is required, and a notice of exemption will be filed upon project approval. Next one. Public notices.

Staff mailed, mails public hearing notices to five adjacent properties on 04/02/2026, regarding the proposed modification permit case number, modification permit, 1377 and 1378. And to date, no public comments or correspondence have been received. So some key findings on this project. Staff finds that the requested temporary modifications are necessary due to existing site constraints and site legal nonconforming parking conditions, And the proposed outdoor storage and screening improvements support ongoing operations and will not adversely impact surrounding properties or public welfare. Next slide.

And final overview is based on the findings presented in the resolution, and staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt resolution number 326 approving the notice of exemption and modification permit numbers 1377 and 1378, subject to the conditions of approval contained in this attachment. And this concludes my presentation. And I do have both Jose and Zhu from HTA here as well, should you have any questions.

Great. Thank you. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for staff?

None. I

have a I have a couple. Sorry.

Can you go to

the can you go to the slide before the, public notice?

This one? Or the one before?

Oh, yeah. This one. Let me see. One, two, three, four. The fourth bullet point, it says the request temporary reserves 11. So this is just a temporary modification?

Correct. Temporary modification.

And how how long is that?

And when if the applicant expands their business and moves into a different location, then the new tenant will have to bring it back to his conformance or the actually, they are yes.

And then is this modification also contingent? What if they double their employees? Right? Then you'd need additional parking. So if they renewed their license the next year and they say, well, now we have 20 employees.

So our we have conditions of approval that I added a condition in reference to the number of employees that per the modification. They are not to exceed 10 employees due to the parking number of parking starts they're providing. Okay. So there's a condition on there.

And and then this outdoor storage is also part of this modification permit?

That is correct. Yes.

Okay. Yes. Thank you.

Oh,

one last question. Sure. Just because it drew the attention of the ex mayor, the director, and the city manager go out there, I like to ask the director a

question. I

mean, right, you got some pretty big guys out there looking into this. Just what was the consensus when you guys went out there to look at the site to consider this

Yeah.

So we were asked to visit the site. It was more or less due to a fire damage, and to try to resolve, basically prohibiting fires from occurring in the future. And I think one of

the

recommendations in what started the fire was an equipment that was inside the building. And so the solution was basically to bring that equipment outside, which necessitated having the screened area as well as impact of parking.

So, essentially, public safety safe business operation.

Okay. Yep.

Alright. Thank you. You're welcome.

Any other questions for staff?

None. None. None.

Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for the applicant?

None. Okay.

Could I get a motion to approve MOD case number 1377 and 1378 and adopt resolution number 319Dash2026, which incorporates the planning commission's findings and actions regarding this matter?

I'll make a motion. I'll second.

K. We got a first and a second. Secretary, roll call, please.

Commissioner Cervantes? Aye. Commissioner Flores? Aye. Vice chair Ayala? Aye. Chair Jimenez? Aye. Passes 501 401.

So ordered. K. Does oh, okay.

You have to wake him up back there. Wake up.

Welcome back.

Yeah. You wanna fall asleep on the couch.

Okay. So moving on to staff communications on items of community interest. The staff have any announcements?

Thank you, chair. I'd just like to, congratulate Peter, our administrative intern, on, his first presentation with us tonight. So good job, Peter.

Yep. Great job. Welcome. Okay. Commissioner a b one two three four council conference reporting. Do any of the commissioners have something to report on?

No. None.

None here. Okay. So this meeting is now adjourned at 06:37PM. The next meeting of the Planning Commission is set for 06/08/2026 at 6PM. Thank you.

Have a good night.