Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone and welcome to the city of Oxnard Planning Commission for Thursday, September 18, 2025. This meeting will come to order at 6 p.m. The public may view the meeting from home on the city's website, Spectrum Channel 10, Frontier Channel 35, or on the city's YouTube website. To participate in the meeting, the public may provide comments to the planning commission via email at planning.org no later than 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting or through the city's website at oxner.org/city-me or call the planning division office. Additionally, those wishing to speak can dial the phone number listed at the bottom of the screen, follow the instructions to access the meeting, and press star 9 to raise your hand indicating your intention to speak on the agenda item being discussed. Madam Secretary, can we please have the roll call?

Chair Arjo, present. Vice Chair Dr. Stewart, present. Commissioner Dr. Lopez, here. Commissioner Nash, present. Commissioner Schuli, present. Commissioner Barca, present. We have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Secretary. We'll move on now to the pledge of allegiance. Mr. Roselle, will you kindly lead us in the pledge of allegiance? Please join the pledge to our nation flag. Ready to begin. 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, Mr. Roselle. The next agenda item is C. Public comment comments on items not on the agenda. At this time, a person may address the planning commission on matters within the jurisdiction of the planning commission, including information consent items and any time not appearing on the agenda. The planning commission cannot take action on any item presented during public comments that is not on the agenda and such item may only be referred to the commission secretary. Persons wishing to speak on public hearing items should do so at the time of the public hearing. Madam Secretary, are there any public comments for items not on the agenda?

No, chair. Thank you. Next is the consent agenda. With none listed, we'll go to exparte declarations. For public hearing items, please state any exparte declarations if any. I'll move across to dis commissioner Nash. None. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Dr. Lopez. None. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart.

Yes. Um, when I woke up this morning, I saw something in my local news feed that Vata Market had a grand opening yesterday. So, I thought to myself, well, let me see if I can get by there. I just like to see what the store looks like and see where they're going to store the alcohol. Well, I got out of the car, watched the parking lot for a little bit. Uh uh having read through uh our staff report, and then I went into the store to look at where the alcohol is supposed to be. Only uh when I turned and looked, the cabinet was full of alcohol. So I walked from end to end and I looked for a signage that says we're not selling alcohol yet or it's not available or something like that and didn't see that. So then I went to the front desk and I asked to see the store manager and when the store that was on duty when the store manager came over I asked the same question and he said yeah I was aware of that and we aren't selling it. Uh I said there's no signage or anything. He said no. I said, "Okay." And uh then I said, "Oh, by the way, since I'm here, can you show me where how you receive alcohol?" And so he took me through it. I said, "Okay." And then as we were walking back through the store, I said, "Uh, can I do you have loss prevention?" He said, "Uh, yes. Can I see it?" So he took me to loss prevention and they had big screen TVs similar to what we have up there. And from there, we could see the whole layout of the store. And then I said thank you and I left. I noted that there were two security guards there and got in my car and left. So that's my exparte communications.

Thank you. Um I I know you didn't ask, but I'll ask just out of abundance of caution if this uh if our council wishes to answer. Is is there a reason um that you would recommend that vice Dr. Stewart would recuse himself? The answer is no. And we'll talk more about the issue which um uh Dr. Stewart uh raised when we get to this item uh and we have a staff response. So, but no, I think this this is uh normally I would say he would need to recuse himself, but I think this is actually relevant to the issue that is before the the planning commission and we will address it and staff will have recommendations.

Thank you, Mr. Roselle. If there's no other if there's nothing more from Vice Dr. Stewart, Commissioner Schuli, uh none. Thank you. Thank you. And Commissioner Barca? Uh none. Thank you.

Thank you. We'll move on to section F, public hearing agenda item F1, Viarta alcohol special use permit, planning and zoning permit number 25-510-02, special use permit alcohol property located at 3443 Savior's Road. a request to uh for a new ABC type 21 offsale general license to authorize the sale of alcohol for off-site consumption in a Varta supermarket within an existing 43,875 square foot tenant space. The proposed hours for alcohol sales are from 7 am to 11 pm. The project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to section 15301 existing facilities of the sequel guidelines filed by designated agent Brett Angstrom of Pasadena California on behalf of the property owner Rusei family partnership of Oxenar California city staff Michael Lackman a city planner assistant planner per measure M a staff presentation has been pre-recorded and the link has been posted to YouTube per previously approved standing rules staff can provide a brief summary at pre-recorded presentation in addition to other analysis at this time. Does staff wish to give some introductory remarks?

Hello, Chair Rejo and commissioners. Yes, I would like to make some comments. Um, Mr. Aman is on vacation right now, so I'm uh standing in for him. Um, with regards to the permit before the commission this evening, um, the previous uh operator there, the Ralphs, did have a alcohol license. that license um went along with the property and was issued prior to the city's requirement for a special use permit. So they were operating without a special use permit. Um so it was a grandfathered location. However, with the closing of that property and with Varta coming in, they were required to be brought into compliance with the current city regulations. So that triggered the requirement for the special use permit. So at this time and without the special use permit, the VA is not currently allowed to sell alcohol until the planning commission approves the special use permit and then they would be subject to the conditions provided in the attached resolution. Um it was um identified yesterday with the grand opening that they did have alcohol on site. Um, our PD had went out to the site um to do a inspection and found that they had um already stocked it with the alcohol. Um, the officer then informed them that they were not allowed to sell alcohol and that they needed to um basically lock it up and um no longer have it available for sale. Um so that was yesterday. Um and then this morning staff uh reached out to the applicant, let them know again that they are not allowed to sell alcohol at this time and so that it all needed to be um locked up and secured and that signs needed to be put up. Um this evening, shortly before

the meeting, uh staff or I did receive an email with photos of the um facility with coverings over some of the alcohol um coolers as well as um some locks on the coolers themselves as well as signage identifying that alcohol is not for sale at this time. So at this time the facility um is in compliance um as they are not currently selling alcohol. Um and again the plan commission would need to approve the SUP for them to continue with the solout call. Um and with that um if there's additional questions um staff can respond.

Thank you Mr. Pearson. At this time if the applicant is present here on Zoom land um they can have 15 minutes. Okay. Thank you very much. If you could just please introduce yourself. You have as much as the 15 minutes as you would like. Thank you.

Great. Thank you very much, commissioners. Good evening. My name is Brett Angstrom. I'm here on behalf of Vayarta Supermarkets. Uh first off, I'd like to thank Mr. Pearson for stepping in last minute. We'd been working with Mr. Lapman the entire time. He was nice enough to take it on for us. So, thank you for doing so. Um, as I stated here on behalf of Vire at the Supermarket, which opened up their latest location at 3443 Saviors, uh, we have a pending uh, alcohol use permit to allow the sale of full line of alcohol for off-site consumption at the market. Uh, the site is properly zoned as a C2 general commercial zone, so it is a proper location. Viarta has assumed a tenant space that was previously occupied by Ralph's Market. Uh there has been an operating market with alcohol sales in that location since at least 1983. So I think it was Ralph's up till from 1999 on and prior to that maybe a Hughes market. Um and I say up till 1983 because that's when the ABC changed from uh paper records to uh digital records. So everything before that is kind of uh lost. Excuse me. uh Verta has purchased the Ralph's license. So there's actually no net increase in the number of ABC licenses as a result of our application. So that works out very well for many cities. Hours of operation 7 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. The market does have two security guards on site at all hours of operation. Uh as Mr. Pearson mentioned, I was just at the store about 4:00. busy fanfare, a lot of people and two big uh imposing security guards at the door. So, it was uh felt very safe. Um Ferta is a familyrun business started with one single store in Van Eyes and they now operate over 50 stores, but they're still familyowned. Uh in fact, I just left two family members at the store that are trying to operate the

market and keep things running smoothly. Uh we have reviewed the conditions, find them all suitable and accessible or uh acceptable, excuse me, and I'd actually like to turn it back to you for any questions you have about the market or our application. Um thank you very much, sir. Um we'll uh have questions now that you're done with your presentation and commissioners may ask staff andor you um soon. So thank you very much. At this time, members may ask questions of the applicant and or staff. Commissioners, vice chair, Dr. Stewart, and Commissioner Nash.

I just wanted to make the statement that having gone up there this morning, uh, all the questions that I had here, uh, are answered for me. Thank you, Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart, Commissioner Nash.

Thank you, Chair. Um, first I want to thank uh, Commissioner Stewart for um, going above and beyond the call of duty in visiting the site and uh, getting his qu his questions answered. So I I do want to ask the applicant just because the issue of homelessness is featured so prominently in the staff report that um I'm happy that Viarta was willing to step into the breach and willing to take this issue on. So, I'm I think that with the security guards, you pro that's probably the biggest thing. The addition of of the lighting and the parking lot will help. Um, do do you have any other uh insight uh that you could offer us as as as to how um you know you hope to control the problem of uh vagrancy and homelessness?

Of course. Um, many of the Viarta markets are in upand cominging neighborhoods or or recovering neighborhoods and they do a really good job of keeping their sites clean. They have security at each one of their locations. They uh they check the parking lot periodically, keep things civil inside the store. Um, they do a concentrated effort to keep things clean and uh friendly because it's all family shoppers in these stores. It's not a singles u market like we have in certain parts of Los Angeles. It's all families, everybody there, and they want to feel safe. So, the way they work it is they keep things clean. They come around and check the parking lot periodically. And some of their stores that I've done in Los Angeles, for example, are in are in tough neighborhoods, but the one shining diamond on the block is the Viarta Market. It's bright, it's active, it's safe, it's happy. Um, so they really do care about it. That's how they started. They're still familyun. That's how they consider their businesses. It's a family business. Um, one other aspect of the Vaya Markets is they do a great job of saving or reviving shopping centers that have recently lost an anchor tenant. Uh, in Pasadena, for example, we had a large Ralph's Market that went under um or closed, excuse me. It was closed for about 8 months and right away it started getting darker and uglier. Barta came in is the busiest market in the whole city. So um community oriented, family oriented and they take pride in their stores

and I I I thank you for that. I happen to go all the way back to the uh Hughes market. So, it was just very sad to see this um turn into a a vacant, you know, shopping center. And so, I I I want to uh send Kudos out to the Viarta family for um you know, reviving this institution because I think the neighborhood absolutely deserves a quality market with a full range of goods and services. So, thank you for that. The amount of services they have inside the market is amazing. You know, the bakery, careria, tortaria, I mean, they have everything in this market. It's amazing. It's almost like a little vacation going in there.

Thank you, Commissioner Nash. Thank you. Um, any others from the commission at this time? Um, okay. Couple questions for myself. Um, do we have a representative from the police department on the chair of Scott Swinson is available? Okay, Mr. Swinson. It's the first time I've seen Scott's face. I've talked is I can say hi to each other right after the item. Um, Mr. Swenson. Mr. Swenson.

I'll try that again. Okay, good. It's not echoing. Uh, Mr. Swenson. Um in regards to um the applicants annular rate, um uh you know the almost every um question that I have when ABC licenses come up are in regards to the the safety concerns. Um and so if this is not the first, it's the first in a long time where the applicant's annual rate is higher than any of the other rates. if not higher. It's the highest one. Um, is there any reason that we should be concerned, especially since there were some concerns from nearby business operators?

Here's my reasoning behind it. Um the homeless issue is one of the tanamount uh issues in the community along Savior's Road and this is going to prove to be an anchor and an improvement uh from the previous operator. Uh I have been in the store uh did a pre-insspection and I'm impressed with uh their work there. I'm also very familiar with the A Street store and the one up on Vineyard and both of them are uh assets to the community and they don't attract problems and that's what we want is uh supermarkets that are anchors and stand up and take care of things. Uh the first thing that in my conversations with the corporate virus staff was the lighting in the parking lot and they jumped right on it. uh their security guards have always been uh really good at taking care of business at their uh existing stores in Oxnard and uh personally uh I live in pretty close proximity to the Savior's Road Prior to site and I see this as an improvement in the community.

Thank you, Mr. Swinson. Um I appreciate that more uh technical um expertise. Um that's basically what Mr. Angstrom said. Um, so I appreciate that. In relation to the police report, um, uh, one question for Mr. Angstrom, um, you stated and has been talked about that there are two security guards. Um, is that going to be all the time for all hours um from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.? And do you think that's needed for a reason or um no other grocery stores in that I know of in Oxnard have even one security guard posted for all hours or even part of the hours? So, um is there a need or why was the need that you needed two for all hours? You know, I I ask this every time I do an application and I have to confirm because it is additional costs and um but every Verta supermarket has security. They have on-site security. That's just one of their aspects. They want families coming in um and they don't want any issues because families are their business. So, as soon as anything goes wrong at a location, when I had small kids, I would avoid that location altogether. They don't ever want to have that happen. So they have security guards at every one of their locations and it is an extra cost but I think it pays off in the long run where people feel comfortable all hours of operation to come on in and buy what they need to.

Thank you very much. Um and then a followup to Mr. Pearson. Um there's no I didn't see any condition of approval that required this. Correct. That this is all on the star operator. I just want to make sure at least with the answers that they're not required or was that already put into the COAs? Chair RJO don't believe that's a requirement but I will check with Scott Swintson. Do you recall if there was a police requirement for that? I don't believe that was don't believe it is a request. I definitely heard that. Let's create.

Okay. Um, thank you, Mr. Sunen. I believe that we all heard that, but just in case, um, he doesn't believe that it's in there. Um, I didn't see it, so I just wanted to make sure just, um, just in case. Um, okay. Appreciate that. Um, thank you very much. Uh, any other questions from the commission at this time? Seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. Madam Secretary, is there any public comment? No chair. Thank you. Um are there any closing remarks from staff? None. Thank you. Thank you. The public hearing is now closed. We'll move on to deliberation. Commission. Commissioner. Commissioner.

And with the uh indulgence of my colleagues, I'd like to go over uh some of the reasons um that I pulled from the staff report as to why I can support this. the grocery stores that existed in the space sold alcohol prior to the requirement or a special use permit. So, we're not really uh doing anything out of the ordinary here. We're discontinuing a uh a permitted use. There is not an undue concentration under city standards. Therefore, finding a public convenience can be made for this proposal. The Oxnard Police Department has recommended approval of the requested application. The neighborhood council chairperson was contacted and had no objection to the project being approved. Farta has upgraded the parking lot lighting. The company has a policy of staffing uniform security officers at each public entrance to the store to be ready to address shoplift and loitering issues. A finding a public convenience can be made for this proposal. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, I believe this neighborhood deserves a great market like Viarta that can offer a full range of goods and services. Therefore, I'm happy to support uh this special use permit. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Commissioner Nash. Any others from the commission? Commissioner, Dr. Lopez. Uh I just want to echo uh those same uh comments there by uh Commissioner Nash and just uh add that you know having grown up uh in my early formative years and uh you know through high school before going up going to college uh you know did frequent along with my family Hughes and then obviously Ralph over the years. Um, and so to see you all, uh, you know, interested in expanding your business into a bigger location. I mean, I only wish you were keeping it open as a third store, right? Um, definitely do think this community uh would support uh uh support or continue to support uh your business. Uh, but yeah, no, certainly happy that uh you're moving to a bigger location. I think that you will have that many more offerings uh for families and for uh our community. Um, and I'll only add that um, you know, if uh, you have any other uh, friends uh, who may be interested in growing uh, into Oxnard that you mention and bring them uh, to your new store there. Just to help us highlight uh, like Commissioner Nash uh, pointed out, I think that uh, you know, um, families especially in South Oxnard are looking for new investments and just uh, the energy, the reinvigoration of of you know, just something new. And so um excited to support uh and uh you know after we approve uh just wish you all continued success and the absolute best of luck.

Thank you Commissioner Dr. Lopez Vice Dr. Stewart. Uh just a quick clarification. This is going to be you're closing the fivepoint store and this is going to be two stores or you going to have three? I am two. I'll take I'll take the doctor's suggest. Okay, that's what I thought. All right, thank you.

Thank you, Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart. Any others from the commission? And for myself, um, like I said in my questions, my my main priority, at least for me, in regards to the ABC licenses or in regards to the safety, um, in regards to the annular rate being higher than all the others, um, I think it was well best said by both Mr. Angstrom and Mr. Swenson that it's an improvement um uh but for being nothing there. So um and I agree with that and I'm looking forward to um uh voting or um I'm looking forward to uh approving this when it comes up for a motion. Any others from the commission at this time? And if there isn't, a motion is in order. Vice Dr. Stewart,

I'll move the recommended action. Thank you. It has been moved by Vice Chair Dr. Stewart to find the project to be category exempt from environmental review pursuant to SQA guidelines section 15301 existing facilities and adopt resolution 2025X approving planning and zoning permit number 25-510-02 for an alcohol special use permit subject to certain findings and conditions. Is there a second? Second by Nash. Seconded by Commissioner Nash. Any deliberation on the motion before us? Uh, Commissioner Dr. Lopez,

I'll just add, you know, to the concerns about about crime. I do think that in large part they have been perhaps elevated because of the lack of businesses in the area. And so I quite frankly believe strongly that uh you know just the new business the traffic that it's going to attract uh like uh uh the gentleman said um you know really centering not only uh you know family but uh uh business. I I really think that we're going to see a change as a result of them opening up uh there in South Oxford. Again, I'm only sad because it's going to be a little bit further of a drive for me personally. Uh but um you know I look forward to just the energy that uh you all will be bringing uh to the area.

Thank you, Commissioner, Dr. Lopez, Commissioner Nash. Thank you. Um seeing no further deliberation, Madam Secretary, can we have the roll call, please? Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart, yes. Commissioner Nash, hi. Commissioner Dr. Lopez. Hi. Commissioner Schuli. I Commissioner Barca I, Chairo, I. This motion passes.

Thank you very much. Uh, congratulations. We'll move on to agenda item F2. Project name Hendrickson triplex city staff Roelio Solissant planner planning and zoning permit numbers 24-400-03 coastal development permit and 24-300-04 tenative map property located at 5201 Driftwood Street. a request to construct a three-story residential condominium on a.17 acre vacant site within the multiple family coastal medium density R3C zone. The proposed development includes three attached residential units comprised of a total of 6957 square feet of habitable area with each unit providing an attached twocar garage and subdivision of the existing lot into four lots, three residential and one common area followed by designated agent Kenneth Wright, MDA group of Roseville, California on behalf of the property owner Orin Cheriski with Ocean Dreams Group LLC of Vanise Um, per measure M, a staff recommendation has been pre-recorded and the link has been posted to YouTube per previously approved standing roles. Staff can provide a brief summary of the pre-recorded presentation in addition to other analysis at this time. Does staff wish to give some introductory remarks?

Yes. Thank you, chair and planning commissioners. Uh, I just wanted to add some background on the subject site. The project is located on one of the few remaining uh undeveloped parcels in the Oxarn Shores neighborhood. The planning commission previously approved a similar project at the site back in February 7th, 2019. However, the project was never actualized and as a result, the applicant is now seeking approval for a similar development at this site. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. CIS. If the applicant is here, um, they can have 15 minutes. Are they here or on Zoom? On Zoom. Hello sir, if you could just introduce yourself. Um, and you have 15 minutes. Um, as much as 15 minutes. Ken Wright. I work for MDA group. Um, this uh project has been uh uh in development for quite a while and we've worked through quite a few of the uh design features that were were previously brought up. Um I'm sorry, sir. Madam Secretary, can you um pause the time?

Uh you know what? Just put it back to 15 minutes. Um, sir, I'm going to I don't know if we clearly caught the first 10 seconds of that. So, I'm going to have the Madam Secretary go back to 15 just out an abundance of caution if there's no objection from the commission and I'll have you repeat again. There was some echoing at the end. So, if you have a second device on if you could mute that and we'll try again. siric was brought up in a special community workshop a number of months ago. One of the comments that was brought up at that time was the fact that there was a trash staging area alongside Channel Way. Um and that it it is was in the street. It is actually on within within the properties. uh parcel not not in the street proper and uh the staging area would only be on trash pickup days. All all other times trash receptacles are stored in enclosed trash trash enclosures. Um, beyond that, I'm not I'm not not sure if there's anything else I I need to provide.

Um, thank you, sir. Um, I'm going to ask you to repeat just anything that you said about the trash enclosure. Just that part. Um, I Yeah, if you could please repeat it. Um and then after that as long as it's gone through that we can hear it then we'll go to questions. Thank you sir. Each resident residents have their own trash enclosures where trash bins will be stored normally and the trash stationary is only on trash pickup.

Okay. Um, sir, I'm gonna Sir, I'm gonna

I'm gonna ask I'm going to get some technical clarification help because if we have any questions, it might be a little bit too um strenuous, at least for me. Um, so if there's no objection by the commission, um, I'd like to go into a fiveminute recess just to get a handle on the technical um, related stuff. Seeing no objection, we're in five minute recesses. Thank you. Okay, sir. Okay. Oh, sorry. No.

Thank you for that recess um to get a handle on things. Um we're back um in session for the planning commission for September 18. Um we're currently on agenda item F2 uh in regards to the presentation by the applicant. Um the I just asked uh the presenter um if you could just repeat the the comments in regards to the trash enclosure. Um so sir if you could just repeat those few sentences in regards to that and then we'll move on to the questions. Thank you. Um, the previous comment was that the trash bins would be out in the street, but I wanted to confirm that they are within the property's boundaries and the trash staging area is only for on trash pickup days. All other days, the trash bins are stored within enclosed trash enclosures and would not be visible from the outside. Okay. Thank you very much, sir. At this time, uh, members of the commission can ask questions of either the applicant or staff. Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart. Um, I guess it's probably for a staff. So, we approved this planning commission approved and I think I just gotten off February 7, 2019. How close is this application to the one back then? I mean, is it identical? Did they make some changes?

Yes. Uh, vice chair. So, the project is actually very identical. Um, there's some small changes. Um, primarily uh the location, some of the trash um enclosures on site and the landscape around the perimeter of the site has been updated to include uh drought tolerant plantings. Um, other than that, it's a fairly similar project. Okay. All right. And then I saw that the project is within the maximum height, but that there was some comments in here about some of the neighbors were concerned about how tall it was compared to, I guess, their own dwelling. Is that is that the case or is there a problem there that I missed? There was some concern regarding the height, but the height's maximum uh height for the building itself is 35 ft, which is in line with some of the other um triplexes um on that street or in the neighborhood. Okay. And then for the parking, I guess there's the the garages for the units, but then is there some additional um exterior parking for each of the units, too?

That's correct. So, each unit does have their own twocar garage, and they also have their own assigned exterior parking space. All right. Thank you. That's my questions. Thank you, Vice Chair, Dr. Stewart. Any others from the commission? Seeing up, Commissioner Dr. Lopez,

I'll go with a quick question, but first uh recognize and acknowledge the great uh staff presentation that you put together. I particularly like the slides that had the uh general plan consistency table and the local coastal plan consist table showing the policy and then uh the explanation. So, just wanted to recognize that uh before uh I ask my question. And the question comes from another item that we had a couple years ago, same uh neighborhood, uh but was wondering if there was any restrictions towards the rooftop. I think that this application did make reference to a rooftop uh being accessible on third floor for all three of the uh units and so was wondering if there was any restrictions on that. [Music] Uh Commissioner, Dr. Lopez, um with regards to that, this zone does not have that restriction. There are other um zones in the coastal area that do have um prohibitions on rooftop decks. Um I believe there's the Dunes neighborhood which is um kind of adjacent on the other side of Harbor Boulevard um where they do have some duplexes there. There's um requirements or restrictions on the um rooftop decks in that area, but this zone does not have that restriction.

Great. Thank you so much for that. Thank you, Commissioner Dr. Lopez. Um, one question from me to staff. Um, Mr. Solis, um, the the last permit was in 2019. Was that by the same applicant or, um, same what was the same in regards to it in regards to who applied for it or who owned the property? Yeah, it was still the same applicant team.

Okay. Thank you. Uh then my follow-up question, sir, who I missed your name, I apologize. Um is there a reason why the previous permit didn't go through in 2019? And um what can you say? Um how sure of you that this permit will go through if it's approved by the planning commission?

This Ken Wright again. Um I'm I'm not entirely sure why the previous uh version did not go through. Uh but I'm we've I think addressed all the issues that were brought up and I think that's pretty pretty clear that uh that this would go through uh under the current design. Okay. Thank you very much Sarah. If there's no other questions from the commission, uh we'll move on to public comment. Madam Secretary, is there any public comment for this agenda item? No, chair.

Thank you. Are there any closing remarks remarks from staff? Uh chair, I would like to add that while we didn't receive any formal comments, I did receive a phone call from one of the neighbors uh minutes uh prior to this tonight's hearing. Uh she did express um opposition to this project. uh due to concerns regarding an increase in uh potential traffic as well as uh concerns with uh her view to the neighborhood. Thank you.

Thank you. Um since that was public comment, I'll give the applicant a chance to respond if they wish to. Would you like to respond, sir? I'm I'm guessing that may be the same person that objected previously to the uh uh triplex block in their view. Um either either way, I think it would be pretty consistent with any uh development going in uh that they can expect the same kind of traffic increase as any other development that might That's

okay. Thank you very much, sir. Okay. Thank you very much. Um uh with no further uh remarks, um no further public comments and no further remarks from staff, uh the public hearing is now closed and we'll move on to the deliberation. Commission. Commissioner Nash.

Thank you, Chair. And again, I ask for the commission's indulgence while I while I reiterate some of the uh salient points from the from the excellent staff report. Um, and we talked we mentioned some of these already, but I'll go over them all. On February 7th, 2019, the planning commission adopted resolution numbers 209-04 and 209-05 to approve coastal development permit 18-4000-07 [Music] as well as a tentative map 18-3000-11 to sub subdivide for condominium purposes. And I think it's it it was already raised that this proposal is uh for all intents and purposes identical to that one. Approval of the coastal uh approval of of this coastal development permit and tentative parcel map would be consistent with the 2030 general plan and LCP land use designations. The project is in compliance with our development standards. On May 8th, 2025, the applicant mailed 3,39 notices of the community workshop meeting to all property owners within the Oxnard Shores neighborhood. And I just want to comment that I think that's fantastic. Uh that that that's all I've ever asked for is to have is to blanket the neighborhood with with notices and the applicant did that. So, thank you very much. Uh condition uh condition 28, I believe, reconstruct the pedestrian ramp on the northwest corner of Driftwood and Harbor to meet current accessibility standards. Condition number 29, replace any broken, damaged,

or uplifted sidewalk sections. And I would add uh that I believe this is a quality project that provides both additional housing stock to an extremely desirable neighborhood and also provides improvements to the to to the public infrastructure. So uh I I am certainly willing to to support the staff recommendation. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Commissioner Nash. Any others from the commission? And for myself, uh I I I agree that triplex is a a very good uh permit or project for this site. Um I guess it could have been just a single family, but um there is more and it's in keeping um in my opinion with the rest of the neighborhood. Um and the development, it's not all at once in regards to the entire neighborhood. It looks like, you know, as the property owners feel that it's right, um they're going in. And so it's it's not all at once. And so um in regards to the traffic concerns, I I think that's minimal or even negligible. And so um I feel that I'm in support of the project or the staff's recommendation as proposed. Um any others from the commission at this time? And if not, a motion is in order. Commissioner Nash.

Uh chair. Um I will move the recommended action. It has been moved by Commissioner Nash to find the project to be categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to SQL guidelines section 15303 new construction or conversion of small structures and adopt resolution 2025X approving planning and zoning permit number 24-400-03 coastal development permit subject to certain findings and conditions and three adopt resolution 2025X approving planning and zoning permit number 24-300-04 for tenative map for a partial map waiver subject to certain findings and conditions. Is there a second? I'll second it.

Seconded by Vice Chair Dr. Stewart. Any other deliberation on the motion before us? Seeing and hearing none, Madam Secretary, can we have the roll call, please? Commissioner Nash, I. Vice Chair Dr. Stewart, yes. Commissioner Dr. Lopez, I. Commissioner Schuli, I. Commissioner Barca, I. Chair Arjo I this motion passes.

Thank you very much and congratulations sir. Uh we'll move on to section G study sessions and reports and with none listed our business will move on to planning commission business section H parliamentaryformational mini session. Review the current wording and structure the meeting script and process with members. discuss the requirements and responsibilities of the planning commission as it relates to the bylaws. And so in regards to this, this was a request by myself to put this on the agenda and I intend to do something similar for every meeting that I'm at just until the end of the year um for the reasons that I state right now. Um I was recently elected into an organization and um I wasn't sure even with my knowledge of parliamentary procedure I was still unsure in regards to using and amending the bylaws and so um I felt that even someone who knew enough about parliamentary procedure but was still unsure about that um maybe um I felt more confident when I came into the planning commission but that might not have been um the thinking when all of you may have come to the planning commission or a governmental body. And so um just for the next couple meetings that I'm chairing where at least five of us are going to be here um my goal is to present a less than five minute presentation. And I've asked the Madame Secretary um to put the timer on just to make sure I don't expand or use up too much of your time because I know this is a little bit um uh indulgence, but I want to make sure that you're all prepared whether going forward on the planning commission or what other governmental bodies you have in the future. So, um I'll take questions um after the presentation which won't be included in the five minutes. Um but I'll just take this time right now. Um and it it really should be less than 5

minutes. So, if I could have the presentation um posted and I'll see if our handy clicker works. So, let's see. So, um thank you. Um, so again, uh, this is just a reminder of what we do using the bylaws as a foundation, a template for whatever I'm saying. And I just want to make sure that the commission know that what I'm saying is based on the bylaws. Um, there are stuff that might be slightly added or removed. Um, but that might just be for preference or that might just be to keep the rolling of the meeting um, going. And so I'm going to be open to any suggestions as I have in the past if there's any changes that you want that are not needed in the bylaws. Um but other than that um the stuff I say a lot of it is because of the bylaws. So again much of what we do in the meeting is in regards to rules five and seven. And what we meet for is going to be stated explicitly for all wait I'm sorry. what we meet for is stated explicitly for all those who are listening or watching. We know what we're saying and doing, but for a lot of people, this might be their only time ever to see it. And so, um, I know that in the past, um, I remember that, uh, it was either Commissioner Connelly, Commissioner Dr. Lopez, or myself asked if we could just have some type of boiler boilerplate in regards to so it doesn't seem repetitive. And yes, it does seem repetitive to us. But I think if it's your first time here, you want to know everything and you kind of use some of the instructions that the chair or whatever process is going to get yourself in the right mindset to answer the questions um from staff or the commission. And so I think it's in um the public's interest and the applicant's interest and the city's interest that we say as much possible in regards to that. Um, I start with the bylaws um regarding

how to send comments or when to send comments and I saw already a mistake that I was saying at 3 p.m. and it should be at 5:00 p.m. So, I've already started that at this meeting. Um, I add the email and the phone number. Um, I can remove that if possible or maybe just say um the website and so um if you think it's a little bit too much, we can shave a few seconds off of our meeting in regards to that. Um, slide six. Oh, sorry. I'm reading from my notes. Uh, roll call and pledge of allegiance. Self-explanatory. Uh, for the public comments on agenda, the bylaws are quite short in relation to this section and I'm wary to reduce what I say in regards to this se section significantly as there are other meetings that some may go into in which the public comment section for public hearing items are not right before and may believe this is their only opportunity to speak. Every governmental body does it differently. Um some split their public comments in the beginning or the end and some um put it at the end or or some don't even have the public comments for each public item. They just do it all at the beginning. So this is just to inform everyone what they can say and when they can say it. In regards to the consent agenda, this has in my recollection been solely for minutes and the calendaring of the planning commission meetings. Um but in general as you see in city council it's usually uh usually um in quotes non-controversial items for exparte declarations. Uh seeing how this has been processed before I came onto the planning commission in other meetings. It was sometimes awkward to see members either not say saying anything or having people accidentally talk over each other briefly. And so um as you can see moving across the dis at least in my opinion everyone is sure of when to speak without the need to have to go first or wait awkwardly for someone else to speak. The me and the majority of the meeting comes from rule six.

And in regards to the project introduction, um this last part of the script starting with quote per measure M end quote came from a vote at the planning commission on February 15, 2024 with the motion being to have staff present before to have staff present before each agenda item in light of the passage of measure M. There is a bit of hesitancy with the flexibility of staff summarizing presentation or introducing an item. And so to alleviate any anxiousness on all those concerned, the motion was proposed and approved. I then inserted it in my usual script for both the public and planning commission going forward. I'll remove just this sentence starting per previously approved standing rules purely due to repetit repetitive purposes. However, the standing rules are such that they are indefinitely in effect unless changed by a majority of the planning commission or higher authority bylaws, ordinance or statute amends this provision. In regards to the interim presentation, I've shortened and summarized it. I don't believe it removes anything from the bylaws and appropriately shortens it. In regards to the questions, after the narratives and presentations, this next section elicits more information. I guess I'm going to be over five minutes a little. I am a bit more insistent that we try to stick with just the questions as laid out in the bylaws. For me, when I have made a public comment, when the body start already started with the debate, it felt that my public comment was belated and not as important in their deliberation which might have been helpful. I intend to be loose in regards to this part of the public hearing and I don't want anyone to shorten their introductory remarks but try to get to a question eventually. If there is a comment, it's not exactly appropriate for another commissioner to respond at that time and it would be better to do it during deliberation and therefore a

rebuttal of that non-quest might seem out of place or no longer relevant. In regards to closing remarks and deliberation, uh we have the applicant response, the staff responds, the hearing closes, and then the members deliberate. There's no limit on deliberation before a motion is made. However, a supermajority could limit the time on deliberation and when a motion is eventually made, a series of rules become applicable. Speaking twice per motion, maximum of 10 minutes per speaking occurrence, debate only on the motion before. Um during debate, you've seen um actually for my recollection has been commissioner Dr. Lopez and myself. we've asked to move the previous question or called a question um which I'll go into further at another meeting after public hearings all from row five. I'll be asking staff to switch the commissioner comments with the community development sections going forward um just to go in line with what the bylaws say. I believe these were switched if my recollection serves me well that we wanted the opportunity for last thoughts to be from the commissioners instead of something personal heartfelt being said and then we've reverted back to staff with technical and business items even if that was not the reason I think this reordering will be good and that's all. So I apologize um that it was slightly longer than 5 minutes. I'll try to be better in the future. Um, and I'll take your questions either at this time or um at a later time. I did send an email to all planning commissioners um through um the secretary and so um hopefully I'll be talking with you all in regards to the administrative parts of the meeting uh which I was able to do a couple years ago too um and to I hope to upgrade whatever I say um for future um meetings that I chair. So anyways, thank you very much. Um, any questions at this time? Vice Chair, Dr. Seart,

not so much a question, but just a comment. Uh, when I came on the planning commission 2010, um, we didn't have exparte communication, so we didn't do that part. Um, I know that the the front part is because of COVID and because now we have Zoom, which we didn't do either. Uh but I think overall I think things run smoother because you know having cheered a few meetings back then uh it was a little bit more chaotic and so this has put some order to it and made the meetings run well. So I thank you. I don't think there should really you know having gone through it I don't really see any changes myself.

Thank you Vice Chair Dr. Stewart and a lot of the thanks will go to um previous chair Chavez. um I uh got a lot um of structure from his and then put it into my own preference or how I felt most comfortable. So um a lot goes to him too. So any other questions at this time? Oh, vice chair I mean um commission Dr. Lopez. Thank

Thank you chair. Not so much a question as much as a comment just thanking you for the time uh to prepare this presentation and providing you know it not only to us here on the commission but certainly anyone uh who is watching at home as well. I know that as a newer uh uh commissioner or those first uh couple of hearings, I myself was a still a little bit uh shaky and unsure of of uh when questions were and when deliberations were and I think on one or two occasions I might have offered my deliberation comments where I should have been offering or questions to the staff or the applicant. So just having this overview I know uh from that vantage point certainly uh very helpful to our newer uh commissioners and uh anyone serving in any uh KAG or other body as you said. So just uh thank you.

Thank you Commissioner Dr. Lopez. If there's no further questions we'll move on to community development staff update. Mr. Pearson Chair Rejo not too much. We just um I just want to note that the next meeting will be cancelled. So there's nothing scheduled for the October 2nd meeting. Thank you very much, Mr. Pearson. Um and I assume a meeting is likely to be that third Thursday of October. Um or do you think there will be a meeting um the third Thursday or it's just you just know for sure that there's no meeting the first Thursday? I just know at this time there's no meeting the first Thursday.

Oh, okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Um, okay. Thank you very much. Um, if there's no further business, the meeting will be adjourned. If there's no objection, the meeting is adjourned at 6:58 p.m. Thank you all and good night.