Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

36. How bad will they be during lunch? St. They're packed all day till 2:00. They close at 2, right? Yeah. And then they'll open up again at 5:30. Huh? My sister was thinking of doing something. But the morning yet, oh, I know. Heck yeah. Good evening. I would like to call to order the planning commission meeting for March 16th, 2026 at 601. Could I get a roll call, please? Uh, Commissioner Sarno here. Commissioner Cervantes

here. Commissioner Flores, present. Vice Chair Yella here. Chair Jimenez here. All present. I Great. I would like to call upon Commissioner Cvantes to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Please. 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. Exparte communications. This section is intended to allow all planning commissioners the opportunity to reveal any disclosure regarding site visits or exparte communications about public hearings. Are there any exparte communications? None. None. None.

And none here. Moving on to public comments on non-aggenda and non-public hearing agenda items. At this time, the general public may address the planning commission on both non-aggenda and non-public hearing agenda items. Comments relating to public hearing items will be heard during public hearing. Please be aware that the maximum time allowed for members of the public to speak shall not exceed 3 minutes per speaker. State law prohibits planning commission from taking action or entering extended discussion on a topic not listed on the agenda. Please show courtesy to others and direct all of your comments to the chairperson. Planning Commission SE Secretary, do we have any public comments?

Uh we we don't have any um members of the public wish to speak. Thank you. All right. I will now close public comments and move 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 by one single motion. For consent item number one, is there a motion and a second for the approval of this consent item? I'll move. I'll second.

Moved by Commissioner Cervantes, second by Commissioner Sarno. Could I get a roll call vote, please? Commissioner Sarno, I. Commissioner Cervantes, I. Commissioner Flores, I. Vice Chair Yella, I. Chair Jimenez, I passes Fiser.

So ordered. There's a 14-day 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 public hearing at 6:04 p.m. I now call upon associate planner Alejandro de Laer loa to introduce this item. Break it.

Just talk louder. He broke your mic. Hello. It was Gabe Small.

Oh, my bad. There we go. Okay. Good evening. All right. So, I will be presenting on item number two, which is the uh alcohol sales conditional use permit, ASUP number 92. So, a little bit of background about this item. It is located at 13533 Alandro Boulevard and that's the area designated in the red outline. Um, this is with a land use designation of industrial. It is within the M2 heavy manufacturing zone and the applicant today is ABS Wholesale, Inc. The size of the property itself is 3.438 43 acres, but the smaller um filledin portion is the tenant space that we're looking at today, which is 1,752 square ft. And the rest of the the rest of the site is used as a multi-tenant industrial site. So, a bit of background about the applicant, which again is ABS Wholesale. Um they were established in 2020 and they have actually been operating within the city uh since 2020 or since 2022. And this would be a relocation of their previously approved facility that was at 13701 Excelsia Drive. So that one previously also had um alcohol sales uh included as well and that was under ASCUP number 86. They do operate as a businessto business distributor. So they do not have any um on sale um or retail component to their business. This would just be to other businesses and a majority of their sales do go towards convenience stores primarily to 7-Elevens in the area. So this request specifically for ASUP number 92 would be to allow the operation and maintenance of an alcohol beverage distributor and warehousing facility with the following alcohol beverage and control license types ABC

licenses. So it' be a type 9 for beer and wine importer, type 12 for distilled spirits importer, type 17 for beer and wine wholesaler, and type 18 for distilled spirits wholesaler. So really this is just for importing um the alcohol, storing it on site and then being able to distribute it to others. And again, this is no retail sales proposed. Um and this approval would be contingent on the applicant obtaining approval from ABC as well within a year. And this request is consistent with the other requirements within the city zoning code. As for the operations, they will be operating from Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. So, standard uh business hours, they would have at most three employees uh on site at once, but usually approximately 1 to three. And as for the security, um again, they're not open to the public, so it' only be accessible to uh employees of the facility. They're also going to be required to submit a security plan to our department of uh police and community services and that is written within the conditions of approval condition number nine. And they do um their main product distribution would be for import and domestic beer, wine, and distilled spirits. Again, primarily to local convenience stores. And their deliveries would only occur during business hours and would be limited to medium duty trucks only. Um so they wouldn't have any heavy duty trucks on site. It would just be like 15 foot parcel vans and uh 16 foot box trucks. As for the environmental review, uh staff does propose that the project be exempt from SQA uh pursuant to section 15301 class one which is the existing facilities and that is because uh they're not making any changes um or expansions to the building footprint itself. uh they're not increasing any operations between the existing industrial use on the site and we are not anticipating any significant uh environmental impacts as a result of these operations. As for the public hearing notice, this was mailed to all property owners within

500 ft of the site and it was posted throughout various city facilities and on March 6th uh we did publish it on the Los Certo's community newspaper and today we have not received any comments from the public. So, some final key considerations here. Um, there is an industrial context for this site. The facility is surrounded by M2 uses and indust or the M2 zone and industrial uses. It's going to be limited traffic. Again, this will only be medium duty trucks with minimal passenger vehicle traffic because it would just be the employees um that would be driving into the facility. The security, they are going to be close to the public with no retail sales and only be accessible to employees. is a small footprint with only approximately 1,752 square feet. So, we're not expecting this to make any significant changes to the character of the neighborhood. And finally, it would be business retention for uh the city as well because they are an existing in city business and this approval would allow them to continue operating within the city. So with that, we do recommend that you determine that the project is categorically exempt under section 15301, the class one existing facilities of the SQL guidelines to approve ASUP case number 92 subject to the conditions approved within uh resolution 315-2026 and to adopt resolution number 315-2026 which incorporates the planning commission's findings and actions regarding this matter. Thank you. Sorry. We will now move on to commissioner questions or comments. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for staff?

None. None. None. I'll be the guinea pig. It's just more of a comment. Um, so this is just basically an extension of of what they're doing for more floor space for themselves, right? Yeah, it's just additional warehousing. Yeah. Hopefully we can then start streamlining this. I mean, I don't think that we need to Is there a reason why we need to give them a ne another conditional use permit for a different building, but under the still falls under their same cup, whether it's at this as long as it's permitted in that area, it should just streamline and piggy back as long it's all under the same name and everything else like that. That's

Yeah. So, the the current code is what um dictates this process currently. Yes. But as you know, we're going through the zoning code update and so definitely take that into consideration if possible. That's it. So, not so much paperwork. He doesn't have to sit up here for 10 minutes and read a bunch of stuff to us. Any other questions? Okay. Does any member of the commission have any questions or comments for the applicant? Okay. No questions. 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, that being said, I will now close the public hearing at 613. May I have a motion to approve alcohol sale conditional use permit case number 92 and adopt resolution number 315-2026, which incorporates the planning commission's findings and actions regarding this matter. I'll move Second. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Planning Commission Secretary, could we please conduct a roll call vote? Commissioner Sarno, I. Commissioner Cervantes, I.

Commissioner Flores, I. Vice Chair Ayella, I. Chair Jimenez, I. Passes. So ordered.

There is a 14-day appeal period for anyone wishing to appeal this matter. Moving on to item number three on the agenda. At this time, I will open the public hearing at 6:14 p.m. I will now call upon community development assistant director Vince Velasco to introduce this item. Thank you, chair. Good evening, commissioners. Um, this item was before you in August of 2025. The commission approved a one-year time extension until August of this year, 2026. However, there were um a few updated conditions, specific milestone conditions that the developer needed to meet uh specifically condition of approval number nine and number seven. And that's what brings us back here tonight. Uh as those milestone conditions uh could not be met, but the developer has provided justification uh to extend the time extension until February 18th of 2027. This additional sixmonth uh extension would allow them to comply with the DTSC clearance requirement and then uh proceed for construction permits and there um and thereafter uh proceed with vertical construction. So again, um this uh request before you tonight is to approve an additional six months from the August uh 18, 2026 uh time period until February 18, 2027 as um subject to the conditions of approval already provided in the original entitlements as well as the extended uh entitlements last um August.

Okay. Thank you. Do we have any questions or comments for staff? Is the extension due to uh out of control of of from the DTS?

Yes. So the applicant did provide us with documentation their correspondence with DTSC. DTSC has even reached out to us in which we have uh coordinated with them. we've asked them for uh a way of expediting in which they weren't very um accommodating is the best way to say it. Um and so as part of the attachment of this time extension request uh the applicant did provide a schedule in which they anticipate uh receiving DTSC clearance which is December of this year 2026. So, February um kind of gives them that cushion should that December deadline not happen as expected.

Any other questions or comments? Um what about for staff? I mean for uh the applicant none. Okay. Yes. Applicant is sitting audience. I just make a comment. Sure. Can Sir, great. How you doing?

I want to commend you because I know you have made a big effort in making sure that things are clean and stuff in in the area and it does look a thousand times better than what it has in the past. So, thank you for for keeping a man uh keeping your word on what you would do for us. Um, I do want to say some I think maybe a little bit more on on the driving by like maybe monthly or every couple weeks make sure because you do have some homeless people that are encamped outside the fence right there and stuff like that. Just giving uh staff a little bit of information sometimes like that we can help out and maybe move some of those people out of the area for

Absolutely. I appreciate you saying it. I know that that was something that when I came here a year ago, you know, looking for the extension, you guys did press upon me uh you know, an element of of maintenance. I did paint our neighbors um you know wall and then secured it. We've got 24-hour security cameras. So any any tips? I mean I I have to say with the city manager that's come in here and you know the upgrade in terms of elevating certain staff members, it it's night and day what's going on with your city. So I have to commend you what you guys are doing. I I'm I'm hopefully going to come back. I'm supposed to get an offer from uh an exciting tenant um tonight or tomorrow regarding a portion of the property which will be modifying a little bit of the site plan. Um but again, staff Vince and Kuang, you know, I could text them at any point. They text me at any any time or weekend saying, "Hey, you know, I saw this or someone whatever." And I I address it. But I I appreciate you commenting to that and

I appreciate you also saying to be on the same page 100%. No, I'm great grateful to do business here. We appreciate you guys. Great job. Thank you. 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. If there are no further commission questions or comments, I will now close the public hearing at 6:19. May I have a motion to approve time extension for TPM number 84116 and DPA case numbers 1000 and 1001 and adopt resolution number 316-2026, which incorporates the planning commission's findings and actions regarding this matter. I'll make a motion. I'll second. Okay, we got a a first and a second. Planning Commission Secretary, please conduct a roll call vote. Commissioner Sarno, I.

Commissioner Cervantes, I. Commissioner Flores, I. Vice Chair Yella, I. Chair Jimenez, I pass.

So ordered. There's a 14-day appeal period for anyone wishing to appeal this matter. Moving on to presentations, zoning code education series, property development standards. I would like to call upon assistant director of community development Vince Velasco to present item number four. So, chair, um now that the business item is uh kind of conducted, we'll move on to the fun part of the agenda, which is this uh education series uh for the zoning code update. Um, as you know, we've kind of continued this series from what is zoning. Last meeting talked about uses and so felt it was appropriate to go over um, property development standards. And again, this is more of just a summary of what property development standards are so that you have the context for when you start looking at the administrative draft that comes out this summer. Um we can definitely uh dive into any of these topics in a in a full discussion. Uh but I think it'll be better that we do that once we have the code language that we want to propose and then you can see the existing versus the proposed and more meaningful dialect. Um but just to reiterate what property development standards are. They dictate what types of buildings are allowed, how tall buildings can be, how far buildings must be from property lines, how much parking is required, and potentially how much a lot can be built on. So, the zoning rules guide how land use uh how how the land can be used and developed. They help keep development organized and predictable. They help protect neighborhood character and safety. They give clear expectations for property owners and developers. So these are just a few examples that I'll go through. First one is setbacks.

Setbacks tell you how far a building must be uh must sit from the edges of the property. So why they exist? They help create space between buildings. They allow for light and air and they help maintain neighborhood spacing. Uh the next example is building heights. So building limits control how tall the buildings can be. Um, the height rules help protect views and sunlight. They help keep buildings similar in scale and they help maintain neighborhood characteristic. Next example is lot coverage. Lot coverage tells us uh how much a property can be covered by the buildings. So for example, if that requirement was 50%, then 50% of that lot can be covered by buildings or structures. So why this matters? Uh it leaves space for yards, helps with drainage, reduces overcrowding, and the last example is parking. I know that we can definitely dive into parking. Uh and we will do so at a later time once we have uh

I got a question. Go back to the next go back. So 50% building, 50% open space for landscaping and stuff like that. with these new rules with ADA and SB9s and we're doing away with garages and that type of stuff. Would we be shrinking some of that open space to have for parking instead of uh grass and greenery and stuff like that so we're not putting so many cars on the streets and maybe opening up more to to them? Would that be a consideration?

Yeah, I think we can uh definitely be open-minded. Um we we all I mean recognize and know that there's a a parking uh issue and congestion. Um it'll be up to the the consensus on if you want to remove front landscaping to increase driveway space for additional parking. Um but we would typically set a maximum lot coverage with exceptions. So as you mentioned ADU SP9 those are certain exceptions that would fall within uh you know as it relates to lot coverage. Um so yeah just going back to to parking as we know the code dictates not only the limit of how many parking spaces each use needs to have uh dictates uh parking stall sizes and circulation. So the purpose again reduce street congestion and make sure visitors and residents have somewhere to park. Not only does uh the development standards talk about um development requirements, but we also have design standards. And those are things such as uh landscaping, lighting, building materials, signage, and screening for either trash uh enclosures or equipment. And so just how how these rules are used and applied. Uh when a project is proposed to the city, staff will review the project plans. uh plans are reviewed against the zoning rules. Uh we may request changes if they don't comply and ultimately try to get them to an approval. Planning commission, your role typically uh comes into play for development projects where you review those projects with compliance with the zoning code uh or you make decisions on certain applications that could even be deviations from uh the zoning requirements as you've seen require uh deviations to parking setbacks, right? certain circumstances that are justified with uh unique circumstances. And so just to summarize the key

takeaways again, the zoning rules guide how properties can be developed. Uh development standards, control size, lot uh location and design. Planning commission does have a a role in reviewing those projects. Uh and then they do provide clear standards to help uh create predictable and fair outcomes. And with that, just a friendly reminder to join us on Wednesday, the city library at six o'clock for the next zoning code update workshop. Uh we'll talk a little bit about residential landscaping, uh industrial design standards, and uh signage. So, what's existing and what are some of the anticipated or proposed um language for discussion?

Nice. Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions that I can help you with? Any questions? All right. Thank you so much. Thank you, Vince. Having no further questions, I would like to thank assistant director of community development, Vince Velasco for the training. Thank you. Does staff have any announcements? Any announcements from staff? Yes. So, we will be as some of you already met Lloyd, our new planning commission attorney. Nice to have you. Welcome.

Are you rushing from downtown LA? Also, I came from home from South LA.

Nice. Okay. Does any commissioners have anything to report? None. All right. Having nothing to report, this meeting is now adjourned at 6:27. The next meeting of the planning commission is set for April 13, 2026 at 6 PM. Thank you.