OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - June 25, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, June 25, 2024
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 25, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:16

I'd like to call the Planning Commission meeting to order.

0:19

Um welcome to the June 25th, 2024 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting.

0:24

While the planning commission welcomes public involvement in free speech, it rejects comments from anyone that are discriminatory, defamatory, or otherwise not protected speech.

0:35

Those comments will not inform nor be considered by the planning commission and may be cause for the chair to interrupt the speaker.

0:42

Such comments will not be consented to or otherwise adopted by the planning commission in its discussions and findings for any other matter.

0:51

Thank you.

0:52

If we could get everybody to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, uh Commission Vice Commissioner Kennedy will lead us.

1:20

Can we have the roll call, please?

1:23

Certainly.

1:24

Commissioner Adam.

1:25

Here.

1:25

Commissioner Pellman.

1:28

Vice Chair Kennedy.

1:29

Here.

1:29

Chair Twining.

1:31

Here.

1:31

Commissioner Wood.

1:32

Here.

1:33

Commissioner Rodriguez.

1:34

Here.

1:34

And Commissioner Acosta Gulban is absent.

1:37

And we do have a quorum.

1:38

Thank you.

1:40

Now's the time for public comments for items that are not on the agenda this evening.

1:45

Do we have any public comments?

1:47

We have no one signed up to speak for items that are not on the agenda.

1:50

Thank you.

1:52

Next are the public hearing items.

1:55

We have zoning map amendment number 24005, the mapping consistency cleanup project, residential zones.

2:03

Planning commissioners, if you could state your uh disclosures regarding this item.

2:08

We'll start with Commissioner Adams.

2:10

No disclosures.

2:13

Um I spoke with staff.

2:16

No disclosures.

2:18

I spoke with staff too.

2:21

I spoke to uh Ricky Ramos earlier today.

2:25

No disclosures.

2:30

Snap staff, may we have the uh presentation, please?

2:34

Yes, Madeline Welch will give the presentation.

2:38

Thank you.

2:40

Good evening, Chair and members of the planning commission.

2:42

Tonight's item is zoning map amendment regarding the uh regarding certain sites that have a residential general plan designation.

2:52

So to begin, staff has identified 30 parcels which have zoning designations that are inconsistent with the general plan.

2:58

So with that, the request tonight is to amend the current zoning designation of such parcels to bring them into conformance with their general plan designation of residential.

3:08

The general plan is a comprehensive blueprint which provides a framework for the utilization and management of the city's physical and economic resource and guides decisions regarding land use in the city through the year 2040.

3:20

State law requires that every city, every city to adopt a general plan and requires the zorting or zoning ordinance to be in compliance with it.

3:29

The zoning map and ordinance are both tools that implement the general plan's land use element.

3:35

So this amendment is prompted to fix the inconsistencies between the current zoning and general plan designations.

3:41

The amendment would change the zoning of the parcel in tonight's request to the residential designation that is consistent with its existing general plan designation.

3:49

Staff has evaluated the affected parcels and determined that most of the proposed zones will be compatible with the existing uses on site and with the zoning in the surrounding area.

4:00

The existing uses on some of the parcels will remain nonconforming with this DMA.

4:04

However, the zoning for the site itself will become in compliance with the general plan.

4:10

4,436 notices were sent out to properties within 500 feet of each subject site.

4:16

Notices were sent via certified mail to the property owners of each subject site.

4:21

Staff did receive one request to opt out, and that example has been removed in tonight's presentation, leaving tonight's request a total of 28 parcels.

4:31

So here's a map uh demonstrating the existing zoning for the parcels that are included in tonight's request.

4:38

We do also have physical maps here in the chambers tonight.

4:42

This is the amended zoning map, and now I will go through each example.

4:48

So the first example is a drive aisle, which leads to an entrance of a neighborhood off of 11th Street, just south of Main Street.

4:56

It is owned by the Crystal Island Estates Homeownowners Association.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████82%
Procedural██████11%
Environmental Protection███5%
Public Engagement█1%
Public Comments█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - June 25, 2024

The Planning Commission met on June 25, 2024, to consider two public hearing items: a citywide zoning map amendment to align 28 parcels with their residential General Plan designations, and a conditional use permit for a new restaurant with alcohol, live entertainment, and dancing. Both items were approved.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the Planning Commission minutes from May 28, 2024, as submitted. (Commissioner Rodriguez abstained; all others present voted aye.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Zoning Map Amendment: Two speakers addressed the commission. George Berg expressed agreement with the proposal. Norm Kramer raised concerns about contamination on railroad right-of-way properties in North Huntington Beach, urging the city to consider designating such areas as open space/park rather than other uses to avoid expensive environmental studies.
  • Conditional Use Permit: Applicant Murat "Coach" Koch (owner of Coach's restaurants) spoke and answered commissioner questions, confirming his intent for the new establishment.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Map Amendment No. 24-005 (Mapping Consistency Cleanup - Residential Zones): Staff presented a cleanup project affecting 30 parcels (reduced to 28 after one property owner opted out). The amendment would rezone parcels to match their residential General Plan designations, addressing inconsistencies predating the 2017 General Plan update. Commissioner Kennedy noted the city is now required by State law (AB 821) to match zoning to the General Plan, and criticized past transparency. Commissioner Rodriguez asked about costs for property owners who opt out; staff noted fees could exceed $47,000 plus consultant costs. The commission deliberated and approved the amendment.
  • Conditional Use Permit No. 24-006 (Coach's Lounge Alcohol and Live Entertainment): Staff recommended approval for a 7,000 sq. ft. restaurant at 8911 Adams Avenue, with alcohol service (ABC Type 47), live entertainment (live bands up to four members, DJ, karaoke, painting activities), and dancing. Police Department conditions included closing exterior doors/windows during entertainment and terminating entertainment at least 30 minutes before closing. Parking analysis showed 123 spaces available; combined demand with adjacent adult care facility was 119 spaces. Commission questions covered hours of operation (Monday–Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.) and notification radius (500 feet). The permit was approved.

Key Outcomes

  • ZMA No. 24-005: Approved (6-0, with one commissioner absent). To be forwarded to City Council.
  • CUP No. 24-006 (Coach's Lounge): Approved (6-0). Appealable to City Council within 10 calendar days.
  • Commissioner Kennedy raised concerns about transparency and an upcoming appeal regarding a school bus maintenance facility, urging staff to ensure all requirements are met.
  • Commissioner Wood noted the Phase 4 zoning cleanup (including railroad right-of-way) was continued from the May meeting and will be brought back at the end of July.
  • Chair Twining adjourned the meeting to July 9, 2024.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the Planning Commission meeting to order. Um welcome to the June 25th, 2024 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting. While the planning commission welcomes public involvement in free speech, it rejects comments from anyone that are discriminatory, defamatory, or otherwise not protected speech. Those comments will not inform nor be considered by the planning commission and may be cause for the chair to interrupt the speaker. Such comments will not be consented to or otherwise adopted by the planning commission in its discussions and findings for any other matter. Thank you. If we could get everybody to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, uh Commission Vice Commissioner Kennedy will lead us. Can we have the roll call, please? Certainly. Commissioner Adam. Here. Commissioner Pellman. Vice Chair Kennedy. Here. Chair Twining. Here. Commissioner Wood. Here. Commissioner Rodriguez. Here. And Commissioner Acosta Gulban is absent. And we do have a quorum. Thank you. Now's the time for public comments for items that are not on the agenda this evening. Do we have any public comments? We have no one signed up to speak for items that are not on the agenda. Thank you. Next are the public hearing items. We have zoning map amendment number 24005, the mapping consistency cleanup project, residential zones. Planning commissioners, if you could state your uh disclosures regarding this item. We'll start with Commissioner Adams. No disclosures. Um I spoke with staff. No disclosures. I spoke with staff too. I spoke to uh Ricky Ramos earlier today. No disclosures. Snap staff, may we have the uh presentation, please? Yes, Madeline Welch will give the presentation. Thank you. Good evening, Chair and members of the planning commission. Tonight's item is zoning map amendment regarding the uh regarding certain sites that have a residential general plan designation. So to begin, staff has identified 30 parcels which have zoning designations that are inconsistent with the general plan. So with that, the request tonight is to amend the current zoning designation of such parcels to bring them into conformance with their general plan designation of residential. The general plan is a comprehensive blueprint which provides a framework for the utilization and management of the city's physical and economic resource and guides decisions regarding land use in the city through the year 2040. State law requires that every city, every city to adopt a general plan and requires the zorting or zoning ordinance to be in compliance with it. The zoning map and ordinance are both tools that implement the general plan's land use element. So this amendment is prompted to fix the inconsistencies between the current zoning and general plan designations. The amendment would change the zoning of the parcel in tonight's request to the residential designation that is consistent with its existing general plan designation. Staff has evaluated the affected parcels and determined that most of the proposed zones will be compatible with the existing uses on site and with the zoning in the surrounding area.

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