Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - October 23, 2018

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, 2000 Main Street. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM and adjourned at 8:06 PM. The Commission unanimously approved two conditional use permits—one allowing alcohol sales at Shanghai'd Room and one for a new medical office building—and approved the June 26, 2018 minutes. The study session scheduled for 5:15 PM was cancelled.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 26, 2018: Approved 5-0-2. Commissioners Kalmick and Mandic abstained because they were not present at that meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the public comments period at the start of the meeting.
• Shanghai'd Room (Item 18-338): Owner David Hay, a Huntington Beach resident for 14 years, spoke in favor, stating he agreed with the proposed conditions and noted that the establishment does not serve food. No other public speakers signed up.
• OC Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Center (Item 18-358): Tony Sellas spoke in opposition, arguing that the ground-floor parking area constitutes a "parking structure" under HBZO definitions, was not reviewed by the Design Review Board, does not meet required 10-foot side setbacks, and that required parking should be 49.5 or 50 spaces rather than the calculated amount. He requested denial. Applicant Vinnie Tran responded, asserting that the project is not a parking structure, that parking calculations follow code (usable area 7,324 sq ft yielding 41 required spaces, with 44 provided), and that setbacks comply. The owner and architect were also present.

Discussion Items

Public Hearing 1: Conditional Use Permit No. 18-028 (Shanghai'd Room Alcohol)

• Staff requested approval for the on-site sale, service, and consumption of alcohol (ABC Type 48) at 16391 Beach Boulevard, an existing eating/drinking establishment operating since 1973 with a beer-and-wine (Type 42) license.
• Police Department reported no DUIs or public intoxication arrests year-to-date, and 16 calls for service over the last two years with the majority determined as "no crime."
• Conditions include limiting hours to 10 a.m.–2 a.m., keeping beverages within the interior, no reduced-price alcohol promotions after 7 p.m., surveillance cameras, employee training/certification, and restrictions on advertising alcohol sales and happy hours outside.
• Commissioner Grant expressed concern about outside advertising of happy hours; staff confirmed restrictions. Chair Scandura voted in favor but voiced reluctance, urging the owner to strictly manage the premises to avoid rowdy crowds.
• Motion by Grant, seconded by Mandic, passed 7-0.

Public Hearing 2: Conditional Use Permit No. 17-044 and Variance No. 18-003 (OC Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Center)

• Staff recommended approval for an approximately 8,663 sq ft, two-story medical office building at 19121 Brookhurst Street on a 0.58-acre flag-shaped lot with a 6-foot grade differential.
• The project provides 44 parking spaces (staff report stated 42 required; the applicant's zoning matrix stated 41 required). The variance would reduce the required 5-foot perimeter landscape planters to 0 feet along the south and 4 ft 9 in along the north to accommodate an ADA path and lot constraints. Landscaping totals 18% of the site versus 8% required.
• Staff clarified that variance finding #3 should read 18% not 20%, and public works recommended deleting condition #3 requiring undergrounding utilities because Southern California Edison is already planning to underground them.
• Public speaker Tony Sellas raised concerns about fire access and requested denial. The applicant and staff responded, with fire officials confirming a robust fire safety design (increased sprinkler density, standpipes, alarms).
• Commissioners discussed at length: the definition of a parking structure (ground-floor open parking is not a structure), the variance justification (ADA path and narrow lot), elevator size for a gurney (8 ft x 8 ft), lighting, and potential pedestrian conflicts with the adjacent drive-through. The applicant proposed an optional 2-foot low wall along side property lines, not required.
• Motion by Kalmick, seconded by Grant, passed 7-0 with staff-recommended amendments: change the 20% figure to 18% in finding #1 and delete condition #3 regarding utility undergrounding.

Key Outcomes

• CUP 18-028 (Shanghai'd Room): Approved 7-0, with CEQA Class 1 categorical exemption and conditions of approval.
• CUP 17-044 / Variance 18-003 (OC Cosmetic): Approved 7-0, with CEQA Class 3 categorical exemption and findings/conditions as amended.
• Both decisions are appealable to the City Council within 10 calendar days.
• Consent Calendar: June 26, 2018 minutes approved 5-0-2.
• Next regular Planning Commission meeting is November 13, 2018 at 7:00 PM (study session on zoning code update). Chair Scandura noted he would be on vacation and closed with "Go Dodgers."