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Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - November 13, 2018

Planning Commission — Tuesday, November 13, 2018
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, November 13, 2018
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 45:34

Original source
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0:00

Being renovated by the family.

0:02

But really, in terms of old episode, um for the Planning Commission.

0:31

Um I guess we need roll call, right?

0:39

Commissioner Crow.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Commissioner Ray?

0:42

Here.

0:42

Vice Chair Garcia.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Commissioner Kelmick.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Commissioner Mandick.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Commissioner Grant.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Chair Scandura is absent.

0:53

We have a quorum.

0:55

Thank you.

0:56

Okay, I need a motion to approve the agenda.

1:00

So moved.

1:01

Second.

1:05

I thought I did.

1:08

Oh, okay.

1:10

Sorry.

1:10

Second still open.

1:12

Oh, I guess I made the motion, then you could second.

1:14

Okay.

1:15

Oh, there you go.

1:16

There's your second.

1:19

Okay.

1:20

Do we know who they are?

1:22

Okay.

1:25

Please vote.

1:32

All eyes.

1:33

Chair Scandura absent.

1:35

Motion carries.

1:38

Okay, I'm presuming we have a staff report on the um project 18426.

1:43

Yes, we'll ask Nicole Obey, associate planner, to give the staff report.

1:48

Thank you.

1:52

Thank you.

1:53

Good evening, Planning Commissioners.

1:55

Tonight we'll be discussing zoning text amendment 1800 three, Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Maintenance Udate.

2:04

The goal of tonight's study session is to introduce the proposal and take questions from the planning commission that will be answered in the staff report for the public hearing.

2:14

The last comprehensive update to the ZSO occurred in 1994.

2:18

Various amendments have been approved over the years, but there has not been a comprehensive update since 1994.

2:25

The most recent update was in 2014 when the city adopted a minor update to clarify existing terms and processes.

2:49

Overall, ZTA 18003 will amend six chapters of the ZSO.

2:55

Within those six chapters, it will reorganize some entitlements for certain applications to a lower hearing body, for example, from planning commission to zoning administrator.

3:25

Now I'll go over some of the details of what is proposed as part of the update for each of the chapters.

3:32

In chapter 203 definitions, it's proposed to clarify two existing definitions, site coverage, and setback line, delete the definition of a guest house, and add a new definition for assisted living facilities.

4:16

One is for medical and dental offices.

4:55

Add references to other relevant sections in the municipal code.

5:00

For example, um the kennel section in the municipal code specifically will be referenced in animal sales.

5:10

And also just update this section to reflect changes made in the use classifications chapter.

5:17

There's only one change proposed as part of Chapter 214 public semi-public districts, and that would be to add the convalescent facilities land use and include planning commission approval for those entitlements.

5:33

In section 230.26, there are a couple of changes proposed for the affordable housing provisions.

5:42

It's proposed to add eligibility for for sale projects to pay in LU fees and add emergency shelters and navigation centers for off-site construction of affordable units, and also add tenant-based rental assistance programs in that section.

6:04

And chapter 231 for off-street parking and loading, it's proposed to add a parking requirement for convalescent facilities.

6:22

That concludes staff's presentation.

6:30

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Procedural██████████████████23%
Affordable Housing████5%
Public Safety████5%
Engineering And Infrastructure███4%
Public Comments███4%
Economic Development██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - November 13, 2018

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held a study session at 5:15 PM and a regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, in Council Chambers. Chair John Scandura was absent; Vice Chair Pat Garcia presided. The commission reviewed a major zoning code update, approved a conditional use permit for a restaurant's beer/wine and karaoke, and approved meeting minutes.

Study Session

Zoning Text Amendment No. 18-003 (Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Update)

  • Staff introduced a multi-phase, comprehensive update to the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance (ZSO), the first comprehensive update since 1994 (with a minor update in 2014). The current phase focuses on "low-hanging fruit" and routine clarifications, with more complex items to come in future phases over the next couple of years.
  • Proposed changes include: clarifying definitions (site coverage, setback line), deleting the guest house definition, adding a definition for assisted living facilities, adding convalescent facilities to public/semi-public districts, modifying affordable housing provisions (adding in-lieu fee eligibility for for-sale projects, adding emergency shelters/navigation centers, and tenant-based rental assistance), and adding parking requirements for convalescent facilities.
  • Staff explained that the update would shift some entitlements from the Planning Commission to lower hearing bodies (e.g., zoning administrator) to streamline processes, reduce costs, and focus commission time on more complex matters.
  • Affordable housing changes are driven by housing element goals: the city has met its moderate-income goals but lacks low-income housing. In-lieu fees could be used for homeless housing and tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), partly because the city lacks a certified housing element and thus does not qualify for state funds.
  • Commissioners asked about policy origins, the ability to suggest changes, appeal rights for downgraded permits, and specific definitions (guest house, ultimate right-of-way, microblading, equestrian centers). Staff clarified that suggestions can be made and may be incorporated now or later.
  • This item was for information only; no formal action was taken.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Planning Commission Minutes – The commission approved the minutes from August 14, 2018, and August 28, 2018, in one motion. Motion carried 6-0 (Chair Scandura absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the study session or the regular meeting public comment period.
  • For the public hearing item, Nora Nieto, applicant, spoke in support of the conditional use permit, noting the noise survey was pending approval and that coordination with the Police Department was underway.

Discussion Items

Conditional Use Permit No. 18-011 (Taquerias Don Victor Beer and Wine/Live Entertainment)

  • Staff presented the request for the sale, service, and consumption of beer and wine (ABC License Type 41) and a live entertainment permit for a karaoke booth within an expanded portion of a 2,123 sq. ft. eating and drinking establishment at 17552 Beach Boulevard, Ste. D-E.
  • The restaurant has operated since 2005; it expanded into Suite E in 2017. The proposed live entertainment is limited to the interior, with hours of operation 7 a.m. to midnight daily, and live entertainment from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., ending at least 30 minutes before closing.
  • The closest residential dwelling is more than 200 feet away, separated by a parking lot and street. Staff recommended approval with conditions, including a sound survey by a licensed engineer to be coordinated with the Police Department.
  • Commissioners discussed the timing of the sound survey and the condition prohibiting happy hours; the noise survey would be done after approval, potentially leading to mitigation measures if needed.
  • The commission approved the project with a finding of CEQA exemption (Class 1, Section 15301) and the conditional use permit with conditions. Motion carried 6-0 (Chair Scandura absent).

Key Outcomes

  • ZTA 18-003 – Reviewed; no action taken; staff will incorporate feedback and prepare a staff report for a future public hearing.
  • CUP 18-011 – Approved 6-0 (Chair absent); the decision is appealable to the City Council within 10 calendar days.
  • Minutes – Approved 6-0 (Chair absent) for August 14 and August 28, 2018.

Announcements

  • Commissioner Bill Crowe was commended for his service on the Planning Commission; this was noted as his last meeting.
  • The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for November 27, 2018, but was canceled. There will be no meeting that evening.

Meeting Transcript

Being renovated by the family. But really, in terms of old episode, um for the Planning Commission. Um I guess we need roll call, right? Commissioner Crow. Here. Commissioner Ray? Here. Vice Chair Garcia. Here. Commissioner Kelmick. Here. Commissioner Mandick. Here. Commissioner Grant. Here. Chair Scandura is absent. We have a quorum. Thank you. Okay, I need a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. I thought I did. Oh, okay. Sorry. Second still open. Oh, I guess I made the motion, then you could second. Okay. Oh, there you go. There's your second. Okay. Do we know who they are? Okay. Please vote. All eyes. Chair Scandura absent. Motion carries. Okay, I'm presuming we have a staff report on the um project 18426. Yes, we'll ask Nicole Obey, associate planner, to give the staff report. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Planning Commissioners. Tonight we'll be discussing zoning text amendment 1800 three, Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance Maintenance Udate. The goal of tonight's study session is to introduce the proposal and take questions from the planning commission that will be answered in the staff report for the public hearing. The last comprehensive update to the ZSO occurred in 1994. Various amendments have been approved over the years, but there has not been a comprehensive update since 1994. The most recent update was in 2014 when the city adopted a minor update to clarify existing terms and processes. Overall, ZTA 18003 will amend six chapters of the ZSO. Within those six chapters, it will reorganize some entitlements for certain applications to a lower hearing body, for example, from planning commission to zoning administrator. Now I'll go over some of the details of what is proposed as part of the update for each of the chapters. In chapter 203 definitions, it's proposed to clarify two existing definitions, site coverage, and setback line, delete the definition of a guest house, and add a new definition for assisted living facilities.

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