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Record of Proceedings

Planning Commission Study Session and Regular Meeting: Magnolia Tank Farm EIR Discussion Deferred; Auto Storage Zoning Clarified – August 13, 2019

Planning Commission — Tuesday, August 13, 2019
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, August 13, 2019
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Okay, I'll call the planning commission commission study center session.

0:12

To order uh roll call, please.

0:18

Commissioner Skander.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Commissioner Ray.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Vice Chair Grant.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Chair Garcia.

0:25

Here.

0:26

Commissioner Kalmick.

0:27

Here.

0:27

Commissioner Perkins.

0:28

Here.

0:29

Commissioner Mandik is absent.

0:31

Commissioner Mandick is here.

0:34

We have a quorum.

0:41

Okay, do we do we have a motion to approve the agenda?

0:45

I'll make a motion.

0:47

I'll second.

0:50

Okay, that was Grant and Ray.

1:06

All eyes.

1:07

Motion carries.

1:11

Okay, the next item on our agenda is project review future agenda items.

1:18

Is that is that what we're looking at now?

1:21

Okay, 19648.

1:24

Environmental impact report number 17001, Magnolia Tank Farm.

1:30

So we have a presentation.

1:31

Yes, I'll ask Ricky Ramos, our senior planner, um, to give to start off the presentation, and then we have the whole team from the environmental consultants here also giving part of the presentation.

1:43

And then when staff is finished, we do have the um applicant from SHAPOF also doing part of the presentation.

1:48

So with that, I'll turn it over to Ricky.

1:50

All right, thank you.

1:55

Thank you.

1:56

I want to begin by introducing our our consulting team.

1:59

Uh sitting next to me, we have Kathleen Brady, followed by Alia Hokuki with uh SOMAS, they are the EIR consultants for the city, and then next to Alia, we have Dan Close with LLG.

2:11

LLG is our traffic consultant.

2:14

So at the last uh planning commission study session on this project, there were several commission questions that were asked.

2:20

And what we'd like to do now is respond verbally to the ones that are EIR related tonight, and the ones that are more general plan, specific plan or miscellaneous.

2:31

We plan to address at the next study session, which is then they'll be scheduled on August 27th.

2:36

But nonetheless, if there are any new planning commission questions tonight, we love an opportunity to try and respond to them tonight if we can.

2:43

And if we cannot respond to them tonight, we'll respond to them at a subsequent meeting.

2:47

So the questions that uh we have from last time, um there was a question about sea level sea level rise requirements, the proposed grading, pad height, and compatibility.

2:58

The applicant's consultant will be giving a presentation on C level rice.

3:02

We'll hopefully address your questions.

3:04

But in terms of elevations, Magnolia Street as it exists next to this project site is at an elevation of six to seven feet, and the proposed overall elevation for the project site interior is 10 and a half feet, so it's about four and a half feet higher than Magnolia.

3:23

The lodge is proposed at a pad elevation of four feet for the subterranean and parking, but the lodge finished floor is proposed 17 feet, so that would be 10 to 11 feet higher than Magnolia.

3:37

There was a question about impacts of any contamination to the community and any mitigation measures required, such as any protective walls.

3:45

The applicant's consultant will be giving a presentation on site conditions, so if we can ask for your questions related to that, but there is a public works code requirement for a wind barrier to be installed prior to grading, and what we usually see is a six-foot-high chain link fence with fabric on it.

4:03

Um in the future, if the legislative applications that are before uh will be going before the planning commission shortly, if those are approved, the applicant will be submitting the other entitlements that are needed for the actual development.

4:14

So that would be things like the track map, the conditional conditional use permit, and coastal development permit.

4:20

At that time, we can reload at the concern about having protective walls, and if needed, we can condition a taller wall.

4:27

There was a question about um copies of any environmental testing reports that can be provided.

4:33

So EIR attachments uh G1, G2, and G3 are all environmental investigation related uh attachments, and they're posted online, and they contain, I believe, some testing information.

4:48

Next question is Are there any mitigation measures required when the tanks were removed as a result of the ASCON uh project?

4:56

So looking at the environmental analysis that was done for the demolition of the tanks.

5:00

So looking at the environmental analysis that was done for the demolition of the tanks, there were no mitigation measures that directly related to ASCON, but there were several mitigation measures relating to fire department requirements pertaining to soil testing, a potential remedial action plan if needed in closure reports.

5:15

There was a question about maintenance of existing uh county channel sheet pile on the flood control channel.

5:21

Um the county website does indicate that the county has a flood control channel inspection and maintenance program.

5:28

There was a question about uh proposed drainage.

5:32

Uh in simple terms, the drainage will be collected on site and routed to the adjacent Huntington Beach Channel.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Environmental Protection██████████████████████████████████████38%
Planning and Zoning██████████████████████████████████34%
Procedural███████7%
Public Comments██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Health████4%
Transportation Safety███3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Public Safety█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Planning Commission Study Session and Regular Meeting: Magnolia Tank Farm EIR Discussion Deferred; Auto Storage Zoning Clarified – August 13, 2019

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held a study session (4:30-5:30 PM) and a regular meeting (6:00 PM) on August 13, 2019, in Council Chambers. The study session focused on the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Magnolia Tank Farm mixed-use development, but the discussion was deferred to the next study session on August 27, 2019. The regular meeting included approval of meeting minutes and a discussion on auto storage uses in industrial zones, leading to direction for a future zoning code update.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of June 11, 2019 (7-0).
  • Approved minutes of June 25, 2019 (6-0, Chair Garcia abstained due to absence).
  • Approved minutes of July 9, 2019 (6-0, Commissioner Ray abstained due to absence).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Nancy Bucos (resident) opposed the tank farm project, citing historical contamination (a 1945-1948 airport on the site), unresolved asbestos and lead from tank removal, and cumulative air quality impacts from nearby AES and ASCON sites.
  • Dr. Jocelyn De Diego (resident across from the site) expressed fear about cross-contamination from adjacent ASCON Superfund site and urged the commission to table the project until ASCON remediation is complete.
  • Sharon Messick (resident) argued the EIR lacks full disclosure, noting soil gas data gaps, elevated carcinogens (benzopyrene, dibenzoanthracene) near the north property boundary, and disregarded Huntington Beach Fire Department recommendations for grid-based sampling.
  • Shaming Dingus (resident) highlighted insufficient soil gas testing (23 locations on 29 acres, none under former tank areas) and the cumulative hazard from being between ASCON and the power plant, citing South Coast AQMD recommendations for 24/7 HVAC monitoring.
  • Tara Barton (resident, scientist, activist) asked multiple questions about inconsistencies in applicant claims of no contamination, lead and asbestos release during tank removal, groundwater contamination, and the lack of air monitoring for cumulative effects.
  • Stephanie Hansen (resident) raised concerns about underground utility trenches potentially spreading contamination from ASCON to the tank farm site, referencing ASCON groundwater reports.

Discussion Items

  • Environmental Impact Report No. 17-001 (Magnolia Tank Farm) – Staff and applicant consultants presented an overview of the draft EIR, including findings on air quality, biological resources, geology/hazards, and three significant unavoidable impacts (greenhouse gases, vibration, transportation). The applicant’s team also discussed site history, environmental investigations, and the path to residential closure. Commissioners asked questions about alternative development scenarios, traffic mitigation, groundwater flow, and oil wells. Due to time constraints, a motion was made and carried (7-0) to defer the sea level rise presentation and remaining commissioner questions to the next study session on August 27, 2019.
  • Auto Storage Uses and Zoning Interpretation (Item 19-858) – Deputy Director Jennifer Villasenor presented her interpretation of Zoning Code provisions regarding vehicle storage in IG (Industrial General) and IL (Industrial Limited) districts. She clarified that the special provisions (Section H) for automobile dismantling, storage, and impound yards apply only to dismantling operations, not to standalone vehicle storage. The commission discussed the history and potential need for updated regulations. Commissioners Scandura, Perkins, and others expressed interest in prohibiting auto dismantling and adding buffer requirements or conditional use permits for other vehicle storage near residential areas. Staff will incorporate this feedback into the upcoming Phase 2 zoning code update for the October study session.

Key Outcomes

  • The study session on the Magnolia Tank Farm EIR was deferred to August 27, 2019, with the sea level rise presentation and additional commissioner questions rescheduled.
  • The consent calendar (three sets of minutes) was approved.
  • Planning commission gave direction to staff to prepare changes for the October zoning code update, including removing auto dismantling as a permitted use and potentially imposing additional regulations on vehicle storage (e.g., buffers, landscaping, conditional use permits for storage near residential zones).

Meeting Transcript

Okay, I'll call the planning commission commission study center session. To order uh roll call, please. Commissioner Skander. Here. Commissioner Ray. Here. Vice Chair Grant. Here. Chair Garcia. Here. Commissioner Kalmick. Here. Commissioner Perkins. Here. Commissioner Mandik is absent. Commissioner Mandick is here. We have a quorum. Okay, do we do we have a motion to approve the agenda? I'll make a motion. I'll second. Okay, that was Grant and Ray. All eyes. Motion carries. Okay, the next item on our agenda is project review future agenda items. Is that is that what we're looking at now? Okay, 19648. Environmental impact report number 17001, Magnolia Tank Farm. So we have a presentation. Yes, I'll ask Ricky Ramos, our senior planner, um, to give to start off the presentation, and then we have the whole team from the environmental consultants here also giving part of the presentation. And then when staff is finished, we do have the um applicant from SHAPOF also doing part of the presentation. So with that, I'll turn it over to Ricky. All right, thank you. Thank you. I want to begin by introducing our our consulting team. Uh sitting next to me, we have Kathleen Brady, followed by Alia Hokuki with uh SOMAS, they are the EIR consultants for the city, and then next to Alia, we have Dan Close with LLG. LLG is our traffic consultant. So at the last uh planning commission study session on this project, there were several commission questions that were asked. And what we'd like to do now is respond verbally to the ones that are EIR related tonight, and the ones that are more general plan, specific plan or miscellaneous. We plan to address at the next study session, which is then they'll be scheduled on August 27th. But nonetheless, if there are any new planning commission questions tonight, we love an opportunity to try and respond to them tonight if we can. And if we cannot respond to them tonight, we'll respond to them at a subsequent meeting. So the questions that uh we have from last time, um there was a question about sea level sea level rise requirements, the proposed grading, pad height, and compatibility. The applicant's consultant will be giving a presentation on C level rice. We'll hopefully address your questions. But in terms of elevations, Magnolia Street as it exists next to this project site is at an elevation of six to seven feet, and the proposed overall elevation for the project site interior is 10 and a half feet, so it's about four and a half feet higher than Magnolia. The lodge is proposed at a pad elevation of four feet for the subterranean and parking, but the lodge finished floor is proposed 17 feet, so that would be 10 to 11 feet higher than Magnolia. There was a question about impacts of any contamination to the community and any mitigation measures required, such as any protective walls. The applicant's consultant will be giving a presentation on site conditions, so if we can ask for your questions related to that, but there is a public works code requirement for a wind barrier to be installed prior to grading, and what we usually see is a six-foot-high chain link fence with fabric on it. Um in the future, if the legislative applications that are before uh will be going before the planning commission shortly, if those are approved, the applicant will be submitting the other entitlements that are needed for the actual development. So that would be things like the track map, the conditional conditional use permit, and coastal development permit.

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