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Record of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - April 27, 2021

Planning Commission — Tuesday, April 27, 2021
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, April 27, 2021
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

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

0:18

Welcome to the April 27th, 2021 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting.

0:24

On March 4th, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19.

0:32

On March 17th, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N 2920, which allows the local legislative body to hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the local legislative body.

0:57

Pursuant to the executive order, please be advised that some members of the Planning Commission and City staff are participating in this meeting telephonically or electronically.

1:08

While the city cannot provide an in-person location for the meeting at this time, property owners, residents, and any interested parties can view the meeting live on HBTV Channel 3 or live via stream via live stream on the city's website.

1:25

Interested parties also had the opportunity to submit comments on any items prior to the meeting.

1:32

Staff will identify any public comments received at the appropriate time on the agenda.

1:37

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

1:48

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

1:55

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

2:05

Thank you.

2:06

I'd like to call on Commissioner Vandermark to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:15

Put your right hand over your heart.

2:17

Ready?

2:18

Begin.

2:19

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

2:26

For which it stands.

2:29

One nation.

2:29

One nation.

2:30

Under God.

2:31

Individual liberty and justice for all.

2:39

Thank you.

2:40

May we have the roll call, please.

2:44

Commissioner Scandura.

2:47

Commissioner Rodriguez.

2:50

Here.

2:50

Commissioner Acosta Galvan Acosta Galvan.

2:54

I'm so sorry.

2:54

I will get it right.

2:58

Here.

2:58

Commissioner Vandermark.

3:01

Here.

3:02

Commissioner Mandik.

3:05

Here.

3:06

Vice Chair Perkins.

3:08

Here.

3:09

Chair Ray.

3:10

Here.

3:11

We have a quorum.

3:12

Thank you.

3:14

Do we have any changes to the agenda?

3:20

Seeing none, then the agenda is adopted by acclamation.

3:24

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

3:28

Do we have any public comments?

3:31

No, we do not.

3:32

Okay.

3:33

Next on the agenda is public hearing item number 21-272, zoning text amendment, number 21-002, environmental assessment committee, and subdivision committee.

3:48

Staff, may we have a staff report presentation.

3:52

Yes, I'll ask Tess Nguyen, associate planner to give the staff report and give me one moment to pull up the PowerPoint, please.

4:17

Before you tonight is a zoning tax amendment to eliminate the environmental assessment committee and the subdivision committee.

4:39

Amendments to the Huntington Beach Municipal Code will also be required to implement the city's council direction.

4:46

On March 15, 2021, the City Council unanimously directed staff to process a zoning tax amendment.

5:00

At the 2021 City Council Strategic Planning Workshop, the City Council, one of the goals of the City Council is to assess the city's overall structure for its boards and commission.

5:09

To implement that approved goal, Council Member Kelmick proposes to eliminate the Environmental Assessment Committee and the Subdivision Committee to help streamline existing city processes.

5:22

The Environmental Assessment Committee composed of one staff member from the community development department, the public works department, and the city attorney's office.

5:32

The role of the committee is to review environmental document for projects that are not exempt from CEQA and provides recommendation to the decision-making body.

5:43

The process as for staff to prepare or cause the preparation of the environmental document.

5:51

The committee will determine if the document is appropriate and makes recommendations to the to the decision-making body.

5:58

Public review of the document prior to uh public hearing is still available.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Environmental Protection██████████████████████████26%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Engagement███████7%
Housing and Community Development█████5%
Historic Preservation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - April 27, 2021

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 6:00 PM via teleconference due to the COVID-19 state of emergency. The meeting was broadcast live on HBTV Channel 3 and streamed online. Chair Ray presided, and the Commission considered Zoning Text Amendment No. 21-002 and approved three sets of minutes.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from January 12, 2021, January 26, 2021, and March 9, 2021, with Commissioner Mandick abstaining on the January 26, 2021, minutes (Item 21-361). The motion was made, seconded, and carried without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received or presented during the meeting. Staff noted that interested parties had submitted written comments prior to the meeting, but none were read or discussed.

Discussion Items

  • Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) No. 21-002: The Commission held a public hearing to consider a citywide amendment to the Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance to eliminate the Environmental Assessment Committee and Subdivision Committee. Staff presented the recommendation for a CEQA categorical exemption (Section 15061(b)(3)) and approval of the draft ordinance. After discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez moved to approve the item as recommended, seconded by Commissioner Acosta-Galvan. The vote was: Commissioner Scandura - No, Commissioner Mandick - No, Commissioner Acosta-Galvan - Aye, Commissioner Rodriguez - Aye, Commissioner Vandermark - No, Vice Chair Perkins - No, Chair Ray - Aye. The motion failed 4-3.

Key Outcomes

  • ZTA 21-002: Motion to recommend approval to the City Council failed on a 4-3 vote (Commissioners Scandura, Mandick, Vandermark, and Perkins voting no; Commissioners Acosta-Galvan, Rodriguez, and Chair Ray voting yes). The item may be appealed to the City Council.
  • Consent Calendar: The three sets of minutes were approved, with one abstention noted.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the Planning Commission meeting to order. Welcome to the April 27th, 2021 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting. On March 4th, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in California as a result of the threat of COVID-19. On March 17th, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N 2920, which allows the local legislative body to hold public meetings via teleconferencing and to make public meetings accessible telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the local legislative body. Pursuant to the executive order, please be advised that some members of the Planning Commission and City staff are participating in this meeting telephonically or electronically. While the city cannot provide an in-person location for the meeting at this time, property owners, residents, and any interested parties can view the meeting live on HBTV Channel 3 or live via stream via live stream on the city's website. Interested parties also had the opportunity to submit comments on any items prior to the meeting. Staff will identify any public comments received at the appropriate time on the agenda. While the planning commission welcomes public involvement and 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 uh findings for any matter tonight. Thank you. I'd like to call on Commissioner Vandermark to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Put your right hand over your heart. Ready? Begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag. For which it stands. One nation. One nation. Under God. Individual liberty and justice for all. Thank you. May we have the roll call, please. Commissioner Scandura. Commissioner Rodriguez. Here. Commissioner Acosta Galvan Acosta Galvan. I'm so sorry. I will get it right. Here. Commissioner Vandermark. Here. Commissioner Mandik. Here. Vice Chair Perkins. Here. Chair Ray. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. Do we have any changes to the agenda? Seeing none, then the agenda is adopted by acclamation. Now it's the time for public comments for items that are not on the agenda this evening. Do we have any public comments? No, we do not. Okay. Next on the agenda is public hearing item number 21-272, zoning text amendment, number 21-002, environmental assessment committee, and subdivision committee. Staff, may we have a staff report presentation. Yes, I'll ask Tess Nguyen, associate planner to give the staff report and give me one moment to pull up the PowerPoint, please.

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