Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - September 14, 2021
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Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting - September 14, 2021
The Huntington Beach Planning Commission held a study session (4:30 PM) and regular meeting (6:00 PM) on September 14, 2021, in Council Chambers. The study session introduced the proposed Gisler Residential project (13.9 acres, 85 single-family homes) at the former Gisler School site. The regular meeting included a public hearing on the Killarney's Rooftop Dining project (Entitlement Plan Amendment No. 2021-001), continued from August 10, 2021, as well as approval of meeting minutes and staff updates.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of August 10, 2021: Approved unanimously (5-0).
- Minutes of August 24, 2021: Approved 4-0-1, with Commissioner Mandic abstaining due to absence.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Study Session: Anne McCarthy (AYSO Region 56 Commissioner) expressed concern about the loss of the Gisler fields, noting that the site provides the only full-sized, lighted soccer field for youth aged 12–18 in Southeast Huntington Beach. She stated that 84% of needed youth soccer fields in the city are on school sites, and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2016) identifies a shortage of such facilities. Sean Thompson and Brian Clegg echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for lighted fields to support programs like AYSO, which serves 1,400–2,000 children annually. Nikki DeProsperous, a former AYSO player and current parent, asked to either save the field or provide an alternative lighted field.
- Regular Meeting: Pano Frusiakis, a City Council candidate, spoke in opposition to the Gisler rezoning, arguing that the site should be preserved as recreational space for special needs athletes and youth sports. He stated that voting to rezone would be "a vote against our special needs families."
Study Session Item: Gisler Residential Project (21-620)
The project proposes a General Plan Amendment, Zoning Map Amendment, Tentative Tract Map, Conditional Use Permit, and Mitigated Negative Declaration to convert the former Gisler School site (21141 Strathmoor Lane) into 85 single-family residential lots as a planned unit development (PDU). Key features:
- Density: 6.23 dwelling units per acre (complies with RL zone’s 7 du/acre max).
- Lots: Reduced size (average 4,952 sq. ft., minimum 4,600 sq. ft.) in exchange for community benefits.
- Community Benefits: $250,000 contribution toward lighting a sports field on a Huntington Beach City School District property, plus improvements to Gisler Park (play equipment, walking paths, landscaping).
- Access: One entrance on Strathmoor Lane; emergency access on Bluefield Drive.
- Retaining walls up to 4.4 ft. topped with 6-ft. walls at northwest corner.
- Design Review Board conditions approved.
Commissioner questions focused on:
- Traffic signals (none required).
- Possibility of a second entrance (staff noted current plan is sufficient).
- Location and feasibility of lighted field (no specific school site identified yet; condition being drafted to return funds to city if not used within a time period).
- Retaining wall impacts on adjacent homes.
- Preservation of the name "Gisler" (suggested).
The item was for study only; a formal public hearing is scheduled for September 28, 2021.
Public Hearing Item: Killarney's Rooftop Dining (21-574)
The request: Amend Conditional Use Permit No. 99-021 to convert an existing rooftop to a 1,936 sq. ft. outdoor dining area with alcohol sales (Type 47 license). The proposal includes:
- Participation in the Downtown Parking In-Lieu Fee Program for 16 required spaces (fee: $229,368).
- Deviation from Resolution No. 2017-42 to maintain existing interior hours (8 AM–2 AM) and establish rooftop dining hours (9 AM–12 AM).
Staff recommendation: Approve with conditions, including 12 AM rooftop close.
Police Department data (2017–2021) for nearby second-floor establishments showed DUIs, noise complaints, and entertainment permit violations. Killarney's had three DUIs (2017), two (2018), one with three warnings and a 15-day suspension (2019), and none since 2020.
Debate:
- Commissioner Mandic opposed due to insufficient parking, arguing downtown is already overburdened and in-lieu fees have not addressed the problem.
- Commissioner Scandura expressed concern about noise from rooftop dining after 10 PM, noting that after 10 PM the downtown crowd becomes rowdier. He supported a 10 PM close for the rooftop.
- Commissioner Rodriguez supported the project with a 10 PM condition, suggesting it could be revisited if no issues arise.
- Commissioner Acosta-Galvan and Chair Ray (initially) did not state opposition to the project but later voted on the motion.
Motion: Commissioner Rodriguez moved to approve the project with a condition that rooftop dining cease operations at 10 PM (instead of midnight). Seconded by Commissioner Acosta-Galvan. The motion passed 3-2, with Chair Ray and Commissioner Mandic voting no. The decision is appealable to City Council within 10 calendar days.
Key Outcomes
- Killarney's Rooftop Dining: Approved with amended condition to end rooftop dining at 10 PM. (Vote: 3-2)
- Consent Calendar: Minutes of August 10 and August 24 approved.
- Upcoming Items (from staff report):
- Noise code updates passed by City Council on September 7.
- Cannabis study session postponed.
- Inclusionary housing zoning text amendment to go to City Council.
- Next Planning Commission meeting: September 28, 2021 (study session: none; public hearing: Gisler Residential project).
- Staff Recognition: Ricky Ramos promoted to Principal Planner, congratulated by commissioners.
Meeting Transcript
And stay right here. Okay. Okay, I'd like to call the September 14th, 2021 Planning Commission meeting to order. May we have roll call. Commissioner Acosta Galvan. Commissioner Mandick. Here. Chair Ray. Here. Commissioner Scandura. Here. Commissioner Rodriguez. Here. Commission Vice Chair Perkins is absent. We have a quorum. Thank you. Do we have anyone signed up for study session public comments? Yes, we do. We have one speaker, Anne McCarthy. Okay. She there, here she comes. Great. Good afternoon. My name is Ann McCarthy. I'm the current regional commissioner for AYSO Region 56. I'm here in regards to the Geisler Residential Project, the sale of Geisler Middle School, and the development being planned by Brookfield. I've spoken previously regarding AYSO 56. We serve from 1400 to 2,000 Huntington Beach kids a year with over 400 volunteers. We're an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Over the last few years, we have seen Geisler go up for sale and the closure of Perry, as well as discussion on other schools. While we understand there's no current plan to sell Perry, we are very concerned about this trend. Many neighborhoods in Southeast Huntington Beach rely on the school properties to provide park and field space. It seems as though these spaces were designed as dual use, as there are no other youth sports fields in any Southeast neighborhoods. There are five AYSO regions that serve different parts of Huntington Beach. This is partly why our program is so successful. Kids are playing in their neighborhoods with kids from their schools. No one wants to drive a seven-year-old 30 minutes to practice on a school night. The City of Huntington Beach Park and Recs Master Plan, done in February of 2016, speaks directly to this problem. It references a 2007 surplus school property purchasing plan that notes that all school sites are utilized by youth sports groups and that alternate park space is problematic. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan notes that programs in need include those for 13 to 14-year-olds, lit fields, and that lit fields are in high demand due to a shortage. It further shows that the city's parks can only provide about 16% of the needed youth soccer fields. 84% of the needed fields are provided on school sites. The loss of geezer will mean the loss of the only field in Southeast Huntington Beach able to fit a full-size U 14, 16, and 19 soccer field serving kids 12 to 18 years old. It is our only lit field and our largest youth sports field space. All problematic items, the parks and recreation master plan note as being in demand and short supply in the city. The loss of this field will be detrimental to our program, affecting up to two-thirds of our teams by losing our only lit field and our only full-size field available for them to practice and to hold league and all-star games on. Community-based programs, including AYSO, Little League, Friday Night Lights, and others that are run on these fields, make up the fabric of a cohesive and desirable community. Without these fields, these programs will not exist in our neighborhoods. Thank you. Can I not finish?
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