Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting – December 13, 2022

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission met on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. Commissioners Perkins and Rodriguez were absent; a quorum was present. The meeting consisted largely of continuances: the applicant for the Brandywine Townhomes project requested a last-minute continuance, and staff requested a continuance for a zoning text amendment. The commission also approved seven sets of minutes, received a staff update on scheduling and commissioner terms, and heard farewell remarks from Commissioner Scandura.

Public Comments

• No public comments were made for items not on the agenda.

Public Hearing Items

• 22-894 – Tentative Tract Map No. 19174 / Conditional Use Permit No. 22-021 (Brandywine Townhomes): The proposed project is a condominium subdivision of a 5.6-acre site at 7225 Edinger Avenue, with 130 attached three-story townhomes up to 40 feet tall, no commercial component, and a transfer of 130 dwelling units from Beach Boulevard to Edinger Avenue within the Beach and Edinger Corridors Specific Plan. The applicant requested a continuance to January 10, 2023, without stating a reason. Vice Chair Kayla Acosta-Galvan expressed frustration at the last-minute request and asked whether the commission must grant it; staff recommended granting it to ensure due process. Commissioner Mandic echoed the frustration. The commission voted unanimously (all ayes) to continue the item.
• 22-1066 – Zoning Text Amendment No. 22-004 (BECSP Medical Services Use Restriction): The amendment would allow Medical Services on the ground floor as an allowed use within the Neighborhood Center Segment of the Beach and Edinger Corridors Specific Plan. Staff requested a continuance to the January 10, 2023, Planning Commission meeting. The commission voted unanimously (all ayes) to continue the item.

Consent Calendar

• The commission approved seven sets of Planning Commission minutes, including corrected minutes: May 10, May 24, June 28, August 23, September 13, September 27, and October 11, 2022.
• Staff advised abstentions: Commissioner Adam abstained from the June 28 and September 13 minutes; Commissioner Mandic abstained from the August 23, September 13, and October 11 minutes (the transcript refers to the last date as “October 13,” a discrepancy with the agenda). Staff also noted that Commissioner Scandura’s vote in the August 23, 2022, minutes had been corrected from abstain to no, verified against the recording.
• The motion to approve the minutes was seconded and carried, with the noted abstentions.

Planning Items & Staff Reports

• Staff announced that, due to holiday travel, no quorum would be available for the December 27, 2022, meeting, so it was canceled. The agenda had listed December 27 as the next regular meeting.
• Staff reported that commissioners’ terms expire at the end of the year, but they continue to serve until replacements are appointed, anticipated on December 20, 2022. New commissioners were expected at the first meeting in January, and current commissioners were invited to attend to be recognized for their service.

Commissioner Comments

• Commissioner Scandura, in his final meeting after 13.5 years on the Planning Commission, gave farewell remarks. He thanked the two council members who appointed him, city staff, colleagues, residents, applicants, activists, and his family. He noted that his son earned a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from UC Irvine and works as a transportation planner for LA Metro. He concluded with holiday wishes.

Key Outcomes

• Continued the Brandywine Townhomes item (22-894) to January 10, 2023.
• Continued Zoning Text Amendment No. 22-004 (22-1066) to January 10, 2023.
• Approved seven sets of Planning Commission minutes, with abstentions by Commissioners Adam and Mandic as noted.
• Canceled the December 27, 2022, Planning Commission meeting.
• Adjourned to the next meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.