So those ratings carry all.

Planning Commission meeting to order.

Welcome to the uh July 8th, 2025 Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting.

While the Planning Commission welcomes public involvement in free speech, it rejects comments that are from anyone that are defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise not protected speech.

Those comments will not inform nor be considered by the planning commission and may cause the chair, that's me, to interrupt the speaker.

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

Thank you.

Please stand if you're able.

Indivisible with liberty and justice with all.

May we have a roll call, please.

Commissioner Pellman.

Vice Chair Bush.

Here.

Chair Thenis.

Here.

Commissioner Babano.

Present.

Commissioner McGee.

Commissioner Palmer.

We have a quorum.

All right.

Now is the time for public comments for items that are not on the agenda this evening.

Do we have any public comments?

I have currently not received any public comment forms for items that are not on the agenda.

Alrighty then.

Next on the agenda is a public hearing on the appeal of the zoning administrator approval of conditional use permit 24-032 and coastal permit 24-036.

I spoke with uh Brett Bush.

I Brett Bush spoke with Dominic McGee, Brian Thenis, and uh Councilman Williams.

And uh I also spoke with uh Councilman McGee and um uh Mayor Burns.

I spoke with uh Councilman Twining and took a uh little tour of the area to familiarize myself.

I toured the area for the Golden West development.

I met with staff and uh Chair uh Thinness.

That's it.

Okay.

Um staff, may we uh please have a staff report.

Uh yes, Wayne Carvalho, Principal Planner will be giving the staff presentation.

Uh good evening, Chair Thenis, members of the Commission, Wayne Cravaglio, project planner for the two hearing items this evening.

The first is an appeal of the zoning administrator's approval of a conditional use permit and a coastal development permit to demolish an existing two-story residence shown here, and to construct a 70 approximately 7400 square foot three-story single-family residence at an overall height of 35 feet with a 682 square foot three-car garage and balconies on the second and third levels.

This is at 16482 Somerset Lane on Gilbert Island in Huntington Harbor.

The site is directly across the street from the project the commission considered last month at 16471 Maldon Circle.

This lot is 7200 square feet in size and backs to the harbor.

The general plan and zoning on the property are designated for low density residential.

All uses on the island are single-family homes, which range from single-story to three-story homes.

Aside from the applicant, there was one person who spoke in opposition, citing potential impacts to his solar panels, and questioned the intent of installing fencing and rolling access gates along the front property line.

Following the testimony and discussion, the ZA approved the project with findings and modified conditions.

An appeal was filed by Mayor Pat Burns, citing that the proposed home was out of scale with the neighborhood, and that the project was not consistent with the general plan land use policies pertaining to compatibility and proportion and scale with the surrounding neighborhood.

Staff's analysis concludes the proposed development is consistent with the existing neighborhood and complies with all zoning regulations.

Three-story homes are permitted in low density residential districts citywide with approval of a conditional use permit.

35-foot building height is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, which is developed with single-family homes with similar building heights ranging from 25 to 35 feet.

Third floor space is integrated within the confines of the second story roof volume to ensure the residence is compatible in proportion and scale with the surrounding neighborhood.

Third floor balconies here would be oriented toward the street and channel in compliance with our zoning code.

This is the same aerial map of Gilbert Island and the surrounding areas seen at your last meeting, depicting the location of previously approved CUPs for three stories or two-story homes greater than 30 feet in height.

The yellow star depicts the project site.

While the purple star, let me give you a purple star here, depicts the project you considered last month.

Again, to provide some background as to the city's third story ordinance.

Back in 92, the council adopted an ordinance to regulate third-story design applicable to single family in low density residential districts.

Between 86 and the adoption of that ordinance in 92, the zoning code permitted three stories without design limitations, subject to approval of a CUP by the planning commission.

Now, prior to that, third story construction was allowed by right, but was limited to 30 feet in height.

Prior to adopting the third story ordinance, a harbor code committee was created by the city council back then to review three-story construction in Huntington Harbor.

The focus of this committee was to review design requirements, taking into account issues of compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.