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Record of Proceedings

August 26, 2025 Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting on Group Home Ordinance Amendment

Planning CommissionTuesday, August 26, 2025
BodyHuntington Beach, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateTuesday, August 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 31:03
Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Inside position on who's up first.

0:03

So I'm doing I would uh like to call the planning commission meeting to order.

0:12

Um welcome to the August 26, 2025, my anniversary Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting.

0:20

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

0:32

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

0:40

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

0:48

Thank you.

0:49

And I would like to call on Commissioner Bush to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:59

Everybody's ready to begin.

1:13

Please be seated.

1:17

Okay.

1:17

Happy anniversary.

1:20

Thank you.

1:22

Um, may we have a roll call, please?

1:25

Commissioner Pellman.

1:28

Vice Chair Bush here.

1:29

Chair Theonists here.

1:31

Commissioner Babineau?

1:32

Here.

1:33

Commissioner McGee?

1:34

Here.

1:34

Commissioner Palmer.

1:36

Commissioner Goldberg.

1:37

We have a quorum.

1:38

All right.

1:39

Okay.

1:40

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

1:45

Do we have any public comments?

1:47

We have no one signed up to speak.

1:48

Beautiful.

1:51

Sorry.

1:52

Next on the agenda is a public hearing on zoning text amendment 2503.

1:59

Planning commissioners, please state your disclosure regarding this matter, this item.

2:04

I'll start on my right.

2:06

I spoke to uh Commissioner Bush and Commissioner Goldberg.

2:14

I spoke to uh Ricky Ramos.

2:17

That's it.

2:20

I spoke to um this Commissioner Bush.

2:24

Uh spoke to what's your name again?

2:26

Don Dominic McGee and texted um Ben Goldberg.

2:32

Okay.

2:32

Um I spoke to uh Mayor Burns, um Councilman Kennedy, and uh Councilman Twining and staff.

2:42

Uh I have none to report.

2:47

Nothing to disclose.

2:50

I spoke with Commissioner McGee and we texted uh Commissioner Bush.

2:56

Okay, staff.

2:57

May we please have a report?

3:00

Yes, uh Senior Planner Jason Kelly will be giving the presentation.

3:05

Thank you, Chair, members of the planning commission.

3:07

Uh the item before you tonight is zoning text amendment number 25-003.

3:14

This is an amendment to section 230.28 of the zoning and subdivision ordinance.

3:21

The section is titled group homes, and the amendment is intended to add language to prohibit a group home operator from applying or reapplying for permits for five years from the date of the denial or revocation of their permit, their SUP permit.

3:43

A little background.

3:44

Um, in July of 2020, the city council adopted the group home ordinance, which established a permitting process for all type of group home facilities.

3:56

And since that adoption, some sober living fits facilities have been operating without proper permits or are in violation of their conditions of approval.

4:11

In May of 2025, the city council directed staff to amend the ordinance to regulate operators in violation of that ordinance.

4:33

Which is titled Effect of Denial or Revocation of Special Use Permit or Conditional Use Permit.

4:40

This language was added to define all types of group home operators that are subject to the ordinance and prohibit those operators from applying or reapplying for SUP or CUPs with a within a five-year period if they are found to be in violation of the ordinance.

5:01

The updated language can be found in your attachment number four, which is the legislative draft.

4:59

Based on the suggested findings, staff is recommending approval of zoning text amendment 25003, because the amendment is consistent with the general plan policies.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████64%
Procedural██████████████████26%
Public Safety███████10%
Summary of Proceedings

August 26, 2025 Huntington Beach Planning Commission Meeting on Group Home Ordinance Amendment

The Huntington Beach Planning Commission met on August 26, 2025, primarily to consider a zoning text amendment regarding group home permits. The commission approved the amendment to impose a five-year prohibition on permit applications after denial or revocation and recommended further study on adding buffer zones near schools.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from previous meetings.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the non-agenda item period or the public hearing on the zoning text amendment.

Discussion Items

  • Commissioners discussed zoning text amendment 25-003, which aims to prohibit group home operators from applying or reapplying for special use permits for five years after denial or revocation. Commissioner Pellman expressed full support for the amendment but raised concerns about group homes being located near schools and the occupant selection process, advocating for a buffer zone from schools. Commissioner Goldberg clarified that the amendment's scope is limited to the five-year prohibition and noted that additional changes like buffer zones would require separate council direction.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimously approved zoning text amendment 25-003.
  • Passed a minute motion to request staff to investigate and propose language for adding a buffer zone from schools for group homes, to be forwarded to the city council for consideration.

Meeting Transcript

Inside position on who's up first. So I'm doing I would uh like to call the planning commission meeting to order. Um welcome to the August 26, 2025, my anniversary Huntington Beach Planning Commission meeting. While the planning commission welcomes public involvement in free speech, it rejects comments from anyone that is that are uh discriminatory, defamatory, or otherwise not protected speech. These comments will not inform nor be considered by the planning commission and may cause the chair to interrupt the speaker. Such comments will not be consented to or otherwise adopted by the planning commission in its discussions and findings for any matter tonight. Thank you. And I would like to call on Commissioner Bush to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Everybody's ready to begin. Please be seated. Okay. Happy anniversary. Thank you. Um, may we have a roll call, please? Commissioner Pellman. Vice Chair Bush here. Chair Theonists here. Commissioner Babineau? Here. Commissioner McGee? Here. Commissioner Palmer. Commissioner Goldberg. We have a quorum. All right. Okay. Um now is the time for public comments for items that are not on the agenda this evening. Do we have any public comments? We have no one signed up to speak. Beautiful. Sorry. Next on the agenda is a public hearing on zoning text amendment 2503. Planning commissioners, please state your disclosure regarding this matter, this item. I'll start on my right. I spoke to uh Commissioner Bush and Commissioner Goldberg. I spoke to uh Ricky Ramos. That's it. I spoke to um this Commissioner Bush. Uh spoke to what's your name again? Don Dominic McGee and texted um Ben Goldberg. Okay. Um I spoke to uh Mayor Burns, um Councilman Kennedy, and uh Councilman Twining and staff. Uh I have none to report. Nothing to disclose. I spoke with Commissioner McGee and we texted uh Commissioner Bush. Okay, staff. May we please have a report? Yes, uh Senior Planner Jason Kelly will be giving the presentation. Thank you, Chair, members of the planning commission. Uh the item before you tonight is zoning text amendment number 25-003.

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