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Home My WebLink About2025-11-18 PC Action Minutes Regular Meeting 1 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 18, 2025 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers 1315 Valley Drive Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Members Present: Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, Commissioner McNally Staff Present: Associate Planner Jake Whitney, Assistant Planner Johnny Case, Community Development Director Alison Becker, Assistant Planner DeDe Tran, Contract Planner Kaneca Pompey, Interim City Attorney Sarah Locklin _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Hirsh called the meeting to order at 7:55 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Chairperson Izant. 3. ROLL CALL Associate Planner Jake Whitney announced a quorum. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA This is the time for Planning Commission to discuss any changes to the order of agenda items. Item 7d moved first on the agenda Commissioner Hoffman motioned to approve the consent calendar, Seconded by Vice Chairperson Izant. Voice vote was taken. Motion carried unanimously. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT This is the time for members of the public to address the Planning Commission on any items within the Commission's jurisdiction and on items where public comment will not be taken. The public is invited to attend and provide public comment. Public comments are limited to three minutes per speaker from those 2 present in the Council Chambers and via the remote participation option(s) listed on the agenda. This time allotment may be modified due to time constraints at the discretion of the Chair. No action will be taken on matters raised in oral and written communications, except that the Planning Commission may take action to schedule issues raised during public comment for a future agenda. Speakers with comments regarding departmental operations are encouraged to submit those comments directly to the Community Development Director or the Office of the City Manager. In-Person public comments:  No public comments provided. 6. CONSENT CALENDAR The following matters will be acted upon collectively with a single motion and vote to approve with the majority consent of the Planning Commission. Commissioners may orally register a negative vote on any Consent Calendar item without pulling the item for separate consideration before the vote on the Consent Calendar. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Commissioner removes an item from the Consent Calendar, either under Approval of the Agenda or under this item before the vote on the Consent Calendar. Items removed for separate discussion will be provided a separate public comment period. Moved by: Chairperson Kate Hirsh Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant To approve the consent calendar. 6.a ACTION MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF OCTOBER 21, 2025 - 25-CDD-161 (Planning Manager Alexis Oropeza) Staff recommend Planning Commission receive and file the action minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting of October 21, 2025. 7. PUBLIC HEARING 7.a PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP 25-02), CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP 25-06), AND VESTING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 84794 FOR A NEW TWO-UNIT RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM AT 1035 LOMA DRIVE, WITHIN THE MULTIPLE-FAMILY (R-3) ZONE - 25-CDD- 150 CEQA: Determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (Assistant Planner Johnny Case) Assistant Planner Johnny Case provided a presentation. 3 Planning Commissioners asked questions and received answers from staff and Interim City Attorney Sarah Locklin. Applicant's representative Stacy Straus spoke. Public Comment was provided by:  Olivier Enders (in-person)  Francesca Enders (in-person)  Rachel Enders Clark (virtual) Applicant's representative Brandon Straus spoke. Public Comment was provided by:  Nancy Scwappach Planning Commissioners deliberated. Moved by: Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant Seconded by: Commissioner Peter Hoffman Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1. Determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to a Class 3 categorical exemption, as defined in section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines for new construction; and 2. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) approving Conditional Use Permit (CUP 25-06), Precise Development Plan (25-02) and Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 84794 allowing two new residential condominium buildings in the Multiple-Family Residential zone (R-3) subject to conditions. Ayes (5): Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, and Commissioner McNally Motion Carried 7.b PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLANS (PDP 25-07 and PDP 25-08), CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS (CUP 25-09 and CUP 25-10), AND VESTING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 84793 FOR TWO NEW TWO- UNIT RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS AT 714 AND 722 LOMA DRIVE IN THE TWO-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-2) ZONE - 25-CDD-162 CEQA: Determine that the projects are categorically exempt from the 4 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Assistant Planner DeDe Tran) Commissioner Hoffman recused himself from the item. Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided a presentation. Applicant's architect Alex Ioda provided a presentation. Public Comment was provided by:  Larry Nakamura Planning Commissioners deliberated. Moved by: Commissioner Michael Flaherty Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1. Determine the projects are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to a Class 3 categorical exemption, as defined in section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines for new construction; and 2. Adopt Resolution (Attachment 1) approving Conditional Use Permits (CUP25-09 & CUP25-10), Precise Development Plans (PDP25-07 & PDP25-08), and Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 84793 allowing two new two-unit residential condominium buildings in the Two-Family Residential Zone (R-2) subject to conditions. Ayes (4): Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, and Commissioner McNally Recused (1): Commissioner Peter Hoffman Motion Carried 7.c CONVEX SLOPE DETERMINATION (CSD 25-01) AND PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP 25-04) FOR A STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION, REMODEL, AND ADDITION TO A FOUR-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING LOCATED AT 3232 HERMOSA AVE IN THE MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-3) ZONE - 25-CDD-165 CEQA: Determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (Associate Planner Jake Whitney) Associate Planner Jake Whitney provided a presentation. 5 Planning Commissioners asked questions and received answers from staff. Applicant's representative Brandon Straus spoke. Applicant's representative Kit Bobko spoke. Public Comment was provided by:  Nancy Schwappach (virtual) Applicant's representative Brandon Straus spoke. Planning Commissioners deliberated. Community Development Director Alison Becker spoke. Planning Commissioners deliberated. Moved by: Commissioner Michael Flaherty Seconded by: Commissioner Peter Hoffman Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1. Determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15302 of the State CEQA Guidelines; and 2. Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1) approving Convex Slope Determination (CSD 25-01) and Precise Development Plan 25-05 subject to conditions of approval as amended. Condition of Approval number 4 was modified to read " Prior to issuance of a demolition permit, if the owner does not provide evidence that none of the existing units are “Protected Units” under state law, the owner shall execute a covenant to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director to make two (2) units available for rent to “Lower Income Households” as defined by California Health and Safety Code 50079.5 for a period of at least 55 years. Such units must be of an “equivalent size” as defined by California Government Code Section 65915. Enforcement of the terms of said covenant shall be the responsibility of the City of Hermosa Beach and its authorized agents. The Applicant shall submit a copy of the recorded covenant to the Community Development Department for inclusion in this file." Additionally, Condition of Approval number 13 was modified to read "A Encroachment Permit is required for any new or existing non-conforming structures or uses located over or within the public right-of-way". Ayes (5): Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, and Commissioner McNally 6 Motion Carried 7.d PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP 23-06) FOR THE REMODEL OF AN EXISTING TWO-STORY SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE AND REMODEL OF AN EXISTING TWO-CAR GARAGE WITH SECOND FLOOR WORKSHOP INTO A RESIDENCE WITH FOUR GARAGE PARKING SPACES- 25-CDD-163 CEQA: Determine the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. (Contract Planner Kaneca Pompey) Contract Planner Kaneca Pompey delivered a presentation. Planning Commissioners posed questions and received answers. Applicant's representative addressed the Planning Commission Moved by: Commissioner Peter Hoffman Seconded by: Commissioner Michael Flaherty Staff recommends the Planning Commission: 1. Determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15301, Class 1; 2. Adopt a Resolution approving Precise Development Plan (PDP 23- 06) to remodel an existing two-story single-family residence and remodel of an existing two-car garage with second floor workshop into a residence with four garage parking spaces, subject to conditions of approval (Attachment 1) Ayes (5): Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, and Commissioner McNally Motion Carried 8. STAFF ITEMS 8.a COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR REPORT Community Development Director Alison Becker announced that at the December Planning Commission meeting there would be a rotation of chairperson role and that a schedule for the Planning Commission meetings for the following year would be provided. 7 9. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS Planning Commission members may briefly respond to public comments, may ask a question for clarification, or make a brief announcement or report on his or her own activities or meetings attended. Commissioner Flaherty and Commissioner Hoffman discussed issues regarding technical difficulties. Commissioner Hoffman and Commissioner Flaherty discussed the timing of future special meetings. Community Development Director Alison Becker responded. Chairperson Hirsh provided comment. 10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Questions from Planning Commission members regarding the status of future agenda items. No discussion or debate of these requests shall be undertaken. 10.a PLANNING COMMISSION TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA - 25-CDD- 159 (Planning Manager Alexis Ororpeza) Moved by: Commissioner Peter Hoffman Seconded by: Commissioner Michael Flaherty Staff recommend Planning Commission receive and file the tentative future agenda for the Planning Commission regular meeting of December 16, 2025. Ayes (5): Chairperson Kate Hirsh, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Vice Chairperson Stephen Izant, Commissioner Michael Flaherty, and Commissioner McNally Motion Carried 11. PUBLIC COMMENT This time is set aside for the public to address the Commission on any item of interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission that could not be heard under Item 4 during the first public participation item because there were too many prior public speakers and the thirty-minute maximum time limit was exhausted. No public comment provided. 12. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:46