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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-03 PC Action Minutes Special MeetingCity Hall 1315 Valley Drive Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 City of Hermosa Beach Action Minutes - Final Planning Commission Chair David Pedersen Vice Chair Stephen Izant Commissioners Peter Hoffman Rob Saemann Marie Rice 6:00 PMMonday, October 3, 2022 CALL AND NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER The Planning Commission Special Meeting was held in-person and virtually pursuant to Executive Order AB 361 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16, 2021. The meeting was called to order by Chair David Pedersen at 6:10 pm. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Peter Hoffman. III. ROLL CALL Chair David Pedersen, Vice Chair Stephen Izant, Commissioner Rob Saemann, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, and Commissioner Marie Rice Present:5 - Absent:0 All Planning Commission Members attended in-person in the Council Chambers except for Commissioner Rice, who attended virtually. Staff Present in Chambers: Jeannie Naughton, Community Development Director Maricela Guillean, Associate Planner Johnathon Masi, Assistant Planner Staff Attending Virtually: Christy Teague, Senior Planner James Atkins, Senior Planner John Natalizio, Deputy City Attorney IV. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION -- ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Page 1City of Hermosa Beach October 3, 2022Planning Commission Action Minutes - Final The following people attended virtually to provide public comment: 1. Laura Pena 2. Jon David Motion by Commissioner Saemann and seconded by Commissioner Hoffman to receive and file written communications. Motion carried as follows: Aye:Chair Pedersen, Vice Chair Izant, Commissioner Saemann, Commissioner Hoffman, and Commissioner Rice 5 - Absent:0 V. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION a.REPORT 22-0627 INFORMATION ONLY: PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE (Administrative Assistant Melanie Bristow) b.REPORT 22-0621 COMPREHENSIVE ZONING CODE UPDATE: CITYWIDE STANDARDS (Associate Planner Maricela Guillean) Martha Miller of Miller Planning Associates provided a presentation on Citywide Standards. She also did a review of what was discussed during the September special meeting of the Planning Commission. Regarding AB2097 Parking, Chair Pedersen inquired about when there is an overlay or override by the State, do we change our local Code or put a comment that State law supersedes it. Director Naughton replied that it depends and some of the State laws conflict only in certain cases, in which we would make text amendments. Even if we did not change our Code, the State law would supersede it. It is best practice to align our local Code with State law. Regarding Condominiums and the existing provision that required the applicant to agree to waive the right to protest the formation of an underground utility district, Director Naughton reported that the City’s Attorney’s Office felt this language was carry-over provision prior to some previous propositions that have since been passed which now require an undergrounding district where affirmative votes out-weigh the negative votes. If an undergrounding district was an issue in something that was extremely relevant to a specific project, if we had a condominium conversion case for example, we could always address that in the project conditions as conditions of approval. It is the City Attorney’s recommendation that this language be removed from the revised Code section because it is unnecessary. Commissioner Hoffman responded that he had received input that the reason this was included was that a building which previously had a single owner and got a single vote, but now had become a condominium and had multiple owners voting that only represented one block frontage in what would be the entire district; that is what this was intended to avoid. The over-representation of a condominium complex where you had fifty property owners voting that only represented one block-frontage. Deputy City Attorney John Natalizio said it is the opinion of the City Attorney’s Office that this language should be removed. Commissioner Saemann commented that years ago his own block was undergrounded and at that time, the rule was that each lot only had one vote, whether they were undergrounded or not. He is wondering if it is just two units, do both owners have a voice because it is common ground. Page 2City of Hermosa Beach October 3, 2022Planning Commission Action Minutes - Final It is more obvious when its forty or fifty. Vice Chair Izant replied that it depends on if the district was formed, and questioned if each owner would have to pay their own individual share or would it be one share for that lot divided by the number of owners. That should be the indication on how that should work. Vice Chair Izant feels that unnecessary trouble is being invited by retaining this language. Chair Pedersen agreed. The following people attended virtually to provide public comment: 1. Sahil Gandhi 2. Jon David 3. Laura Pena Commissioner Saemann asked how long it is expected to take to define what a major transit stop is. Martha Miller said she does not have a timeframe, but she is working with Staff to determine that. Director Naughton commented that there are some unclear items in some bills that come through and Staff is working to get a handle on those gray areas and definition. They are hoping to be able to provide some answers within the next month or so. Commissioner Rice stated that she ran into State Senator Ben Allen last week and she brought up the issue of major transit. His recommendation was that we make no changes right now to the parking requirements and standards, seeing that more work needs to be done around the definition of “major transit.” Regarding Alternative Parking Design, Commissioner Hoffman said he can conceive a big project in which you would end up with effectively a parking garage and in that parking garage there would be lifts. Whether that constitutes exposed or not exposed; what the esthetics of that would be; where it was located…would it be imposing on the adjacent neighbors? He can conceive of where it would be appropriate for it not to be enclosed. To the extent that there is a parking plan, it seems that the discretionary agent would have say over enclosed/not enclosed on a case-by-case basis. He is comfortable not requiring that in a non-residential parking project with a plan that lifts would be permitted at the Commissions’ discretion. Chair Pedersen said he is not in favor of parking lifts to be required for residential parking at this time. Vice Chair Izant agrees. Commissioner Rice said she could be open to mechanical lifts on any size lots with exceptions. She feels that we have seen they are working. Regarding bicycle parking, Commissioner Rice agrees with the new language. She appreciates the suggestion of bicycle parking in-lieu of vehicle parking. Commissioner Hoffman is an agreement with Commissioner Rice. Chair Pedersen agrees and he thinks in general that there should be a lot more bicycle parking in town. Commissioner Rice inquired to Director Naughton, if there is movement forward with the language for Nonconforming Use Replacement – Timeframe, what would be the timeline moving forward if the establishment does fit the criteria as vacant or abandoned. Director Naughton stated that the site would be subject to the current Code requirements immediately. The best approach is the humane approach, which is addressing each on a case-by-case basis; establishing Page 3City of Hermosa Beach October 3, 2022Planning Commission Action Minutes - Final communication and working with the property owner or determining if it is truly abandoned. Vice Chair Izant and Commissioner Saemann requested reviewing the Floor Area Ratio, as it had been brought up by members of the business community. Commissioner Rice felt that if Council wanted to see changes to the Floor Area Ratio, then City Council would bring that to the Planning Commission to discuss. Chair Pedersen and Commissioner Hoffman both stated they needed to refer to their notes from previous meetings regarding the conversations about changing the Floor Area Ratio before deciding if it should be agendized for a future Zoning meeting or regular meeting. Chair Pedersen stated that it will be brought back for discussion later, after the Deputy City Attorney Natalizio stated it was not on the agenda for tonight. Vice Chair Izant stated he is fine revisiting it another night, as long as it comes back for discussion. VI. ADJOURNMENT TO THE OCTOBER 18, 2022 PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING Motion by Commissioner Saemann and seconded by Vice Chair Izant to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried as follows: Aye:Chair Pedersen, Vice Chair Izant, Commissioner Saemann, Commissioner Hoffman, and Commissioner Rice 5 - Absent:0 The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 PM. Page 4City of Hermosa Beach