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Home My WebLink AboutPC Minutes_2026_03_17 1 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 17, 2026 5:00 p.m. Council Chambers 1315 Valley Drive Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 Members Present: Chairperson Stephen Izant, Vice Chairperson Michael Flaherty, Commissioner Peter Hoffman, Commissioner Greg McNally, Commissioner Kate Hirsh Staff Present: Planning Manager Alexis Oropeza, Commission Secretary Holly Honma, Community Development Director Alison Becker, Assistant Planner DeDe Tran _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Izant called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairperson Izant. 3. ROLL CALL Commission Secretary Holly Honma announced a quorum. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA This is the time for Planning Commission to discuss any changes to the order of agenda items. Moved by: Commissioner Hoffman Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty To approve the order of the agenda. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 5. PUBLIC COMMENT 2 In Person Public Comment: • Liz Brubaker • Robert Brubaker • Jennifer Duffy • Mike Nickle Virtual Public Comment: • Laura Pena 6. CONSENT CALENDAR Moved by: Commissioner Hoffman Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty To approve the consent calendar. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 6.a ACTION MINUTES OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 17, 2026 - 26-CDD-038 (Commission Secretary Holly Honma) Moved by: Commissioner Hoffman Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty To receive and file the action minutes of the Planning Commission regular meeting of February 17, 2026. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 7. PUBLIC HEARING 7.a LOCATION: 725 5TH STREET - 26-CDD-027 ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP25-04) TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE AN UNMANNED WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (VERIZON WIRELESS) ON THE ROOF OF AN EXISTING BUILDING AT 725 5TH STREET CEQA: Determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Class 3 categorical exemption, as defined in section 15303 of the CEQA 3 Guidelines for new construction or conversion (Assistant Planner DeDe Tran) Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided a presentation Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided information Applicant Tom Johnson provided information Commissioner Hirsh asked various questions Applicant Tom Johnson provided information Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Applicant Tom Johnson provided information Commissioner Hoffman asked various questions Commissioner McNally asked various questions Chairperson Izant asked various questions In Person Public Comment: • Trina Hilley Virtual Public Comment: • Dave Horowitz • Laura Pena Chairperson Izant closed Public Comment Commissioner Hoffman provided information Moved by: Commissioner Hoffman Seconded by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty To continue this item to the Planning Commission's Regular Meeting on May 19, 2026 and for staff and applicant explore alternative locations for the wireless telecommunication facility on the east and northeast portion of the building. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 7.b LOCATION: 1244 2ND STREET - 26-CDD-030 4 ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE A LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT AND VARIANCE AT 1244 2ND STREET (APN 4186-027-031) AND APN 4186-027-030 (NO ADDRESS) IN THE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE (R-1) CEQA: Determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15305. (Assistant Planner DeDe Tran) Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided a presentation Applicant Amir Esfahani provided information Vice Chairperson Flaherty provided information Commissioner Hoffman provided information Moved by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty Seconded by: Commissioner Hirsh To determine the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15305; and Adopt a Resolution approving Lot Line Adjustment (LLA 25-02) and Variance (VAR25-03) at 1244 2nd Street and Assessor’s Parcel Number 4186-027-030. Ayes (4): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Noes (1): Commissioner Hoffman Motion Carried 7.c LOCATION: 1100 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY - 26-CDD-008 A SIGN VARIANCE (VAR25-02), TO ALLOW NO MORE THAN THREE WALL SIGNS PER BUSINESS, NOT TO EXCEED 35 WALL SIGNS FOR THE SUBJECT SITE, AND TO ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN MAXIMUM SIGN AREA AS A PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PLAN FOR AN EXISTING SHOPPING CENTER IN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL (C-3) ZONE CEQA: Determine the project qualifies for Class 11 Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15311 (Associate Planner Jake Whitney) Planning Manager Alexis Oropeza provided a presentation Commissioner Hirsh asked various questions Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions 5 Applicant Christine Adler provided information Commissioner Hoffman asked various questions Moved by: Vice Chairperson Flaherty Seconded by: Commissioner Hirsh To determine the Project qualifies for Class 11 Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15311; and Adopt a Resolution approving a Sign Variance (VAR25-02) at 1100 Pacific Coast Highway subject to conditions. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 7.d LOCATION: 333 26TH STREET - 26-CDD-034 ADOPT A RESOLUTION UPHOLDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S DETERMINATION DENYING A REQUEST FOR A CONVEX SLOPE DETERMINATION (CSD25-04) AT 333 26TH STREET CEQA: Determine this is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 21065 of the CEQA Guidelines (Assistant Planner DeDe Tran) Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided a presentation Commissioner Hirsh asked various questions Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided information Commissioner Hoffman asked various questions Chairperson Izant asked various questions Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided information Commissioner Hoffman asked various questions Brandon Straus from Srour & Associates provided a presentation Attorney for Applicant provided information Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Brandon Straus provided information Commissioner Hirsh asked various questions Applicant David Toomey provided information 6 Chairperson Izant closed the Public Hearing Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Assistant Planner DeDe Tran provided information Commissioner Hoffman asked various questions Commissioner Hirsh provided information Chairperson Izant provided information Vice Chairperson Flaherty asked various questions Moved by: Commissioner Hirsh Seconded by: Commissioner Hoffman To grant the appeal of the Director's Determination and approve the Convex Slope Determination. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 8. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR REPORT Community Development Director Alison Becker provided information 9. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS Commissioner Hoffman thanked staff Community Development Director Alison Becker provided information 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 - 26-CDD-039 (Commission Secretary Holly Honma) Moved by: Commissioner Hirsh Seconded by: Commissioner Hoffman To receive and file the April Planning Commission tentative future agenda. Ayes (5): Chairperson Izant, Vice Chairperson Flaherty, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner McNally, and Commissioner Hirsh Motion Carried 7 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm