Oct 03, 2024 Planning Commission

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COMMISSIONER CASTILLO PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER CLEMSON.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER LAGA.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER WHERE? VICE CHAIR TEMPLATE.

PRESENT.

CHAIR LEWIS.

PRESENT.

WE HAVE QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER LA FARGO.

WOULD YOU LEAD US THIS

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

READY BEGIN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LAGA.

UH, IT'S NOW TIME FOR THE SWEARING OF WITNESSES.

IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON GIVING TESTIMONY THIS EVENING, PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE YOU SHALL GIVE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SHOULD BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

THANK YOU.

MAY BE SEATED.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY, IF I COULD HAVE A

[1. 24-55116 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

VICE CHAIR TEMPLAN AND COMMISSIONER LA FARGO.

OH, COMMISSIONER CASTILLO.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, PLEASE.

YES.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UM, HAPPY NATIONAL COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH, OCTOBER EACH YEAR WE CELEBRATE, UM, HOW PLANNING WORKS FOR AND WITH COMMUNITY AND UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, UM, SPEND SOME TIME THIS MONTH CELEBRATING, UM, THAT WORK HERE, UM, WITH OUR PLANNING TEAM.

SO YOU'LL BE SEEING, UH, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE SEEING, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL WEBPAGE AND WE'RE GONNA BE COMING TO YOU WITH A STUDY SESSION AT THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, UM, RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING IN HONOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING MONTH.

SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU ALL PLAY IN HELPING US PLAN FOR, WITH AND BY OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT COMMISSIONER WARE HAS JOINED US.

THANK YOU.

LET THE RECORD SHOW.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, IF WE COULD TAKE A VOTE ON RECEIVING THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, PLEASE.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? NO VIRTUAL COMMENTS AT THIS TIME? NO.

NO, NO ONE IN THE ROOM TO PROVIDE A COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR THE VOTE.

HOW ARE YOU, CHAIR LEWIS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A VOICE VOTE, I CAN TAKE THAT.

I VOTE YES.

THANK YOU.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS

[2. 24-55117 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, September 19, 2024.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER WARE.

COMMISSIONER CLEMSON, I A FIRST AND A SECOND COMMISSIONER.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE, I'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO.

SEEING NONE IN THE CHAMBER, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE, HAND AND FUNCTION.

NOW, IF DIAL IN TELEPHONICALLY, PLEASE PRESS STAR NINE.

NOW.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL.

MADAM CLERK, IF WE COULD HAVE THE VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

BELIEVE THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FIRST REGULAR, UH, ITEM OF BUSINESS.

MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD READ THE ITEM FOR US PLEASE.

ITEM

[3. 24-55118 Recommendation to request City Council accept Exemption CE-24-135, finding the proposed Zoning Code Amendment and Local Coastal Program Amendment exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 21080.25(b)(9) of the CEQA Statute and Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations), as it will not result directly or indirectly in significant environmental impacts; Request City Council approve a Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA23-003) and Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA24-004), and adopt the proposed findings related thereto, to amend Chapters 21.15, 21.25, 21.27, 21.41, 21.45, and 21.52 of the Zoning Regulations (Title 21, Long Beach Municipal Code) related to parking requirements. The proposed amendments will:  1) Eliminate requirements for additional parking to be provided for changes of use of buildings older than 10 years; 2) Introduce a process and regulations for complying with California Government Code Section 65863.2 (elimination of parking minimums enacted by Assembly Bill (AB) 2097); 3) Introduce an updated process and regulations for requests for reduction of parking requirements for individual nonresidential uses or projects, including but not limited to outdoor dining expansions established during the COVID-19 pandemic, to comply with Section 65907 of the California Government Code (AB 1217); 4) Provide for compliance with California Government Code Section 65863.3 (prohibition of additional parking requirements for expansion or alteration of a single-family dwelling enacted by AB 1308);  5) Improve the code language related to parking requirements in the Zoning Regulations to enhance procedural consistency and accuracy in the City’s administration of the parking requirements, by adopting more clear and unambiguous code language; and Request City Council adopt a Resolution directing the Director of Community Development to submit the Local Coastal Program Amendment to the California Coastal Commission for approval. (Citywide)       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

CITY COUNCIL APPROVE A ZONING CODE AMENDMENT AND A LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AMENDMENT AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED FINDINGS RELATED THERETO TO AMEND CHAPTERS OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS RELATED TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL ELIMINATE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING TO BE PROVIDED FOR CHANGES OF USE OF BUILDINGS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS.

INTRODUCE A PROCESS AND REGULATIONS FOR COMPLYING

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INTRODUCE AN UPDATED PROCESS AND REGULATIONS FOR REQUEST FOR REDUC REDUCTION OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENTIAL USES OR PROJECTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO OUTDOOR DINING EXPANSIONS ESTABLISHED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

PROVIDE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH PROHIBITION OF ADDITIONAL PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPANSION OR ALTERATION OF, OF A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.

IMPROVE THE CODE LANGUAGE RELATED TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE PROCEDURAL CONSISTENCY AND ACCURACY IN THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS BY ADOPTING MORE CLEAR AND AMBI UNAMBIGUOUS CODE LANGUAGE AND REQUEST CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SUBMIT A LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.

AMENDMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.

CITYWIDE.

THANK YOU.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CLEMSON AND A SECOND BY VICE CHAIR TEMPLE.

WE HAVE THE STAFF PRESENTATION PLEASE.

YES.

THREE PLANNERS HAVE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT.

SCOTT KINZIE, MIRAGE BATIA AND BRADLEY BOUNDS.

BRADLEY BOUNDS WILL BE GIVING TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

GREETINGS, HONORABLE CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU INVOLVED 18 MONTHS OF EFFORT TO REMOVE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING TO BE PROVIDED WHEN THE USE OF A BUILDING OLDER THAN 10 YEARS CHANGES.

THIS IS AN EFFORT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTEXT OF THE CITY, A CONTEXT IN WHICH MOST OF THE PROPERTIES IN LONG BEACH ARE BUILT OUT.

WHEN A BUSINESS IS ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE AN ALREADY DEVELOPED PROPERTY, IT IS OFTEN INFEASIBLE OR IMPOSSIBLE TO ADD ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING TO A SITE DUE TO COST OR SITE CONSTRAINTS.

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A BARRIER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY COUNCIL IN 2019 AS A MAJOR CAUSE OF COMMERCIAL SPACE VACANCIES AND THE NON-APPROVAL OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO REDEVELOP A PROPERTY TO PROVIDE ONSITE PARKING.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SURFACE PARKING ARE ONE OF THE EASIEST FORMS OF PARKING TO BUILD, IS A BARRIER TO OUR CLIMATE GOALS OF REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND, UH, REDUCING URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

SO AS A BACKGROUND TO THIS PROJECT, UM, IN 2019, CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO UPDATE ZONING REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS BARRIERS TO BUSINESSES STARTING UP AND TO REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF VACANT STOREFRONTS IN 2020 AND A FEW YEARS BEYOND ADOPTION OF THE, UH, UPTOWN PLANNING LAND USE AND NEIGHBORHOOD STRATEGY, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE TITLE 22 TRANSITIONAL ZONING CODE INCLUDED UPDATED PARKING STANDARDS.

COVID-19 IMPACTS OPERATE, UH, ON OPERATIONS OF RE RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, AND OTHER BUSINESSES, WHICH WERE A PARTIAL DRIVER OF RECENT STATE LEGISLATION RELATED TO REDUCING AND ELIMINATING PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN AREAS NEAR HIGH QUALITY TRANSIT OCCURRED.

AND STATE LEGISLATION ALSO RECOGNIZED THE IMPACT PARKING OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING AT ALL SCALES AND TYPES.

AND THEN IN 2022, UM, UPON ELECTION INTO OFFICE, MAYOR REX RICHARDSON ADOPTED THE 100 DAY PLAN THAT INCLUDED KEY POLICY STEPS FOR THE INITIATION WITH THE NA MAYOR'S FIRST 100 DAYS OF OFFICE WITH PROPOSED INITIATIVES THAT INCLUDED DRAFTING A NEW PARKING ORDINANCE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE WAIVER OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF VACANT STOREFRONTS.

THE ORDINANCE PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, IN IS, IS ESTABLISHED TO ELIMINATE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING TO BE PROVIDED FOR CHANGES OF USE IN BUILDINGS OVER THAN 10 YEARS.

IT ALSO INTRODUCES A PROCESS AND REGULATIONS FOR COMPLYING WITH CALIFORNIA GOV CODE SECTION 6 5 5 85, UM, ALSO KNOWN AS AB 2097, UH, FOR THE ELIMINATION OF PARKING MINIMUMS ENACTED BY THE BILL.

ALSO, IT INTRODUCES AN UPDATED PROCESS AND REGULATIONS FOR REQUEST FOR REDUCTION OF PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL NON-RESIDENTIAL USES OR PROJECTS, UM, IN SPECIFICALLY BUT NOT LIMITED TO, UM, OUTDOOR DINING EXPANSIONS ESTABLISHED DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND, UH, TO COMPLY WITH SECTION 6 5 9 0 7, WHICH IS AB 1217, COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROHIBITION PROHIBITION OF ADDITIONAL PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPANSION AND ALTERATION OF SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS ENACTED BY 1308 IS ALSO A PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.

AND THE, UM, WE ARE IMPROVING THE CODE LANGUAGE RELATED TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THESE ZONING REGULATIONS.

SO THERE WAS SOME PUBLIC OUTREACH THAT WAS DONE.

UM, IN MAY, 2023, STAFF POSTED DRAFT AMENDMENTS.

UM, WE HELD A PUBLIC STAKEHOLDER MEETING VIA TELECONFERENCE.

UM, WE ALSO PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS.

UM, IT WAS POSITIVELY RECEIVED.

UM, WE DID RECEIVE CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT ADAPTIVE REUSE.

UM, WE WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WOULD IMPACT, UM, ADAPTIVE REUSE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CODE.

IN SEPTEMBER, 2023, PLANNING

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AND THEN IN SUMMER OF 2024, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE, UH, AMENDMENTS WERE REVISED TO CREATE BETTER CLARIFICATION AND PROPOSED ADDITIONAL CHANGES BASED ON STATE LAW.

SO THE FIRST BIG UPDATE TO THE ZONING CODE, UM, FOR THIS IS THE ELIMINATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING REGARDING THE CHANGE OF USE.

UM, NO NEW PARKING SHALL BE REQUIRED FOR CHANGES OF USE OF ANY EXISTING SQUARE FOOTAGE WITHIN A BUILDING MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD.

UM, WE HAVE CARVED OUT SPECIFIC LAND USES THAT ARE TRANSIENT IN NATURE TO MATCH UP WITH AB 2097, SUCH AS, UH, EVENT CENTER.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WORK ON ZONING PROJECTS REGULARLY.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS PLAYS OUT HERE.

WE HAVE A TENANT SPACE AT 38 0 7 ATLANTIC AVENUE.

UM, WE'VE ESTIMATED IT'S 2000 SQUARE FEET.

UM, IT WAS LAST CONSTRUCTED OR LAST BUILT IN 1920.

UM, THE LAST PERMITTED USE ON HERE WAS A SALON.

UM, A SALON HAS A PARKING RATIO OF FOUR PER THOUSAND GROSS SOLAR AREA FOR TOTAL OF EIGHT ALL STREET PARKING SPACES ACQUIRED.

UM, THERE AREN'T EIGHT PARKING SPACES PROVIDED ON SITE, SO WE WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS A LEGAL NON-CONFORMING USE.

LET'S SAY A PROPOSED RESTAURANT DECIDES TO, UH, OCCUPY THE SPACE INSTEAD, UM, A RESTAURANT WITH THE DINING AREA GREATER THAN 150 SQUARE FEET OR A FULL KITCHEN, THE PARKING RATE IS 10 PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA OF DINING AREA.

THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING 1000 SQUARE FEET, WHICH REQUIRES 10 PARKING SPOTS ON SITE.

IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE RESTAURANT USE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING CODE, AN ADDITIONAL TWO PARKING SPACES WOULD'VE TO BE PROVIDED OFFSITE OR IN A SHARED CONFIGURATION WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT, OR REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE DINING AREA BY 200 SQUARE FEET.

WE HAVE A SECOND EXAMPLE, UM, RELATED TO THIS, THIS AMENDMENT, IT IS 10 66 EAST ANAHEIM STREET AT 5,000 SQUARE FEET, ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTED IN 1920.

EXISTING USE OF FURNITURE STORE.

OUR FURNITURE STORES ARE PARKED AT TWO PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA FOR A TOTAL OF 10 OFF STREET PARKING SPACES.

THERE ARE NO PARKING SPACES ON SITE.

SO IN THIS CASE, IF AN APPLICANT CAME IN WITH A CORNER MARKET WITH FRESH FOOD, UM, THE PARKING RATIO WOULD BE FOUR PER THOUSAND FOR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF GROSS FLOOR AREA FOR A TOTAL OF 20 OFF STREET PARKING SPACES REQUIRED.

IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THIS USE UNDER THE CURRENT ZONING CODE, AN ADDITIONAL 10 PARKING SPACES WOULD NEED TO PROV BE PROVIDED OFFSITE OR A SHARED CONFIGURATION WITH AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT.

WITH THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THAT PROVISION WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED.

THE SECOND CATEGORY OF UPDATES, UM, WE ARE, UM, THIS AMENDMENT ESTABLISHES THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PARKING EXEMPT AREA MAP, UM, IS TO BE CREATED, UH, TO IMPLEMENT AB 2097.

UM, AB 2097 MANDATES PARKING FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS ARE EXEMPT FOR PARKING REQUIREMENTS IF NEAR MAJOR TRANSIT STOPS, WHICH THEY HAVE DEFINED IN STATE LAW AS, UH, AN EXISTING RAIL TRANSIT STATION, A FERRY TERMINAL SERVED BY EITHER A BUS OR A RAIL OR DERAIL TRANSIT SERVICE, AN INTERSECTION OF TWO OR MORE MAJOR BUS ROUTES WITH A FREQUENCY SERVICE INTERVAL OF 15 MINUTES OR LESS FOR ALL ROUTES DURING THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON PEAK COMMUTE PERIODS, AND ALSO MAJOR TRANSIT STOPS IDENTIFIED IN A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

ON SEPTEMBER 19TH IN 2024, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED AB 2 2 5 5 3, WHICH INCREASED THE SERVICE INTERVAL THRESHOLD FROM 15 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES.

THE THIRD, UM, PROVISION IS THAT NEW, UH, NEW PROCESS AND REGULATIONS TO REQUEST THE REDUCTION OF PARKING FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL USES OR PROJECTS.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A PATHWAY FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS TO REDUCE THEIR PARKING REQUIREMENTS USING AN ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE ADEQUATE PARKING, CIRCULATION AND ACCESS FOR CUSTOMERS, CLIENTS, VISITORS, AND EMPLOYEES.

AN APPLICANT WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING, A PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THE TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT OR A PARKING STUDY.

NEXT, WE HAVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

SO WE HAVE LUIGI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT AT 6 2 7 4 6 MUSHROOM LANE.

THE RESTAURANT IS 2,500 SQUARE FEET OF DINING AREA THAT HAS A REQUIRED 25 REQUIRED PARKING SPACES ON SITE.

DURING COVID-19, LUIGI CREATED AN OUTDOOR DINING

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UM, THE REQUIRED PARKING HAS TO BE MAINTAINED.

THE REMOVAL OF REQUIRED ONSITE PARKING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ELSEWHERE ON SITE OR THE OUTDOOR DINING WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

THE A EP CAN BE APPLIED TO PERMIT THE REDUCED PARKING REQUIREMENTS WITH A PARKING MANAGEMENT PLAN.

A TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PROJECTS UNDER 25,000 SQUARE FEET PROVIDED SHOWING FIVE SHORT-TERM BIKE PARKING SPACES TO REPLACE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 20% OF THE REQUIRED SPACES.

VARIED HOURS OF WORK SHIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES AND SIDEWALK REPAIR AND A DA UPGRADES.

AS LONG AS THE FINDINGS CAN BE MET, HE CAN BE PERMITTED TO OCCUPY THE FIVE SPACES, UM, LOST WITH OUTDOOR DINING.

IN ANOTHER EXAMPLE, UM, WE HAVE HOTEL LONG BEACH AT 1 2 3 4 5 BEACH AVENUE, EXISTING 120 ROOM HOTEL WITH A 1,200 SQUARE FOOT RESTAURANT HAVING 135 PARKING SPACES ON SITE UNDER CURRENT CODE.

THE 120 ROOM HOTEL REQUIRES 120 PARKING SPACES AND 1,200 SQUARE FEET OF RESTAURANT REQUIRES 12 SPACES, THEREBY A TOTAL PARKING REQUIREMENT OF 132 SPACES.

THE THE HOTEL HAS AN ADDITIONAL THREE SPACES ONSITE.

THEY WANT TO ADD A 1,500 SQUARE FOOT BANQUET HALL, BUT THERE IS NO SPACE TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING.

THE DEVELOPER IS PROPOSING TO SHARE PARKING WITH AN ADJOINING OFFICE COMPLEX.

UNDER CURRENT ZONING BANQUET, THE BANQUET HALL OF 1,500 SQUARE FEET REQUIRES 30 PARKING SPACES.

THEREFORE, THE HOTEL WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST 27.

THAT'S 30 REQUIRED SPACES MINUS THE THREE.

THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL ONSITE PARKING SPACES.

SINCE THERE IS NO ROOM TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES, THE HOTEL CANNOT EXPAND UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

A EP CAN BE APPLIED FOR TO PERMIT REDUCED PARKING REQUIREMENTS WITH A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT AND A PARKING MEMO THAT SHOWS THE PEAK USAGE OF THE OFFICE PARKING LOT BETWEEN 10:00 AM AND 4:00 PM WHILE THE PEAK USAGE OF THE BANQUET HALL AS PROPOSED WOULD BE FROM 6:00 PM TO 11:00 PM AND THEY WOULD NEED TO PROVIDE TDM MEASURES.

THE FOURTH UPDATE IS THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH AB 1308.

UM, WE DID SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CLEANUP REGARDING EXPANSIONS OF NON-CONFORMING RESIDENTIAL USES AND CONFORMING RESIDENTIAL USES WITH NON-CONFORMING PARKING AND IMPLEMENTED AB 1308, WHICH PROHIBITS PARKING REQUIREMENTS BEING IMPOSED AS A RESULT OF ANY REQUEST TO REMODEL, RENOVATE, OR ADD TO A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.

THE FIFTH WAS IMPROVING THE CODE LANGUAGE RELATED TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND THE ZONING REGULATIONS.

UM, WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS, UM, TO MAKE, UH, MORE EFFICIENT ZONING IMPLEMENTATION.

UM, EXAMPLES ARE, UH, PARKING SPACES, UM, HAS BEEN REDEFINED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, UM, WE CREATED A LOADING SPACE DEFINITION AND WE ALSO CREATED A BICYCLE PARKING SPACE DEFINITION THAT INDICATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BICYCLE PARKING.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, UM, SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN.

WE HAVE OUTLINED SOME OF THE POLICIES HERE ON THE LAND USE POLICY ONE S TWO, WHICH SUPPORTING HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE AND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN ALONG TRANSIT CORRIDORS.

NEW TRANSIT STATIONS THAT AT NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS.

UM, SEVEN FOUR ENCOURAGING, UH, AND DEGRADED AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND PROPERTIES TO TRANSITION TO A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE OR NEW DEVELOPMENT.

THE HOUSING ELEMENT POLICY 2.1, EVALUATING EXISTING ZONING AND DESIGN POLICIES, IMPACT FEES AND OTHER REGULATIONS FOR THEIR IMPACT ON HOUSING CONSTRUCTION COSTS THROUGH UNNECESSARY DELAYS OR LOGISTICAL ROADBLOCKS.

AND THE, UH, MOP POLICY SIX ONE MATCHED PARKING POLICIES TO LAND USE AND MOBILITY GOALS.

PUBLIC NOTICING WAS DONE FOR THIS PROJECT.

UM, THERE WAS A NEWSPAPER AD PRODUCED ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

UM, WE ALSO POSTED IN THREE SEPARATE PLACES, UM, RECREATION PARK BURTON, CHASE PARK IN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

PARK.

AND, UM, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN POSTED AS CITY HALL CITY LIBRARIES, UM, ON THE WEBSITE AS WELL THROUGH AN EMAIL BLAST, HAVE BEEN SENT OUT THROUGH LINK LB AND THEY WERE MAILED AND, UM, MAILED TOGETHER, UH, WITH ALL THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN ADDITIONS AND MODIFICATIONS AND TIONS TO ALL CITY LIBRARIES, UM, ANYONE REQUESTING SUCH.

NOTICE THE RESULT OF IT WAS, UM, FOR THIS PROJECT, AFTER MULTIPLE OUTREACH EFFORTS THROUGH 2023, STAFF RECEIVED ONLY ONE COMMENT IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.

TWO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS IN

[00:20:01]

AND TWO POSITIVE COMMENTS INDICATING SUPPORT WE RECEIVED AFTER THE NOTICING.

IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, UM, PURSUANT TO CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE, UM, DIVISION 12, CHAPTER 2.6, SECTION 2108 TO 25 B NINE, UM, THE PROPOSED ZONING CODE AMENDMENTS AND ALL ASSOCIATED ACTIONS ARE STATUTORILY EXEMPT, UM, FROM QUA, UM, BECAUSE THEY CONSIST OF A PLANNING DECISION CARRIED OUT BY LOCAL AGENCY TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS OR INSTITUTE PARKING MAXIMUMS, REMOVE OR RESTRICT PARKING OR IMPLEMENT TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS OR PROGRAMS AS SET FORTH.

IN ADDITION, UM, THIS PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM SQA UNDER THE COMMON SENSE EXEMPTION.

UH, SECTION 1506, UH, ONE B THREE, WHICH STATES SQA APPLIES ONLY TO PROJECTS WHICH HAVE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING SIGNIFICANCE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN LASTLY, UM, IT IS, UH, UH, EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 15 3 0 5 FOR MINOR ALTERATIONS AND LAND USE LIMITATIONS, WHICH EXEMPTS PROJECTS FOR MINOR ALTERATIONS AND LAND USE LIMITATIONS THAT DO NOT RESULT IN THE CHANGES IN LAND USE OR DENSITY.

IN CONCLUSION, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL ELIMINATE PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING TO BE PROVIDED FOR CHANGES OF USE FOR BUILDINGS OLDER THAN 10 YEARS.

UM, PROVIDE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ELIMINATION OF PARKING MINIMUMS ENACTED BY ASSEMBLY BILL 2097.

UM, ESTABLISH A DISCRETIONARY PROCESS THROUGH ZA HEARINGS, UM, FOR THE A EP PROCESS TO ALLOW FOR A LOWER PARKING MINIMUMS BASED ON FINDINGS, SUBSTANTIATED BY STUDY OR TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL USES AND PROJECTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO OUTDOOR DINING EXPANSIONS ESTABLISHED IN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

UM, AND THEN PROVIDES COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROHIBITION OF ADDITIONAL PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE EXPANSION OF ULCERATION OF SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS ENACTED BY 13, AB 1308 AND, UM, IMPROVING THE CODE LANGUAGE RELATED TO PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE ZONING REGULATIONS.

SO LASTLY, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS CITY COUNCIL FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENTS.

THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE STAFF PRESENTATION? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

UH, IN REGARDS TO, I WAS READING THROUGH SOME OF THE REDLINED, UH, AMENDMENTS.

I WAS CURIOUS, THERE'S A FEW REFERENCES TO, UM, ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON A 250 FOOT, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE, UH, EXPANSION.

UM, WHAT IS THE, THE BACKGROUND AROUND THAT NUMBER? IS THAT JUST A, IS THERE SOME SCIENCE BEHIND THE TWO 50 SQUARE FOOT ADJUSTMENT AND NUMBER? IS THAT JUST SOMETHING WE JUST PICKED TO, UH, YEAH, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER FOR THE QUESTION.

SO, UM, THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY USED TO BE HIGHER.

IT USED TO BE 450 SQUARE FEET.

IT WAS REDUCED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, I BELIEVE IN 2007.

UM, AND THESE ARE, UH, NUMBERS WHERE YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE PARKING ONCE YOU EXCEED THAT 250 SQUARE FEET.

IF YOU HAVE LIKE A NON-CONFORMING, YOU KNOW, TWO UNITS ON A LOT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND, BUT WHAT WAS THE PREMISE BEHIND THE TWO 50? WHAT'S, HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THAT NUMBER? JUST CURIOSITY.

THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FELT WAS THE RIGHT NUMBER YOU THE DIRECTOR? WELL, THAT'S CORRECT, BUT THE CONCEPT WAS IF YOU'RE ADDING 50 SQUARE FEET OR SOMETHING, A BATHROOM, IT'S NOT A REASONABLE REQUEST FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE YOU PUT IN MORE PARKING.

BUT AT SOME NUMBER, WHICH THE ARBITRARY NUMBER WAS TWO 50 CHOSEN BY CITY COUNCIL, THE INVESTMENT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF ADDING ADDITIONAL PARKING.

BUT OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT IS CONSTRAINED NOW BY STATE LAW, WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

AND SCOTT'S GONNA EXPLAIN TO YOU.

SO AB 1308, UM, NOW SAYS THAT WE CAN NOT REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR ANY EXPANSION, ALTERATION, REMODEL, UH, TO A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING.

UH, SO IF YOU HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING WITH A, YOU KNOW, ONE CAR GARAGE OR NO CAR GARAGE AND JUST A DRIVEWAY AND THEY WANT TO ADD A THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, UH, YOU KNOW, A NEW SECOND STORY OR SOMETHING, UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE NOW NO PARKING CAN BE REQUIRED, UH, REGARDLESS OF THE PREVIOUS TWO 50 RULE THAT WOULD'VE APPLIED.

SO THAT WOULD NOT APPLY IN THAT CASE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

COMMISSIONER WARE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN OR RESTATE IN CASE I MISSED IT, UM, BECAUSE I DIDN'T READ IT, WHY ARE WE ONLY APPLYING THIS TO, UM, BUILDINGS OVER 10 YEARS? WHY NOT ALL OF THEM? THE

[00:25:01]

SO, UH, THE THRESHOLD WAS 10 YEARS SEEMED REASONABLE TO SAY AT THAT POINT.

IF A CHANGE OF USE IS NEEDED, UH, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

SO GOING BACK TO THE 250 SQUARE FEET, IS THERE A REASON WE'RE FOCUSING ONLY ON SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS OPPOSED TO MULTI-FAMILY HOMES? SURE.

SO THAT WAS, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE NO PARKING MINIMUMS FOR ANY, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONS OR ALTERATIONS, UH, FROM STATE LAW IS DIRECTED AT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

UM, THE REASON FOR KEEPING IT FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOMES IS THERE WOULD BE, UH, POTENTIAL PROLIFERATION OF UNLIMITED, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE EDITION, UM, WITHOUT ANY PARKING BEING ADDED.

THANK YOU.

TO KIND OF FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THE PARKING EXEMPT MAP THAT WE SAW IN THE PRESENTATION IS THOSE ARE THE AREAS THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTED, I THINK, IN BEIGE THAT ARE NEAR THE TRANSPORTATION HUBS.

CORRECT.

AND ARE WE, AND THE REASON THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT IS THESE ZONING CHANGES WILL HELP MEMORIALIZE THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRING PARKING FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THOSE AREAS OR COMMERCIAL AS WELL.

UH, YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

SO, UH, PREVIOUSLY IT WAS JUST, UM, US ABIDING BY STATE LAW, BUT NOW WE HAVE ACTUAL PROCESS PUT IN PLACE, UM, THAT NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THE ZONING AND GET ADMINISTRATORS WHO FORMALIZE THE MAP.

IT'S SO IMPORTANT TOO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO READ THROUGH OUR CODES AND THINK THEY'RE FOLLOWING RULES WHEN IN FACT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S RULES THAT ARE SUPERSEDING AND WE JUST HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP IN OUR CODE.

SO I THINK THESE CHANGES ARE, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS HERE AS WELL AS OUR OWN CITY STAFF.

UH, AND THEN THE, THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR I SAW WE HAVE THE DISCRETIONARY.

UH, IF SOMEBODY CAN'T MEET THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OR THEY WANNA REDUCE AND THEN GO TO THE VA FOR, UH, A DISCRETIONARY APPROVAL, IS THAT THEN APPEALABLE TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE OUTCOME OF THAT RESPONSE OR SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T LIKE THE OUTCOME OF THAT RESPONSE? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

YEAH.

OKAY.

COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU.

IT WAS A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION.

UH, WITH THAT I'LL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF THERE'S ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ITEM, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO COME FORWARD.

SEEING NONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS THIS EVENING? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

NOW, IF DIALING IN TELEPHONICALLY, PLEASE PRESS STAR NINE.

NOW.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL THEN I WILL BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION WITH THAT? I BELIEVE WE'RE READY FOR THE VOTE.

MADAM CLERK.

MOTION CARRIES AGAIN, GOOD JOB TO STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS.

I KNOW THIS WAS, UH, MANY PEOPLE WORKED ON IT OVER MANY YEARS AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THIS CULMINATING.

I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PROJECT IN ANOTHER CITY AND I WISH THEY HAD THE FORESIGHT TO HAVE SOME ZONING UPDATES LIKE THIS 'CAUSE IT WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THINGS EASIER.

BUT AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THIS THROUGH.

I BELIEVE WITH THAT, WE HAVE FINISHED OUR REGULAR BUSINESS FOR THIS EVENING.

UH, I WILL OPEN IT

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Planning Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

IF THERE'S ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON NON AGENDIZED ITEMS, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO DO SO.

SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE, OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

NOW, IF DIALING IN TELEPHONICALLY, PLEASE PRESS STAR NINE.

NOW.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL THEN I WILL CO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT.

COMMISSIONERS, ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

WELL, IF THERE'S

[ADJOURNMENT]

MR. SURE YOU DON'T HIT YOUR PHONE.