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PC - Minutes - 06-17-24Minutes of the PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING June 17, 2024 The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Vice -Chair Escobar at 7:00 PM PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE — Commissioner Lopez INVOCATION — Commissioner Ung ROLL CALL—Commissioner Lopez, Commissioner Ung, Vice -Chair Escobar, and Chair Berry and Commissioner Tang are absent. STAFF PRESENT — Director of Community Development Valenzuela, Assistant Planner Dabbous, and Commission Liaison Lam EXPLANATION OF HEARING PROCEDURES AND APPEAL RIGHTS City Attorney Stephanie Gutierrez presented the procedure and appeal rights of the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE There being no comments, Vice -Chair Escobar opened and closed the Public Comment period. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. DESIGN REVIEW (DR) 24.03 — James Ming Feng has submitted a Minor Exception application, requesting to construct a new two-story, 2,114 square foot single-family dwelling unit with an attached garage at the front of a lot where a legal nonconforming single-family dwelling exists. The existing single- family dwelling is nonconforming due to an existing 5'-2" side yard setback (minimum 7'-0" side yard required) along the north property line and an existing 19'-6" rear yard setback (minimum 20'-0" rear yard required) along the east property line. In addition, to meet off-street parking requirements, the applicant has proposed to revert a permitted bonus room back to its original use as a two -car garage. The granting of a Minor Exception is required before the Planning Commission for new structures constructed on a lot where nonconforming structures exist. The site is located at 3322 Rockhold Avenue (APN: 5288-016- 007), in the Light Multiple Residential (R-2) zone. CEQA — Section 15303 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines exempts projects consisting of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. Accordingly, Minor Exception 23-14 is classified as a Class 3 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15303 of California Environmental Quality Act guidelines. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2024 1of5 STAFF RECOMMENDATION — It is recommended that the Planning Commission ADOPT Resolution No. 24-06 with findings (Exhibit "A"), and APPROVE Minor Exception 23-14, subject to the 49 conditions outlined in Attachment "A" attached hereto. Assistant Planner Dabbous presented the staff report. Vice -Chair Escobar opened the Public Hearing. Commissioner Ung asked if the one-story bonus room would have been non -conforming if they would have stayed as a bonus room. Assistant Planner Dabbous replied that the bonus room is legal, and it did have a permit. If it stayed, it will be permitted. Vice -Chair Escobar opened the floor to the applicant to speak. The applicant, James Feng had no questions and said if Commissioners have any questions, they can ask his designer Ricky Huang, who is on Zoom. Commission Liaison Lam informed the Planning Commission that Ricky Huang is not on Zoom. There being no additional questions or public comments, Vice -Chair Escobar closed the hearing period and requested a motion and a second motion. ACTION: Commissioner Ung motioned to approve Minor Exception 23-14 and adopt PC Resolution 24-06 with conditions, and Commissioner Lopez seconded the motion. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Escobar, Lopez and Ung Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Berry and Tang Vote resulted in 3 Ayes, 0 Noes, and 2 Absent B. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 24.01 — Xinhai Liu has submitted a Conditional Use Permit application, requesting to operate a large health/fitness facility that will provide instructional swim courses. The indoor sports activity use will encompass two units totaling 3,128 square feet of leasable area used for a pool, showers, and changing rooms. The proposed large health/fitness facility will be located at Fortress Plaza, a shopping center located on the southwest comer of Garvey Avenue and River Avenue. More specifically, the proposed use is located at 8966 Garvey Avenue, Units G & J (APN: 5282-010-030) in the Medium Commercial with Residential/Commercial Mixed -Use Development and Design Overlays (C- 3/RC-MUDO/D-0) zone. CEQA— Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines exempts projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of lune 17, 2024 2of5 Accordingly, CUP 24-01 is classified as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15301 of CEQA guidelines. STAFF RECOMMENDATION — It is recommended that the Planning Commission ADOPT Resolution No. 24-07 with findings (Exhibit "A"), and APPROVE Conditional Use Permit 24-01, subject to the 50 conditions outlined in Attachment "A" attached hereto. Commissioner Lopez asked what the prior use of the space was. Assistant Planner Dabbous responded that the prior use of the space was a travel agency Commissioner Ung commented that it is an interesting use of commercial space. She would not think of putting a pool inside of a commercial space. She noticed that the application has multiple locations and asked if the other locations are located within a commercial development. She also asked if there were any issues at their other locations. The applicant, Xinhai Liu, stated his name and his manager stated her name, Amy, and she was there to help with translation. Mr. Liu responded that his other locations are within commercial developments, which include Chino Hills, Monrovia, and Hacienda Heights. All their pools are indoors and the students' age ranges from as young as 3 years old to 12 years old. Amy added that no matter what the weather is, the pool is heated to ninety degrees to help kids feel comfortable. In the summer, the AC is off and during the winter the AC is on, so that when the kids come out of the pool, they will not get sick. Commissioner Lopez asked how deep the pool is. Mr. Liu answered that the pool will be 3'/z feet to 5 feet. Commissioner Lopez further asks if there are other activities besides swimming such as volleyball or recreational sports inside the pool or is it strictly for swimming lessons. Amy replied that it is strictly just swimming. There are two different sections of the pool, one for private lessons and the other for group lessons. If the group is larger, the kids will wait their tum by the stairs or on the side of the pool. Commissioner Lopez inquired on the number lifeguards that are required to be present. Mr. Liu replied that they have one lifeguard supervising the whole pool. Each coach that they hire must have certified certificates for lifeguard, CPR, and AED certification from Red Cross. He said their facility is not a public pool, and they only offer swimming lessons; each coach must be able to supervise the kids during the entire lesson. Commissioner Lopez inquired if the lessons are hourly or would the lessons be longer and questioned the hours of operation. Amy replied that swimming lessons will be 30 minutes and the hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on the weekend, the hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mr. Liu brought his photos to show the Commissioners how the facility and lessons will look like. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2024 3of5 There being no additional questions or public comments, Vice -Chair Escobar closed the hearing period and requested a motion and a second motion. ACTION: Commissioner Ung motioned to approve Conditional Use Permit 24-01 and adopt PC Resolution 24-07 with conditions, and Commissioner Lopez seconded the motion. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Escobar, Lopez and Ung Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Berry and Tang Vote resulted in 3 Ayes, 0 Noes, and 2 Absent Director Valenzuela explained the 10 -day appeal process. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR A. PC MINUTES 06-03.24 Vice Chair Escobar requested motions to approve the minutes. ACTION: Commissioner Ung motioned to approve, and Vice -Chair Escobar seconded the motion. Vote resulted in: Ayes: Escobar, Lopez, Ung Noes: None Abstain: None Absent: Berry and Tang Vote resulted in 3 Ayes, 0 Noes, and 2 Absent. MATTERS FROM STAFF Director Valenzuela kindly reminded the Commissioners that the 2024 State of the City will be presented by Mayor Ly next Tuesday, June 25th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Civic Plaza. If the Commissioners are interested, you may rsvp via QR code online or staff can contact you. 6. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIR & COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Lopez reminded the Commissioners that 4m of July is coming up and his car will be in the parade, so the Commissioners are more than welcome to ride in his car. Vice -Chair Escobar thanked Commissioner Lopez for the offer and praised staff for all their hard work. Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2024 4of5 ADJOURNMENT Vice -Chair Escobar adjourned the meeting at 7:17 p.m. The next Planning Commission Meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. ATTE Linda Lam Administrative Assistant Rosemead Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of June 17, 2024 5of5 Emma Escobar Vice -Chair