Meeting
Long Beach City Seal PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024
411 W. OCEAN BOULEVARD
CIVIC CHAMBERS, 5:00 PM
 
Richard Lewis, Chair
Jane Templin, Vice Chair
Alvaro Castillo, Commissioner
 
Long Beach City Seal
 
Michael Clemson, Commissioner
Josh LaFarga, Commissioner
Michele Ware, Commissioner
 
 
 
 
FINISHED AGENDA & MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
At 5:00 PM, Chair Lewis called the meeting to order. 
ROLL CALL
 
Commissioners Present: Castillo, Clemson, LaFarga, Templin, Lewis

Commissioners Absent: Ware

Also present: Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, Erin Weesner-McKinley, Deputy City Attorney, Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Vanessa Hall, City Clerk Specialist.
Chair Lewis spoke; and announced that Comissioner Ware was excused from the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner LaFarga led the Pledge of Allegiance. 
REGULAR AGENDA
1.
24-55353 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Templin, seconded by Commissioner Castillo, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 Castillo, Clemson, LaFarga, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 Ware
Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke; and provided the Director’s Report.
2.
24-55354 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, October 3, 2024.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Templin, seconded by Commissioner Clemson, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 Castillo, Clemson, LaFarga, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 Ware
3.
24-55356 Recommendation to accept Exemption SE-24-153, finding the proposed project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15192 and 15195 of the CEQA Guidelines;

Approve Site Plan Review (SPR24-038); and

Adopt the proposed findings and conditions of approval related thereto, for a project consisting of the construction of a new seven (7) story multi-family residential building consisting of 96 micro dwelling units (12 of which are very-low income level affordable units) in a building with 17 vehicular parking spaces in an at-grade parking garage, 47 bicycle parking spaces, 3,993-square-feet of common indoor amenity spaces, 4,155- square-feet of common outdoor area, and 1,500-square-feet of private open space area located at 421 East 4th Street in the Downtown Plan (PD-30) Planned Development District. (District 1)
A motion was made by Vice Chair Templin, seconded by Commissioner Clemson, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 4 Castillo, Clemson, LaFarga, Templin
No: 0 None
Recused: 1 Lewis
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 Ware
Chair Lewis recused himself from Agenda Item No. 3.

Donald Taylor-Patterson, Planning Officer, Community Development, spoke.

Glen Jia, Planner, Community Development, spoke; and provided a PowerPoint presentation.

Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke.

Commissioner Castillo spoke.

Glen Jia, Planner, Community Development, spoke.

Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke.

Vice Chair Templin spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

A dialogue ensued between Vice Chair Templin and Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development.

Glen Jia, Planner, Community Development, spoke.

Vice Chair Templin spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

A dialogue ensued among Chair Templin, Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, and Glen Jia, Planner, Community Development.

Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke.

Vice Chair Templin spoke.

Derek Burnham, Applicant, spoke.

A dialogue ensued between Vice Chair Templin and Derek Burnham, Applicant.

Commissioner Clemson spoke.

Derek Burnham, Applicant, spoke.

Commissioner Castillo spoke.

A dialogue ensued between Commissioner Castillo and Derek Burnham, Applicant.

Ray Lawson spoke.

Demitrick spoke.

William Frankenfield spoke.

Commissioner LaFarga spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

A dialogue ensued between Commissioner LaFarga and Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development.

Commissioner Clemson spoke.

Vice Chair Templin spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.
4.
24-55358 Recommendation to conduct a study session on the observance of National Community Planning Month. (Citywide)
A motion was made by Commissioner Castillo, seconded by Commissioner Clemson, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 Castillo, Clemson, LaFarga, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 Ware
Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke; and provided a PowerPoint presentation.

Chair Lewis spoke.

Commissioner Clemson spoke.
PUBLIC COMMENT
John Kendrick spoke.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Lewis spoke.

Commissioner LaFarga spoke.

Commissioner Castillo spoke.
ADJOURNMENT
At 5:56 PM, there being no objection, Chair Lewis declared the meeting adjourned.

NOTE:

If written language translation of the Commission agenda and minutes for non-English speaking persons is desired, please make your request by phone to the Office of the City Clerk at (562) 570- 6101, 72 business hours prior to the Commission meeting.