Meeting
Long Beach City Seal PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 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 & DRAFT MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
At 5:08 PM, Chair Lewis called the meeting to order. 
ROLL CALL
 
Commissioners Present: Castillo, Clemson, Ware, Templin, Lewis

Commissioners Absent: LaFarga

Also present: Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, Erin Weesner-McKinley, Deputy City Attorney, Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Alex Medina, Bureau Secretary, Vanessa Hall, City Clerk Specialist.
Chair Lewis spoke; and announced that Comissioner LaFarga was excused from the meeting.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Clemson led the Pledge of Allegiance. 
REGULAR AGENDA
1.
24-55912 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Templin, seconded by Commissioner Clemson, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 4 Clemson, Ware, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 2 Castillo, LaFarga
Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Comminty Development, spoke; and provided the Director’s Report.
2.
24-55911 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of Thursday, December 5, 2024.
A motion was made by Commissioner Ware, seconded by Vice Chair Templin, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 4 Clemson, Ware, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 2 Castillo, LaFarga
3.
24-55913 Recommendation to determine that the project is within the scope of the project previously analyzed as part of Categorical Exemption (CE-22-187) and warrants no further environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and

Approve a one-year Time Extension (TMEX24-004) request, and reaffirm all findings and conditions of approval related thereto, for an approved Conditional Use Permit (Case No. 2207-32) for a two-year temporary trucking and trailer storage use, with an option for three one-year extensions potentially allowed for a total of five years, on a vacant parking lot at 2131 East Wardlow Road within the Business Park District of the Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan (SP-3-BP). (Districts 4, 5)
A motion was made by Commissioner Ware, seconded by Vice Chair Templin, to approve recommendation.  The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes: 5 Castillo, Clemson, Ware, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 LaFarga
Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke.

Refugio Torres Campos, Planner, Community Development, spoke; and provided a PowerPoint presentation.

Commissioner Castillo joined the meeting.
4.
24-55914 Recommendation to request City Council accept (CE-24-174) a finding that this project is within the scope of what was analyzed in the previously certified Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) EIRA 03-16 (SCH NO. 2015051054) prepared for the General Plan Land Use Element update. The proposed amendment to the City’s Inclusionary Housing Regulations will not result in any new significant impacts or any impacts greater than those analyzed in the PEIR. None of the conditions requiring a new subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report, as stated in Section 21166 of the Public Resources Code or in Sections 15162 or 15163 of the CEQA Guidelines, are present; and also find the project exempt pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines;

Request City Council approve Zoning Code Amendment (ZCA24-003) and Local Coastal Program Amendment (LCPA24-003), and adopt the proposed findings related thereto, to amend Chapter 21.67 of the Zoning Regulations to expand the existing Inclusionary Housing Ordinance applicability beyond the Downtown Plan (PD-30) and Mid-Town Specific Plan (SP-1) submarkets and apply the ordinance citywide, including sites within the coastal zone; change the affordability requirements for Inclusionary Housing units; and implement other changes to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance; 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)
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, Ware, Templin, Lewis
No: 0 None
Recused: 0 None
Abstain: 0 None
Absent: 1 LaFarga
Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development, spoke.

Stephanie Harper, Development Project Manager, Community Development, spoke; and provided a PowerPoint presentation.

Chair Lewis spoke.

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

A dialogue ensued between Chair Lewis and Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

Chair Lewis spoke.

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

Commissioner Clemson spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

Chair Lewis spoke.

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

Commissioner Clemson spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez, Advanced Planning Officer, Community Development, spoke.

Commissioner Clemson spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

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

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

Nazir Abuyounes spoke.

Marlene Montañez spoke.

Alex Arrellano spoke.

Leanna Noble spoke.

Kurt Canfield spoke.

Commissioner Ware spoke.

Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez, Advanced Planning Officer, Community Development, spoke.

A dialogue ensued between Commissioner Ware and Alejandro Sanchez-Lopez, Advanced Planning Officer, Community Development.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

Commissioner Ware spoke.

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

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

Commissioner Castillo spoke.

Christopher Koontz, Director of Community Development, spoke.

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

Chair Lewis spoke.

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

A dialogue ensued between Chair Lewis and Alison Spindler-Ruiz, Planning Bureau Manager, Community Development.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Alex Arellano spoke.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Chair Lewis spoke.
ADJOURNMENT
At 6:34 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.