* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. TIME. THE [00:00:01] MEETING WILL PLEASE COME TO ORDER. [ LA HABRA PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER 100 EAST LA HABRA BOULEVARD LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA 90631 Please note that should all business not be concluded by 10:00 p.m., the Chair shall either authorize an extension of time to said meeting or continue all unfinished items to a future meeting, date certain, or date uncertain.] WILL THE AUDIENCE PLEASE STAND AND JOIN? COMMISSIONER RAMS LYNN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OKAY, FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR JUSTICE. PLEASE BE SEATED. WILL THE SECRETARY PLEASE CALL ROLE CHAIR MACHA. PRESENT VICE CHAIR RAMSON. COMMISSIONER CARDENA. HERE, COMMISSIONER LOGAN CANNON HERE, LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT COMMISSIONER MANLEY HAS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE RECEIVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GOVERNING BODY MEETING AND LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE CHAIR. SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED AN OR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR OR OF CITY BUSINESS NOT APPEARING ON THE SCHEDULED AGENDA. PER GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 4 9 4 9 5 4 0.3 A SUCH COMMENTS SHALL NOT BE RESPONDED TO BY THE GOVERNING BODY DURING THE MEETING, DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THE ITEMS, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, OR ANY ITEM NOT APPEARING ON THE AGENDA? OKAY. WE WILL NOW CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ALL MATTERS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION. UNLESS A COMMISSIONER CITY STAFF MEMBER OR MEMBER OF THE ON REQUEST SEPARATE ACTION OR REMOVAL OF AN ITEM REMOVED ITEMS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOLLOWING THE CONSENT CALENDAR PORTION OF THIS AGENDA. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL ALL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 30 MINUTES PER ITEM THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS OTHERWISE MODIFIED BY THE CHAIR. SPEAKING TIME MAY NOT BE GRANTED IN OUR LOAN TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL FOR PURPOSES OF EXTENDING AVAILABLE SPEAKING TIME AND COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE. PARDON ME. BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WHICH INCLUDES THE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025. ALL ITEMS WILL BE APPROVED WITH ONE VOTE UNLESS AN ITEM IS REMOVED. FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM? NO. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO REMOVE AN ITEM? HEARING NONE. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR. I SECOND. A MOTION HAS MADE, BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARENA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSON. EVERYONE PLEASE ENTER YOUR VOTE. MOTION PASSES FOUR ZERO. WE WILL NOW MOVE THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR THIS EVENING. THE PER PROCEDURES WILL BE AS FOLLOWS. THE CHAIR WILL INTRODUCE THE ITEM AND THEN STAFF WILL GIVE A REPORT ON THE ITEM. THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ITEM WILL BE RECOGNIZED FIRST AND THEN THE COMMISSION WILL HEAR FROM THOSE IN OPPOSITION. REBUTTALS WILL BE ALLOWED ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR. AFTER ALL HAVE SPOKEN, THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE CLOSED AND THE COMMISSION WILL DISCUSS THE MATTER AND TAKE ANY ACTIONS AND DEEMS APPROPRIATE. IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE FILL OUT A SPEAKER'S CARD AND LEAVE IT AT THE LECTERN. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD TO SPEAK, YOU'LL FIND THE SPEAKER'S CARDS ON THE TABLE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CHAMBER. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND SPELL YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE ADDRESS ALL COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIR. THERE SHOULD BE NO DIRECT EXCHANGES BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES PER INDIVIDUAL WITH A TOTAL TIME LIMIT OF 60 MINUTES FOR ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS. FOR EACH PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UNLESS MODIFIED BY THE CHAIR, COMMENTS MUST BE KEPT BRIEF, NON-REPETITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL IN NATURE. TONIGHT'S FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS ONE CONTINUATION OF A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 DASH ZERO 15 TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A COMMERCIAL RECREATION FACILITY, AKA FUND BOX AT 9 5 1 NORTH HARBOR BOULEVARD. HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR THIS ITEM? NO, WE DID NOT. MADAM CHAIR. AND DO WE HAVE A STAFF REPORT? MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. UH, THE APPLICANT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TIME TO SUBMIT AND WORK ON A PARKING IMPACT ANALYSIS AND THEREFORE STAFF'S RECOMMENDING THIS ITEM BE CONTINUED TO THE JANUARY 26TH, 2026 MEETING. UH, POINT OF ORDER COUNSEL, [00:05:01] UM, DO WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK ON THIS OR SHOULD WE OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR PEOPLE TO COMMENT THIS OR DO WE JUST MOVE ON WITH A MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE? YES, MADAM CHAIR, YOU SHOULD OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING JUST IN CASE ANYONE HEAR IS OKAY. UM, WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SEEING NONE, I WILL CALL ON THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A CONTINUANCE. I MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 DASH 15 TO JANUARY 26. 20 20 26. I SECOND THE MOTION. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER CARDENA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOGAN CANNON. EVERYONE PLEASE ENTER YOUR VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOUR ZERO. TONIGHT'S SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ITEM IS A DULY NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 DASH 0 1 2 TO ALLOW THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF A GENERAL BUSINESS OFFICE AT 2100 EAST LAMBERT ROAD. HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FOR THIS ITEM? NO, WE DID NOT. MADAM CHAIR. AND DO WE HAVE A STAFF REPORT? UH, WE DO. JUST, YEAH, IT'S ON. SORRY ABOUT THAT. UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIR ASH SAED, SENIOR PLANNER. GOOD EVENING PLANNING COMMISSIONERS. THE PROJECT SITE FEATURES AN EXISTING COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON A SINGLE PARCEL OF 0.38 ACRES JUST EAST OF THE LAMBERT ROAD IN PALM STREET INTERSECTION. ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN 1950 AS A SINGLE UNIT RESIDENCE IN UNINCORPORATED ORANGE COUNTY. IT WAS ANNEXED BY THE CITY OF LAHABRA IN 1963 AND REZONED TO THE M1 LIGHT MANUFACTURING LAND USE OVER THE NEXT 60 YEARS. VARIOUS PRESCHOOLS AND DAYCARES OCCUPIED THE SITE UNDER CUP 63 DASH 11. MOST RECENTLY, COLLEEN'S CUDDLE BUGS CHILDCARE AS SEEN HERE, WHICH CLOSED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE PARCEL IS SURROUNDED BY A RESTAURANT AND LIGHT INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES TO THE NORTH. MORE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES TO THE EAST, THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC RAILROAD IN THE CITY OF BREA TO THE SOUTH, AND AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE AND REPAIR FACILITY TO THE WEST. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS A REUSE OF THE EXISTING BUILDING AS A GENERAL BUSINESS OFFICE FOR ALL TOWN AMBULANCE THAT INCLUDES ONSITE PARKING FOR THEIR COMPANY VEHICLES. THE BUSINESS WILL UTILIZE THE BUILDING AS AN OFFICE AND CALL CENTER WHERE DISPATCHERS WILL SPEAK WITH CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS AND DIRECT NON-EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO EACH LOCATION AND OVERSEE DAILY OPERATIONS. THE BUSINESS WOULD LIKE TO OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TO PRO TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR EARLY MORNING APPOINTMENTS IN OUR FACILITY TRANSPORTS TRANSITIONS TO SPECIALIZED CARE FACILITIES AND LATE NIGHT DISCHARGES THAT OFTEN DON'T ALIGN WITH THE STANDARD BUSINESS SCHEDULE. WHILE THE EXISTING BUILDING WILL BE REUSED AS IS, THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND AREA AND IMPROVE APPROXIMATELY 3,600 SQUARE FEET OF UNDEVELOPED LAND AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE SITE TO CREATE AN EXPANDED 21 FOOT WIDE DRIVEWAY AND 17 SPACE PARKING LOT FOR THE COMPANY'S VEHICLES AND EMPLOYEE PARKING. THE EASTERN PROPERTY LINE OF THE SITE IS BOUND BY THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDING ON THE ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH A ZERO FOOT SETBACK, WHICH IS PERMITTED IN THE M1 ZONE. AN EIGHT FOOT TALL CMU BLOCK WALL IS LOCATED ALONG THE WESTERN PROPERTY LINE. WHILE THERE IS NO FENCE OR BLOCK WALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY, THERE IS AN EXISTING CHAIN LINK FENCE APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET NORTH OF THE PROPERTY LINE. A CONDITION OF APPROVAL HAS BEEN INCLUDED TO REMOVE THE EXISTING FENCE AND CONSTRUCT A SIX FOOT TALL CMU WALL ALONG THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO SECURE THE LOT BY REPLACING THE EXISTING FIVE FOOT TALL VINYL GATE AT THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY WITH A NEW SIX FOOT TALL WROUGHT IRON ELECTRONIC SWING OPEN GATE EQUIPPED WITH A NOX BOX FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS. AS SHOWN THE PARKING LOT [00:10:01] WILL ACCOMMODATE THE SEVEN PARKING SPACES REQUIRED BY THE CODE FOR A 2078 SQUARE FOOT GENERAL BUSINESS OFFICE INCLUDING 180 DA SPACE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE ARE 10 PARKING SPACES FOR THE 10 COMPANY AMBULANCES, WHICH ARE LIKELY GONNA BE MERCEDES SPRINTERS OR FORD TRANSIT VANS. LANDSCAPING AROUND THE SITE INCLUDES 3 24 INCH BOX FRUITLESS, FRUITLESS OLIVE TREES AND SIX AGAVE AMERICANA TREES AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE SITE AND TWO ADDITIONAL AGAVE AMERICANA TREES AT THE REAR OF THE MAIN BUILDING. THE REMAINDER OF THE REAR LANDSCAPE AREA WILL BE FINISHED WITH DECOMPOSED GRANITE AND THE FRONT AND SIDE SETBACK AREAS WILL BE MAINTAINED WITH EXISTING UH P CA GROUND COVER GRASS AGAIN, WHILE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WILL REMAIN AS IS. THE INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE MODIFYING THE EXISTING LIVING ROOM TO A BREAK ROOM, MODIFYING THE LAYOUT OF THE EXISTING RESTROOMS AND CONVERTING THE EXISTING FOYER TO A FOURTH OFFICE ROOM. THE OVERALL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING WILL REMAIN AT 2078 SQUARE FEET. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THIS PROJECT SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. THANK YOU. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, ASH. AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF. I DO. ASH, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW AT A TIME HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA BE THERE AT A TIME? UM, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TO, OR SORRY, UH, BETWEEN SEVEN AND 10. OKAY. AT ANY GIVEN TIME OR YES, I HAVE A QUESTION. SURE. AND IT'S REALLY NOT GERM, I MEAN IT'S NOT A DEAL BREAKER, BUT WHY SO LITTLE PLANTS? WHY SO LITTLE GREEN? UM, SO ACCORDING TO OUR CITY REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDSCAPING, UH, WE ONLY REQUIRE 7% OF THE PARKING AREA TO BE LANDSCAPED. AND IN THIS SITUATION, THEY'VE ACTUALLY PROVIDED US 15%, UM, WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT WE REQUIRE. SO THAT REAR LITTLE TRIANGLE OF THE SITE, UM, IS ESSENTIALLY UNUSED. YOU CAN'T USE THAT FOR PARKING. AND SO RIGHT NOW IT'S COMPLETELY UNDEVELOPED. SO THEY'RE PROPOSING PARKING IN OR OR LANDSCAPING IN THAT REGION ALONG WITH, UH, MAINTAINING WHAT'S ALREADY THERE. OKAY. WE WILL NOW OPEN THE, WE WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL FIRST HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT IF THEY WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, FOLLOWED BY ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM NOW AND ADDRESS THE COMMISSION IF THEY ARE PRESIDENT AND WISH TO DO SO? HI, MY NAME IS JAMES SANDOVAL, A DESIGNER AND APPLICANT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME'S DANIEL ORCA. I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF ALL TOWN AMBULANCE. OH, SORRY. OKAY. I HAVE NO COMMENTS, BUT THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY. DO ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? I DO. UM, REGARDING NOISE CONTROL. SO TO BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY, SO THEN THERE'S GONNA BE LITTLE TO NO NOISE AS THE AMBULANCE TAKE OFF. CORRECT? UH, WE ARE A PROVIDER FOR IFT TRANSPORTS. THIS IS, UH, YOUR DIALYSIS NON 9 1 1. UH, THESE ARE YOUR TRANSPORTS. UH, OUR MAIN CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY, UH, KAISER PERMANENTE. UH, THEY'VE ASKED US TO STEP UP FOR A BIGGER PORTION OF THEIR CONTRACT WITH A SHARED CONTRACT. UM, THE NORTH END WOULD ACTUALLY BE COVERED THROUGH FROM THIS STATION ALONE. UH, WHEN WE SAY FOUR TO EIGHT PEOPLE DAILY, WELL THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST COMING IN, TAKING THEIR AMBULANCE AND GOING OUT, UH, ON THE PREMISES FOR THE 24 HOUR OPERATION. UH, THERE COULD BE, UH, MAYBE FIVE SIX MAX, UH, THAT THAT WOULD BE THERE 24 HOURS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANYTHING ELSE? NO. OKAY. NOW THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, WE'LL, IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ITEM. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM NOW AND ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL CALL ON THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS EITHER FOR DISCUSSION OR A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION [00:15:01] NUMBER 25 DASH SIX TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 0 0 1 2. I SECOND THAT MOTION. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER LOGAN CANNON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CARDENA. EVERYONE PLEASE ENTER YOUR VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOR ZERO AND THIS WILL BECOME FINAL ON 10 WORKING DAYS UNLESS IT'S APPEALED TO CITY COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO NUMBER THREE. A DULY NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER MODIFICATION 25 DASH 0 0 1 TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 16 DASH ZERO THREE. IN ORDER TO MODIFY PLANS FOR A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED RESTAURANT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, 25 DASH 0 1 6 TO ALLOW ALCOHOL, BEVERAGES, SALES AND SERVICES UNDER A TYPE 48 ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE CONTROL LICENSE WITHIN AN EXISTING GENERAL RETAIL USE, AKA NORTHGATE GONZALEZ MARKET LOCATED AT 1305 WEST WHITTIER BOULEVARD. DID WE RECEIVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE ON THIS ITEM? NO, WE DID NOT. MADAM CHAIR, DO WE HAVE A STAFF REPORT? THANK YOU CHAIR. THE PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE LAHABRA TOWN CENTER SHOPPING PLAZA AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF WHITTIER BOULEVARD AND IDAHO STREET. SORRY. UM, YEAH, THE SPECIFIC PARCEL IS SURROUNDED BY A CHURCH TO THE NORTH, A FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE AND APARTMENT COMPLEX TO THE EAST, A MULTI-TENANT SHOPPING CENTER TO THE SOUTH AND THE REST OF THE SHOPPING CENTER TO THE WEST. THE LA HABRA TOWN CENTER SHOPPING PLAZA WAS DEVELOPED IN 1978 AND INCLUDES SIX BUILDINGS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND TENANT SUITES. BUILDING F IS THE NORTHGATE MARKET, WHICH OPENED AT THIS LOCATION IN 2017 AND OPERATES AS A GROCERY STORE WITH A FOOD COURT STYLE RESTAURANT INSIDE. CURRENTLY THE NORTHGATE MARKET FEATURES OR THE MARKET LAYOUT FEATURES A STOCK ROOM, A MEAT AND SEAFOOD AREA, A DAIRY SECTION, AN EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM, GROCERY AISLES, A FRESH BAKERY, A CHECKOUT AREA, AND THE RESTAURANT PORTION. THE EXISTING FLOOR PLAN FOR THE RESTAURANT INCLUDES A COFFEE AUA, FRESCA BAR, A TAQUERIA COUNTER, A HOT FOODS AND SANDWICHES AREA, A SEAFOOD COUNTER SELF-SERVICE, DAIRY AREA, AND A DINING SPACE. 33 SEATS. THE APPLICANT HAS PROPOSED TO REVISE. REVISE THE EXISTING FLOOR PLAN TO REMOVE MOST OF THE SELF-SERVICE DE DELI COUNTERS AND REPLACE THE AREA WITH 16 NEW TABLES AND 64 CHAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE APPLICANT HAS PROPOSED A NEW 400 SQUARE FOOT BAR AREA WITH 16 SEATS. THE ADDITION OF THE BAR AREA WILL ALSO REDUCE THE EXISTING SEATING AREA FROM 33 CHAIRS TO SIX CHAIRS. THE APPLICANT HAS ALSO APPLIED FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A TYPE 48 A BC LICENSE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE ON THE ONSITE CONSUMPTION OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS AT THE PROPOSED BAR AREA, THE 400 SQUARE FOOT BAR SECTION IS LOCATED WITHIN THE EXISTING 4,000 SQUARE FOOT RESTAURANT SPACE INSIDE NORTHGATE MARKET AND WILL BE SECURED BY A THREE FOOT TALL PERIMETER GATE. AGAIN, THE TYPE 48 A BC LICENSE STRICTLY PERTAINS TO THE BAR AREA WITH ITS 16 SEATS AND WILL ALLOW FOR THE REMAINDER OF NORTHGATE, UH, RESTAURANT SPACE TO CONTINUE OPERATING AS A RESTAURANT AS IT CURRENTLY IS, THE PROPOSED HOURS FOR THE BAR WILL ALSO BE WITHIN THE ALREADY, UH, ALREADY APPROVED HOURS OF 7:00 AM TO 10:00 PM UM, WHICH IS WHAT THE GROCERY STORE CURRENTLY IS. NO CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE RESTAURANT SPACE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE BAR AREA OR OUTSIDE IN THE OUTDOOR PATIO. A B, C IDENTIFIES THE NORTHGATE MARKET AS LOCATED WITHIN CENSUS TRACK 11.01 AND RECOMMENDS THE ISSUANCE OF A MAXIMUM OF SIX ON SALE LICENSES WITHIN THIS TRACT. CURRENTLY, [00:20:01] NORTHGATE MARKET HOLDS AN ACTIVE TYPE 21 LICENSE FOR THE GROCERY STORE PORTION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE SALE OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS FOR OFFSITE CONSUMPTION. NORTHGATE ALSO HOLDS AN ACTIVE TYPE 86 LICENSE FOR THE GROCERY STORE PORTION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE REGULATED SAMPLING OF BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS IN A DEDICATED ROPED OFF SECTION. THESE TWO LICENSES PERTAIN TO THE GROCERY STORE AND WILL REMAIN AS IS AS MENTIONED. THE REQUESTED TYPE 48 LICENSE PERTAINS TO THE PROPOSED BAR AREA, WHICH WILL BE THE SIXTH ON SALE LICENSE WITHIN THIS TRACT, WHICH STILL DOES NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER RECOMMENDED BY A BC, AND THUS DOES NOT TRIGGER A FINDING OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE OR NECESSITY. STAFF RECOMMENDS THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THE REQUEST OF MODIFICATION TO THE EXISTING RESTAURANT FLOOR PLAN AND THE ADDITION OF THE BAR WITHIN NORTHGATE MARKET. THANK YOU. STAFF AND THE APPLICANT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS ASH. AT THIS TIME, DO ANY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF? NO. OKAY. WE WILL NOW. THANKS ASH. WE WILL NOW OPEN TO THE, THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL HEAR FIRST FROM THE APPLICANT IF THEY WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOLLOWED BY ANYONE ELSE IN THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE THE APPLICANT COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? HI, JUST CERTAINLY GO AHEAD AND SPELL YOUR NAME FOR US. I WILL. HEY, GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS STEVE RAWLINGS AND I AM A CONSULTANT TO NORTHGATE GONZALEZ. I, UH, ASSIST THEM WITH PERMITS NECESSARY TO SELL ALCOHOL AT THEIR UH, STORES. UH, JOINING ME, UH, THIS EVENING IS, UM, JOSHUA GONZALEZ, AND JOSHUA IS WITH THE, UH, THE CORES IN CHARGE OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. AND HE WAS ACTUALLY THE STORE MANAGER HERE FOR, UH, FOR THREE YEARS. SO HE IS VERY INTIMATE WITH THIS OPERATION AND HE IS A, UH, DRIVING FOR, YOU KNOW, NEW, UH, CONCEPTS AND, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO, UM, AND THEN ALSO OUR PROJECT ARCHITECT, UM, NAIVE IS HERE AND, UH, HE'S, UH, BEEN DILIGENTLY WORKING, UH, TO TRY TO GET A REMODEL, UH, OF THIS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR STORE THROUGH. UM, FOR THE RECORD, WE DO, UH, AGREE, UH, OR CONCUR WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL, AND WE DO AGREE TO ALL THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. UM, AS, AS PRESENTED TO YOU THIS EVENING, UM, NORTHGATE GONZALEZ IS, UH, IS EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN LAHABRA. UH, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT THIS IS STORE NUMBER TWO. UH, THEY MOVED FROM A MUCH SMALLER LOCATION BACK IN 2017 AND INVESTED HEAVILY INTO THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION AND, AND ARE CONTINUING TO INVEST MONEY. UM, THIS IS A, A, UM, STORE WITH A, UH, WITH A GREAT FOLLOWING. UH, THEY EMPLOY 150 PEOPLE, UH, HERE WITH BENEFITS AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE LIVE, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A FIVE OR 10 MILE RADIUS OF HERE. AND, UM, UH, I, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT RECORD FOR, UH, RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES, UM, WITH THEM. SO ANYWAY, WITH THAT, UM, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. AND JOSHUA, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD OR YOU WANNA JUST ANSWER QUESTIONS? JUST WE'VE, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, BRING GREAT EXPERIENCES, UH, TO LA HABRA. UM, AS STEVE ME MENTIONED, I, I WAS THE, THE STORE LEADER, UH, HERE FROM 2018 TO 2021. UM, AND JUST A, A GREAT COMMUNITY, UH, MO MOST OF OUR FAMILY LIVES HERE IN THE, IN THE AREA, SO JUST EXCITED TO BRING THIS, UM, NEW REMODEL TO THE CITY AND, AND BRING A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD AND HAVE A SEAT NOW. WE WILL HEAR FROM, WELL ACTUALLY I HAVE A HOLD ON. COMMISSIONER MIGHT HAVE A, A QUESTION. SORRY ABOUT THAT. YEAH. HI, JOSHUA. COULD THIS, I DON'T RECALL EVER SEEING A BAR IN A GROCERY STORE BEFORE. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS AND HOW IT WORKS IN THE OVERALL BUSINESS MODEL IN A, IN A GROCERY STORE? YES, SIR. UH, OUR FIRST EXPERIENCE, UH, LIKE THIS WE'VE DONE IN COSTA MESA, IT'S CALLED MERCADO GONZALEZ. IT'S A 70,000 SQUARE FOOT, UH, MARKETPLACE. AND IT'S MEANT TO HAVE, UH, WHAT WE CALL PESTOS, WHICH IS LITTLE STANDS, UH, THAT ALL HAVE DIFFERENT REGIONAL, UH, MEXICAN FOODS. AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS A FULL CEVICHE BAR HERE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TODAY WE HAVE ABOUT NINE CEVICHES BRING ABOUT 13 CEVICHES MADE TO ORDER COCKTAILS, A FU WITH A, A FULL TROMPO. ALSO, YOU KNOW, NEW CATEGORIES THAT ARE NOT, UH, HERE TODAY, UH, WHICH WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO, TO BRING. AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, BEER, WINE AND SPIRITS ARE A BIG PART OF THE, OF THE FOOD EXPERIENCE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN BRING REGIONAL, UH, MICROBREWS. WE CAN ALSO BRING, YOU KNOW, WINES FROM THEIR MEXICO OR CALIFORNIA. WE CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, MARGARITAS, [00:25:01] UH, MES, YOU KNOW, MEZCALINI, ALL THESE DRINKS THAT GO VERY MUCH WITH THE, THE FOOD EXPERIENCE. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, YOU KNOW, HERE, DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS TO PLACE MAKE DIFFERENTLY FOR A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE MODEL IS TO BE ABLE TO BRING A FULL, UH, MEXICAN FOOD EXPERIENCE TO, TO OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH. SO THE, THE LICENSE YOU HAVE FOR TASTING ALREADY, WILL YOU BE, WOULD YOU BE MOVING THAT OVER INTO THIS AREA OR KEEPING IT WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS AT IN THE STORE? UH, THE TASTING. OH, YOU WANT TAKE THAT? YEAH. UM, THEY WOULD BE, UM, UH, IT WOULD REMAIN WHERE IT IS. THERE'S A, UM, A, B, C, YOU CAN'T BLEND THE TWO LICENSES IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA THERE. AND, AND THAT'S A PERIODIC, UH, SITUATION WITH THE TASTING. AND WE BRING IN, YOU KNOW, CRAFT BEER MANUFACTURERS AND IT'S, AND IT'S BEST TO KIND OF LEAVE THEM OVER BY THAT PARTICULAR SECTION. I'LL EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT, UH, JOSHUA SAID. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THAT COSTA MESA STORE, UH, MAKE A, MAKE A MAKE THE ROAD TRIP, IT'S NOT VERY FAR. YOU'LL, UH, IT'LL, IT'LL, UH, KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. IT IS, IT IS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED. AND, UM, AND JOSHUA'S THE ONE THAT DROVE THAT, AND I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS STORE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. HOW WILL YOU REGULATE, UM, UNDERAGE DRINKING AND ALSO THE SECTION? HOW WOULD YOU REGULATE FROM SOMEONE LEAVING THE SECTION WITH THEIR BEVERAGE? WELL, UM, WE, WE CLOSELY MONITOR, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH PEOPLE JUST AT THE BAR, THAT BECOMES A RELATIVELY EASY TASK IN TERMS OF WATCHING PEOPLE AND WHEN THEY GET UP AND IF WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE A DRINK WITH THEM. UM, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 150 EMPLOYEES. THERE'S GONNA BE 75 PLUS, UM, EMPLOYEES ONSITE. UM, ANYBODY WHO'S ENGAGED IN THE SALE OF ALCOHOL HAS TO GO THROUGH TRAINING, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, WATCH FOR EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IN TERMS OF UNDERAGE, UH, THERE IS A STRICT POLICY TO CARD EVERYBODY, WELL, PEOPLE THAT LOOK UNDER THE AGE OF 35 AND THEY ALL, AND OUR SERVERS DO GO THROUGH A STATE MANDATED, UM, TRAINING PROGRAM, LIKE A BARTENDER TRAINING TYPE OF PROGRAM, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIZES, UH, SUBJECTS LIKE, LIKE THIS AS WELL AS MAKING SURE YOU'RE NOT OVERSERVING, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE DOING PROPER IDENTIFICATION CHECKS. AND, UH, IT IS A STATE LAW. YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 21 AT THE BAR. UM, SO IF YOU WERE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THERE AND YOU HAD YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD AND YOU JUST WANTED TO EAT AND YOU WANTED TO HAVE A DRINK, THE 18-YEAR-OLD CANNOT, UM, SIT THERE AT THE BAR. AND, UH, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THERE. CERTAINLY, UM, NORTHGATE GONZALEZ PAYS VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHO'S COMING AND GOING OUT OF THE, UH, STORE. THEY, THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE LEAVING WITH PRODUCT THAT THEY DIDN'T PAY FOR. UM, SO THAT, THAT'S, UM, AND, AND THEY CERTAINLY AREN'T GONNA, UM, LET PEOPLE LEAVE AND WALK AROUND, UM, OUTSIDE WITH A, WITH A DRINK THAT THEY SERVE THEM BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A, B, C. THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THOSE WISHING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED ITEM. ANYBODY? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I WILL CALL ON THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS FOR DISCUSSION OR A MOTION. I KNOW THAT I WANTED TO SAY ONE THING. ONE, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY. AND TWO, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE IT WITH US BEFORE COSTA MESA. 'CAUSE WE ARE, WE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY. COSTA MESA IS NOT, AND I'M SURE IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOUR TOWN AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS PROJECT. I, I THINK YOU KNOW WHICH WAY I'M GONNA BE VOTING ON THIS. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WANNA DISCUSS? OKAY. ANYONE WANNA MAKE A MOTION? I WILL MAKE A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 25 20 DASH 27 TO APPROVE MODIFICATION 25 DASH ZERO ONE AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25 DASH ZERO 16. IS THERE I SECOND THE MOTION. JINX. OKAY. A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COM BY MYSELF AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LOGAN CANNON. PLEASE ENTER YOUR VOTES. MOTION PASSES FOUR ZERO AND THIS WILL BECOME FINAL AND 10 WORKING DAYS UNLESS IT'S APPEALED TO CITY COUNCIL. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF THIS EVENING? YES. UH, DUE TO THE UPCOMING HOLIDAY, NO MEETINGS WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR THE DECEMBER 22ND DATE AND THE JANUARY 12TH DATE. STAFF'S RECOMMENDING COMMISSION ADJOURN [00:30:01] TO JANUARY 26TH. AND HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST WANNA WISH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS? I HAVE ONE COMMENT. UM, DURING THIS, DURING THE THANKSGIVING BREAK, I ENDED UP GOING TO THE VINCE COLLEY PARK. CAN I TELL YOU, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO BE A RESIDENT HERE IN LAHABRA. YEAH, IT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL. AND TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT MM-HMM . AMEN. OKAY. IS EVERYBODY GONE? OTHER THAN SAYING HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU GUYS. YOU GUYS BE SAFE AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN. TURN THIS OFF. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE THE COMMISSION. THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED TO MONDAY, JANUARY 26TH. 2026. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.