10-07-19 Final MinutesPlanning Commission October 7, 2019
1
FINAL Minutes
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
City of Orange Monday 7:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson and Martinez
ABSENT: Commissioner Vazquez
STAFF
PRESENT: Mary Binning, Sr. Assistant City Attorney
Anna Pehoushek, Assistant Community Development Director
Chad Ortlieb, Senior Planner
Monique Schwartz, Associate Planner
Tiffany Chhan, Planning Aide
Jessica Wang, Administrative Specialist
Simonne Fannin, Recording Secretary
1.1 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Glasgow called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
1.2 FLAG SALUTE: Vice Chair Simpson led the flag salute.
1.3 ROLL CALL: Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson, Martinez
Vazquez absent
1.4 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Chair Glasgow opened the public hearing portion of the meeting. There were no speakers.
The public hearing was closed.
1.5 CONTINUED OR WITHDRAWN ITEMS: None
1.6 PLANNING MANAGER REPORTS: None
1.7 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE APPEAL PROCEDURES
2. CONSENT CALENDAR:
2.1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING OF September 16, 2019.
A motion was made to approve the September 16, 2019 as written:
MOTION: Commissioner Willits
SECOND: Vice Chair Simpson
AYES: Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson, and Martinez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Vazquez
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
2
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
3. NEW HEARINGS:
3.1 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 3100-19 – ORANGE HOME GROWN
FARMERS AND ARTISANS MARKET, 303 WEST PALM AVENUE. - The
applicant proposes to host a permanent weekly Farmers and Artisans Market at
Chapman University’s Becket Building parking lot, and along Palm Avenue between
Cypress Street and Lemon Street, with a potential future expansion into Chapman
University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts parking lot.
NOTE: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines 15304 (Class 4 –
Minor Alterations to Land) because the project is for a weekly farmers market which
will be a minor temporary use of land with negligible effects on the environment which
will not alter the land use or density of the site. No public review is required.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 18-19 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF ORANGE APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 3100-
19 ALLOWING A PERMANENT FARMERS AND ARTISANS
MARKET WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LOCATED AT 303 WEST
PALM AVENUE, INCLUDING THE USE OF THE PALM AVENUE
RIGHT-OF-WAY BETWEEN LEMON STREET AND CYPRESS
STREET AND THE NORTHERN PARKING LOT OF 283 NORTH
CYPRESS STREET.
Tiffany Chhan, Planning Aide, provided an overview of the request.
Chair Glasgow opened the public hearing.
Megan Penn, applicant and cofounder of Orange Home Grown, spoke on behalf of the proposal.
Speaking in support:
Katie Dyer, Orange resident
Mike Escobedo, publisher of Old Town Plaza Review Magazine
Adrienne Gladson, Orange resident and former City of Orange Planning Commissioner
Noah Echegaray, Orange resident
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
3
Dean Kim, Orange resident and business owner
Speaking in opposition:
Terri Lepe, Orange resident directly adjacent to the market
Chair Glasgow closed the public hearing.
The Commissioners and staff discussed City resources used at the Market, the exploration of site
selection, noise during the morning vendor setup process, how hours of operation will be enforced,
efforts to eliminate/reduce vendor and visitor parking the front of Ms. Lepe's home, delaying music
sound check until 9:00 A.M., and ensuring vendors with generators are placed away from her home.
Ms. Penn was amenable to the Commissioner's modifications to conditions as follows:
Condition of Approval No. 8 - offloading of vendor vehicles after 7:00 A.M.
Revise the language of Condition No. 6 to require a delay in music sound check until 9:00
A.M.
A new condition was added:
Condition of Approval No. 9. The Applicant will ensure that no vendors will park or unload
in front of 325 N. Cypress St.
A Motion was made to adopt a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Orange
approving Conditional Use Permit No. 3100-19 allowing a permanent farmers and artisans
market with live entertainment located at 303 West Palm Avenue, including the use of the
Palm Avenue right-of-way between Lemon Street and Cypress Street and the northern
parking lot of 283 North Cypress Street subject to the aforementioned modified conditions.
MOTION: Commissioner Willits
SECOND: Commissioner Martinez
AYES: (with conditions) Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson and Martinez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Vazquez
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
3.2 CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT) NO. 3093-19 –
MEYER CONSTRUCTION SERVICES LLC, 1927 N. GLASSELL STREET,
UNIT A. - The applicant is requesting to allow an administrative office area in excess
of 25% of the total gross floor area in the Light Manufacturing (M-1) zone.
NOTE: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines 15301 (Class 1 –
Existing Facilities) because the project consists of the operation of a business within an
existing industrial building that involves a negligible or no expansion of the use beyond
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
4
what currently exists. There is no environmental public review required for a
categorical exemption.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. PC 11-19 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
NO. 3093-19 TO ALLOW ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE AREA IN
EXCESS OF 25% OF THE TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA IN THE
LIGHT MANUFACTURING (M-1) ZONE LOCATED AT 1927 N.
GLASSELL STREET, UNIT A
Monique Schwartz provided an overview of the request consistent with the staff report.
Mr. Meyer, applicant, spoke on behalf of the project.
Chair Glasgow opened the public hearing portion of the meeting. There were no speakers. The
public hearing was closed.
A Motion was made to adopt a Resolution of the Planning Commission of the City of Orange
approving Conditional Use Permit No. 3093-19 to allow administrative office area in excess of
25% of the total gross floor area in the Light Manufacturing (M-1) Zone located at 1927 N.
Glassell Street, Unit A.
MOTION: Vice Chair Simpson
SECOND: Chair Willits
AYES: Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson and Martinez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Vazquez
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
Recess: 8:00 - 8:05
3.3 OPERATIONAL STATUS OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2948-14; JR
MOTEL, 428 E. LINCOLN AVENUE. - On July 6, 2015, the Planning Commission
adopted Resolution No. PC 19-15 approving the JR Motel, a 23,128 square foot, two
story with basement, 28-room motel on two then-vacant parcels located at 428 E.
Lincoln Avenue. Since the time of operation, City inspections have determined that
violations of building and fire codes have occurred, rooms have been subdivided to
increase the number of guest rooms beyond that approved, the floor plan has been
enlarged without approval, and the use of the building may not be operating as the
purported motel use.
NOTE: The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
5
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines 15309 (Class 9 –
Inspections) because the project performance is being reviewed by the Planning
Commission. Should the Planning Commission recommend an enforcement action to
be brought back to the Planning Commission, such action would be categorically
exempt from the provisions of CEQA per State CEQA Guidelines 15321 (Class 21 –
Enforcement Actions by Regulatory Agencies) because enforcement of project
conditions of approval and the Orange Municipal Code would be occurring. No public
review is required.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Review the status report of observed operating conditions and OMC and violations, and
Conditional Use Permit provide direction to staff on the course of action the Planning
Commission wishes staff to return with to the Planning Commission. Planning
Commission action may include any one of the following:
1) Receive and file the status report on the Conditional Use Permit and operating or
code violations.
2) Receive and file the status report on the Conditional Use Permit and impose
additional conditions of approval to assure the use operates as a motel and in
compliance with the Conditional Use Permit .
3) Direct staff to initiate the revocation of the Conditional Use Permit and set a date
for a Planning Commission hearing.
Chad Ortlieb, Senior Planner, provided a presentation consistent with the staff report.
Mr. Ortlieb provided an online video advertisement for the facility.
Abraham Odabachian and Mr. Liu, counsel representing JR Motel and Mr. Huang, approached and
spoke on behalf of the project and provided a rebuttal to allegations as follows:
The Planning Commission approved the use as a motel
The Municipal Code allows customers to contract out of transiency.
Evidence/allegations in the staff report is that it is a birthing center with refrigerators, bottle
warmers, bassinets, no signage, and no transient occupancy tax. The operator/owner’s
position is that it does have these items but in support of hospitality to its customers.
The motel deals with an agent that provides contracts to customers for longer than 30-day
duration stays and these contracts have been provided to the City.
From the staff report, the Finance Department reports that transient occupancy tax reporting
requirements have been met because all rooms rented are reported to be 30 days or more; no
taxes are collected. Contracts have been submitted to the City.
With regard to construction issues, the JR Motel has obtained a demolition permit and the
process has started. JR Motel is willing to provide progress reports. The position of JR
Motel is for the Planning Commission allow the business to operate and for the Planning
Commission to provide additional conditions to give peace of mind for compliance
The Commission had questions and comments on the following: Confirmation that the
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
6
business is facilitating over 30-day stays per agreements and the operation is running more
like a boarding house.
The need to more clearly establish whether the business is operating as a motel or a boarding
house and whether it complies with the parameters.
Whether the Conditional Use Permit authorizes more than 30 day stays.
Mr. Liu indicated that the OMC allows stays of longer than 30 days. He noted, with regard to
construction issues, they are in the process of being fixed. Mr. Liu opined that the motel is being
run, assuming true, as a birthing center, that there are no violations in that regard. As far as the
birthing center issues go, his conversations with U.S. attorneys, including a main US attorney, stated
that women are more than welcome to come to America and have babies. ICE inspection had no
arrests. There is no violation. Maybe ICE will issue a finding, until then there is nothing illegal
about running a birthing center, assuming that is true.
Chair Glasgow reiterated that the Commission isn’t discussing a birthing center, and stated that the
Commission is looking at how the use is being run in comparison to what was approved under the
Conditional Use Permit.
Mr. Ortlieb responded by reading definitions of the Municipal Code pertaining to motels, hotels, and
transiency.
Chair Glasgow invited a representative of the Finance Department forward.
Shawn Horning, representing the Business License Division, discussed how transient occupancy tax
(TOT) is calculated and noted that it is based on 30 days and under. She also noted that certain
rentals such as bassinets are subject to TOT tax. Ms. Horning noted that there are no hotels in the
City that report 100% occupancy for more than 30 days.
Ms. Binning, Assistant City Attorney, noted that incidentally, more than 30 day stays are allowed,
but there are no motels having it 100% of the time.
Chair Glasgow inquired if there is a TOT on those other motels.
Ms. Horning stated that the first 30 days are subject to the tax unless predesignated with a signed
contract, which she has not received.
Chair Glasgow stated that if it is a pre-signed agreement, it is not being run as a motel, it is more of
an apartment. Ms. Horning stated that was her understanding.
Chair Glasgow asked if we know if the County has signed off on the kitchen.
Mr. Ortlieb noted that the City signed off on the kitchen as a component of approved plans.
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
7
Chair Glasgow asked if the applicant is in the process of taking care of all the unpermitted rooms.
Mr. Ortlieb responded that a demolition permit was obtained but staff does not know the status of the
corrections and is waiting for an inspection request.
Commissioner Simpson inquired that one condition is that the applicant must comply with all state
and federal laws and we don’t know the disposition of the other agencies, could we open to liability
that we aren’t enforcing our condition?
Ms. Binning stated that we wouldn’t be open to liability.
Chair Glasgow opened the public hearing.
Adriene Gladson, former Chair of the Planning Commission when this item was approved in 2017.
She noted additional conditions should be imposed on the applicant to bring them into compliance
with the Municipal Code and Conditional Use Permit.
Wesley Sutterfield, nearby resident indicated that based on his observation of activities conducted at
the motel are not consistent with normal motel operations.
Chair Glasgow closed the public hearing.
Michelle Echeverria, Code Enforcement Officer with the Orange Police Department stated the
original complaint was filed as possible human trafficking and rumors about a birth tourism
operation, so they conducted an initial inspection in 2017.
The Commission continued with questions and comments are as follows:
Were there any other violations on the property?
What the source was of the original complaint?
Does not appear to be a legitimate business; the applicant is crossing the line and going into
gray areas saying it is a motel; it appears to be more of a boarding room facility.
Appears applicant was trying to skirt under the law and City codes in trying to hide the added
rooms and construction which appears to have been done without City knowledge and proper
permits. Applicant is clearly not in compliance.
No public rate sheet or signage on premises.
When attempting to make reservations by phone, the agent hung up on them.
A significant amount of City resources have been dedicated to inspect violations and there is
displeasure with waste of tax dollars.
The public trust needs to be upheld.
Chair Glasgow recommended imposing the third option listed on page seven of the staff report, with
additions and revisions, as follows:
3. Direct staff to return to the Planning Commission with a resolution that includes staff
recommended conditions and, additional conditions, thereby modifying the JR Motel
Conditional Use Permit. Additional conditions include:
Planning Commission October 7, 2019
8
Require that the owner provide copies of the written agreements with each tenant
demonstrating an occupancy longer than 30 days. (OMC 5.16.020G)
Require that the owner make records available to inspection by Business License
(OMC 5.16.110)
Require further justification for consideration of this use as a hotel/motel as opposed
to a boardinghouse/lodginghouse.
Set a deadline of 45 days for complete rectification of all violations.
Require City inspections every 30 days to ensure compliance.
TOT back taxes should be paid retroactive to the effective date of the certificate of
occupancy.
If any other violations are found after the 45 day window, staff returns to the Planning
Commission with the recommendation of revocation of their Conditional Use Permit.
Other conditions as determined by the Planning Commission.
The Commission and staff agreed to continue the item in order to allow staff to return to the
Commission with a revised Resolution.
A motion was made to continue this item until November 4, 2019 in order for staff to return
with a revised resolution.
MOTION: Glasgow
SECOND: Martinez
AYES: Commissioners Glasgow, Willits, Simpson and Martinez
NOES: None
ABSENT: Vazquez
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION CARRIED.
4. ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 PM
The next regular Planning Commission Meeting will be held on Monday, October 21, 2019.