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Unofficial until approved by the
Alhambra City Council
MINUTES
Special Meeting
ALHAMBRA CITY COUNCIL
Council Chambers , 1 1 1 South First Street
March 16 , 2022
6 :0 0 p.m.
ROLL CALL: At 6 :05 p.m., on Wednesda y , March 16 , 2022, the Alhambra City Council met virtually via Zoom.
PRESENT: LEE, M AZA , MALONEY
ABSENT: P É REZ , ANDRADE-STADLER
Officials Present in person and via Zoom: City Manager Binnquist, City Attorney Montes, Assistant City Manager Garcia, Deputy City Manager Stover, City Clerk Myles, Director of Community Development Ho, Principal Planner Lam, Assistant Planner Arrellano CITY CLERK REPORT - NOTICE NO. N2M 22- 39
The City Clerk hereby report ed that she duly gave notice of the special meeting of the City Council being held this afternoon pursuant to the order of the Mayor and in accordance with Section 54956 of the Government Code of the State of California.
P UBLIC HEARING
1. REDO PUBLIC HEARING DUE TO POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS REGARDING AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ’S DECISION TO DENY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PD-20-29, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CUP- 20-06 AND TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP TP-83396 TO MERGE 2 LOTS INTO 1 AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW 2,993 SQUARE FOOT FULLY AUTOMATED CAR WASH ON AN APPROXIMATE 18,199 SQUARE FOOT LOT LOCATED AT 2970-2990 WEST
VALLEY BOULEVARD IN THE VSP (VALLEY BOULEVARD CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN) ZONE – F2M21-71, N2M22-26
Director of Community Development HO and Assistant Planner ARELLANO delivered a staff report. This was the time and place set by Notice No. N2M22-26 for the City Council to hold a redo public hearing regarding an appeal filed by Malcolm Arakelian of the Planning Commission ’s decision to deny Planned Development Permit PD-20-29, Conditional Use Permit CUP-20-06 And Tentative Parcel Map TP-83396 to merge 2 lots into 1 and to construct a new 2,993 square foot fully automated car wash on an approximate 18,199 square foot lot located at 2970-2990 West Valley Boulevard in the VSP (Valley Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan) Zone. The proposed project consist ed of the demolition of the existing one-story, 1,176 square foot commercial building at 2990 West Valley Boulevard (Aloha Food Factory) and the one-story, 1,632 square foot commercial building at 2970 West Valley Boulevard (Ernie ’s Burgers), and combining both lots to build a new, automated car wash with vacuum stations. On December 13, 2021, a City Council public hearing was conducted on this appeal. Following testimony from the applicant ’s attorney, comments from the public and consideration and deliberation on the matter by the City Council, the Council voted to direct staff to return with a resolution denying the appeal and upholding the decision of the Planning Commission. On January 2 3-16-22
24, 2022, prior to the City Council meeting, the applicant ’s attorney submitted correspondence asserting the need for a new hearing due to an alleged conflict of interest.
The resolution denying the appeal was pulled from the agenda and subsequently, out of an abundance of caution, the City determined to hold a new hearing on the appeal to eliminate potential conflict of interest issues from consideration. At this evening ’s hearing, the remaining Councilmembers were to re-evaluate the evidence introduced to date along with any new information at the hearing, and then provide appropriate direction .
Richard MCDONALD, legal counsel representing the Appellant, Art GOLESTAIN, architect for the project, Claire PINCOCK, noise consultant, Michael DICKERSON, noise consultant, and Chris MILLER, additional expert regarding impact and car washes, presented a report on behalf of the appellant.
Opening Public Hearing : Mayor MALONEY opened the public hearing.
Public Comment:
1) Blain BROWN, via Zoom, exp ressed concerns with the potential noise issues from the project site.
2) Ada Pullini BROWN, via Zoom, spoke in opposition to the proposed project.
Public Comment received via email on file in the City Clerk ’s office:
The following individuals wrote in opposition to the project:
1) Jennifer LI
2) Susie OGIHARA
3) Richard LA
4) Sherena TU
5) Christine MORTON
6) Tiffany HSU
7) D. TON
8) Ricky YANG
9) Carolynn JUACALLA
10) Roy JUACALLA
11) Christopher CARRERO
Closing Public Hearing : After receiving public comment, Mayor MALONEY closed the public hearing.
Appellant Rebuttal: Richard MCDONALD, legal counsel representing the Appellant and Claire PINCOCK, noise consultant, provided a rebuttal of the concerns relayed during the public hearing.
Discussion: Council member LEE discussed if a market survey was done for the project , the proposed noise mitigation measure s , if a traffic study was done , the entrance and exit of the car wash, and the hours of operation for the business with Community Development Director HO and representatives of the appellant responded to questions.
Councilmember MAZA noted concern wit h the car wash opening at 7:00 a.m ., asked how concerns can be mitigated after completion of the proposed project, potential noise issues, traffic impacts on residential streets, and moving the entrance of the car wash to Valley Boulevard . City Attorney MONTES and representatives of the appellant responded to questions.
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Mayor MALONEY discussed the suitability of the project for the proposed site, discussed some of the concerns mentioned by other members of the Council. He inquired if additional conditions could be placed on the project to help mitigate the concerns mentioned.
Councilmember LEE reiterated her concerns about traffic and questioned if the potential mitigations measures mentioned by the appellant will solve the problems in the long run.
Councilmember MAZA also agreed that additional conditions on the project will not solve the issues noted by the public and the Council.
Action Taken : City Council direct ed s taff to return at the next City Council meeting with a Resolution denying the Appeal and upholding the Planning Commission ’s decision to deny Planned Development Permit PD-20-29, Conditional Use Permit CUP-20-06 and Tentative Parcel Map TP 83396.
Vote: Moved: LEE Seconded: MAZA
Ayes: LEE, MAZA, MALONEY
Noes : NONE
Absent: PÉREZ, ANDRADE-STADLER
ADJOURNMENT: At 7 :59 p.m . there being no further business for the Council to transact, the Mayor, with the consent of the City Council , adjourned their meeting to the next regul ar meeting of the Alhambra City Council is scheduled for Monday, April 11 , 202 2 at 6:00 p.m.
LAUREN MYLES, CMC
CITY CLERK