COMMUNITY MEETING SUMMARY
Firearm and Ammunition Retail Use Zone Text Amendment, Community Meeting Monday, March 11, 2024
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Summary of Meeting
1. Purpose of Meeting – To walk the community through a draft of the land use and zoning regulations City staff is developing for firearm and ammunition retailers.
2. Presentation Summary
a. Background.
b. Overview of Draft Land Use and Zoning Regulations.
c. Next Steps.
d. Q & A and Discussion.
3. Feedback Received from Community:
a. Comments received:
i. Members of the community expressed c oncerns over having to relocate further away from the center of the City which would make it more difficult for the Police Department to respond to potential thefts or crimes.
ii. Members of the community expressed concerns over requiring that new firearm and ammunition retailers be located in close proximity to freeways.
iii. Members of the community expressed concerns that if they become non -conforming it may limit their ability to sell their business in the future.
iv. Members of the community expressed concerns that landlords may raise their rent because they have limited relocation options. v. Members of the public expressed c oncerns over a lack of connections between safety and the need for new regulations on existing firearm retailers.
vi. Suggestions were made that instead of zoning regulations, City should be providing training and education to the public about gun safety.
vii. There was concerns over the use of regulations and development standards from Cities such as Culver City or San Francisco because of their “antagonistic actions” against firearm retailers in their respective cities.
viii. Some members expressed that there was no need for a cap on the number of firearm retailer business applications because the ATTACHMENT 13 - 1
sensitive locations requirements would limit the number of parcels new locations could go.
ix. Members of the public express concerns over the cost and feasibility of installing barriers/bollards
x. Community members a sked Staff to change the date of the next Stakeholder Meeting due to Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
b. Questions were asked about the following:
i. Reasoning for the duplicate standards of video surveillance and secure storage of firearms with what is listed in the Business License Ordinance?
o Response: Video surveillance and secure storage standards would be added to zoning code requirements for the purpose of creating new development standards for new firearm
retailers to abide by, along with business license requirements that will be checked during the local inspections.
ii. Did the City investigate putting a cap on the number of firearm retail licenses that can be issues?
o Response: Staff considered a cap, however, has not
recommended one in the draft standards. In addition, to staff’s knowledge, no other jurisdictions have established a cap on firearm and ammunition retailers. Further, s taff clarified that there are 14 Federal Firearm Licenses (FFL) in the city, however, there are only 9 official firearm retailers in the city. iii. What happens if a “sensitive use ” moves in after a new firearm retail uses has been established?
o Response: Staff clarified that based on the proposed draft standards, all new firearm retailers would need to go through the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process and the
surrounding uses would be evaluated at the time an
application is submitted. All the sensitive uses in the area will be evaluated at that time only.
iv. Clarify bollard requirement.
o Response: Staff stated it will provide clarity on bollard standards – including examples of bollards and where they can be placed.
v. What cities were used as a reference for draft standards? o Response: Staff clarified that surrounding cities were used for their best practices regarding firearm retail uses. Cities include Pasadena, Los Angeles, Glendale, Culver City, and others across the State of California.
vi. Can you p rovide correlation or evidence of safety concerns and location of firearm retailers near sensitive uses?
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o Response: Staff referenced the Staff Report provided to City Council Meeting on July 26 th, 2022, that references analysis conducted by the Police Department the calls for services and crimes committed around the existing firearm retailers.
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