That the Planning Commission approve:
 

The Applicant, Santa's Garden, Inc, is proposing a pumpkin patch with ancillary activities on a vacant commercial property. The subject property, shown in Exhibit 1, is located near the southwest corner of Lambert Road and Beach Boulevard, south and west of the Del Taco and Carl's Jr. drive-through restaurants. The General Plan designates the subject property for Highway Commercial land use. The property is within the Commercial (C-2) Zone, which implements the General Plan Highway Commercial land use designation. As you may recall, earlier this year in January, the Planning Commission approved plans to construct a Dutch Bros. Coffee restaurant and America’s Tire store on the subject property.  The applicant for the proposed pumpkin patch is able to request a Large Special Event Permit at this time because he has a lease to use the subject property through December 31, 2023.


EXHIBIT 1


The Applicant is requesting to conduct a Large Special Event for the sale of pumpkins that will include inflatable slides, bouncers, and a kiddie train. Exhibit 2, below, provides the proposed site plan for the event. The event is scheduled to run from September 29, 2023, through October 31, 2023. Event setup is proposed to take place from August 28, 2023, to September 28, 2023, and event teardown is proposed to run from November 1, 2023, to November 15, 2023. The proposed hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. The event operator has conducted this event annually since 2010, with the exception of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EXHIBIT 2


The event layout remains the same as previous years with the pumpkin display area located in the middle of the property and the kiddie train meandering through the pumpkin patch. A total of three bouncers, five inflatable slides, and two inflatable obstacle courses are proposed around the pumpkin display area. The event also includes temporary lighting, security office trailers (24 hour security), temporary restrooms, storage trailers, and an office unit. The main entrance to the event is located near the southeasterly corner of the property near the Del Taco restaurant.

Analysis
The proposed project is before the Planning Commission pursuant to La Habra Municipal Code (LHMC) Section 18.06.040.A and the Special Event Policy Guidelines. The Guidelines classify the proposed activity as a Large Special Event due to the use of inflatable rides and bouncers, as well as the duration of the event, which is more than four consecutive days. Large Special Events require notification to property owners within 300 feet and consideration by the Planning Commission. In addition, pursuant to La Habra Municipal Code Section 18.14.060.B.5, the event is required to provide a total of 20 onsite customer parking spaces. It should be noted that the event operator will provide 49 onsite parking spaces, along the northwesterly half of the property.

Conditions of approval from previous pumpkin patch events have been carried over and placed on the requested permit. These conditions have been designed to mitigate and address potential impacts such as noise, light glare, and cleanup and maintenance of the property. The event operator has complied with the conditions of approval from previous years and no issues were reported for the most recent event, held in 2022.

Related Cases

• On October 13, 2003, the Planning Commission approved Plan approval 13-15 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch and Christmas tree sales lot with inflatable bouncers.
• On September 13, 2010, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 10-06 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On September 12, 2011, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 11-02 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 27, 2012, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 12-01 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 12, 2013, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 13-01 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On July 29, 2014, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 14-02 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 24, 2015, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 15-02 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On September 12, 2016, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 16-03 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On July 24, 2017, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 17-01 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On July 9, 2018, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 18-02 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 12, 2019, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 19-02 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 23, 2021, the Planning Commission approved Plan Approval 21-01 for a Special Event Permit consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On August 8, 2022, the Planning Commission approved Special Event Permit 22-03 for a Special Event consisting of a pumpkin patch with inflatable rides.
• On January 23, 2023, the Planning Commission approved Tentative Parcel Map 2022-131 to subdivide a lot to create three parcels at 701 to 777 South Beach Boulevard and 2060 West Lambert Road. The Planning Commission also approved Design Review 22-04, Conditional Use Permit 22-14 and Conditional Use Permit 22-15 to construct a commercial building to operate an automobile service facility and to construct and operate a drive-through restaurant.
• On June 1, 2023, the City accepted applications for grading permits and building permits to construct drive-through restaurant at 2060 West Lambert Road.

The Applicant has paid for the processing costs associated with the Special Event Permit, which total $912.00

The Applicant's proposal has been reviewed pursuant to the requirements of the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Permit, the Local Implementation Plan (LIP), and the Model Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP), Section 7.2. Since no disturbance of soil will occur, the project is exempted by the Water Quality Ordinance from the preparation of a WQMP.

The proposed event is related to the following General Plan policies:

• CI 6.1 Calendar of Events. Administer and partner with local organizations in the conduct of an annual program of events and celebrations that offer opportunities for residents to gather, recreate, and appreciate life in La Habra.
• OS 3.5 Community Special Events. Support and encourage community wide special events that incorporate and promote the City's history, family activities, cultural events, and educational opportunities.

The proposed event is related to the following City Council Goal and Objectives:

• Goal 5 - Development Activity and Business Assistance
  • Objective C: Work closely with commercial and residential property-owners to improve and maintain the appearance of their properties
  • Objective D: Continue to improve the City’s business retention and expansion program
  • Objective E: Continue to evaluate and improve the City’s development review process and continue to foster a “business friendly” environment within all City departments