| Item No. 3. | |
| MEETING DATE: November 8, 2021 |
|
| TO: | PLANNING COMMISSION |
| FROM: | DAVID CRABTREE, INTERIM DIRECTOR By: |
| SUBJECT: | REQUEST FOR TIME EXTENSION 21-01 FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 16-06 FOR THE OPERATION OF A CHURCH AT 501 NORTH BEACH BOULEVARD
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CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA):
This project was reviewed pursuant to the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1: Existing Facilities of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Planning Commission Approve:
A MOTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA APPROVING TIME EXTENSION 21-01 FOR A ONE-YEAR TIME EXTENSION TO CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 16-06 FOR THE OPERATION OF A CHURCH AT 501 NORTH BEACH BOULEVARD.
DISCUSSION:
The Applicant, is requesting a one-year time extension to Conditional Use Permit 16-06 for the operation of a church within Whittier Christina High School's gymnasium. The school is located in the vicinity of the northwest corner of La Habra Boulevard and Beach Boulevard, on the west side of Beach Boulevard, north of the Costco property. The General Plan land use designation for the site is Low Density Residential. The property is zoned R-1c One Family Dwelling with a Planned Unit Development Overlay, which is consistent with the General Plan.
The Whittier Christian High School campus is located on Lowell Joint School District property and they have a long term lease in place. The property is approximately 19.8 acres in size and contains classrooms, faculty offices, a multipurpose building, modular buildings, and a gymnasium.
On July 11, 2016, the Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit 16-06 to operate a church within the 11,475 square foot gymnasium located near the center of the property. Church worship services were held inside the gymnasium on Sunday's at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. with 45 minutes between services. The interior of the gym included the use of a portable stage and removable chairs arranged in rows with a total seating capacity of 464 persons. With the approval of CUP 16-06, Whittier Christian High School entered into a sublease agreement with Eastside Christian Church on September 1, 2016, through October 31, 2020. With the termination of the sublease in October 2020, CUP 16-06 would expire by October 31, 2021, due to nonuse/inactivity. Therefore, Whittier Christian High School has filed for a Time Extension to keep CUP 16-06 active for one year while another church is located. Once a new sublease has been obtained, the CUP will continue to be active and the new church will continue to be subject to the original conditions of approval of CUP 16-06.
The Whittier Christian High School campus is located on Lowell Joint School District property and they have a long term lease in place. The property is approximately 19.8 acres in size and contains classrooms, faculty offices, a multipurpose building, modular buildings, and a gymnasium.
On July 11, 2016, the Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit 16-06 to operate a church within the 11,475 square foot gymnasium located near the center of the property. Church worship services were held inside the gymnasium on Sunday's at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. with 45 minutes between services. The interior of the gym included the use of a portable stage and removable chairs arranged in rows with a total seating capacity of 464 persons. With the approval of CUP 16-06, Whittier Christian High School entered into a sublease agreement with Eastside Christian Church on September 1, 2016, through October 31, 2020. With the termination of the sublease in October 2020, CUP 16-06 would expire by October 31, 2021, due to nonuse/inactivity. Therefore, Whittier Christian High School has filed for a Time Extension to keep CUP 16-06 active for one year while another church is located. Once a new sublease has been obtained, the CUP will continue to be active and the new church will continue to be subject to the original conditions of approval of CUP 16-06.
Analysis
The proposed project is before the Planning Commission pursuant to La Habra Municipal Code Section 18.66.090(A), which states that a CUP expires if the use authorized by the CUP is or has been unused, abandoned, or discontinued for a period of one year. However, LHMC Section 18.66.090(B) allows the Planning Commission to approve an extension of the CUP for a period not to exceed one year upon the request of the Applicant. A maximum of one extension may be granted.
The Applicant has requested a time extension to allow for the CUP to remain active for one year while a new church operator is obtained. Time extensions are permitted by the Zoning Code and the circumstances for this request are reasonable. Therefore, it is recommended that the Planning Commission approve Time Extension 21-01.
Related Cases
- On July 11, 2016, the Planning Commission approved Conditional Use Permit 16-06 for the operation of a church within the school's gymnasium.
- On July 12, 2017, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve Planned Unit Development Precise Plan 16-04 for a school master plan.
- On August 7, 2017, the City Council approved Planned Unit Development Precise Plan 16-04 for a school master plan.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
No City resources/funding is required for this proposal.
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES):
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 redevelopment is proposed, this project is exempted by the Water Quality Ordinance from the preparation of a WQMP.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
The project implements policies LU 4.7 Assembly Facilities and LU 10.3 Religious Institutions of the La Habra General Plan.