This project was reviewed pursuant to the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15304, Class 4: "Minor Alterations to Land" subsection (e) Minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment. This section applies to carnivals, sales of Christmas trees etc.

That the Planning Commission Approve:

A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA APPROVING SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT 22-01 TO CONDUCT A LARGE SPECIAL EVENT AT 1641-1721 WEST IMPERIAL HIGHWAY, AS PER THE APPROVED PLANS AND SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS.

The Applicant, La Habra Associates LLC, is proposing to conduct an acrobatic circus (the "proposed project" or "event") within the parking lot of the La Habra Marketplace Shopping Center. The shopping center is located on the north side of Imperial Highway between Beach Boulevard and Idaho Street. The General Plan Land Use designation for the subject property is Community Shopping Center 2, and it is within the Community Shopping Center High Density (C-2sH) Zone, the implementing zone for this General Plan designation.

The Applicant, in conjunction with the La Habra Community Services Department, is proposing to hold a large special event involving an acrobatic circus (American Crown Circus) within the parking lot of the La Habra Marketplace Shopping Center. The event helps the Community Services Department raise funds to support City sponsored programs. The event area is located south of the Famous Footwear suite and north of the La Habra Modern Dentistry/Schools First Federal Credit Union building. This will be the fifth year the Applicant has conducted this event at the subject property.

The event location and layout will remain the same as in previous years, with the event area measuring 183 feet by 200 feet, for a total 36,600 square feet, containing three drive aisles and approximately 132 parking spaces. The entire perimeter of the event area will be secured with traffic barriers. A 144-foot round tent will be placed in the middle of the event area. The parking lot light standards will pass through the ceiling of the tent and the parking lot trees will be fitted within the tent. The event area will also include a secured temporary generator placed near the northeast corner of the event area. The event area will also include trash receptacles and four portable restrooms including an accessible restroom placed near the east side of the tent. The ticket booth trailer will be placed on the south side of the tent. The event coordinator will provide two security guards to monitor the event and assist with traffic control.

The interior layout of the tent includes a 31-foot by 31-foot, raised three-foot stage placed in the middle of the tent, with portable bleachers surrounding the stage, allowing for a maximum occupancy of 400 individuals. A backstage area will be located along the northern side of the tent, for the use by the performers. The tent will include four separate exits and entrances, and a first aide facility. The interior concession stand will provide popcorn, cotton candy, snow-cones, nachos, hot dogs, and soft drinks. All food heating equipment will be electrical, no propane gas burners will be used.

The event setup will begin Tuesday, March 15, 2022, and teardown will be completed by Tuesday, March 22, 2022. The show times for the event performances are Thursday, March 17, Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 20 and Monday, March 21 from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The circus performances will include jugglers, clowns, acrobats, and magicians; each performance lasts two and a half hours. No animals, open flames or pyrotechnics will be used.

The proposed project is before the Planning Commission pursuant to the Special Event Policy Guidelines, in which the proposed activity is considered a Large Special Event due to the duration of the event, which is more than four consecutive days. Large Special Events require consideration by the Planning Commission.

The proposed event is anticipated to draw between 150-200 persons per performance. The event area is located within a portion of the parking lot that is not heavily utilized in the evening hours. No reported issues have occurred as part of its operation in the previous four years (2015 to 2019).

The event was reviewed by the Development Review Committee (DRC), which includes representatives from the Police and Fire Departments. Based on the success of the operation in previous years, without any incidents or issues, the DRC did not express any concerns with the proposed project. Conditions of approval have been included to address public safety by requiring barricades and onsite security. The Applicant is also required to obtain a separate permit for the tent from the County of Los Angeles Fire Department.

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, this project is exempt from the preparation of a WQMP.