The project was reviewed pursuant to the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15304(e), Class 4: "Minor Alterations to Land" of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.

That the Planning Commission approve:

A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA APPROVING SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT 22-03 TO CONDUCT A LARGE SPECIAL EVENT THAT INCLUDES A PUMPKIN PATCH AND ANCILLARY ACTIVITIES AT 777 SOUTH BEACH BOULEVARD, MAKING THE APPROPRIATE FINDINGS, AS PER THE APPROVED PLANS, AND SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS.

The Applicant, Vermeulen Properties #4 LLC, 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 east 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.

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 30, 2022, to October 31, 2022. Event setup runs from September 1, 2022, to September 29, 2022, and event teardown runs from November 1, 2022, to November 15, 2022. 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 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, Large Special Events are 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 2021.

Code Compliance
The subject property is in compliance with all applicable zoning standards of the Commercial (C-2) Zone.
 

The Applicant has paid for the processing costs associated with the Special Event Permit totaling $897 to process this request.

The Applicants'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, 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.

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

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