[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] Marko, our commissioner, banks, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance?
[0:12] In addition to the flag of United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation of the God in the physical with liberty and justice for all.
[0:34] I have a roll call, please. Commissioner Banks?
[0:38] President.
[0:39] Commissioner McPhail?
[0:40] President.
[0:41] Vice Chairman Robinson?
[0:42] President?
[0:43] Chairman Eckerd?
[0:44] Here.
[0:45] And Commissioner Summary is absent.
[0:48] And the agenda we have before us is at our final agenda, Mr. Planning Director.
[0:54] Yes, it is, it's complete.
[0:56] But okay, at this time, if there's something that the audience wants to talk about that's not on our agenda,
[1:04] you can submit a request to do so, we may or may not entertain it.
[1:09] If you do, you have to fill out a form, put on your name and address, and then we'll consider it.
[1:19] Also, at this time, I'd like everybody to turn their phones off or put them on silent, so we're not interrupted during the meeting.
[1:28] Under the consent calendar, one item on there,
[1:38] just to prove the minutes of submitted,
[1:42] have a motion.
[1:44] second one favor before a vote is taken out I just observed that I think
[1:52] Commissioner Robinson was absent was absent last meeting and Commission
[1:57] Macphale came late did not participate in the first item and so technical here
[2:06] right so I guess for christian mcphalia and then we get and then maybe we
[2:12] ought to save this till later I don't want to I don't want to yeah I don't
[2:18] want to prove or disprove you know a partial so I guess I think
[2:24] commission mcphill can can vote on the part that he participated in that the
[2:28] minutes for item I think it's B and after you can vote favor that and then
[2:37] But that only gives us really two folks to vote on those first two items.
[2:44] That's right.
[2:44] And that's not a majority.
[2:47] But it's Michael gone now.
[2:50] Yep.
[2:51] So that the point's kind of moved on that we don't have the opportunity to do that.
[3:00] He's not going to be at a meeting, so you think he's going to be here for another couple
[3:06] months?
[3:10] Let's then, yeah, well, let's just table these minutes until we have a proper majority
[3:24] to vote on.
[3:26] All right.
[3:28] Good.
[3:29] That's how we start out this meeting tonight with a little controversy.
[3:33] Next item, public hearing.
[3:37] We have a verification of notice for this public hearing tonight.
[3:49] Yes, properly noticed.
[3:50] All right.
[3:51] Are there any declarations of conflicts from commissioners?
[3:57] Any exparte contacts?
[4:00] None?
[4:01] All right.
[4:02] We'll open the public hearing.
[4:03] Okay, and we'll hear who's going to present tonight on the 17 CDP 05 Wabagrill.
[4:14] On our royal, our staff person will make the presentation.
[4:18] Excellent,
[4:21] proceed.
[4:23] Good evening everyone, it's nice to be back, they don't let me out much.
[4:27] So it's a pleasure to present this project tonight.
[4:33] It's an addition to Santa Paula, another place to go eat, so I'm hoping that I didn't get
[4:40] any calls or any questions, so I'm hoping I can make this as brief as possible.
[4:50] So the project before you is a request for a conditional use permit to allow a fast-food
[4:56] restaurant, which Wabagra would be considered fast food since it's not silverware plates
[5:05] that you wash. It's disposable and that's how we define it. It's described in your staff report.
[5:11] The project also includes design review, a minor modification to reduce the required parking.
[5:22] This is the existing site. Actually, it's the proposed site plan and there's a vicinity map that shows,
[5:30] you know, Harvard Boulevard. The project consists of two detached buildings.
[5:39] the existing liquor store and the vacant building.
[5:44] The liquor store is many of you know it is Jones's liquor.
[5:49] The other was previously occupied many, many years ago by a bar.
[5:54] I believe everybody knew it as, oh gosh, I should know the name of the bar.
[6:00] I never went, but it was, anybody remember the name of the bar?
[6:04] San Chose?
[6:05] And then it was Rizzo's for a few years.
[6:08] I think back in 2011.
[6:13] These are photographs of the existing bar which would be
[6:17] Wabagrill. There's the front, a side view, the back, another side. Here's a, my
[6:28] glasses on it would help. You can see Jonesy's liquor and additional photos of the
[6:35] site and more shows the driveway that leads to the back,
[6:45] to the parking lot, the zoning
[6:50] is commercial to the northwest east is commercial, the site though is, which is very different
[7:00] from other locations, there's residential all around it, there's single family to the
[7:06] north across the street apartments to the west and east and south and for the back there's
[7:14] a mobile home park so this will provide additional eating you know from walking distance to many
[7:21] people moving along so back to the site the project includes improvements to the parking lot and
[7:33] When you trash enclosure would be built in the back, accessible handicapped parking
[7:40] in the back and the front, 29 parking spaces,
[7:48] and obviously there's interior improvements
[7:50] which includes the seating area in the front, the side, and entrance from the back and
[7:56] the front, the kitchen area, and the walking cooler area.
[8:01] This
[8:05] is the proposed elevation which the applicant brought to my attention last week that they
[8:14] are doing some additional changes and the architect will come forward and describe some of those changes.
[8:20] But in the packet that you have before you, the proposed changes just include removal of some lava rock in the front
[8:31] and adding windows and some metal screening of the roof mounted equipment and
[8:37] just painting the existing block with a dark tan color and a lighter beige tones
[8:46] at the top.
[8:50] The application also includes new signage at the front and I believe
[8:57] This photo shows it a little bit better here.
[9:04] So a wall sign, a directional sign for parking in the rear, and a phase change to the pole
[9:11] sign.
[9:13] In the staff report, we're recommending that they revise the sign area to include the parking
[9:22] in the rear within the sign area.
[9:24] that they have more than what just typically allowed for pull signs and adding additional
[9:34] is really not supported by staff.
[9:38] However, commission may approve it as proposed or agree with staff and revise the sign.
[9:48] In
[9:52] the staff report, I go into a detail of how the project meets the general plan, goals,
[10:00] policies, and how it meets most of the development code requirements with the exception of the
[10:07] parking.
[10:08] As described in the parking analysis, the engineer indicates that peak time, they only
[10:16] need 25 parking stalls for the two uses, as proposed the project will have 25 spaces.
[10:31] And therefore, in conclusion, we are recommending approval of the resolution with the conditions
[10:37] of approval. Does anybody want me to go over those changes to the conditions, which were
[10:44] the parapet wall changing it to properly screen the equipment and the changes to the signage
[10:54] and there was one item I did forget the additional landscaping in the front or more screen
[11:00] and to provide additional landscaping. Let me go back to that when I apologize for missing
[11:05] that.
[11:08] The project includes landscaping around the poll sign and this area is pretty much
[11:14] debt space is just asphalt and by adding additional landscape being in addition to the small
[11:23] area in front of the liquor store, it will provide a nice green buffer to Harvard Boulevard.
[11:31] At this point, I, this concludes staff's presentation and I can answer questions and then have
[11:36] the applicant describe the, the changes that they sent to me last week.
[11:44] Commissioners, questions of staff?
[11:51] I have one question.
[11:56] The poll sign you said didn't meet requirements.
[11:59] I assume the requirements for square footies changed after the original one was put up.
[12:04] That's correct.
[12:15] Do you wish to hear from the applicant?
[12:18] You'd like to speak.
[12:21] Good evening Mr. Chairman and commissioners.
[12:24] My name is Archie Delosario.
[12:26] I'm from Gary Wang Associates and I represent my client for Wabagril.
[12:31] What Anna was describing is that we made some changes on the facade for the building.
[12:36] Instead of keeping that gable kind of look that we had like here before.
[12:45] So what we're suggesting now, since we've spoken with the client, to install like a corrugated
[12:53] metal around the building, not only to serve as a design element for the building, but also
[12:59] to conceal the rooftop equipment that we currently have in there.
[13:03] So instead of like having that,
[13:11] instead of keeping that facade right now and putting
[13:15] in the individual roof screen for the rooftop unit, I think that this better suits the design.
[13:23] So it kind of serves to purpose
[13:26] One kind of to be able to get a different look on the building
[13:30] Which I kind of ask like the modern kind of looked at and at the same time concealing the rooftop equipment that we have right now
[13:38] I think that'll be better a character for this building
[13:48] As a example, this is how it's gonna look like in terms of the finished product
[13:54] So I think it has some more of a cleaner look and it changes the character of the old building.
[14:02] The color would be like earth tone color, so it kind of blends with the
[14:09] environment right now with whatever we have there.
[14:14] So it's not as kind of just take or doesn't stay away from what we currently have.
[14:20] It still has the same earth tone that we refer for all the wild bug real that we have built so far.
[14:26] Yeah,
[14:35] question on the designer comment commission
[14:43] erectile. I don't have a question about the design. Maybe it's a question for the owner
[14:50] And I understand the definition of fast food
[14:55] But how fast is chicken salmon shrimp ribs and steak?
[15:02] It's just a curiosity question. I'll have the owner is to send the answer to that question.
[15:08] Is it question to staff or the applicant, more of how fast is chicken?
[15:12] It's similar to Panda. Panda had to go through the Panda Express on Harvard in the shopping center, had to go through the same process.
[15:19] I believe that's something we may look into the code as to how we define fast food.
[15:30] I guess my point is I'd hate to have my stakes in under a warm lamp till I get there.
[15:37] Okay.
[15:38] I guess that's my concern.
[15:48] Hope him using the right person.
[15:50] Let go.
[15:51] Okay.
[15:51] Now you can hear me.
[15:53] Okay.
[15:53] My name is Sandeeb of the applicant for this restaurant.
[15:56] I currently own one in Castake.
[15:57] I've been operating that unit for three years.
[16:00] What makes it different than everybody else?
[16:03] exact words. It's not sitting in a heat lamp. We don't even have a heat lamp. We don't
[16:07] have microwaves. So everything we do is we actually cook it to order. Your ribs are cooked
[16:11] to order, your shrimp is cooked to order. Check in, of course, we do cook it ahead of time
[16:16] because there's no way impossible for us to turn it as fast as we need to turn it. That's
[16:21] what makes Wabba go different. There's nothing in town that cooks fast food fresh for you.
[16:26] And healthy. We don't find nothing here. So we're typically Chinese food, Asian food
[16:32] food is fried, oil is used, we don't use any oil, everything is grilled, chicken is
[16:37] non frozen, rice is used from California, not overseas, so it's really a product that
[16:42] I believe in, so far the reputation that we have as a product is probably the best food
[16:49] fast food product in the market, I would say.
[16:52] Steak is ribeye, we've all had steak, that's not quality, and steak that we have is ribeye.
[16:58] The SAM is well from Alaska, shrimp are not this small.
[17:03] They're actually the jumbo shrimp.
[17:06] We're like a completely different product than, again,
[17:08] I can't say it over and over again.
[17:10] It's a new product.
[17:12] It's doing great in the Los Angeles area.
[17:14] We're up to 150 locations now.
[17:17] 150 locations growing every day.
[17:19] Ventures just opened a new one.
[17:22] Oxnard has two new ones that just opened.
[17:24] Semi-value just opened one.
[17:25] And all locations are doing great.
[17:27] and all the communities love it.
[17:31] The only thing that really makes it considered fast food
[17:34] is the fact that you're not using hard flatware and dishes.
[17:40] Yes, and I had that discussion with Anna
[17:42] and I really felt that, you know,
[17:45] we paid a significant fee to get this project going.
[17:49] Being that was fast food and I asked,
[17:51] and I go, is there any way we can get around that?
[17:53] And she says, no, well, you're considered fast food.
[17:56] And I said, well, now you brought it to my attention
[17:58] is because of the silverware.
[18:00] I mean, I don't mind having metal silverware if it saves me a lot of money.
[18:04] I can give that to the community instead of paying in permit fees.
[18:08] Thank you.
[18:09] That answers my question.
[18:11] Great.
[18:11] Thank you.
[18:14] Thank you very much.
[18:15] Any other questions?
[18:19] Andrew Hanna-Motion.
[18:21] Commissioner Robinson?
[18:24] As I was going through the back-and-hide, soon this was a set-down restaurant.
[18:30] Is that correct?
[18:31] Basically, yeah.
[18:32] It's a, yeah.
[18:35] Oh, it's, are you gonna have takeout capabilities?
[18:42] Yes.
[18:43] The customer's only able to call it.
[18:45] Not only does the customer spend a certain restaurant
[18:47] do you call it, but you have to call it with a phone
[18:49] or they pick it up and go.
[18:50] So you're in an Alice in two minutes through minutes.
[18:53] We're actually developing a new two-way system right now.
[18:57] I think the advantage of it is that you
[18:59] I see that in the government come in order themselves, pay themselves, check out what they're doing themselves without cash here
[19:06] So they're going in, you pick up your order, you pay, you can say down to ease, do we have a customer that we do with our lunch, but a lunch ground?
[19:17] Customer that they're less than 50 minutes, 20 minutes, they're time.
[19:23] Okay
[19:36] that we're going to have to go into any process.
[19:44] No bear and wine.
[19:46] If at some point in the future they
[19:48] wanted to serve you and have to live for a new CUP.
[19:53] Modification, but yes, it's pretty much treated like a new
[19:55] CUP.
[19:59] Well, I remember the bar that was there.
[20:01] I don't remember the name either.
[20:03] And I know it was a really problematic location.
[20:06] There were a lot of police calls, a lot of activity there.
[20:09] so this is a great step forward. We'll have a cleaner environment, I think, in that community,
[20:17] so that's good. The parking and the traffic in and out concerns me a little bit, if staff is okay
[20:23] with it, then I think we should move forward with it. Is that a motion there, Commissioner Robinson?
[20:30] that we accept, or I have at page 11, the
[20:45] bottom.
[20:51] Okay, that we adopt resolution 3776 approving conditional use permit.
[20:57] Number 2017 CDP05 to allow proposed fast food restaurant Wabba Grill, design review and
[21:05] minor modification for reduction and required parking spaces for property located at
[21:11] one, three, two, West Harvard Boulevard, subject to conditions of approval.
[21:16] Second.
[21:19] And moved and seconded.
[21:20] All in favor?
[21:22] Aye.
[21:23] Any opposed?
[21:25] Option carries.
[21:28] It's approved.
[21:34] Go forth and cook food.
[21:41] Maybe.
[21:41] Is that tonight?
[21:49] Okay, next, I'll close the public hearing,
[21:55] next is order of business,
[21:58] election of new planning commission officers.
[22:02] So currently we have two positions to reconsider as far as roles,
[22:10] chair and vice chair, and given that commissioner,
[22:13] where summer will soon be off the commission and will currently be recruiting for another commission member.
[22:22] The likelihood of that new commission member either being the chair or the vice chair, you know, without any tenure is not likely so I think what we have as far as a group right now would be recommendation staff would be for us to decide those two positions and we can do that tonight.
[22:38] Okay, and the process, if needed, is on the last page of your packet.
[22:43] Mm-hm, that's two pages.
[22:48] Well, I beg a motion, Mr. Fred Robinson, the chair.
[22:55] Second.
[22:57] There's a second.
[22:59] You don't need a second?
[23:01] I know, it's okay.
[23:03] Now, make a comment.
[23:06] Yes?
[23:06] I am grateful for the consideration for the position but my term on a planning commission
[23:19] is soon to expire and I will not be reapplying to the city council to continue service on
[23:26] the planning commission.
[23:27] So in deference, and it's only just a few months, is that correct?
[23:32] Okay so with that in mind I decline all right I hear it
[23:43] can I make a motion well
[23:44] sure you're still on here I move that Commissioner Margot Banks be
[23:57] appointed chair for the planning commission I
[24:04] move nominations be closed
[24:07] second.
[24:11] Congratulations. Thank you. That takes care of that and now we have one more.
[24:16] Commissioner
[24:16] Banks needs to accept. Oh, she does. She does. How long do I have to think about it now?
[24:23] I'll accept. How much training comes with this? I'll accept. We're all friends. We need a vice
[24:30] This chair, I move that Commissioner McPhale, the vice chair.
[24:35] Second.
[24:37] I move the nominations be closed.
[24:42] Okay.
[24:44] Oh, I accept.
[24:45] Except everyone, everybody calm down.
[24:52] So, very good.
[24:55] So you start next, the next meeting.
[24:58] Yeah.
[25:01] It's going to be televised, yeah.
[25:03] No, I don't.
[25:04] No, no, no.
[25:08] Don't tell Peggy, though.
[25:11] Don't tell Peggy, there's been a change.
[25:16] We don't want to let Peggy know.
[25:18] She's a newspaper, you know?
[25:20] I can't.
[25:22] All right.
[25:23] Good.
[25:25] Congratulations both of you.
[25:26] You'll do fine.
[25:27] Thank you.
[25:28] as you as you can see here it's pretty much we all kind of work together and
[25:34] help each other out and would be disappointed to see Fred leave after a long time
[25:39] but a little while it's time for some new ideas we
[25:46] don't come up with ideas we
[25:48] just review what's putting forward I'd like to congratulate commit I because even
[25:57] before I got on the commission he was doing a fantastic job and you do a great
[26:02] job getting this in, getting this out in a very professional manner and I
[26:06] just want to say thank you. You're welcome, thank you. I've enjoyed it. I'm not
[26:10] going anywhere right now. It's been a great working with you. You have done a
[26:15] great job. You know how to run a meeting. Very respectful. I've been up there
[26:21] And other other capacity my life and I know how difficult it can be when you get a
[26:28] Number of speaker cards and trying to keep them in order
[26:34] And you've got us out of here in a decent hour most of the time and
[26:39] Those of us
[26:42] Earlier bed times as we grow old
[26:47] Older but we still have business to conduct
[26:51] Do we have any new business?
[26:54] We do not.
[26:56] Okay.
[26:57] City communications.
[26:59] Anything from the planning department?
[27:01] Well, one element that you see in there as far as the design assistance committee, looking
[27:08] for another representative, Chair Eckert, you've been with the DAC for quite a while.
[27:17] And I did talk to Commissioner Banks about potentially being a part of that.
[27:24] So, I don't know if you're still interested in it, okay, that's yeah so yeah no that's
[27:33] that's fine so and we'll probably be having a meeting within the next month so.
[27:38] It's a good group of people and they do a very important work for the community.
[27:51] I think the other thing you just mentioned some things probably the most important thing
[27:54] coming down the pipeline is we're working on the general plan update and on March 19th there'll be
[28:01] a city council study session which will be a public meeting talking about mainly focused on land use
[28:06] just some trying to create continuity between our zoning and our general plan general plan being
[28:14] long-term land use and zoning being our existing land use so there's some discrepancies we want to
[28:19] try and tighten that up a little bit better and we're taking public input people that have concerns
[28:24] about properties and having a conference right now I'm having a one-on-ones with council members just to get them
[28:30] familiar with some of the changes that may need to occur.
[28:35] Outside of that a lot of development happening I think last that counted we have somewhere
[28:42] counting Waba about a half a dozen restaurants in some stage of either looking or development or
[28:51] you know, starting to secure space.
[28:54] So the one thing about restaurants is they have to go
[28:56] through the county environmental health
[29:00] and that can take a long time.
[29:01] So the idea of opening a restaurant
[29:03] and getting it open can be two different things.
[29:06] So we'll see what the next year brings us,
[29:08] but that could bring some nice options and choices.
[29:11] And I'm excited to have something like Waba fast food,
[29:14] but at least fresh.
[29:16] You know, getting us away, we talked about that before
[29:17] or from the fried in dangerous food
[29:21] and getting something a little bit more healthy.
[29:25] I think that's probably it.
[29:30] Any commissioners have any future agenda items?
[29:35] Yes, no, maybe so.
[29:37] Can I jump in briefly?
[29:38] You can.
[29:39] So with Commissioner Summers departure
[29:44] and then Commissioner Robinson's departure in the fall,
[29:47] And the way that planning commission staffing has gone
[29:52] with recruitment for the food positions,
[29:55] we may not have a full complement of five again,
[29:58] realistically until the-
[30:01] We will probably operate with four for some time, hopefully not three, but if we can get more commissioners to apply and to come in sooner, we may not have to go that route. But realistically, we're probably going to have four for a few months, at least, between the application, the approval through the city council, you guys all went through that process. So we'll be on the right side, but we'll get there by the fall. Okay?
[30:29] It's good, it's good.
[30:32] Nothing further, we're adjourned.
[30:35] I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.