The three new categories are Restaurant, Limited-Restaurant, and Bar.  A Restaurant is any restaurant that serves food, including those that serve beer, wine or liquor for on-site consumption.  A Limited-Restaurant is any restaurant that serves food but does not serve beer or wine for on-site consumption.  A Bar serves beer, wine or liquor for on-site consumption.

The San Francisco Chronicle captures how much of a difference this legislation will make for restaurants in San Francisco.  Prior to the adoption of these amendments to the Planning Code, one bagel shop owner could sell bagels, but was not able to toast them because his permit did not allow for him to keep a toaster on the premises.  Another example is an ice cream shop that could serve ice cream in a cup, but not in a cone. The regulations ranged from the types of foods a restaurateur could serve to the number of chairs allowed in a cafe.  Please read the San Francisco Chronicle article here.

The adopted operating conditions for bars and restaurants include maintaining entrance and abutting sidewalks in a clean and sanitary condition, soundproofing premises when located within an enclosed space, installation of appropriate odor control equipment, keeping garbage, recycling, and compost containers hidden from public view.  You can read the full text of the ordinance here.

The Planning Commission will also consider an accompanying amendment to the Local Coastal Program for Second Residential Units.

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission will meet at 6:30pm in the City Council Chambers at 505 Forest Avenue.

According to Fresno County, Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Facilities are now processed through the Unclassified Conditional Use Permit (UCUP) process of the County Zoning Ordinance. A UCUP is a discretionary land use application brought before the County Planning Commission at a public hearing and is appealable to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. The estimated processing time for a PV solar project is between six to eight months (from UCUP submittal to hearing date), but that time may be shortened or lengthened depending on agency review comments, special studies, or site-specific issues.

To learn more about Fresno County’s regulations, please click here.

In late March, the Pinole Planning Commission unanimously recommended to ban gun sales from residential areas and restrict them to commercial areas.  In January, the City Council enacted a moratorium on home gun sale business licenses and extended it in February.

To read the full San Jose Mercury News story, please click here.

The property is located in the BMP-SP – Business and Manufacturing Park and Specific
Plan (Sycamore Canyon Business Park) Overlay Zones and the B/OP – Business/Office Park General Plan designation.  The B/OP- Business Office Park General Plan land use designation and the Industrial Subarea of the Sycamore Canyon Business Park Specific Plan are intended to allow for single and mixed light industrial uses which do not create nuisances due to order, dust, noise or traffic. Section 19.150.020 of the Riverside Zoning Code allows indoor recreation facilities, such as the proposed indoor tennis facility, in the BMP Zone and Industrial Subarea of the Specific Plan subject to the granting of a Conditional Use Permit.  Riverside Planning Staff has stated in their report to the Planning Commission that the proposed project is consistent with the General Plan 2025, Sycamore Canyon Business Park Specific Plan, and the Zoning Code.  Staff has also stated there are no major issues associated with this proposal and can be supported, subject to the recommended conditions of approval.

The Riverside Planning Commission will consider the Conditional Use Permit application (Case No. P12-0082) for the Riverside Indoor Tennis Club on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 9:00am in the City Council Chambers in Riverside City Hall, 3900 Main Street in Riverside.

Abe Stevens received a conditional use permit from the Fortuna Planning Commission on Tuesday. He said he still has to obtain a federal distilling license and a license from the California Alcohol Beverage Control Office before opening. Stevens added that his next hurdle is working with the Arcata Economic Development Corporation to help with the distillery’s start-up expenses.

Once he gets the distillery up and running at 735 10th Street, Stevens said, he will be producing small batches of fruit brandy made from local apples and pears, as well as other types of liquor such as whiskey and vodka. The distillery would also use organic grain and fruit to make its spirits, Stevens said.

”A lot of fruit is involved in making brandies, there are plenty of local options,” he said. “When it comes to grains, which are used in things like whiskey, regionally or statewide, we should be able to find some. So as much as possible we’re going to try and use organic ingredients and locally produced ingredients.”

Planning commissioners unanimously approved a conditional use permit to Stevens on Tuesday, according to Liz Shorey, Fortuna’s deputy community development director. Commissioners raised questions about the odor, noise and traffic. City staff replied that the odor would largely be contained within the distillery facility.

Shorey added that the distillery will allow visitors to sample its product, but will not be offering more than three, one-fourth ounce samples.

”It is not going to be operated like a bar where people can stay for a couple of hours and have a lot to drink,” she said.

Planning Commissioner Paul Glennie said a member of the public, who lives near the proposed distillery site, commented that she had lived near a microdistillery before and that the odor was minimal.

Glennie said commissioners were also concerned about…to read the rest of this story, please click here.

A graduate from the University of Southern California, Mr. Bacerra has utilized his experience in long range and current planning to secure entitlements and permits for a diverse set of clients. He has also composed zoning and development policy for numerous jurisdictions.

Mr. Bacerra has worked for various municipal agencies, such as the Southern California Association of Governments, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City of Los Angeles, and the City of Westminster.

His passion and experience in multi-modal planning advocacy lead to his appointment to the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Citizens Advisory Committee.

Mr. Bacerra has also served as the Executive Director for the Democratic Foundation of Orange County and worked on several political campaigns throughout the state of California.

Mr. Bacerra was born and raised in Orange County, California.  He is a graduate of Santiago High School in Garden Grove.  Mr. Bacerra currently resides in the city of Santa Ana.

The Long Beach Planning Commission meeting will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 5:00pm in the City Council Chambers at 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA.

Roundtrip tickets will be only $7, $6 for senior/disabled, $4 for youth (ages 6 – 18), and free for children 5 and under with a paying adult (up to 3 children).

Upon arrival at Anaheim Station, you will be only a short walk through the stadium parking lot away from the game.  You can save money on gas and forget about dealing with the crowded freeways and stadium parking lot.

Please see the 2012 Angels Express schedule below.

This week: Orange, La Palma, and Garden Grove

Orange – April 2
Ordinance Amendment – Amending Title 17 relating to Accessory Second Housing Units and Multi-Family Uses made non-conforming by the 2010 General Plan.
Citywide
Modifies Title 17 to no longer count detached accessory second units toward the 50 percent cap on floor area for detached accessory structures in relation to the floor area of the principal single family residence; and classify pre-existing duplex and multi-family residential structures on properties re-zoned to Single Family (R-1) due to land use changes in the 2010 General Plan Focus Areas as “permitted” rather than “legal non-conforming” uses. In conjunction with these changes, Section 17.17.065 of the Code, recognizing historic duplex and multi-family structures as permitted uses, would no longer be needed, and would therefore be deleted in its entirety.

La Palma – April 3
Ordinance Amending Chapter 26 of the La Palma City Code Adding and Amending Certain Provisions to the “Planned Neighborhood Development (PND)” Zoning District
Citywide
Amends Article II Division 4 of Chapter 26, of the La Palma City Code to conditionally permit Bank uses in the PND zone and amends two development standards related to PND requirements.

Garden Grove – April 5
Meeting Cancelled.
Next meeting scheduled for April 19, 2012.