2023-04-18 CC Agenda - Public Communications related to Item C11 - EA 1230..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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Harada, Patricia
From: Toni Reina <treina@continentaldevelopment.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 2:28 PM
To: Planning
Cc: Samaras, Paul
Subject: Public Hearing for EA 1230 - Zoning Code Clean up
Good afternoon,
Continental Development Corporation (CDC) has reviewed the staff report for this public hearing and would
like to submit the following comments for City Council consideration.
Our thanks go to staff for undertaking this comprehensive effort to amend the El Segundo Municipal Code to
improve and streamline permitted uses and development standards. Staffs continued efforts to enhance
customer service are greatly appreciated.
CDC supports the following modifications as welcome changes that will provide applicants with flexibility and
savings of time and expense.
• Addition of micro -breweries with tasting rooms and/or dining to the conditionally permitted uses in the
MU-N and MU-S zones.
• Addition of outdoor dining to the permitted accessory uses in all commercial zones. This change is
especially appreciated as elimination of the automatic CUP requirement will save substantial time and
expense.
• Modification/simplification of setback requirements in the MU-S zone.
• Consolidation of permitted uses, accessory uses, and uses subject to a conditional use permit for
commercial zones into one table in an easy -to -use format.
• Clarification that parking spaces in excess of the minimum number required may be provided in tandem
configuration.
Elimination of the exclusion of common area restrooms from the calculation of Floor Area (Net) in
nonresidential buildings(ESMC 15-1-6 G.DEFINITIONS). By adding back/including the square footage of
common area restrooms in the Net Floor Area calculation, there is an assumption of more physical occupants
in the building when this isn't actually the case. It also potentially impacts and drives various development
regulations associated with the building. Including common area restrooms in the calculation of total Net Floor
Area has the same effect as the multiple -counting of space that could be attributed to the listed allowable
exclusions. It is requested that this change be deleted.
Chapter 2 — General Provisions:
Wall and fence height regulations (ESMC section 15-2-4 (a) (b) (c):
• CDC opposes the elimination of Director's discretion for height of walls and fences and establishment
of specific height requirements for nonresidential walls and fences. The appropriate height of a fence or
wall is dependent upon several important considerations including function, placement, context of the
surrounding improvements, security, etc. Because circumstances vary from project to project,
authorization of Director discretion should be retained. If there must be a regulation limiting fence/wall
height, consider the limit to be equivalent to the height of the bottom of the 2"d floor in a multistory
building and the perimeter roofline in the case of a single story building.
• CDC opposes elimination of Directors discretion with regard to height of retaining walls and
establishment of a limit of three feet for retaining walls that protect a cut slope in a required front or
street side setback. Without knowledge of the slope and soils conditions, an arbitrary three-foot height
limit may or may not be appropriate. These wall and fence decisions should remain at the Director's
discretion based on the submitted plans, inclusive of the appropriate civil and geotechnical engineering
documentation. Any Director decision is appealable, and it is highly preferable to work together with
staff on these types of solutions rather than having arbitrary regulations that can (not intentionally) but
ultimately subject applicants to the timely and expensive Adjustment or Variance process.
Temporary construction fencing: The timeframes for erection and removal of temporary construction
fencing should remain at the discretion of the Director with consideration given to the circumstances of
the specific project or property condition.
Chapter 15 — Off street parking requirements
Parking area development standards
(e) Streamline the vehicle lift permit process in residential zones, permit them as tandem spaces in non-
residential zones, and set a stacking limit of two vehicles. CDC does not support the two vehicle limit on
stacking in a parking structure in non-residential zones. This requirement does not provide the flexibility of use
that is needed. If the parking structure size is code compliant/within required height limits, the property owner
should have discretion in the number of vertically stacked vehicles subject to any building code requirements.
The use of automated garages can vastly reduce the size of the garage (as much as 50%) while maintaining
the same parking capacity.
Thank you for consideration of these comments. Please contact Toni Reina at
treina@continentaidevelooment.com or Alex Rose at arose@continentaldevelgpMent.com if you have any
questions regarding these comments.
Sincerely,
Toni Reina
Planning Manager
Continental Development Corporation
2041 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200
El Segundo, CA 90245
T. 310-640-1520, Ext. 205
CONTI NEN T.AL<
DBTLOPMENT
CORPORATIO,