Planning Commission — July 21, 2026

It lights up. What about this one? I'm becoming obsolete. Hopefully it'll work out well. So you do everything here?

Yeah,

I wonder if there's a button.

In a moment of silence. Again

Planning Commission. This meeting is being

live

streamed on the city of El Cajón website.

Appeals of the final decision to the Planning Commission may be made this evening by filing it in writing with the city clerk before 5 p.m., Monday, August 3rd including a payment of a filing fee. If you wish to speak on either a non-agenda or agenda item tonight please fill out a request to speak card located by the secretary and give it to the secretary who will call you up to speak when the agenda item has come up for comment.

We ask that you give your full name spelling of your last name. Speakers are limited to three minutes this display on the podium as well as the other monitors in the chamber will show the time counting down at 30 seconds the podium clock will read it will turn red signifying you have 30 seconds until your time is expired applicants and individuals representing groups of people may be allotted more time if appropriate All public comments should be addressed to me as the chair of the commission and not to individual commissioners or to staff members. Please turn off all electronic devices if you have not already done so.

Pursuant to City Council Resolution 114-79, a commissioner who has received evidence relating to a matter before the Planning Commission other than an unescorted view of the subject property is required to disclose such information at the hearing. At this time we'll take any comments from any member of the public on any

No public comments were received.

OK moving on to the consent calendar a single motion will cover all items on the consent calendar. Does any wish does any commissioner wish to pull a consent calendar for discussion? Does any staff wish to pull a consent calendar item for discussion?

No changes from staff. Thank you.

Excellent. At this let me see where we are here sorry lost my place I'm sorry

I

move to adopt the consent calendar. Seconded. Please vote.

Motion carries by unanimous vote of members present.

The first item under public—oh wait let me get back to, excuse me for a moment. We are stuck on vote.

Commissioner Anderson I believe that our chair, Chair Serco is now arriving.

Okay excellent we'll be turning over the commission to Paul Serco and it will give me a chance

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No.

Thank you for your patience while we work with our new technology.

There's always a glitch in anything new.

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says all abstain

and we are back. No we're good. We're here

OK got it. OK.

So thank you, Mr. Chairman. So at this time the commission did initiate the adoption of the consent calendar and so at this point on the agenda we're at public hearing item number two for Hacienda's beer and wine service.

Oh there we go. New technology is wonderful once you get used to it. So agenda item number two. The project is Hacienda's beer and wine service the request is to establish on sale beer and wine alcohol sales CEQA recommendation is exempt and staff is recommending approval.

Good evening Planning Commissioners. My name is Mike Villeon, Principal Planner with the Development Service Department. The first item on this evening's agenda is a conditional use permit request for beer and wine service submitted by Hacienda's Mexican Food. The application specifically requests an alcoholic beverage control type 41 license which is for on sale beer and wine at a bona fide eating establishment in this case of course Hacienda's Mexican Proposed alcohol service is in conjunction with and subordinate to the existing food service. No bar, live entertainment or changes to hours are proposed with the application.

The restaurant currently operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except on Sundays when it opens at 8 a. m.. The property has consistent general commercial general plan land use and zoning designations, and is also within the transit district specific plan commercial village designation which accommodates a range of public oriented businesses. Here is the existing floor plan for the restaurant. The approximately 1,050 square feet of floor area includes a 644-square foot dining area with tables, 509-square foot kitchen area and bathroom. No alterations are proposed to the floor plan.

Alcohol would be stored within the existing walk-in refrigerator in the kitchen and served by staff. Not shown at the rear is a covered storage area dating to the late 1960's which is secured by a fence with barbed wire. Generally, alcoholic beverage control establishes a number of allowable license authorizations by census tract. There are currently zero active on-sale licenses but based on population three on sale ABC licenses are authorized.

Crime is also a consideration and the most recent data from the police department reflects an average crime rate in the census tract. Further, the police department did not express concerns or object to the proposed on-sale license. In order to ensure compatibility with surrounding commercial and residential uses, the proposed conditions of approval require that beer and wine sales occur in conjunction with food service, responsible operations and responsible beverage service training for staff, and removal of barbed wire which is not permitted in a general commercial zone.

It is proposed that the project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines for existing facilities. Staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the CEQA determination and conditional use permit subject to conditions as the use is consistent with general plan and municipal code requirements.

This concludes staff's report, and I'm available to answer any questions. Thank you.

Am I on? Okay. Parking requirements, since it's a commercial district there is no parking requirement, correct?

That's correct. There is no parking requirement in this area due to its proximity to the transit station. There is an accessory parking lot behind the alley though.

And that's available to the restaurant?

It is.

Thank you.

Commissioner Edison had a question.

Hacienda's is already here. What is the what's a significant change?

It's just adding the beer and wine sale

That's it

yeah No change to the kitchen no change to anything just I Was actually surprised that there were no active licenses in the whole track All right any other questions for staff Let's open up the public hearing Do we have any speaker cards?

Not for this item.

Okay. Does anyone wish to speak to this item? All right. I will make a motion to close public hearing. Motion made by Commissioner Serco, seconded by Commissioner Paul Gruen. Please vote.

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us. Apologies I believe I hit the wrong button.

All right.

May

I have you start over? It's OK new technology. Go ahead and make your

vote. Do I have to hold it down for it. There it is. Oh OK.

Motion carries by unanimous vote of members present.

Before Planning Commission enters into deliberations or considers public testimony, I would also acknowledge that the applicant's representative is in the audience and has acknowledged that they've read the report and considered the conditions.

Thank you All right We are having fun with our new technology. Technology is great, especially once you learn how to use it. Any discussion on the current item?

I think it's a pretty straightforward application.

Yeah I. Any more discussion because I think it's not any then I move to adopt the next resolution in order approving. I think I'm hoping that right now I am going to write one number. Well it went away. So. It just keeps going away. Yeah.

Keeps on going away.

I'm voting before. Oh. I move to adopt the next resolution in order approving CUP number 2026-0001 subject to conditions.

I'll second it before it goes away.

Motion made by Commissioner Pollak-Ruud, seconded by Commissioner Sotile. Please vote.

Motion carries by unanimous vote of members

present.

Thank

you Mr. Chairman if I may this decision is final by the Planning Commission unless an appeal is received within 10 days.

Sorry having scrolling issues here. Here we go. All right, item number three. The project is the Broadway Banquet Hall. This is a request for underground parking garage for the banquet hall. CEQA recommendation is exempt. Staff is recommending approval. Staff?

Hello again Commission. Mike Villione, Principal Planner with Development Service Department. The second item on this evening's agenda, third item is a request to amend the conditional use permit for the banquet hall now under construction at 1120 Broadway. For reference, 1120 Broadway is designated general commercial by the general plan and has a corresponding general commercial zoning designation. The zoning district provides that a banquet hall may be authorized by conditional use Accordingly, this body, the Planning Commission approved CUP number 2020-0001 on April 26th 2021 authorizing a 21,583 square foot banquet hall with on sale alcohol.

The approval includes 104 parking spaces and numerous operational conditions to ensure compatibility including limitations on hours, the use of the parking lot and a requirement to develop and implement a parking management plan for large events over 500 persons that Provides for overflow traffic, transportation, safe paths of travel etc. Required permits are issued and the banquet hall is again under construction.

Here is an aerial view of the site as you can see 1120 Broadway is an L-shaped parcel which is approximately 1.48 acres in size. The Broadway channel bounds the site at its north end and coincides with the municipal boundary The banquet hall is visible in the top right and has passed framing inspections reaching two stories. Note that the former commercial building in the center will be demolished with further site development activities.

The project is surrounded by various commercial uses to the west, east and south and residentially developed properties under the jurisdiction of San Diego County across the channel to the north. It's also important to note that a former cleanup action related to a leaking underground storage tank necessitates clearances from either the Water Quality Control Board or California Department of Toxic Substances control prior to construction.

The proposed amendment includes two primary requests, first to reconfigure surface parking and improvements to accommodate a parking garage with two additional levels of underground parking. The resulting surface parking deck and underground garage would have 202 total parking stalls, six motorcycle stalls and nearly 5,000 square feet of accessory storage areas.

Second is the elimination of conditions requiring the development and implementation of the large event parking management plan. The proposed site plan shown here largely maintains the approved design of the CUP surface parking area and includes 93 spaces at grade Notable changes include the relocation of the trash enclosure and bicycle parking to accommodate the canopy-covered vehicle access ramp at the north end of the site.

Pedestrian access is provided to the lower levels by a stairwell adjacent to this ramp, as well as another stairwell and adjacent elevator near the center of the parking area. Landscape is not provided on the roof of the garage but is provided in the front yard setback in keeping with municipal code requirements. Also visible are proposed six foot boundary walls along the east and west sides of the And critically, the line marking the limit of the 100-year floodplain highlighted in yellow.

Here is the first underground level of the parking garage which is secured by a gate. This level includes 54 vehicle parking spaces, three motorcycle spaces and 2,030 square feet of storage. Also visible are the stormwater facilities at the north end which will discharge via a pipe termination in Broadway Channel. Finally, here is the second underground storage level which includes 55 vehicle spaces, three motorcycle spaces and 2,960 square feet of additional accessory storage areas.

Note that all development standards inclusive of parking regulations are satisfied with the proposal except the proposed easterly parking screening wall must be reduced to 42 inches solid in the front yard setback. A tree must also be provided in all planters fronting Broadway Compliance with these provisions are incorporated as draft conditions. The materials for the improvements at surface level are shown here, including the boundary wall, stairwells and ramp canopy. Materials include metal paneling, wood grain paneling, aluminum cladded columns and black metal roofing to match the modern aesthetic of the proposed banquet hall.

It's critical to note that the proposed garage is subject to the requirements of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, given that the northerly portion of the property is within the 100-year floodplain. Such special flood hazard areas are subject to strict construction requirements for flood hazard reduction. Consequently, staff anticipate that these regulations will require the garage to be substantially impermeable to the passage of water to at least one foot above base flood elevation and include structural components capable of resisting hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads and effects of buoyancy.

In order to ensure the garage is safe from flooding and complies with the ordinance, the resolution requires an engineer to certify that construction plans incorporate and implement all applicable standards of the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance that an engineer analyze and certify that the proposed pipe termination in the Broadway Channel will not increase flood elevations.

Note that proximity to the channel and related high water table will also create challenging conditions for construction. With respect to the elimination of the parking management plan, staff does not support the request without further documentation. The application did not include a study from an appropriate professional demonstrating that off-street parking is sufficient for these large events.

Though parking requirements are satisfied, the condition ensures that procedures are in place to accommodate overflow traffic and pedestrian movements to ensure compatibility and public safety. Staff however support a proposed condition that would allow for further evaluation of request with appropriate documentation through a minor amendment application. Minor amendment is a development services director level decision requiring a public notice. The condition is also included with the draft resolution.

The proposed underground garage is exempt from the review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA guidelines section 15332, exemption for infill development. Required findings to grant the conditional use permit can be made in the affirmative as supplemental parking will improve banquet facility operation and its compatibility with adjacent properties.

Staff therefore recommend approval subject conditions including all previous operational conditions and a two-year expiration due to design and construction complexity. Note that the expiration provisions also allow the applicant to request cancellation in order to complete construction in accordance with issued permits. Finally, note that staff met with the applicant earlier today and the applicant conceded that the project as designed may not be financially feasible due to construction costs and the revenues necessary to support the project thus echoing staff's prior concerns.

With Planning Commission's concurrence, staff believe that a minor amendment could accommodate a proposed revision for a single story underground garage as now contemplated by the applicant This concludes staff support and I'm available to answer any questions. Thank you.

So it sounds like there's three layers to the parking garage project, not just to the parking garage. The originally as proposed was just surface level. Item under review has two subterranean levels but it's possible that the applicant might come back with a minor permit to just do one underground level.

That's correct the applicant has expressed interest after meeting with his construction consultants in limiting potentially the depth of the construction to avoid some of the or mitigate some of the worst you know constraints They're likely to encounter related to the high water table and required shoring to get that far down. All

right, thank you. Any questions for staff?

So this is along my walking route over there on Broadway. There's a significant amount of dirt like a huge dirt pile already there are they really digging and what if they are not was just because it was a significant major surgery on the banquet hall did they why didn't it include this all inclusive.

They are already working on the site. All required construction permits are issued and we would consider this sort of an interim condition And the request right now is to essentially amend the original CUP to allow the applicant to prepare construction documents, to fully build out the site as they would like and intend to use it with that underground parking garage. But broadly they have permits to work and move dirt and erect the building.

But are they digging right now? Because this is a significant dirt pile.

A grading operations and an approved grading plan. We would anticipate that they are digging in moving dirt. I can't say you know with certainty whether or not that included earth movements today or in the very near past.

Just a couple of questions. I actually, the Board of Realtors is right next door so I've been watching this for years but the trash enclosure being in the back and they're creating this parking garage thing and then there's also you know fire trucks I'm sure they've accounted for all that because the building itself is kind of landlocked in the back of it so just want to make sure that was all safe and in-and-out for the trash because the trash trucks are going

That's correct. The application was reviewed by the Heartland Fire and Rescue, and provides for 24-foot wide drive aisles as well as a fire turnaround. The trash enclosure is accessible off that and provides like a paved parking service for the EDCO trucks to be able to pull out the dumpsters, the three yard dumpsters, and service those.

And with that because it looks like they're going to go underground. They'll just be like a main level maybe you know parking and then it goes down below for the underground parking I assume what are they having a level above? It was hard to tell from the drawing

all levels are subgrade

OK perfect thank you.

I'm concerned with some illegal encampments in the parking garage. Do you know what kind of security measures there will be when the banquet hall is not being used?

It's my understanding that the garage is secured, so the entrance to from down from the ramp includes a secured gate at the mouth of the garage and I expect that, and perhaps the applicant can confirm but that the stairwell accesses and elevator can be locked outside of events. Also, I might add that the request was routed to El Cajon Police Department for comment and they had no concerns related to the request.

So there would be no public parking when the banquet hall is not being used

for other businesses? That's not an explicit condition that's incorporated. Should the Planning Commission wish to add that as part of their consideration of the item, they're perfectly within their purview to do so but it's not an explicit condition that it remain locked. There are conditions that basically provide that you can't have temporary use of the parking lot without an appropriate temporary use permit, and that no loitering occur, and that during events it be monitored so there are not noise issues that result from the outside use of the parking lot.

And will there be lighting within the parking structure?

The conditions of approval also will require a revised lighting plan, which is a requirement of the Municipal Code broadly. So with the original they had to include a lighting plan that demonstrates sufficient lighting for safety and security purposes and that is a requirement with this as well.

Thank you.

All right. My main concerns with going down that deep have to do with hydrology. So I think you already expressed that concern, and I'm sure our applicant is willing to share about that. Any further questions for staff? Then let's go ahead and open the public hearing. Do we have any speaker cards?

We do. Ahoney Toma.

All right. Come on up.

Good afternoon everybody. I appreciate for taking my time, your time to look to the project we try to do in El Cajon. I'm here to answer any questions and also I'm here to thank the staff they work with us a lot to get this project right to move as soon as possible, I mean the fastest we can. As far as the parking lot, I appreciate your comment really yes it will be very secure To have a gate where we'll be locked because the area we don't want to have homeless to be late overnight over there and I will answer any question you guys have.

And again, thanks for the staff Noah Mike Mr. Ketchy and The city attorneys everybody that will help us with this project

all right, so the number one question I had was With regards to going two stories underground right next to the channel, there's a lot of issue. Our water table in El Cajon is pretty high. You're digging down pretty low.

Before we about a week ago or more than a week ago I bring the people to do the work like engineering The engineer said this parking lot will be the most expensive parking lot in San Diego County. So I don't recommend to go two stories down, try to talk to the city to see another solution you go only one story. And the construction guy also he did say the same thing and then we decide I come to the city, the staff they was very open, they understand it and they said just give us proposal and we can Move on with the project, and meantime is we can put like we're going to tell the city staff and you guys that we may be going to take out one story. So we're going to go now almost 99% we're going one story only because of the water table in Cajon.

The shoring for that project was about $1 million. Wow. Just the shoring by itself. We spoke to a company to do that and we tell them, hey, we just want a rough estimate and they estimated it's about $1 million. So I said, you know, I can come up with two or three million dollars for the parking lot but then they said, you know what? It is bad idea.

All right. Any questions from fellow commissioners? Commissioner

Henson? I just want to commend you on that building was in need of work, and I'm glad to not see it go. It's obvious that you're putting in the work into it. I would call it major surgery what you're doing there. It is very commendable the amount of work you are doing on it.

And one more thing is, you know the water table now is eight foot. We raised it because there is a flood zone and that area hundred years we raised about 18 or 20 inches so now whatever we do parking is not going to reach the The underground water, and now we already have some digging over there like 8 foot exist plus 20 inches. That's a 10-foot. We're not going to go down 10 foot now. So the answer to that maybe we are going to reach the first or second foot of our footing But normally they're going to take care of that part because they know there is a water table, eight foot. We're going to think about if there's a five-foot water table in the future in case something change. We don't want to have water come into the parking lot.

But you are digging already?

We already dig long time ago. You're talking about two years ago we moved the dirt but we stopped because we want to know exactly what we do in our parking lot.

All right.

Any other questions?

Is there a big demand for banquet halls in El Cajon?

Yes. The Chaldean people, they do big party. They come up with about 800 or 1,000. There is not an El Cajón area. Even the St. Peter Hall, they do like 600 people. They am forced to go to like big hotel and spend a lot of money for this, for 1,000 people. So I think this area will be like 850 or 900 people really will be very helpful for the city. And plus, I'm sorry, for the community. And it's good idea. You know, I don't want to make money. God He give me too much so let's call it that way is.

I'm getting, God is giving me a lot of money every day. But my point is not to make banquet hall to make profit. No, I'm making banquet hall whoever getting married early he become big debt, lot of money owed to the party, to all that so I'm trying to lower the cost of the plate per person to do that really. And the only way is, you know, to make a banquet hall and I don't need money just like Trump. He doesn't need money he can be good president but if he needs money then it's a problem.

But it's available to anyone?

Yes, sir. To everybody.

Okay. Very good.

Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak on this item?

I do not have any other speaker cards.

All right. We'll make a motion to close the public hearing. Motion made by Commissioner Serkos, seconded by Commissioner Pollack Rude. Please vote.

The motion carries by unanimous vote of members present.

I

feel like the machine is controlling our actions. I'm out.

Is

this an AI motivated machine?

All right.

So, I think the motion that we have before us is for the two-story three layer and the applicant said that he's probably going to alter that but city already indicated that they can do that with a minor permit which would go directly to administration and would not see us again. This item is not going to City Council So, do we have a motion?

Well I move to adopt the next resolution in order to approving this CEQA exemption and amendment to CUP number 2020-001 subject to conditions.

I second it.

All right, motion made by Commissioner Paula Grude, seconded by Commissioner Soteli. Please vote.

Motion carries by unanimous vote of members present.

Congratulations.

So again, Mr. Chairman this decision is final by the Planning Commission unless an appeal is received within 10 days.

All right and good luck. Let's see if I can navigate back to nope. Yeah, here we go. We don't have any other items for consideration? Do we have staff communications?

I do have a staff communication. As the commission is aware earlier this year at the beginning of calendar year 2026 engineering services and community development combined into a single department, the Development Services Department. In conjunction with that, I wanted to acknowledge two recent promotions that have happened. So first Michael Biglione, he is now our principal planner overseeing the planning division as well as code compliance activities for the city.

Mike will also be the new secretary for the Planning Commission so you will see him at more meetings kind of acting in the role that I previously acted in but you'll still probably see me periodically. And then I also want to introduce Sanon Kachi. So, Sanon Kachi is our new City Engineer. He's also the Deputy Director for Development Services over the Engineering Services side of the house.

So he's essentially taking over the role that Mario had here at the Planning Commission so you'll see him at additional Planning Commission meetings. You know, Sanon is a great resource for the city. He has been with the city for over 12 years and a very deserved promotion and we're excited to have him be part of the development team. Welcome aboard.

Yeah,

that concludes staff's comments appreciate it thank you

okay Commissioner reports comments oh I had a question about the crematorium I saw more framing going up do we have any timeline for that how are they doing

I haven't had any discussions with the applicants. I have been observing their construction progress. I typically go by about once a month just to check on active projects in the city, so yes, I've seen the framing. They haven't had any recent concerns or issues where they've been modifying their plans, so my understanding is they're just proceeding with their approved plans.

Thank you.

That was the only thing I was really curious about. Anything else? No. All right. Would anyone like to move to adjourn? I will move to adjourn.

I'll second that.

All right. Motion made by Commissioner Serco, seconded by Commissioner Pollack-Roode. Please vote.

Motion carries by unanimous vote of members present.

The iPads still will be there from the point on in the bin, correct?

All right. Thank you. And do we have an IT person? I have some notes.