HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/22/2025MINUTES OF THE CITY OF DIAMOND BAR
REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
April 22, 2026
CALL TO ORDER:
C/Barlas called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m, in the Windmill Community Room, 21810
Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Commissioner Rawlings led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. ROLL CALL: Mehta, Rawlings, Torres, V/C Worthington, C/Barlas
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: Greg Gubman, Community Development Director; Grace
Lee, Planning Manager; Mayuko Nakajima, Senior
Planner; Arlene Laviera, Administrative Coordinator; and
James H. Eggart, City Attorney
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
4.1
MEETING —March 25, 2025.
Torres moved, and Rawlings seconded to approve consent calendar. Motion carried
5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Mehta, Rawlings, Torres, V/C Worthington,
C/Barlas
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
5. OLD BUSINESS:
6. NEW BUSINESS:
7. PUBLIC HEARING:
7.1 Conditional Use Permit Planning Case No. Pl. 2024-76: Under the authority
of DBCC Section 22.58, the property owner and applicant are requesting
approval of a Conditional Use Permit to establish a 6,000-square-foot banquet
hall. The proposed venue, previously occupied by Chase Bank, is located
within a 106,393-square-foot shopping center. The applicant proposes to host
APRIL 22, 2025 PAGE 2 PLANNING COMMISSION
private weddings, birthday celebrations, baby showers, workshops,
networking events, and similar activities. The subject property is zoned
Regional Commercial (C-3) with an underlying General Plan land use
designation of Town Center Mixed Use (MU-TC).
PROJECT ADDRESS: 334 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA
91765 (APN: 8281-010-062)
APPLICANT: Vincent Whitley for
Blank
Canvas South,
LLC,
4497 Hidden Stone
Ave.,
Las Vegas, NV
89141
PROPERTY OWNER: 300
South
Diamond
Bar
Blvd LLC,
800 West
6th
Street
Suite 600,
Los
Angeles,
CA 90017
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The project has been reviewed for
compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Based on
that assessment, the City has determined the project to be Categorically
Exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to Article 19 under
Section 15301(a) (interior alterations involving such things as interior
partitions, plumbing, and electrical conveyances) of the CEQA Guidelines. No
further environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) approving Conditional Use
Permit Planning Case No. PL 2024-76, based on the findings of Diamond Bar
City Code Section 22.58, subject to conditions.
S/P Mayuko Nakajima presented staff report for Planning Case No. PL2024-76.
Rawlings moved, C/Barlas seconded to approve PL 2024-76, subject to attached
conditions of approval. Motion failed 2-3 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
2
COMMISSIONERS:
Rawlings, C/Barlas
NOES:
3
COMMISSIONERS:Mehta,
Torres, V/C Worthington
ABSTAIN:
0
COMMISSIONERS:
None
ABSENT:
0
COMMISSIONERS:
None
Discussion ensued amongst commissioners, staff and the applicant
City Attorney Eggart advised the Commission that if they wish to deny this project,
they must state the reasons for their vote to deny so that a resolution of denial with
findings can be prepared for adoption at the next meeting.
After the dissenting commissioners stated their reasons for voting against the motion,
APRIL 22, 2025 PAGE 3 PLANNING COMMISSION
C/Barlas reopened the public hearing and invited the applicant to address the
commissioners' concerns and questions. The applicant then responded to those
concerns and questions, which were primarily focused on parking availability,
alcoholic beverage licensing responsibility, and the applicant's business plan.
Torres moved, and Worthington seconded to reconsider the original motion to
approve the project. Motion passed 5-0 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS:Mehta, Torres, Rawlings, V/C Worthington,
C/Barlas
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
C/Barlas closed the public hearing.
Rawlings moved, Barlas seconded to adopt Resolution No. 2025-10 approving
Conditional Use Permit Planning Case No. 2024J6, subject to the conditions of
approval. Motion carried 5-0 by the following Roll Call vote:
AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS:Mehta, Rawlings, Torres, V/C Worthington,
C/Barlas
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None
8. PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS/INFORMATION ITEMS:
9. STAFF COMMENTS/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS:
10. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS:
As noted in the agenda.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further business before the Planning Commission, C/Barlas
adjourned the Regular Planning Commission meeting at 7:31 p.m. to the regularly scheduled
meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
APRIL 22, 2025 PAGE 4 PLANNING COMMISSION
The foregoing minutes are hereby approved this 13th day of May, 2025.
Attest:
Respectfully Submitted,
Grace Lee lann anager
Naila Barlas, Chair