HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1b: Special Use Permit No. SUP 12-20 to allow circus vargas in the southwest parking lot of Santa Anita Park.Development Services Department
DATE: October 16, 2012
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director JZ4
Prepared By: Lisa Flores, Senior Planner
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT NO. SUP 12 -20 TO
ALLOW CIRCUS VARGAS IN THE SOUTHWEST PARKING LOT OF
SANTA ANITA PARK AT 285 W. HUNTINGTON DRIVE.
Recommended Action: Approve
SUMMARY
The attached application was filed on behalf of the property owner, Santa Anita Park, to
allow Circus Vargas, a circus with entertainment, lighting and music, inside a 147 -foot
diameter big top tent in the southwest parking lot area of Santa Anita Park (see
attached aerial photos) application for 2012 and 2013. The Development Services
Department is recommending approval of this application, subject to the conditions
listed in this staff report.
BACKGROUND
According to Arcadia Municipal Code (AMC) Section 9273.1.20.1, a special event that is
held for more than five (5) days shall be subject to City Council review and
consideration. Last year, Circus Vargas ran for eleven (11) days and had a successful
opening season in Arcadia.
DISCUSSION
The applicant is requesting to hold a circus for eleven (11) days, from November 22,
2012, through December 3, 2012, with 20 performances as listed in the attached
application materials. The set -up is to begin on November 19, 2012, with final clean -up
to be completed by December 5, 2012. The circus performances will not be held in
conjunction with live racing (the autumn meet ends November 4, 2012) or after 10:00
p.m. The tent and trailers will be staged in the south portion of the southwest parking lot
between Gate 1 and Gate 3 (refer to the attached aerial map), and will occupy
approximately 225 of the 6,000 parking spaces in the lot. To simplify processing, this
SUP 12 -20 — Circus Vargas
October 16, 2012
Page 2 of 5
application also requests approval for the 2013 season. The dates, times, and number
of performances will be similar for 2013.
The circus will not have animal acts, games of chance, or mechanical rides, and alcohol
will not be sold or served. The length of each show will be approximately 90 minutes
and will be family oriented. The tent is large enough to accommodate up to 1,250
people, but the applicant estimates the event will draw 300 to 500 people to each
performance.
Circus Vargas will provide their own security guards, as well as restroom trailers that
are handicap accessible for men and women per applicable Health Code requirements.
The applicant will provide a minimum of six (6) handicap parking spaces in front of the
circus entrance, and the circus set -up will be subject to Fire Department and Building
Services approval. The tent will have a total of eight (8) exits; seven (7) 10 -foot wide
emergency exits along the tent perimeter and the 25 -foot wide main access. There will
be a clear fire lane maintained around the tent and there will be no perimeter fencing
outside the tent area that would restrict egress.
Parking will be handled by Santa Anita Park, with circus access through Gate 3 and
Gate 8. This year, Santa Anita Park will most likely provide up to 1,000 parking spaces
on selected holiday shopping days as requested by Westfield Santa Anita from
November 23, 2012 to December 26, 2012. This parking for Westfield Santa Anita will
be configured so as not to interfere with the circus operations or its parking.
The applicant does not plan to put up any signs. Circus Vargas plans to advertise on
the radio, in the local newspapers, through the Internet, on television, and at local
businesses. They are not allowed to display any signs on public rights -of -way or on any
street lights, or utility posts. The only on -site advertising will be the signage on their
trucks and on Santa Anita Park's electronic message boards at Gate 5 and Gate 8.
The following Conditions of Approval are recommended:
1. This permit shall be valid for eleven (11) days during the holiday season of 2012
and 2013. The 2013 dates shall be subject to review and approval by the
Development Services Director or designee, at which time the Director has the
discretion to add or modify any of the conditions of approval, or send the application
back to the City Council for consideration.
2. No signs are permitted in public rights -of -way (e.g. the medians on Huntington
Drive and Baldwin Avenue, City parkways, or utility poles).
3. Any signs or banners to be posted on the subject property, other than the signs on
their trucks and Santa Anita Park's electronic message boards, shall be subject to
review and approval by the Development Services Director or designee. If a sign
has been installed without approval or is otherwise prohibited, the sign may be
immediately removed by City personnel.
SUP 12 -20 — Circus Vargas
October 16, 2012
Page 3 of 5
4. The circus and any related independent contractors shall obtain City business
Licenses from the City's Business License Officer or designee prior to beginning the
circus set -up (i.e., by November 19, 2012).
5. A permit and inspection is required by the City's Fire Marshal or designee prior to
the first performance, and the circus shall provide the following:
a. Two (2) emergency vehicle accesses from Huntington Drive; each 20 feet wide.
b. Type 2A:10 BC fire extinguishers at all areas specified by the Fire Department,
and all cooking areas shall also have type 40BC fire extinguishers.
c. Any straw, hay, or sawdust on the floor or ground inside the tent shall be kept
damp or made fire resistant.
d. All generators shall be cordoned /fenced off and provided with type 2A:10BC fire
extinguishers.
e. The tent and any other assemblies shall be provided with exit signage and
emergency lighting, as specified by the Arcadia Fire Marshal or designee.
f. Generators, vehicles, tents, and other facilities used for cooking shall be
situated a minimum distance of 20 feet from the main circus tent.
6. No perimeter fencing shall be provided outside or around the tent area, except
around the generators, and shall not interfere with any egress routes required by
the Arcadia Fire Marshal.
7. The circus and all related equipment and activities shall comply with the City's
Noise Ordinance.
8. All electrical installations, including generators, lighting, and audio equipment shall
obtain proper permits and subject to approval by the City's Building Official or
designee.
9. Accessible paths of travel are required from all accessible parking spaces to the
tent entrance and from Huntington Drive. A site plan that shows the total number of
parking spaces available for this event with the location and number of accessible
spaces and accessible pathways clearly shown, must be submitted to Building
Services and approved by the Building Official prior to beginning set -up.
10. The circus shall have both recycling and trash containers onsite in all locati2 ns as
specified by the City's Public Works Services Department.
11. The portable toilets shall not be placed near any catch basins or any other such
drain inlets.
SUP 12 -20 — Circus Vargas
October 16, 2012
Page 4 of 5
Findings
Section 9273.1.20.2 of the Arcadia Municipal Code states that a Special Use Permit
application is subject to the following four criteria:
1. That the site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the proposed Special
Use Event. With over 6,000 parking spaces available in the southwest lot, there will
be ample space to accommodate the circus tent, trailers, parking for event
attendees, and overflow parking for Westfield Santa Anita.
2. That the proposed Special Use or Event will not adversely interfere with existing
uses on the subject property, and will not impede or adversely impact pedestrian
access ways and /or vehicular circulation patterns. Circus performances will not be
held during live racing and the two access points, Gate 3 and Gate 8 will provide
easy ingress and egress. Additionally, the applicant will provide a minimum of six
(6) accessible parking spaces in front of the circus entrance, and there will be an
accessible path of travel from Huntington Drive to the tent entrance.
3. That the proposed Special Use or Event will not result in a significant adverse
impact on any adjacent property. The circus will be held in the south portion of the
southwest parking lot away from residential areas, the hospital, and the entries to
the parking lot. The noise ordinance will be met and the last performance will end
by 9:00 p.m.
4. That by requiring certain safeguards as conditions of approval, the proposed
Special Use or Event will not be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.
The circus will comply with all applicable health codes, and the set -up is subject to
approval by the Fire Department and Building Services.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
This project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) under Section 15304(e) of the CEQA Guidelines as a temporary use of land
having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment. A Preliminary Exemption
Assessment is attached.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public hearing notices of Special Use Permit Application No. SUP 12 -20 were mailed on
September 21, 2012, to the owners of those properties that are within 1,000 feet of the
subject property, and the notice was published in the local newspaper.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Special Use will have no direct fiscal impact on the City's General Fund.
SUP 12 -20 — Circus Vargas
October 16, 2012
Page 5 of 5
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve Special Use Permit No. SUP 12 -20,
subject to the aforementioned Conditions of Approval.
Approved:
�Domin�icLaz�zeto
City Manager
Attachments: Aerial Maps
Circus Layout
Accessibility Plan and Emergency Fire Truck Access Map
Preliminary Exemption Assessment
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CITY OF ARCADIA
240 W. HUNTINGTON DRIVE
ARCADIA, CA 91007
PRELIMINARY EXEMPTION ASSESSMENT
(Certificate of Determination
When Attached to Notice of Exemption)
1. Name or description of project:
SUP 12 -20 - Circus Vargas
2. Project Location — Identify street
address and cross streets or attach a
map showing project site (preferably a
USGS 15' or 7 1/2' topographical map
identified by quadrangle name):
285 W. Huntington Drive - Southwest Parking Lot
3. Entity or person undertaking project:
A.
B. Other (Private)
(1) Name
Mark Landon, Tabares Entertainment (d.b.a.
Circus Vargas)
(2) Address
2534 S. Pleasant Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761
4. Staff Determination:
The Lead Agency's Staff, having undertaken and completed a preliminary review of this project in accordance with
the Lead Agency's "Local Guidelines for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)" has
concluded that this project does not require further environmental assessment because:
a. ❑
The proposed action does not constitute a project under CEQA.
b. ❑
The project is a Ministerial Project.
C. ❑
The project is an Emergency Project.
d. ❑
The project constitutes a feasibility or planning study.
e. ®
The project is categorically exempt.
Applicable Exemption Class:
Section 15304(e) - Minor Alterations to Land
f. ❑
The project is statutorily exempt.
Applicable Exemption:
g. ❑
The project is otherwise exempt on
the following basis:
h. ❑
The project involves another public agency which constitutes the Lead Agency.
Name of Lead Agency:
Date: September 20, 2012
Staff.
Preliminary Exemption Assessment\2011 FORM "A"