HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 14b - Temporary Use Permits for Events at Santa Anita Race Track
DATE: June 18, 2019
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director
Lisa Flores, Planning & Community Development Administrator
Prepared by: Vanessa Quiroz and Peter Sun, Associate Planners
SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING TEMPORARY
USE PERMITS FOR EVENTS AT SANTA ANITA PARK
TEMPORARY USE PERMIT NO. TUP 19-10 TO ALLOW A FIREWORKS
SHOW AS PART OF A PRIVATE EVENT ON NEW YEAR’S EVE,
DECEMBER 31, 2019, AT SANTA ANITA PARK, 285 W. HUNTINGTON
DRIVE
Recommendation: Provide Direction
EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY USE PERMIT NO. TUP 19-03 TO ALLOW
TEMPORARY BARN STRUCTURES ERECTED FOR THE FASIG-
TIPTON HORSE SALE ON JUNE 5 TO REMAIN ONSITE FOR A FUTURE
HORSE SALE IN SEPTEMBER 2019, AT SANTA ANITA PARK, 285 W.
HUNTINGTON DRIVE
REQUEST HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN
SUMMARY
The Applicant, Pete Siberell, on behalf of the Los Angeles Turf Club, Inc., has submitted
requests for two Temporary Use Permits for events at Santa Anita Park. The first request
is TUP 19-10, to allow a fireworks show as part of a New Year’s Eve private event at
Santa Anita Park, and the second is an extension to TUP 19-03 to allow temporary barn
structures erected for a previously-approved horse sale event in June to remain onsite
for a future horse sale event in September 2019. These temporary uses qualify as a Class
4 Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) per
Section 15304(e), as a temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects
on the environment.
Temporary Use Permits for Events at
Santa Anita Park (TUP 19-03 and TUP 19-10)
June 18, 2019
Page 2 of 6
It should be noted that after the two TUP requests had been noticed to the public,
on June 12, 2019, the applicant withdrew their application for the extension to TUP
19-03 related to the barns. They have indicated that the disassembly of the barns
will begin on June 17 and everything will be removed by July 1, 2019. Given that
the original removal date approved was June 8, it is recommended that the removal
date for the barns be extended to July 1 to allow safe removal of the facil ities and
materials. The original removal date had been stayed due to the official request for
extension.
It is recommended that the City Council provide staff with direction on TUP 19-10. If the
City Council chooses to take action on the Temporary Use Permit, a list of conditions of
approval have been provided within the staff report for consideration.
BACKGROUND
Santa Anita Park has a Race Track Event “RTE” Overlay Zone designation to allow
temporary and special events within certain portions of the property. Any event that draws
more than 10,000 people at a time, or operates for more than 12 days (or more than five
consecutive days), is subject to review by the City Council. If it is a recurring event, the
City Council has typically authorized subsequent events as long as the event was
originally approved.
Although the proposed event is not a large event, it has unique aspects that are important
for consideration and review by the City Council. The New Year’s Eve private event will
include a fireworks show. This will be the first time in memory that fireworks will be held
at Santa Anita Park, and any fireworks show has impacts that go beyond the property
boundaries. Further, the event would take place at midnight, which is an unusual situation
for the Park. As such, it was deemed important to notify the neighbors and provide the
opportunity for a public hearing.
DISCUSSION
The applicant is holding a private New Year’s Eve Party in the Chandelier Room from
8:00 PM on December 31, 2019, to 1:00 AM on January 1, 2020. The party is expected
to have 300 to 400 people in attendance and will be limited to the grandstand structure.
One parking attendant will staff the event, and all parking will be provided onsite. The
private event itself would not require a TUP approval, but the Planning & Community
Development Administrator required the filing of a TUP for City Council review due to the
proposed fireworks show, which can be viewed and heard from outside Santa Anita Park.
The fireworks show will be staged in the northern parking lots and will be viewed by guests
from the Chandelier Room Balcony and Turf Terrace area . The request is for a 20 to 30
minute fireworks show at midnight.
Temporary Use Permits for Events at
Santa Anita Park (TUP 19-03 and TUP 19-10)
June 18, 2019
Page 3 of 6
A fireworks permit is required to be submitted to the Fire Department prior to the event to
ensure that all operations are safe and permitted. In addition, an engine will be required
to be on standby for four hours during the event, at the expense of the applicant. If the
fireworks are approved as part of the private event, detailed information about the
fireworks show will be provided by the applicant forty-five (45) days prior to the event, and
this information will be mailed to residents within 1,000 feet of Santa Anita Park so that
the impacted neighborhood is aware of the expected fireworks closer to the date of the
event. Based on comments received, the City reserves the right to hold another hearing
on this matter, should it be deemed necessary.
In terms of the duration of the fireworks event, it is recommended that the entirety of the
show last no more than 10 minutes. Given the adjacency to residential neighborhoods,
even though New Year’s Eve is certainly a time where noise is prevalent at this hour,
impacts should be kept to a minimum. All fireworks activity shall cease by 12:20 AM.
Temporary Use Permit No. TUP 19-10 was reviewed by the Fire Department, Police
Department, Planning and Building Services, Business Licensing, Engineering Services,
and the Public Works Services Department. No concerns were raised by any of the
departments for either of the proposed event; however, should the City Council approve
the fireworks event, conditions of approval are recommended as shown below.
1. A fireworks inspection permit is required to be submitted by the applicant prior to
the event. One additional standby engine from the Fire Department is required to
be on site for four hours during the event, at the expense of the applicant.
2. The fireworks show shall not last for more than 10 minutes starting from 12:00AM
on January 1, 2020. All fireworks activity shall cease by 12:20 AM.
3. Detailed information about the fireworks show will be provided to the City and
mailed to residents within 1,000 feet of the site at least forty-five (45) days prior
to the event to inform all parties of the timing and duration of the event. Based on
comments received, the City reserves the right to hold another public hearing on
this matter.
4. Noncompliance by the Applicant with any Arcadia Municipal Code provisions or
conditions of approval for TUP 19-10 shall be grounds for immediate suspension
or revocation of any approvals, which could result in the closing and/or
cancellation of the event.
5. The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Arcad ia and
its officials, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claim, action,
or proceeding against the City of Arcadia, its officials, officers, employees or
agents to attack, set aside, void, or annul any approval or conditional approval of
the City of Arcadia concerning this project and/or land use decision, including but
Temporary Use Permits for Events at
Santa Anita Park (TUP 19-03 and TUP 19-10)
June 18, 2019
Page 4 of 6
not limited to any approval or conditional approval of the City Council, Planning
Commission, or City Staff, which action is brought within the time period provided
for in Government Code Section 66499.37 or other provision of law applicable to
this project or decision. The City shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim,
action, or proceeding concerning the project and/or land use decision and the City
shall cooperate fully in the defense of the matter. The City reserves the right, at
its own option, to choose its own attorney to represent the City, its officials,
officers, employees, and agents in the defense of the matter.
6. Approval of TUP 19-10 shall not take effect until the applicant/property owner has
executed and filed with the City on or before July 17, 2019, an Acceptance Form
available from the Development Services Department to indicate acceptance of
the conditions required by this approval.
FINDINGS
Pursuant to Development Code Section 9107.23.080, a Temporary Use Permit may be
approved if all the following findings can be made. If the City Council approves the event,
it is recommended that the findings listed below be adopted as part of the approval.
1. The operation of the requested temporary use at the location proposed,
within the time period specified, and subject to appropriate conditions will
not jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public
convenience, health, safety, or general welfare.
Facts in Support of the Finding:
The private party will not impact the public convenience, health, safety, or general
welfare. The fireworks show will also not jeopardize, endanger, or constitute a
menace to the public convenience, health, safety, or general welfare because it
will be for a fairly short duration, will be performed in a safe, controlled environment
inspected and monitored by the Fire Department, and will occur at a time on a
holiday when this type of activity may be expected and generally accepted by the
community.
2. The proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the
temporary use without material detriment to the use and enjoyment of other
properties located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the site.
Facts in Support of the Finding:
Santa Anita Park is more than adequate is size and shape to accommodate the
fireworks show in that the northern parking lot area is approximately 36.8 acres
and provides a safe and structure-free area for launching fireworks. The required
fireworks permits will be required to be approved and inspected by the Fire
Temporary Use Permits for Events at
Santa Anita Park (TUP 19-03 and TUP 19-10)
June 18, 2019
Page 5 of 6
Department to ensure that the staging is safe for the site itself and all properties in
the surrounding area.
3. The proposed site is adequately served by streets or highways having
sufficient width and improvements to accommodate the kind and quantity of
traffic that the temporary use will or could reasonably be expected to
generate.
Facts in Support of the Finding:
The private event is expected to have approximately 300 to 400 in attendance and
will be served by Huntington Drive and Colorado Place , which are adequate in
width and pavement type to carry the vehicle traffic generated. The parking lot is
also adequately large enough to accommodate the vehicles generated.
4. Adequate temporary parking to accommodate vehicular traffic to be
generated by the temporary use will be available either onsite or at alternate
locations acceptable to the Director.
Facts in Support of the Finding:
Parking for the private event will be provided in the Turf Club Valet Lot on the east
side of the Club House, which provides approximately 230 parking spaces for the
event, which should be more than adequate to accommodate the number of
visitors for the event. In addition, the subject site has plenty of parking located
throughout the site in the event that more is needed or issues arise with the
intended parking area for the event.
5. The location for the proposed temporary use would not adversely interfere
with existing uses on the subject property, and would not impede or
adversely impact pedestrian access ways and/or vehicular circulation
patterns.
Facts in Support of the Finding:
The private event and fireworks show will not adversely interfere with the exi sting
uses on the subject property because the event will be held at a time during which
Santa Anita Park will not have any other events. The event will also not impede or
adversely impact pedestrian access or vehicular circulation patterns because the
event is held within a private facility able to accommodate such an event. The
fireworks show will also be staged on private property and will not impact vehicle
or pedestrian circulation patterns.
Temporary Use Permits for Events at
Santa Anita Park (TUP 19-03 and TUP 19-10)
June 18, 2019
Page 6 of 6
6. The applicant agrees in writing to comply with any and all of the conditions
imposed by the Review Authority in the approval of the Temporary Use
Permit.
Facts in Support of the Finding: As required with all approvals and per
recommended conditions for the Temporary Use Permit, the applicant will be
required to execute an Acceptance Form indicating acceptance of the conditions
of approval required by this approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The events is considered 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 (see Attachment No. 1).
PUBLIC COMMENTS/NOTICE
Notices were sent on June 6, 2019, to the owners of those properties that are within 1,000
feet of the subject site, and the notice was published in the Arcadia Weekly newspaper.
As of the writing of this report, staff did not receive any comments or concerns from the
residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed fireworks event will not have any fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council provide direction on Temporary Use Permit No. 19 -
10. If the City Council approves the application, it is recommended that the listed
Conditions of Approval and Findings be incorporated into the decision.
Attachment No. 1: Preliminary Exemption Assessment
Preliminary Exemption Assessment FORM “A”
PRELIMINARY EXEMPTION ASSESSMENT
1.Name or description of project:Item A. - TUP 19-10 - Temporary Use Permit to allow a
fireworks show as part of a private event on New Year’s Eve,
December 31, 2019
Item B. – Extension of TUP 19-03 – Temporary User Permit to
allow 200 temporary barn structures erected for the Fasig-
Tipton Horse Sale on June 5 to remain on site for a future
horse sale in September 23-25, 2019
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):
Item A. 285 W. Huntington Drive – Colorado Parking Lot and
Chandelier Room
Item B. 285 W. Huntington Drive – Parking Lot H
(Cross Street: Colorado Place and Huntington Drive)
3.Entity or person undertaking
project:
A.
B. Other (Private)
(1) Name Pete Siberell for Los Angeles Turf Club
(2) Address 285 W. Huntington Drive
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: 15304 – Class 4 (Minor temporary use of 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: June 4, 2019 Staff: Vanessa Quiroz, Associate Planner
Attachment No. 1