Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Staff Report11 zelOn:i.opiATED CITY OF NATIONAL CITY - DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1243 NATIONAL CITY BLVD., NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950 PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT Title: Case File No.: Location: Assessor's Parcel No: Staff report by: Applicant: Property owner: Combined General Plan! Zoning designation: Adjacent land use/zoning: North: East: South: West: Environmental review: Item no. 1 0 March 4, 2013 PUBLIC HEARING — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & TRADE OF JEWELRY, GOLD, AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS AT JARED AND KAY JEWELERS AT WESTFIELD PLAZA BONITA LOCATED AT 3030 PLAZA BONITA ROAD. 2013-03 CUP 2960 Plaza Bonita Rd. & 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd. # 1226 564-471-02 & 07 Martin Reeder, AICP —Assistant Planner Sterling Jewelers, Inc. Westfield Major Mixed -Use District (MXD-2) Residential across Sweetwater Rd. / RS-2 Residential / County of San Diego Open Space & I-8051 OS Open Space across Plaza Bonita Rd. / OS Not a project under CEQA (existing facilities, no expansion) BACKGROUND Site Characteristics Westfield Plaza Bonita is located in the southeast corner of National City in the Commercial Shopping Center (CSC-PD) Zone. This Conditional Use Permit includes two separate businesses, both owned by the same company (Sterling Jewelers). The two locations are Kay Jewelers and Jared Galleria of Jewelry. Kay is inside the main mall building on the ground floor next to the entrance to JCPenney. Jared is a pad building located at the perimeter of the mall adjacent to Plaza Bonita Road and next to Outback Steakhouse. These locations have been in business since 1998 and 2007 respectively. Proposed Use The applicant is proposing to buy, trade, and/or sell secondhand gold, jewelry, and other precious metals otherwise sold as new in the stores. No physical changes are proposed. The businesses would be subject to all state requirements as well as the City's Municipal Code, recently amended to address sale/trade of such items. Analysis The purchase, trade, and/or sale of secondhand gold, jewelry, and other precious metals are regulated by section 18.30.320 of the Land Use Code. This section also regulates pawn shops and businesses engaged in secondhand dealing. This code section was amended in 2012, prior to which a moratorium had been enacted regarding such uses. The moratorium was in response to concerns over stolen goods being sold without adequate monitoring. The Code Amendment added language to ensure adequate business practices related to licensing, reporting, and disposition of second hand items. Generally, the subject use requires a Conditional Use Permit and is only permitted as accessory to a legitimate retail business that sells as new the item(s) in question as its primary business function. In addition, the total gross receipts of jewelry and precious metals purchased or taken for credit may not exceed fifty percent of total retail sales of these items. All pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers are required, at minimum, to obtain a secondhand dealer license and to abide by state -mandated reporting requirements for secondhand tangible personal property as required in the Business and Professions Code. Secondhand tangible personal property is defined as including, but not limited to, all items that bear a serial number or personalized initials or inscription or which, at the time it is acquired by the secondhand dealer, as defined by the California Business and Professions Code. In addition, secondhand tangible personal property also includes precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and jewelry. A secondhand dealer means and includes any person, co -partnership, firm, or corporation whose business includes buying, selling, trading, taking in pawn, accepting for sale on consignment, accepting for auctioning, or auctioning secondhand tangible personal property. Both secondhand dealers and secondhand property are defined in the Glossary of the Land Use Code. All of the above requirements are included as Conditions of Approval. The Land Use Code also has requirements related to where such a business may be located. Generally, no businesses engaged in secondhand dealing may be located east of interstate 805 or within two thousand feet of another such business. However, these requirements do not apply to shopping centers of fifty thousand square feet or more, which includes Westfield Plaza Bonita. The Code also states that secondhand dealers shall be no closer than two hundred fifty feet from residential zones. Both businesses comply with this requirement. Department Comments: As there is no physical change happening on site, the Building and Fire Departments had no comment. The Police Department commented that they had no objection to the proposal provided that the businesses were regulated appropriately (based on the recent Code Amendment related to secondhand dealing, et al). As mentioned aboveall such conditions are included with this report. Summary The proposed accessory use involving the purchase, trade, and/or sale of secondhand gold, jewelry, and other precious metals is consistent with the Land Use Code with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit and subject to the attached findings and Conditions of Approval. The subject businesses are within a regional mall of greater than fifty thousand square feet and are established retail businesses that sell the type of items in question as new. Conditions of Approval are consistent with a recent Code Amendment related to such transactions and will help to alleviate concerns over stolen items. Both Jared Gaileria of Jewelry and Kay Jewelers are reputable businesses that have been in business for approximately 7 and 15 years respectively. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of 2013-03 CUP based on attached findings and subject to the attached Conditions of Approval. ATTACHMENTS 1. Recommended Findings for Approval 2. Recommended Conditions of Approval 3. Location Map 4. Public Hearing Notice (Sent to 117 property owners) b. Site photos 6. Applicant's Plans (Exhibit A, Case File No. 2013-03 CUP, dated 1/24/2013) MARTIN REEDER, AICP BRAD RAULSTON Assistant Planner Executive Director RECOMMENDED FINDINGS FOR APPROVAL 2013-03 CUP, 2960 and 3030 Plaza Bonita Road 1. That the site for the proposed use is adequate in size and shape, since the proposed use will be contained within a commercial building which was constructed and designed for a commercial use, with adequate parking provided. 2. That the site has sufficient access to streets and highways that are adequate in width and pavement type to carry the volume and type of traffic generated by the proposed use, since the proposed use is consistent with a retail use already considered during the design and construction of the commercial building. 3. That the proposed use will not have an adverse effect upon adjacent or abutting properties, since the use is contained wholly within a commercial structure, there is no expansion proposed, and the use is typical of a commercial use considered in the General Plan and Land Use Code. 4. That the proposed use is deemed essential and desirable to the public convenience, since it will provide a service that is in demand among consumers. RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL 2013-03 CUP, 2960 and 3030 Plaza Bonita Road General 1. This Conditional Use Permit authorizes the accessory buying, trade, and/or sale of secondhand gold, jewelry, and other precious metals otherwise sold as new at Jared Jewelers located at 2960 Plaza Bonita Road and Kay Jewelers located at 3030 Plaza Bonita Road, suite 1226. Except as required by Conditions of Approval, all plans submitted for permits associated with the project shall conform to Exhibit A, Case File No. 2013-03 CUP, dated 1/24/2013. 2. Before this Conditional Use Pewit shall become effective, the applicant and the property owner both shall sign and have notarized an Acceptance Form, provided by the Planning Department, acknowledging and accepting all conditions imposed upon the approval of this permit. Failure to return the signed and notarized Acceptance Form within 30 days of its receipt shall automatically terminate the Conditional Use Permit. The applicant shall also submit evidence to the satisfaction of the Planning Department that a Notice of Restriction on Real Property is recorded with the County Recorder. The applicant shall pay necessary recording fees to the County. The Notice of Restriction shall provide information that conditions imposed by approval of the Conditional Use Permit are binding on all present or future interest holders or estate holders of the property. The Notice of Restriction shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney and signed by the Executive Director prior to recordation. 3. This permit shall become null and void if not exercised within one year after adoption of the resolution of approval unless extended according to procedures specified in the National City Municipal Code. 4. This permit shall expire if the use authorized by this resolution is discontinued for a period of 12 months or longer. The permit may also be revoked, pursuant to provisions of the Land Use Code, if discontinued for any lesser period of time. Building 5. Any plans submitted for construction shall comply with the 2010 editions of the California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, Residential and Green Codes Fire 6. Any plans submitted for construction shall comply with the 2010 edition of the California Fire Code and the 2010 edition of NFPA. Planning 7. The buying, trade, and/or sale of secondhand gold, jewelry, and other precious metals shall only be permitted as accessory to a legitimate retail business that sells as new the item(s) in question as its primary business function. 8. Total gross receipts of precious metals purchased or taken for credit shall not exceed fifty percent of total retail sales of precious metals. 9. All pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers shall require, at minimum, a secondhand dealer license and shall abide by state -mandated reporting requirements for secondhand tangible personal property as required in the Business and Professions Code. 10. No melting down of any precious metals may occur on site. 11.This Conditional Use Permit shall be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration of revocation upon recommendation by the Police Chief if the operator is found to be in violation of any state, or local law regulating Secondhand Dealers in accordance with Section 18.12.110. Police 12.1Nithin 24 hours of all jewelry, gold or other precious metal buying transactions, a copy of a CA JUS 123 form and the customer's ID shall be submitted to the Police Department for review. 13. Jewelry, gold or other precious metals purchased shall be held for a period of 30 days prior to recycling to allow adequate time for the Police Department to review the items in conjunction with a potential theft, burglary, or other criminal activity. 14.The applicant shall provide documentation that the business has been registered as a Secondhand Dealer and at all times, shall be operated in compliance with California Business and Professions Code Sections 21625-21647, or any other sections pertaining to Secondhand Dealers. 15. Pursuant to Financial Code Section 21208 and Business and Professions Code Section 21628, the business shall report daily, or the first working day after receipt or purchase, to the Police Chief providing a listing of defined sales and/or goods. archnfroAklio CITY OF NATIONAL CITY - DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1243 NATIONAL CITY BLVD., NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE SALE & TRADE OF EWELRY, GOLD, AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS AT JARED AND KAY JEWELERS AT WESTFIELD PLAZA BONITA LOCATED AT 3030 PLAZA BONITA ROAD. CASE FILE NO.: 2013-03 CUP APN: 564-471-02 & 07 The National City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing after the hour of 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 4th, 2013, in the City Council Chambers, Civic Center, 1243 National City Boulevard, National City, California, on the proposed request. (Applicant: Sterling Jewelers, Inc.) The applicant proposes to buy and sell used jewelry from two locations at Westfield Plaza Bonita. The businesses would buy, trade, and/or sell secondhand jewelry, gold, and other precious metals otherwise sold as new in the store. Information is available for review at the City's Planning Division, Civic Center. Members of the public are invited to comment. Written comments should be received by the Planning Division on or before 12:00 p.m., March 4th, 2013, who can be contacted at 619-336-4310 or planninganationalcityca.gov If you challenge the nature of the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. NATIONAL CITY PLANNING DIVISION BRAD RAULSTON Executive Director 2013-03 CUP - Westfield Plaza Bonita - Sterling Jewelers - Site Photos Kay Jewelers inside Westfield Plaza Bonita Jared Galleria of Jewelry located at mall perimeter