Planning commission approves Conditional Use Permit for Red Dragon Karate at 680 Beaumont Avenue

The Beaumont Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve Conditional Use Permit CUP2024-0008 for Red Dragon Karate, a martial arts studio proposed at 680 Beaumont Avenue, following a staff presentation and one public comment.

Planning staffer Jillian Fountain told commissioners the applicant proposed classes six days a week, with hours Monday through Thursday from about 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday classes from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Classes were described as 30 to 45 minutes long, allowing up to about five classes per evening. Fountain said the applicant expects most students to be dropped off and estimated two to three cars would remain on site during each class. Fountain said the project is located in the downtown mixed-use zoning district and that, per a city council amendment effective Sept. 5, 2023, off-street parking requirements for existing nonresidential structures in the downtown district had been temporarily suspended. She reported staff had received one public comment and that the project qualified for a Class 1 CEQA exemption as an existing facility.

During public comment Chad Schneetker, a Beaumont resident who said he had previously occupied a temporary use permit at the same address, spoke in favor of the proposal and said classes were small and mostly for children. "I like Roddy Robbie. Good guy. Small classes, mostly kid stuff," Schneetker said.

With no other public speakers, the commission closed the public hearing and approved the permit "as presented." The roll call recorded affirmative votes from the commissioners on the dais; the item passed unanimously.

Staff was directed to prepare a Notice of Exemption for filing with the county recorder as part of the required post-approval process.