Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Care Temporary Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission extends temporary animal-care site for Pacific Marine Mammal Center; adds conditions on odors and future site planning
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a one-year extension of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s temporary animal-care facility at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road, adding conditions requiring active odor mitigation and advance coordination with the city about future uses of the temporary site and concrete pad.
(Note: The meeting transcript contains an extended discussion and multiple clarifications. This article summarizes the action and main conditions recorded.)
The Planning Commission on Jan. 15 approved a temporary use permit (TUP) and coastal development permit (CDP) to allow the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) to continue operating a temporary animal-care facility on city-owned land at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road while the center completes construction of its permanent facility.
Staff (Sarah Olsen) said the previously approved temporary facility had expired Sept. 1, 2024. The application requested a temporary use permit from January 2025 through Dec. 31, 2025, or until the PMMC completes construction of the main facility (whichever occurs sooner). Staff described the temporary site as approximately 15,700 square feet containing five small pool pens, two large pool pens, an ICU/hospital structure, an office trailer and staff restroom; NOAA-required perimeter fencing was installed along with a sound-attenuating cover on the outer fence to reduce sight lines and noise impacts to the adjacent dog park and Laguna Food Pantry.
Olsen’s staff report estimated the temporary site may care for about 40–75 animals and have about 10 staff on site at a time; hours of operation were described as 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with occasional late-night staff presence for rescues. Staff recommended approval with CEQA exemption.
A lengthy public and commissioner discussion followed. Commissioners and public commenters raised concerns about odors experienced by the adjacent Laguna Food Pantry, the facility’s proximity to food distribution operations, and the fact that the previously approved TUP had lapsed and the facility operated without an active permit for several months. Food pantry executive director Anne Bellier spoke and said the pantry supports PMMC’s completion of the permanent facility but requested that the pantry’s needs be considered in a broader master plan for the site that includes multiple users (food pantry, dog park, temporary facilities, city operations).
Applicants (Glenn Gray, PMMC CEO; Lawrence Hoff, Empire Construction project manager) described construction delays caused by Southern California Edison coordination and other utility and permitting issues and said they aimed to occupy the permanent facility by mid‑year 2025. PMMC asked the commission to clarify that the permit should allow a practical transition window after construction completion, because moving a functioning animal hospital will take time. The applicants also described mitigation steps taken to address odors, including discontinuing disposal of unused fish in public trash cans and installing fans and containment protocols.
Commissioners approved the TUP/CDP extension with additional conditions intended to reduce off‑site odor impacts and to require coordination with the city about future use and removal of temporary improvements: the resolution carried added language (referencing staff conditions 17, 21 and 22) and the commission requested the applicant actively pursue odor controls and contact the city in advance of demolition/removal so the city and community can evaluate reuse of the concrete pad rather than automatic removal. The commission voted unanimously (Goldman — yes; Whiting — yes; Dubin — yes; Chair Pro Tem Kellenberg — yes; Chair Sadler — yes).
The commission noted the temporary facility must be restored to preexisting condition after completion, but commissioners asked city staff and the applicant to coordinate earlier and consider whether some or all of the temporary improvements might have a beneficial future use and to bring reuse concepts to city staff/council before removal. Applicants estimated concrete pad removal could be accomplished in roughly six weeks if required but urged a 90‑day transition window from final construction completion to allow safe transfer of patients and equipment to the permanent facility.
Staff will issue the permit consistent with the commission’s direction and new conditions; PMMC will continue work to finish the permanent facility and must coordinate removal/restoration with the city when complete.
