Council continues hearing on proposed boat-sales site at 12347 E. Carson St.; applicant, neighbors and tenants clash over use

Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. — The City Council on Oct. 22 paused a de novo public hearing on a minor use permit application for a proposed boat-sales business at 12347 East Carson Street and continued the item to a council meeting in December so members can review materials and follow up with staff.

City Attorney (unnamed) opened the hearing by explaining the procedural standard: “you’re operating under a clean slate. You’re the impartial decision makers today.” The application, filed by Surf City Boats Inc. (operating as a Freedom Boat Club franchise), was denied by staff and later approved by the Planning Commission by a 3-2 vote; the council must either affirm that decision or overturn it.

The hearing centered on whether the proposed operation is a retail boat-sales business—requiring certain conditions and site improvements—or effectively a storage yard that is incompatible with the site’s General Commercial (C-4) designation. Planning staff told council the property is an unimproved roughly half-acre lot on the northwest corner of Cloretta and Tilbury, one block north of Carson Street, that currently contains a mobile home office, chain-link fencing (installed without permits in February 2025), construction materials and…