Cerritos Planning Commission approves Precise Plan 2025‑7 for second‑story addition on Espinero Drive

The Cerritos Planning Commission on Aug. 6 voted 4‑0 to approve Precise Plan 2025‑7, a proposal to add a first‑floor addition and a new second floor to an existing single‑story home on Espinero Drive.

Associate Planner Wyman Wong presented the project and told the commission the property is zoned R‑S‑6500 and lies east of Shoemaker Avenue and south of South Street. Wong said the project includes several project‑specific conditions of approval requiring the removal of unpermitted structures and new site improvements. "This project was submitted to the City of Cerritos in May," Wong said during his presentation, describing the review timeline.

The project packet shown to the commission included a site plan, front and rear elevations, and a materials board. Staff reported that project conditions require removal of an unpermitted open‑lattice patio and an unpermitted wrought‑iron gate when construction begins (conditions 42 and 44), installation of a minimum 6‑foot concrete block wall or wall return with a solid gate on the east side yard (conditions 43 and 44), provision of organic ground cover at the front of the residence (condition 45), and locating any satellite dish so it is not visible from public streets and active recreation areas (condition 46). Staff also advised that the project, as presented, meets applicable setback and lot‑coverage requirements and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as noted in the staff report.

Commissioners asked staff about the project timeline and permitting process. Wong explained that projects reaching the commission often undergo months of review and revisions to conform with the Cerritos Municipal Code and the city's residential design manual; he said that, after Planning Commission approval, the applicant must submit building plans to city staff and to the Los Angeles County plan‑checking office for building‑code review, a process Wong said typically takes four to six weeks for an initial county review.

With no public speakers on the item, a commissioner moved to waive full reading and adopt the resolution approving Precise Plan 2025‑7. The motion carried by electronic vote, 4‑0.

The commission’s action authorizes the project to proceed to building plan check and permitting subject to the listed conditions of approval. The record for this item includes the planning commission staff report and exhibit package (listed in the agenda packet as Exhibit 19).