Planning commission backs rewrite of temporary-use rules for private property, sends changes to city council

Hermosa Beach — The Planning Commission on Feb. 2025 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a zoning text amendment consolidating and updating how temporary uses and temporary events on private property are regulated under Title 17 of the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code.

The amendment, introduced by planning staff and presented by Alexis Orpiza, would move multiple temporary-use rules into a single code section, create clearer categories for temporary uses and temporary events, add an “incidental use” exemption for low‑intensity activities tied to a business, and establish standards intended to minimize impacts on adjacent properties. The commission also determined the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA’s general rule (Section 15061).

The proposal groups temporary activities into two main buckets. “Temporary uses” cover construction-related facilities (off-site contractor yards, storage containers, work trailers and temporary residences tied to an active building permit), while “temporary events” cover special events intended to promote businesses or community activities. Staff described five event categories, including “limited events” (smaller, indoor, no amplified sound or alcohol) and “temporary minor special events” (larger private‑property events that may include amplified sound or alcohol and are subject to administrative permit standards).

Key elements presented by staff included: - A single administrative permit process (Chapter 17.55) for temporary uses and events and new, consolidated definitions in the zoning code. - A rolling permit term tied to the first event for temporary minor special events and a proposed pool of days available to an applicant; staff noted the draft sets aside a total allotment of days and limits on consecutive days and frequency of use. - A set of “restricted” or…