Hawaiian Gardens’ City Council on Dec. 10 continued, to a date-certain of Feb. 11, 2026, an appeal of a Planning Commission decision approving a minor use permit (MUP) for a proposed boat-sales business at 12347 East Carson Street.

Planning staff told the council the item was being heard de novo after staff initially denied the application because required findings could not be made; the Planning Commission later voted to approve the MUP with conditions. Staff raised concerns that the applicant submitted an amended site plan late in the process showing three businesses on the lot — boat sales plus two construction-related tenants — which planning staff had not analyzed and which may conflict with C‑4 commercial zoning rules that restrict storage of construction materials.

The applicant (referred to in the record as Mr. Hart) testified at length, alleging selective enforcement by city staff, that staff required a non‑existent state boat‑sales license, and that staff later imposed dozens of new conditions that he says increased project costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars. He urged the council to approve the permit and the related tenant business licenses, saying the project would revitalize a blighted lot, create jobs and generate sales tax revenue.

City staff and the city attorney framed the options for the council as (1) affirm the Planning Commission and adopt the MUP with conditions, (2) overturn the Planning Commission and deny the MUP, or (3) deny the MUP without prejudice to allow the applicant to refile with a revised application. Councilmembers questioned staff about which plan the Planning Commission reviewed, why additional conditions were added, and how the city could hold the applicant to phased improvements.

Council directed staff and the city attorney to meet with the applicant and the applicant’s attorney to negotiate a set of conditions and a timeline. The council voted unanimously to continue the appeal and related business‑license hearings to Feb. 11, 2026, giving direction to staff to return with recommended conditions or, if necessary, a recommendation to deny without prejudice so the applicant may reapply.

Next steps: the city attorney and planning staff will meet with the applicant and the tenant business owners, work toward agreed conditions (including clarification of allowed storage and parking), and present proposed findings and conditions to the council at the Feb. 11 meeting.