Tustin Planning Commission unanimously recommends parcel split and Pacific Center East boundary amendment

The Tustin City Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend that the City Council approve a tentative parcel map and a specific plan amendment that would split a 4.43-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Red Hill Avenue and Edinger Avenue into two parcels and realign the Pacific Center East planning-area boundary.

Senior Planner Erica Demkowicz told the commission that "the application before you this evening has two parts": a tentative parcel map to create two parcels and a specific plan amendment to realign a planning-area boundary and make minor text and graphic edits to the Pacific Center East Specific Plan. She said the site carries a general plan designation of Planned Community Commercial Business (PCCB), a zoning designation of Pacific Center East Specific Plan (PCESP), and that "no new development is proposed as part of this request." Demkowicz also noted the project would not reduce residential capacity and that staff concluded the request is categorically exempt from CEQA under Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15315; she said the amendment is consistent with Senate Bill 330.

Demkowicz referenced a nearby November 2024 approval for an automated self-service carwash at 1481 Edinger, which has obtained building permits and is under construction. She recommended the commission adopt Resolution 4541 recommending the City Council approve the tentative map and Resolution 4542 recommending the council adopt Ordinance 1577 to approve the specific plan amendment.

The applicant was present and available to answer questions but no members of the public spoke on the item. A commissioner suggested that similar minor map or text revisions might be handled administratively by the zoning administrator or director in the future, when feasible, to avoid public hearings for largely technical changes.

The commission voted separately on the two staff-recommended actions. A motion to adopt Resolution 4541 (tentative parcel map) passed on a roll-call vote of 5-0. A subsequent motion to adopt Resolution 4542 (specific plan amendment recommendation to City Council) also passed 5-0. The roll-call included Commissioners Higuchi, Douthit, Gallo, Chair Pro Tem Kozak and Chair Mason voting "Aye." After the votes the commission congratulated the applicant; staff will forward the commission’s recommendations to the City Council for its review.

Development Director Alexis Snow used the meeting’s other-business time to promote Historic Preservation Week events next week and reminded commissioners about the six-hour annual historic-preservation training requirement.

The commission adjourned after a brief meeting; the next scheduled meeting date was announced.