Planning and Environmental Quality Commission
If you would like to participate in this meeting, you can participate via the following options:
- VIEW THE MEETING live on SPECTRUM CHANNEL 22 or ONLINE at youtube.com/CityofGardena
- PARTICIPATE BEFORE THE MEETING by emailing the Gardena Board/Commission/Committee at publiccomment@cityofgardena.org two (2) hours before the meeting starts on the day of the meeting and write "Public Comment" in the subject line. Written public comments will be provided to the Planning Environmental Quality Commission and will be part of the record but will not be read aloud.
- ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENT: The Gardena Board/Commission/Committee will hear from the public on any item on the agenda or any item of interest that is not on the agenda at the following times:
- Agenda Items - At the time the Board/Commission/Committee considers the item or during Public Comment.
- If you wish to address the Gardena Board/Commission/Committee, please complete a “Speaker Request” form and present it to staff. You will be called to the podium by name when it is your turn to address the Board/Commission/Committee. The Board/Commission/Committee cannot legally take action on any item not scheduled on the Agenda. Such items may be referred for administrative action or scheduled on a future Agenda. Members of the public wishing to address the Board/Commission/Committee will be given three (3) minutes to speak.
- The City of Gardena, in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend and/or participate in the City meeting due to disability, to please contact the City Clerk's Office by phone (310) 217-9565 or email cityclerk@cityofgardena.org at least 24 business hours prior to the scheduled general meeting to ensure assistance is provided. Assistive listening devices are available.
STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR THAT PROMOTE CIVILITY AT ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS
- Treat everyone courteously;
- Listen to others respectfully;
- Exercise self-control;
- Give open-minded consideration to all viewpoints;
- Focus on the issues and avoid personalizing debate; and
- Embrace respectful disagreement and dissent as democratic rights, inherent components of an inclusive public process, and tools for forging sound decisions
Thank you for your attendance and cooperation
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
1. Ronald Wright-Scherr 2. Jules Kanhan 3. Steve Sherman 4. Stephen Langley 5. Deryl Henderson
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4.A. Planning and Environmental Quality Commission Approval of Minutes for April 7, 2026.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This is the time where the public may address the Planning Commission on items that are not on the agenda, but within the Planning Commission's jurisdiction. Comments should be limited to three minutes.
6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
Any decision made by the City of Gardena Planning & Environmental Quality Commission during the Public Hearing will be final unless a written request for an appeal is filed, with the appropriate fee, to the City Clerk within ten calendar days from the date of adoption, or City Council calls this matter for review within the same ten-day period.
6.A. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT #19-24; SITE PLAN REVIEW #4-24; TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP #2-24 TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR (4) THREE-STORY CONDOMINIUM UNITS IN THE MEDIUM DENSITY MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-3) ZONED PORTION OF A SPLIT ZONED R-3 AND SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONED PROPERTY AT 1031 MAGNOLIA AVENUE.
A request from Steve Stepakis (property owner) to approve Environmental Assessment (EA #19-24), Site Plan Review (SPR #4-24), and Tentative Parcel Map (TPM #2-24; Tentative Parcel Map No. 85142) to allow the construction of four (4) three-story condominium units in the Medium Density Multi-Family Residential (R-3) zone portion of a split zoned R-3 and Single-Family Residential (R-1) property in accordance with Section 18.44.010.A and Chapter 17.08 of the Gardena Municipal Code (GMC). The project is being considered for a categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15303(b) (Class 3 – Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). Staff Recommendation: Conduct the public hearing, receive testimony from the public, and adopt Resolution No. PC 1-26, subject to the conditions of approval and direct staff to file a notice of exemption.
6.B. ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT #1-26, PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 18.13 OF THE GARDENA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Recommendation to the City Council on adoption of Zone Text Amendment # 1-26 to amend Chapter 18.13 of the Gardena Municipal Code relating to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory
7. OTHER ITEMS
8. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S REPORT
9. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS
10. ADJOURNMENT
The Planning and Environmental Quality Commission will adjourn to the next meeting at 7:00pm on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
I hereby certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing agenda was posted in the City Hall lobby not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting. A copy of said Agenda is available on our website at www.CityofGardena.org.
/s/ GREG TSUJIUCHI
GREG TSUJIUCHI, Secretary
Planning and Environmental Quality Commission
Date Posted: April 30, 2026