At the Los Banos Planning Commission’s meeting on July 9, a combined 12.5 acres of large commercial developments received multiple approvals, and a cottage food permit was approved.
Chair Gregory Hicks led a quorum of commissioners, that included William McBride and Rob Robinson. Steven Nunes was absent, and District 1’s commission slot remains vacant until the election of a District 1 council member on Aug 26.
The largest project at the meeting was for developer Vintners Distributors, a 9.1-acre project at the northeast corner of Mercy Springs Road (SR-165) and Willmott Avenue, south of Casa Mobile trailer park.
According to Assistant Planner Justin Ragunton’s report, the site will include, a six-pump Shell gas station, two quick service restaurants totaling 5,625 square feet, a 12,000 square foot retail and office building, a 20,000 square foot grocery and retail building, a 4,280 square foot convenience store, and an automated car wash.
There was only a single public comment from a nearby resident who wished that the new development would have good sidewalk access so neighbors could walk to it. Ragunton clarified that it will have sidewalk access, done through Cal-Trans improvements.
The development had its site plan review, mitigated negative declaration, a conditional use permit for a 24-foot-tall Shell sign, and minor subdivision into six parcels approved by the commission unanimously without discussion. Additionally, a type 21 alcohol license for the development was recommended to the city council, which would allow the sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits.
The second largest development site is Northgate 42, located at the northeast corner of West I Street and Pacheco Boulevard. According to Ragunton, this project is only 3.4 acres. The site is located where the current Me N’ Eds Pizza, Mr. Taco, and Fernandez Thrift Shop buildings stand.
There was some previous discussion about saving the eucalyptus trees on the site, but the city determined those to be too old and diseased to save, according to Ragunton. Tree commissioner Larry Byers asked that the other trees on the site, adjacent to the sidewalk, be potentially reused in the development.
Community and Economic Development Director Elms was open to the idea in her report: “I think there could be an opportunity to possibly incorporate those existing trees.” She continued, “Those trees could be laid right into the landscape area. So we’ll try to work with the applicant to see if we can incorporate at least those street frontage trees.”
The new development will consist of a single quick service restaurant with 2,976 square feet of space, a 6,333 square foot convenience store, a 16-pump gas station, an automated car wash and a four-unit retail building consisting of 5,599 square feet.
The commission gave unanimous approval to their mitigated negative declaration, tentative parcel map, and site plan review. They also recommended that the city council grant them a type 21 alcohol license, like the one for Vintners Distributors.
The cottage food permit went to Simply Baking, a business focused on cupcakes, cakes, brownies and even cinnamon rolls. Owned by Romelia Garcia, it is located on Ty Street, north of Shaunessy Village Park. The permit was approved unanimously without discussion.
A design review study session for 96 single-family homes on San Luis Street was continued to the next meeting. With Nunes absent and another commissioner with a conflict of interest, there would not be a quorum to properly review the project.
In her report Elms said, “It’s pretty exciting tonight to have two fairly large projects approved.” She thanked the commissioners for going through the full packet. The mitigated negative declarations and appendices to the packet numbered nearly 600 pages.
Commissioner McBride thanked staff for preparing the packet, mentioning that “It was very well put together.”
Robinson also added, “I think in my six years, that is the biggest packet I’ve ever gone through.” Hicks, McBride and Robinson all thanked staff for their hard work before adjourning at 7:02 pm.
