[00:00:05]
[ CALL TO ORDER]
ROLL CALL WITH THE MINUTES CLERK TAKE ROLL, PLEASE.YES. COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER BURROWS.
PRESENT. FOR THE RECORD LAFFERTY IS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERZ.
HERE. COMMISSIONER FOSTER. HE'S NOT HERE OH, ABSENT. OKAY. VICE CHAIR HUBINGER. HERE. AND CHAIR MEENES.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD, PLEASE DO THE HONORS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025 MEETING.ANY EDITS OR CHANGES TO THOSE MINUTES? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER MERZ MAKES THE MOTION. COMMISSIONER.
SECOND PLEASE VOTE. UNANIMOUS BY ALL FIVE. VOTING YES.
THE FOLLOWING PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MEETING PROCEDURES ARE IN EFFECT THIS EVENING.
REQUEST FORMS MUST BE TURNED INTO THE MINUTES CLERK PRIOR TO THE ITEM COMMENCING.
ALL SPEAKERS WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES UNLESS THAT TIME IS REDUCED BY THE CHAIRPERSON.
SPEAKERS MAY NOT GIVE THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER.
GROUP TIMES WILL BE PERMITTED FOR ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
PLEASE THOSE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP HAVE TEN MINUTES.
THE REQUEST TO SPEAK ARE RECEIVED. THE BROWN ACT ALLOWS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING BY PROVIDING COMMENTS AS PROVIDED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE AGENDA.
NO ACTION CAN OCCUR ON THESE ITEMS. MINUTES CLERK DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKER SLIP? CHAIR WE DO NOT. SEEING NONE. THANK YOU. THE PUBLIC HEARING
[1.COSTCO FUEL EXPANSION PROJECT - AMEND 2022-0020/ AMEND 2022-0021/ AMEND 2022-0022]
PROCEDURES THIS EVENING WILL BE. IF EVERYONE WILL DIRECT THEIR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN.I'LL REVIEW THE PROCEDURES THE COMMISSION WILL FOLLOW THIS EVENING'S PUBLIC HEARING.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE OPENED. STAFF WILL MAKE THEIR PRESENTATION.
PLANNING COMMISSION MAY ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ON THE STAFF PRESENTATION.
THEY WILL HAVE TEN MINUTES FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY PERIOD WILL BE OPENED ANY TIME.
A TIME LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES IS ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER AFTER THOSE WANTING TO SPEAK HAVE DONE SO.
THE COMMISSIONERS WILL DISCUSS THE ITEM AND THEN VOTE ON IT.
YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I'LL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1.
BUT FIRST, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS PROVIDE EX PARTE CONVERSATIONS.
COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD. I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE, AND I'M ALSO A COSTCO MEMBER.
COMMISSIONER BURROWS. I DROVE BY THE SITE. COMMISSIONER MERZ.
YEAH, I'M A COSTCO MEMBER, AND I ALSO WALKED AROUND THE SITE TODAY OR THIS WEEK.
COMMISSIONER HUBINGER. YEAH COSTCO MEMBER VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
[00:05:02]
THAT ARE THERE TODAY. MR. LARDY, WILL YOU INTRODUCE ITEM NUMBER 1? YES, WE'LL INTRODUCE THE ITEM. BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'LL JUST NOTE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS HISTORICALLY EXTENDED APPLICANTS THE COURTESY OF REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE OF THEIR MATTER MAY BE HEARD BY A FULL COMMISSION.THIS EVENING COMMISSIONERS, LAFFERTY AND FOSTER ARE ABSENT IF A REQUEST.
IF THE APPLICANT REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE, THE COMMISSION IS NOT OBLIGED TO GRANT THE REQUEST.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE APPLICANT FOR THE RECORD TO CONFIRM THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
OKAY. FOR THE RECORD, THE APPLICANTS ARE SAYING YES AND NODDING THEIR HEADS UP AND DOWN. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, MR. LARDY. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR MIKE STRONG.
THANK YOU, CITY PLANNER LARDY. AND GOOD EVENING, PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS.
THE APPLICATION CONSISTS OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT, A SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT, A COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT TO ALLOW THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY.
THE EXISTING FACILITY CONSISTS OF 22 FUELING STATIONS AND 11 FUEL PUMPS.
THE PROPOSAL IS TO ADD FOUR NEW FUELING PUMP LOCATIONS WHICH WOULD ACCOMMODATE EIGHT ADDITIONAL VEHICLE POSITIONS, ONE NEW UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK, CANOPY EXPANSION, AND OTHER SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE SITE ITSELF HAD DEVELOPED IN 1991, AND SINCE THAT TIME HAS BEEN AMENDED NUMEROUS TIMES TO ALLOW NOT ONLY THE EXPANSION TO THE COSTCO WHOLESALE BUILDING FACILITY, BUT TO ALLOW OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE COMMERCIAL AREAS AS WELL AS THE FUEL STATION ITSELF AND MINOR MODIFICATIONS SINCE THAT TIME.
THE 14.8 ACRE SITE IS LOCATED AT 951 PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TYPO IN THE FIRST BULLET.
THE EXISTING GAS STATION FACILITY IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN END OF THE PROPERTY.
THE ZONING IS C-2-Q, WHICH IS A COMMERCIAL ZONING AND A QUALIFIED OVERLAY ZONE.
IT'S ALSO IN THE COMMERCIAL VISITOR SERVING OVERLAY ZONE.
IT CARRIES A RESIDENTIAL LAND USE DESIGNATION, WHICH ALLOWS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LARGE ANCHOR AND SECONDARY TENANTS THAT ARE REGIONAL SERVING. IT IS ALSO IN THE MELLO II SEGMENT OF THE LOCAL COASTAL PLAN.
THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS THE LOCATION ON THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.
DRIVEWAY ACCESS IS LOCATED IN TWO LOCATIONS OFF OF PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD, ONE BEING THE INTERSECTION OF PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD AND ARMADA DRIVE, AS WELL AS FROM A DRIVE ACCESS OFF OF COSTCO ACCESS AND PALMER PLACE SHOPPING CENTER ACCESS, AND THAT IS SHARED WITH THE REST OF THE SHOPPING CENTER.
USE OF ACTIVITY OF THE EXISTING 22 FUELING STATION LOCATIONS.
THIS IMAGE IS TAKEN JUST SOUTH OF THE GAS FUELING STATION, LOOKING TO THE NORTH, WITH THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE GAS STATION FACILITY. AND THIS IS ANOTHER REPRESENTATION.
THIS IS ON THE SOUTH EASTERN PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, LOOKING TO THE NORTHWEST, AND THIS IS THE EGRESS POINT OF THE EXISTING GAS STATION FACILITY. SO THIS IS MORE INTERNAL TO THE SHOPPING CENTER LOCATION.
THE EXISTING GAS FUELING STATION AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, HAS 11 PUMPS AND 22 FUELING POSITIONS.
THERE IS 5874 OF CANOPY AREA. THE PROJECT WAS ENTITLED TO ALLOW 5200FT² OF CANOPY AREA.
THE AREA OF IMPROVEMENT IS OCCURRING DIRECTLY TO THE EAST, ADDING FOUR AND FOR ALL LOCATIONS, THE ADDITIONAL PUMPING STATIONS THE CANOPY IS PROPOSED TO BE EXTENDED TO 53FT². THE COSTCO SITE WAS APPROVED ORIGINALLY IN 1991 AND COMPLETED IN 1992.
[00:10:07]
IT IS A MEMBERSHIP ONLY SERVICE PROVIDED ONLY TO THE MEMBERS THAT ARE OF COSTCO, AND IT HAS BEEN AMENDED IN 2000 AND 2014 TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL PUMP ISLANDS AND FUEL DISPENSERS.CITY STAFF REVIEWED THE PROJECT FOR CODE COMPLIANCE.
THE GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION. THE REGIONAL COMMERCIAL ALLOWANCE, LIKE I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IN THE PRESENTATION, ALLOWS FOR THOSE USES THAT ARE EXISTING AND PROPOSED WITH THIS PROJECT APPLICATION.
THE ZONING ORDINANCE. THE ZONING IS THE C-2 ZONING QUALIFIED OVERLAY, AS WELL AS THE COMMERCIAL VISITOR SERVING OVERLAY ALSO ALLOWS FOR ANCHOR AND SECONDARY TENANT USES RETAIL SERVING IN NATURE.
STAFF EVALUATED THE LOCAL FACILITY MANAGEMENT ZONE PLAN FOR CODE COMPLIANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY MECHANISMS THAT WOULD IMPEDE OR BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE. THE PROJECT WAS ALSO REVIEWED FOR CONFORMANCE WITH THE MELLO II SEGMENT OF THE LCP AND THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
STAFF FOUND THAT THE PROJECT IS AN EXISTING FACILITY AND BELONGS TO A BROAD RANGE OF CLASSES OF PROJECTS THAT ARE FOUND AND DETERMINED TO NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. SO THAT DETERMINATION IS SUBJECT TO PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING, ALONG WITH THE PROJECT ITSELF, THE DRAFT EXEMPTION DETERMINATION IS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET AND WOULD BE CONFIRMED WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AND WOULD APPROVE ALL THE PERMITS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT AND PROVIDE THE SEQUENCE DETERMINATION CLEARANCE THAT CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? COMMISSIONER MERZ. YEAH, THANK THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.
COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE? THAT THAT SHOWS THE SHADED LIKE THE EXISTING THEN THE SHADED, BECAUSE THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL JUST TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WAS.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE IN THE PACKAGE WHAT THOSE WERE.
WAS NOT WORKING THE ONE PREVIOUS TO THAT IS THE ONE WHERE IT SHOWS BEFORE THAT SHADED THE EXISTING.
YEAH THERE WE GO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS IT JUST KIND OF IT SORT OF SHIFTS IT THIS WAY, RIGHT? THE EXPANSION IS THAT WAY. OKAY, I GET IT.
THAT MAKES SENSE. I SEE THAT. OKAY. AND THEN IT MENTIONED THAT THERE'S LIKE A RETAINING WALL.
THAT THE RETAINING WALL IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE REMOVED. OKAY LOCATION, WHICH WAS SHOWN IN. YEAH. ONE OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW LANDSCAPING.
WILL THAT THE LANE WHERE CARS PARKED TO THOSE PUMPS ON THE VERY SOUTH END ADJACENT TO THAT RETAINING WALL WHICH WILL BE REMOVED. WILL THAT I GUESS YOU COULD SAY PARKING AREA TO FUEL THE VEHICLES.
WILL THAT BE EXPANDED? MEANING WIDENED? BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I'VE BEEN AT THE FACILITY, OF COURSE, I GO THERE ALL THE TIME. I AVOID THAT LANE. AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE CAR NUMBER TWO OR CAR NUMBER THREE, AND CAR NUMBER ONE AT THE FRONT HAS NOT LEFT YOU, IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GO AROUND BECAUSE IT'S SO NARROW.
SO I WAS WONDERING IF AND I COULDN'T TELL BY LOOKING AT THE THE DRAWINGS, IF THAT THE WIDTH OF THAT LANE WILL BE WIDE ENOUGH TO WHERE A VEHICLE CAN PASS A PARKED VEHICLE BEING FUELED. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE EXISTING PROJECT AS WE KNOW IT TODAY WITH THE 22 FUELING POSITIONS. IT SHOWS THAT THERE ARE THERE'S NO PASS THROUGH LANE TO BYPASS THE FUELING POSITION ITSELF. THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH SHOWS THE FUTURE CONDITION DOES SHOW BOTH A EXPANDED AREA FOR BYPASSING AS WELL AS A FUELING POSITION.
OKAY. I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT THE DIMENSIONS, BUT THE APPLICANT IS
[00:15:04]
THEY'LL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. OKAY. THANK YOU.OKAY. SO THE PUMPS ARE ALL GOING TO THE EAST OF THE CURRENT PUMPS? YEAH. THAT'S CORRECT. THE EXPANSION IS TO THE EAST ELONGATING THE LANES OR THE PUMP ACCESS FOR THE CURRENT.
CORRECT COMMISSIONER TO OCCUR REDUCING THE IDLE AND QUEUING WAIT TIMES TO ALLOW MORE VEHICLES TO PUMP CONCURRENTLY AND ENTER AND EXIT THE FUELING STATION MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN TODAY'S OPERATION.
OKAY, SO WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE APPLICANT FOR THIS PROJECT? I WILL DEFER TO THE APPLICANT TO RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? COMMISSIONER BURROWS.
MR. STRONG, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I SAW IN THE BRIEFING THAT THERE'S A CONSULTANT REPORT, AND THAT REPORT TALKS ABOUT AVERAGE VEHICLE QUEUES IN THE GAS STATION AREA.
A REPORT PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT. DOES CITY STAFF AGREE WITH THAT CONSULTANT'S REPORT? YES. THE THE CONSULTANT KITTLESON TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORT AND MLA STUDY WAS REVIEWED BY BOTH PLANNING LAND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STAFF. THERE WERE SEVERAL ITERATIONS WHERE CITY STAFF PROVIDED COMMENT TO EITHER STRENGTHENING ANALYSIS OR EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE ANALYSIS. SO WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF STAFF'S REVIEW AND THE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.
THANK YOU. ANY COMMISSIONER? YES FITZGERALD. TO GO BACK ON THE MAPS, IF YOU COULD JUMP TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES, WHERE IS THE SECOND STORAGE TANK GOING TO BE LOCATED? THE LOCATION OF THE EXISTING THREE STORAGE TANKS ARE IN THE CENTRAL NORTHERN PORTION OF THE PROJECT SITE.
APPROXIMATELY JUST EAST OF THE MOST NORTHERLY FUEL PUMPS, [LAUGHTER] IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE CURSOR HERE, IF THAT IS ABLE TO BE SEEN ON THE SCREEN.
THE PROPOSED TANK IS GOING TO BE IN THIS LOCATION DIRECTLY TO THE EAST.
OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER LIKE. OH, I WAS JUST CORRECTED.
IT'S THIS LONG ONE HERE. YEAH, THAT LONG ONE RIGHT THERE STORAGE. CORRECT. YES. OKAY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF FUEL STORED HERE? IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, THINGS TO CONSIDER OR THINGS THAT THE CITY STAFF HAVE RECOMMENDED THE APPLICANT INSTALL OR OR UPGRADE? THERE ARE SEVERAL STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT CONTROL BOTH THE INSTALLATION AND ALTERATION OR REMOVAL OF UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS. SO THE APPLICANT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REGULATIONS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE SIZE OF THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK ITSELF HAS ANY BEARING ON THOSE REGULATIONS, THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO COMPLY AND DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE AS PART OF THE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS MOMENT? WOULD THE APPLICANT LIKE TO MAKE A PRESENTATION? AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.
HELLO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RILEY JOHNSON WITH THE CORE STATES GROUP, FORMERLY BARGHAUSEN CONSULTING ENGINEERS, LOCATED IN KENT. AND I'M THE APPLICANT AND PLANNING CONSULTANT FOR THIS PROJECT.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
THE INTENT OF THIS PROJECT, WITH THESE FOUR NEW DISPENSERS AND EXPANDED CANOPY, IS TO IMPROVE THE QUEUING WAIT TIMES FOR FUELING VEHICLES AND PROVIDE A MORE EFFICIENT FLOW OF VEHICLES THROUGH THE FACILITY. FOR COSTCO MEMBERS, WE'VE WORKED ON THIS APPLICATION QUITE DILIGENTLY WITH STAFF AND HAVE REVIEWED THE STAFF REPORT AND AGREE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
I SAID, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP THEM WITH THE TEAM AND WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE CHANGE TO CONDITION NUMBER 24, JUST TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE JUST TO ADD THE WORD TYPICALLY JUST TO
[00:20:10]
PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FUEL DELIVERIES.OKAY. I'LL LET STAFF LOOK AT THIS FOR A SECOND WAIT, YEAH RIGHT THERE IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE CONDITION IS CLEAR AT THE BEGINNING.
I GUESS I WOULD ASK BACK TO THE APPLICANT, WHERE WOULD YOU BE PROPOSING TO ADD THE WORD TYPICALLY? YES. SO IT WOULD BE TYPICALLY BETWEEN 7:00 A.M.
AND 9:00 A.M. AND THEN TYPICALLY BETWEEN 11:00 A.M.
AND I'D ASK MR. STRONG IF HE HAD AN OPINION AS WELL.
BUT I DO NOT SEE THAT SECOND PARAGRAPH AS A CONDITION THAT WOULD LIMIT THEIR OPERATIONAL HOURS MORE AS A FACTUAL STATEMENT OF THE CURRENT OPERATIONS AS WE UNDERSTAND THEM. MR. STRONG. THANK YOU, CHAIR AND CITY PLANNER LARDY, THE SECOND PARAGRAPH TO CONDITION 24, AND I'LL JUST READ IT FOR THE RECORD, WEEKDAY AND WEEKEND PEAK DEMAND PERIODS ARE BETWEEN 07:00 A.M.
AND 9:00 A.M. AND BETWEEN 4:00 P.M. AND 6:00 P.M.
ON WEDNESDAYS AND BETWEEN 11:00 A.M. AND 1:00 P.M.
UTILIZING THEIR DEFINITION FOR THE PEAK PERIODS.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE WAS INCLUDED.
IT WAS PROVIDED AS A DEFINITUM TO AS A MEANS TO RELATE TO THE, THE CONDITION IN THE PRIOR WORDING THAT EXPRESSIVELY STATES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, THE DELIVERY OF FUEL SHALL NOT BE SCHEDULED DURING WEEKDAY OR WEEKEND PEAK DEMAND PERIODS. SO IT'S NOT EXCLUDING THE OCCURRENCE OF DELIVERIES DURING THAT WINDOW.
IT'S JUST I GUESS STRONGLY WORDING TO SUGGEST THAT, TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE TO TRY TO SCHEDULE THOSE DELIVERIES OUTSIDE OF THOSE PEAK PERIOD TIMES WHEN THE DEMAND IS THE HIGHEST AND THE QUEUES, QUEUE LENGTHS OR THE STACKING OF VEHICLES IS THE GREATEST.
ANY COMMENT BY CITY ATTORNEY? OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT.
IT'S IT'S WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
OKAY. THANK YOU. AND YOU HAVE FURTHER PRESENTATION OR ARE YOU COMPLETE? YES THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONERS NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS, AND I KNOW I HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW. AND THAT IS, AS YOU NOTICED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO, I MADE THE COMMENT IN REGARD TO THE THE WIDTH OF THAT LANE OF THE FUEL PUMPS ON THE FAR SOUTH END AND SOUTH SIDE WITH THE RETAINING WALL THAT'S THERE NOW.
COULD YOU EXPAND ON THAT? IS MR. STRONG'S COMMENT THAT THE LANE, THE WIDTH, COULD YOU CLARIFY AS TO THE LANE WIDTHS AND THE ABILITY TO I GUESS, PASS VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING FUELED? YES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AWARE OF BEFORE, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MADE THIS CHANGE.
SO THAT WIDTH WILL BE FROM THE ISLAND TO THE CURB, 22FT TO ALLOW CARS TO PASS AND GET TO THE, THE FRONT LANE IF THAT ONE'S OPEN, THAT FRONT PUMP OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE PUMPS AS THEY'RE.
SO LOOKING AT THE EXISTING OR THE CURRENT SITUATION THERE, HOW MANY FEET ARE YOU ADDING TO THE WIDTH OF THAT FROM THE FROM THE CURB LINE OF WHERE THE PUMP IS LOCATED. I BELIEVE IT'S 11FT.
YOU'RE MAKING IT 11FT? YEAH. WHAT IS IT CURRENTLY? OH, IT'S ADDING 11FT. YOU'RE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 11FT? YES COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD. SO, JUST BACK ON THE LANGUAGE AROUND, TYPICALLY ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT STUDY, IT DOES MENTION THAT THE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS INSTANCES OF THOSE LONGER QUEUES.
[00:25:09]
IS THERE ANY IMPACT BETWEEN NOT HAVING THOSE SET TIMES AND ADDING THE WORD TYPICALLY? SO THAT CONDITION IS, I BELIEVE IS MEANT TO ADDRESS FUEL DELIVERIES.OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HUBINGER. SO. SO BACK TO THE GOAL OF THIS.
IS IT? I MEAN, YOU GUYS KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY CARS GO THROUGH THERE, RIGHT? PRECISELY. AND YOU'VE DONE ASSUMPTIONS AS TO WHAT THE THROUGHPUT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
OTHERWISE YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS EXERCISE. SO IS DO YOU, DO YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS WHO CAN PURCHASE GAS? OR DO YOU SEE THIS AS A THROUGHPUT.
JUST IT MOVES THEM ALONG FASTER OR BOTH? IT'S BOTH.
NOW BE ABLE TO GO BECAUSE THERE'S MORE AVAILABILITY FOR THEM.
RIGHT. SO SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THINGS GET WHEN THINGS GET BUSY THERE, THEY BACK UP ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE ENTRYWAY FROM PALOMAR.
RIGHT. AND SO. IN YOUR OPINION, THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE A LITTLE OF THAT OR IF HE ACTUALLY STUDIED THAT OR. YES. SO IT WILL HELP REDUCE THOSE QUEUES AS THEY BACK UP ONTO THE ROAD.
AND AS PART OF THIS PLAN WITH OUR QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN, THE INTENT IS TO HELP BRING THOSE SHOES BACK ON SITE SO THAT IT'S SNAKING THROUGH SORT OF THE PARKING AREA. SO THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. RIGHT, RIGHT.
BECAUSE THAT THEN BOTCHES UP PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE YOU KNOW.
YEAH. OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THEN IN REGARD TO AND I JUST THIS IS MORE A CURIOSITY THING THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BUT YOU HAVE THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH I THINK IS EXCELLENT. AND IN FACT, WHEN I'M THERE, I EVEN THE STAFF THAT IS THERE NOW DOES A LOT OF THAT SAME WORK, BUT YOU'RE ENSURING THAT THAT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF REGARDING THE FOLLOWING OF THAT MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO CURIOSITY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER COSTCO FUELING STATIONS AT OTHER LOCATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, SANTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DID THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND EXPANDED THAT FACILITY AND WHATEVER.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS THE MANAGEMENT PLAN BEING APPLIED HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL IN A RESTRICTED AREA AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO MITIGATE, OR IS THAT UNIVERSAL WITH MANY OF YOUR COSTCO LOCATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE FAR MORE I GUESS, GROUND SPACE FOR QUEUING. I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEER WHO HAS MORE, CAN PROVIDE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR ANSWERS.
AND IF YOU WOULD STATE YOUR NAME, PLEASE, WHEN YOU. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS FERNANDO SOTELO AND I'M A LICENSED TRAFFIC ENGINEER IN CALIFORNIA, AND I PREPARED THE TRAFFIC STUDY. SO YES, COSTCO DOES IMPLEMENT THE MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ALL THE NEW GAS FUELING FACILITY PROJECTS.
THAT IS A PLAN THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT THEIR DISPOSAL, NOT ONLY LIKE SETTING UP THE PROCEDURES, WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, BUT ALSO HAVING THE EQUIPMENT, LIKE, IN THIS CASE, WE NEED SIGNS, WE NEED CONES.
SO THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
NORMALLY IT DEPENDS ON IF THERE'S LIKE ANY SPIKE IN GAS PRICES OR ANYTHING UNUSUAL THAT THEY FORESEE OR LIKE MAJOR HOLIDAYS AND THEY SEE LIKE THE DEMAND IS GOING UP AND THEY NEED TO PREPARE. SO THAT WAY THEY CAN SET UP THEIR PLAN AHEAD OF TIME.
SO THEY'RE READY FOR IT WHEN IT HAPPENS. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH COSTCO FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW I WOULD SAY ALL OF THE GUESTS, THE FOOD FACILITIES THAT I'VE BEEN THAT HAVE BEEN EXPANDING, THE QUEUES ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN THEY USED TO BE.
AND I LIVE NEXT TO ONE THAT I GO ALL THE TIME, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS AT THAT LOCATION.
AND I'VE BEEN TO A NUMBER OF THEM AND I'VE BEEN SURPRISED, ACTUALLY, HOW WELL IT'S BEEN WORKING.
SO ANYWAY, THE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN IS LIKE A, IT'S A BACKUP PLAN, REALLY.
IF IT NEEDS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. SO COSTCO IS READY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WHEN NEEDED.
[00:30:10]
OF THE FUELING STATION AREA IN THAT THE BECAUSE OF THE ANGLE OF THAT ROAD, IT MINIMIZES THE QUEUING ON THE LANES FURTHEST TO THE SOUTH AND WHERE MANY OF THE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT DOES NOT OCCUR.SO I THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION WAS THAT BECAUSE THIS IS IT'S VERY CONSTRAINED.
AND I THINK YOU'RE TRYING TO MITIGATE AS MUCH AS THAT AS POSSIBLE.
CORRECT. AND THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO CARLSBAD. THAT'S VERY COMMON CONSTRAINT THAT WE HAVE WITH A LOT OF THE COSTCO'S, IF NOT MOST OF THEM, THAT [INAUDIBLE] IS EXPENSIVE AND WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC AS MUCH AS WE COULD IDEALLY.
JUST LIKE SCHOOLS, RIGHT? LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY HUGE AMOUNTS OF PARKING AT A SCHOOL.
YOU WANT TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY.
SO HERE'S THE SAME THING. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE COMPROMISES ON HOW WE USE THE LAND.
THIS SITE IS A LITTLE CONSTRAINED, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FACT THAT WE ARE ADDING CAPACITY IS GOING TO EXPEDITE THE NUMBER OF CARS GOING THROUGH IT, AND THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE THE QUEUES, AND THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT IN THE OVERALL SITE, BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE GOING TO HAVE WAY LESS INSTANCES WHERE THE QUEUE IS SPILLING OUT OF THAT GAS QUEUE AREA AND IT'S GOING TO FREE UP THAT NORTH SOUTH DRIVEWAY. AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO HELP FREE UP THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE QUEUE SPILLS OUT OF THAT AREA NOT ONLY ARE AFFECTING THE NORTH SOUTH, BUT IT ALSO AFFECTING THAT WHOLE INTERSECTION THAT LETS PEOPLE GET OUT OF THE SITE.
SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE POSITIVE EFFECT TO THE OVERALL AREA.
THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT, COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FOR CITY STAFF SO I CAN HOLD.
MINUTES CLERK. DO WE HAVE ANY SLIPS FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY? CHAIR WE DO NOT. NONE. I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU WISH TO PROVIDE AT THIS TIME GIVEN THE DISCUSSION? IF YES, THANK YOU. CHAIR. IF I MAY ALSO SUPPLEMENT THE NEED FOR THE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
CHAPTER 21.203 OF OUR MUNICIPAL CODE ADDRESSES THE COMMERCIAL VISITOR SERVING OVERLAY.
AND THERE'S A UNIQUE PROVISION WITHIN THAT CODE THAT ALLOWS THE DECISION MAKING BODY OR THE CITY COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER PROJECTS IF THERE'S FOUND TO BE ANY VIOLATION OF THE TERMS OR LIMITATIONS OF A PROJECT.
SO PREEMPTIVELY, THE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN HELPS ADDRESS ANY OF THAT SPILLOVER OR IMPACT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE THE COMMISSION ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SITE.
SO THE QUEUE MANAGEMENT PLAN IS INTENDED TO SELF CONTAIN THE OPERATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR STAFF? COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD, NOW'S YOUR TIME. LAST QUESTION FOR ME.
I READ THAT THE INTERSECTION FOR PALOMAR AIRPORT IN THE.
I THINK IT'S ARMADA DRIVE AND REALLY THE COSTCO ACCESS THAT INTERSECTION AND I'M ON PAGE.
FIGURE OUT WHAT PAGE I'M ON. IT'S ACTUALLY NOT LABELED, UNLABELED PAGE, BUT I'M ON ONE OF THE MAPS.
CAN YOU CLARIFY OR ADD ON MAYBE ANY STIPULATIONS WHEN THAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF THAT WOULD HAPPEN? ANY PLANS FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT AT THAT INTERSECTION TO HAPPEN? YES. THE KITTLEMAN OR KITTLESON REPORT DID IDENTIFY THE WESTBOUND TURN MOVEMENT INTO THE SHOPPING CENTER NEEDED TO BE EXPANDED TO 400 LINEAR FEET.
IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE CITY'S MULTIMODAL LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS, THE APPLICANT WOULD BE INSTALLING TWO BUS STATIONS ALONG PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD, BOTH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD, BUT IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
SO THOSE ARE THE COSTS THAT WOULD BE BORNE TO THE APPLICANT.
OKAY. AND THE TIMELINE FOR THAT IS SIMILAR IN LINE WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS.
YES. PRIOR TO RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OR FINALIZING THE PROJECT BEFORE OPERATIONS, THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE IN PLACE. GREAT. THANK YOU.
I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT. STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN.
[00:35:02]
RILEY JOHNSON. OKAY. THE WOULD YOU CLARIFY AS TO THE ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK THAT'S BEING INSTALLED, HOW MANY GALLONS THAT IS, OR WHATEVER THE SIZE OF IT HAPPENS TO BE IN RELATION TO THE SIZE OF ONE OF THE OTHER THREE? YES. SO THE EXISTING TANKS ARE THREE 20,000 GALLON TANKS.THE NEW ONE IS ONE 40,000 GALLON UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK.
OKAY. THANK YOU. FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR STAFF.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER BURROWS. I MEAN, I SUPPORT THE PROJECT, CONSIDERING THAT WE'RE IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW AND HOPEFULLY EASING SOME OF THAT OFF OF ONE OF OUR, OUR MAIN ARTERIES. BUT TO CIRCLE BACK QUICKLY ON THE THIS IDEA OF INSERTING THE LANGUAGE, TYPICALLY IN THE CONDITION.
I THINK NORMALLY I'D BE RELUCTANT TO ADD IN LANGUAGE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I THINK, AS WE HEARD FROM MR. STRONG, THIS LANGUAGE WAS DRAFTED BASED ON A STUDY AND ANY MODIFICATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE DRAFTING PHASE.
BUT WE ALSO HEARD FROM CITY STAFF AND CITY ATTORNEY.
IT DOESN'T EXACTLY CHANGE THE OPERATIVE LANGUAGE OF THIS SECTION.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST PARAGRAPH TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
SO THIS ISN'T REQUIRED TIMING TO BEGIN WITH, RIGHT.
SO I'D BE OKAY WITH INSERTING THE LANGUAGE TYPICALLY.
AND I SUPPORT IT. YOU SUPPORT ADDING. IF WE NEED TO ADD THE LANGUAGE TYPICALLY I'D BE OKAY MAKING THAT MODIFICATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF YOU FEEL.
COMMISSIONER MERZ. YES, I SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND TO ADD ON TO THAT, I DON'T THINK TYPICALLY IS NECESSARY, BUT I DON'T THINK IT HURTS ANYTHING EITHER. SO I WOULD SUPPORT THE PROJECT WITH THE INSERTION OF THE WORD TYPICALLY WHERE THE APPLICANT WANTS IT.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT THAT WITH IT. SO IF YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED A MOTION THAT BASICALLY SAYS ACCEPTING THE PROJECT WITH THE ONE CHANGE OF THE INSERTION OF THOSE TWO WORDS, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NECESSARY. BUT IF THE APPLICANT WANTS, I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH IT. COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, MR. STRONG. IN REGARD TO WHAT WAS GUIDING YOUR PRINCIPLES ON THE WORDING DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE THAT LATITUDE TO MAKE THE CHANGE? CERTAINLY. THIS IS TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSION.
I WILL SAY FROM THE OPERATIONS STANDPOINT IT MAKES A BUSINESS SENSE TO HAVE THE SCHEDULED DELIVERIES OCCUR OUTSIDE OF PEAK PERIODS, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE AN SUPERIMPOSE THE TRUCK OVER THOSE DIFFERENT UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE KNOCKING OFF A LOT OF FUELING POSITIONS, WHICH WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE BUSINESS DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
BUT FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S A CHANGE THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE OVERALL IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT CONDITION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER HUBINGER, ANY COMMENT? I'M FINE WITH TYPICAL. JUST GO AHEAD AND ADD IT.
AND I SUPPORT THE PROJECT. I WILL, I TRUST COSTCO.
IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO WHY THEY'RE DOING THIS.
THEY'VE ASSESSED IT, I'M SURE, FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT.
AND IF IT DOES ALLEVIATE THE CONGESTION, IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. SO I 100% SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
I ALSO SUPPORT THE PROJECT. I THINK THE REPORT AND STUDY WAS EXCELLENT.
AND I THINK THE STAFF INPUT WAS EXCELLENT THIS EVENING AS WELL.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ADDING TYPICALLY YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO CONFLICT WITH SOME OTHER DOCUMENT THAT WE HAD, BUT IF IT DOESN'T, I'M FINE WITH THAT CHANGE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION. OH, DISCUSSION.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I ALSO AGREE WITH THE PROJECT.
I WOULD CAUTION THAT ADDING TYPICALLY WOULD KIND OF NULLIFY THIS CONDITION.
THE CONDITION RIGHT IS TO PREVENT HAVING FUEL FROM THESE PEAK HOURS.
SO ADDING TYPICALLY KIND OF REALLY JUST NULLIFIES THAT THE TIME FRAME AND HAVING THAT AS A BARRIER.
SO I THINK IF WE WERE TO ADD IT REALLY THE RAMIFICATION IS THERE WILL BE NO ENFORCEABLE, YOU KNOW, CONDITION OR PIECE OF THIS, AT LEAST FROM MY INTERPRETATION.
BUT ALL TO SAY IS, I THINK THIS WOULD REALLY REDUCE CONGESTION.
SO THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND AGREE IT WAS VERY THOROUGH.
I'M NOT FOR ADDING TYPICALLY, BUT SEEMS LIKE SOME FOLKS ARE, SO I'LL LEAVE IT FOR A MOTION TO ADD.
EXCELLENT. EXCELLENT ANALYSIS. TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.
YEAH, I'M ON THE FENCE. I DON'T CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
[00:40:03]
AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED CLARIFICATION FROM STAFF.I THINK THE CONDITION ITSELF WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE AS IT IS.
SO STAFF'S INITIAL RECOMMENDATION STANDS. YEAH, I KNOW, I'M KIND OF GOING TOWARDS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AFTER THIS CLARIFYING INFORMATION. SO ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS DOES WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD LET'S HOPE I GET THIS RIGHT.
I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION APPROVING CEQA THE SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN, THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AS RECOMMENDED BY CITY STAFF.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY. COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD MAKES THE MOTION.
COMMISSIONER MERZ MAKES THE SECOND. PLEASE VOTE.
PASSES FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPROVEMENTS. YES. THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
EXCELLENT. OKAY. VERY MUCH. WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
[REPORTS]
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE MEANING ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF.SO ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS AS TO A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS?
[COMMISSION MEMEBER COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS]
COMMISSIONER FITZGERALD. NOTHING. COMMISSIONER BURROWS.COMMISSIONER MERZ. COMMISSIONER HUBINGER. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S OUR CITY PLANNER, MR. LARDY. ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS OTHER THAN WE ARE LOOKING TO CANCEL THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
WE'LL HAVE BETTER VISIBILITY ON JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE WOULD BE HAVING MEETINGS ON JANUARY 21ST AND FEBRUARY 4TH IN THE NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. CITY ATTORNEY. NOTHING FOR ME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 5:44.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.