Planning Commission Staff Report
Report Prepared by: Valeria Renteria, Associate Planner, Development Services Department
Title
SUBJECT: Conditional Use Permit #25-0007 and Site Plan Review Permit #25-0009, initiated by Marco Ospina, applicant for Marketplace at Merced LLC, property owner. The Conditional Use Permit would allow a 48-foot-tall shopping center sign (with a digital screen) for the Market Place at Merced. The Site Plan Review Permit would allow the applicant to set the development standards for the shopping center sign. The subject site is generally located on the north side of West Olive Avenue, approximately 425 feet east of R Street. The subject site has a General Plan designation of Regional/Community Commercial (RC), and a Zoning classification of Planned Development (P-D) #1. **PUBLIC HEARING**
ACTION: Approve/Disapprove/Modify
1) Environmental Review #25-0017 (Categorical Exemption)
2) Conditional Use Permit #25-0007
3) Site Plan Review #25-0009
SUMMARY
Marco Ospina is requesting conditional use permit approval and site plan review permit approval to construct a 48-foot-tall pylon sign with a digital screen. The proposed shopping center sign would be located at the southern portion of a 27.42- acre parcel that also has a 439,012-square-foot building with various commercial tenants. The 27.42-acre site is currently developed, commonly known as Market Place at Merced (previously Merced Mall) is located on the north side of West Olive Avenue, approximately 425 feet east of R Street. Shopping Center Signs are allowed in the Regional/Community Commercial designation with approval of a conditional use permit, pursuant to Merced Municipal Code (MMC) 20.62.140-Additional Shopping Center Signs. Digital screens are allowed pursuant to MMC Section 20.62.250 - Digital Display Signs. The site plan review permit allows the applicant to set the development standards for the shopping center sign, as the site is located within Planned Development (P-D) #1. The Planning Commission will be reviewing this proposal to ensure that the proposal is designed in a manner that minimizes negative impacts to the existing site and promotes compatible and orderly development with the surrounding uses. Staff is recommending approval with conditions.
RECOMMENDATION
Planning staff has reviewed this request and recommends that the Planning Commission approve Environmental Review #25-0017 (Categorical Exemption), Conditional Use Permit #25-0007, and Site Plan Review Permit #25-0009, including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A subject to the conditions in Exhibit A and the findings/considerations in Exhibit B of draft Planning Commission Resolution #4162
Body
DISCUSSION
Project Description
The applicant is requesting conditional use permit and site plan review permit approval to install a shopping center sign within the Marketplace at Merced shopping center at 851 W Olive Avenue (Attachment B). The applicant is requesting approval for a 48-foot-tall pylon sign with an approximate 348-square-foot digital screen incorporated. The sign would also have 11 tenant panels under the digital screen. Above the digital screen would be a 145-square-foot sign displaying the “Marketplace at Merced” name along with the City logo.
Surrounding Uses
|
Surrounding Land |
Existing Use of Land |
City Zoning Designation |
City General Plan Land Use Designation |
|
North |
Commercial Uses |
Planned Development (P-D) #1 |
Regional Community Commercial (RC) |
|
South |
Commercial Offices (across W. Olive Avenue) |
Planned Development (P-D) #15 |
Commercial Office (CO) |
|
East |
Commercial Uses |
Planned Development (P-D) #1 |
Regional/Community Commercial (RC) |
|
West |
Commercial Uses |
Planned Development (P-D) #1 |
Regional/Community Commercial (RC) |
Background
The Subject site is located within Planned Development (P-D) #1 and has a General Plan designation of Regional/Community Commercial (RC). The shopping center was approved to have a mixture of uses within the building at the site.
Findings/Considerations
Please refer to Exhibit B of the Draft Planning Commission Resolution at Attachment A.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Draft Planning Commission Resolution #4162
B. Location Map
C. Elevations
D. Categorical Exemption
E. Presentation