[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6631071,"mediaKeyId","2682383-4b397f73ebf30b6c7cb90d59b2ca4724","parentId",2682383,"title","Planning commission approves four‑story self‑storage at 720 South Maple Avenue; residents raised view and access concerns","audioSeconds",277,"startMs",3899000,"endMs",4176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682383-4b397f73ebf30b6c7cb90d59b2ca4724&start=3899&end=4176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682383-4b397f73ebf30b6c7cb90d59b2ca4724/thumbnail_3899000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6631071/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Planning-commission-approves-fourstory-selfstorage-at-720-South-Maple-Avenue-residents-raised-view-and-access-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631071-5dbd319a6819fea31137da846c2ef9bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773348876&Signature=Nxdkbhbezn1AolNN8-rJmMEArQxKefBDeT1DHHoUmbS8eDTFfx1tOT9mi41JaYJDtU0XGe-1Vkb4hx3hdHUOc17A93VAyR~Bus7WfLARBzh~qz12f9YvatO0DMhUxIyAgKtE9zcFN~~7xMvvEzDAGdZg30VX7laWGnGAiXWLIclRhxVV1sCrM-7bny1DLjpbI~aOK44gPaU67Xk650WI9y6VhdNREtAUkzRYyOMPgT-kT8R8j~WJWNee4q6qweD7hnkUi-GQckWF~-LkNr2YGueFw9StHUQSoDEMRlaz0x2R8iWw~Szmwc80vGMh~SvQe1Ih6samH3lW9AK8kKKF~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Montebello","date","2025-03-19T03:54:22.67Z","article","The Montebello Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to demolish existing buildings at 720 South Maple Avenue and construct a four‑story, approximately 170,582‑square‑foot self‑storage facility operated by Madison Capital Group (brand name Go Store It). Staff recommended approval and found the project categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines §15332 (infill development). The motion to approve the project carried unanimously.

Why it matters: The project replaces light-industrial and commercial uses on a nearly 1.98‑acre site with a large self‑storage structure that abuts single‑family homes. Commissioners considered compatibility measures including building setbacks, a landscape buffer and limits on windows facing residences. Nearby residents expressed concerns about loss of sunlight, view impacts and driveway easements; the applicant and staff described mitigation measures and outreach results that included a 209‑signature petition in support.

Project and site details
Daniel Ruiz, planning staff, described the application (case PC-2025-0001-CUP) filed by Madison Capital Group Management LLC to demolish a one‑story, multi‑tenant building and construct a four‑story self‑storage facility with an approximate gross building area of 170,852 square feet. The project proposes up to 1,250 storage units, a 391‑square‑foot leasing office and 13 surface parking spaces. The site area is approximately 86,249 square feet (roughly 1.98 acres).

The proposed building has a maximum front height of 55 feet and steps down to 48 feet toward the rear closest to adjacent single‑family residences. Staff said the design includes limited openings on the north and east facades to avoid privacy impacts, a 40‑foot separation between the rear property line and the building edge (including a 10‑foot landscaped buffer), and a 28‑foot circulation lane to accommodate fire and emergency access.

CEQA, outreach and demand analysis
Staff recommended a Class 32 CEQA exemption for infill development and noted studies provided by the applicant, including vehicle‑miles‑traveled, air quality/greenhouse gas, noise and parking assessments. Notices were mailed on March 6 to property owners within 300 feet and a public notice was published in the Whittier Daily News.

Applicant Adam Lentz (Madison Capital) told the commission his firm owns and operates about 140 stores nationwide and described local market analysis showing unmet storage demand in the area. He said the company conducted door‑to‑door outreach and submitted a petition of 209 signatures supporting the project.

Public comments and resident concerns
Speakers raised several specific concerns: Linda Becker (owner of adjacent lots at 732 and 742 South Maple) asked that her driveway easement be respected and sought confirmation that access through the easement would remain unobstructed. Lydia Maldonado, a resident at 709 South Taylor Avenue, said she has lived at the house for 65 years and expressed distress that a large building would appear at the back of her lot and reduce her view and access to natural light.

Applicant and staff responses
The applicant said the design respects the existing easement and that gates would be set back so the easement would remain available for adjacent property access. Staff and the applicant described the landscape buffer, the masonry wall along the rear property line and the 40‑foot separation between the rear lot line and the building face. Staff said they did not receive formal written opposition to the mailed notice; they included a 209‑signature petition in the record supporting the project.

Other public comment and code limits
A tenant and long‑time resident asked whether the project could include RV or vehicle storage; staff said the proposed use — self‑storage facility — is defined separately and does not include outdoor RV storage under current code. Commissioners also discussed zoning and noted that in Montebello self‑storage is allowed by conditional use permit in manufacturing zones (M1, M2) per an older ordinance; staff and the city attorney researched the code and concluded a CUP is required in the M1/M2 context.

Motion and vote
A motion to approve Resolution No. 05‑25 (demolition and construction of the ~170,582‑sq‑ft, four‑story self‑storage facility; CEQA Class 32 exemption) passed by roll call: Chairperson Medina — Aye; Vice Chairperson Lomeli — Aye; Commissioner Morales — Aye; Commissioner Cuevas — Aye. The motion carried unanimously.

What the approval includes and next steps
Staff will process building and plan‑check submittals consistent with the approved site plan and conditions. The applicant has indicated a multi‑million‑dollar investment and said the project would create a small number of on‑site jobs (applicant estimated roughly 3–5 employees). The commission’s approval does not permit outdoor RV storage as part of the self‑storage use; that would be a different use subject to code limitations.

Ending note: The commission balanced a demonstrated local demand and a supportive petition against neighborhood concerns about view impacts and access, and approved the CUP with noted design and buffer conditions to limit impacts on adjacent homes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","This Is the City Of Montebello Planning Commission Meeting (03/1825)","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to demolish the existing buildings at 720 South Maple Avenue and construct a four‑story, roughly 170,582‑square‑foot self‑storage facility operated by Madison Capital (Go Store It), finding the project categorically exempt under CEQA §15332.","taxTitle","Montebello, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",3840,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631075,"Planning commission approves alcohol sales permit for Montebello Public Market with stepped compliance reviews",3672,213000,3885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2682383-4b397f73ebf30b6c7cb90d59b2ca4724&start=213&end=3885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2682383-4b397f73ebf30b6c7cb90d59b2ca4724/thumbnail_213000.jpg","/articles/6631075/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Planning-commission-approves-alcohol-sales-permit-for-Montebello-Public-Market-with-stepped-compliance-reviews","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631075-9170dfa707d2001de44e3f2e9d5303bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773348876&Signature=AZ1gWWEBLzGeQI-LB8dRxZN-EVRmIm9yEsqvVyY-KCFUKCEc7av9qVSb01zoamrzCUmokO~xZCQ-muKU5MaSSBTKnKdE9OuFOmhAS5NCRIFL7bNaMycSlDDv4c9lZeb9y7NLJD-4lSrYb0OanWVbkl6yxq1dGBjuH3cVGpo4DQNRCkq10bKwg964CivhTWAEV97MQuJhrzu-qxJnlMpRrqmhfP1ymYJ0M5yuYuH77wGwFRiIMvA2RlFKqbs4WdrZqHc9GQaE7FgwdMPlAtIlPOrQsUtvCK0tC5gwsJoprZWyrRFdn3vLu8eq3JWx8PinyUtxJk9cC9P6-HPAGMVALA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montebello Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing the Montebello Public Market at 516 West Whittier Boulevard to seek a Type 47 alcohol license for on-site consumption in conjunction with a restaurant. The approval includes quarterly compliance reviews for the first two years after an Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) license is issued, then annual compliance reports for the subsequent three years. The commission also found the project categorically exempt from CEQA under Class 1 (existing facilities).

Why it matters: The decision clears a local regulatory step for a multi-kitchen food hall concept seeking to add on-site alcohol sales, while the compliance schedule and enforcement language give the commission an oversight path if operational problems arise. Commissioners and members of the public debated parking availability, operator responsibility and the limits of local authority to grant an alcohol license, since the California ABC ultimately issues the permit.

Staff presentation and project details
Grace Hayashi, planning staff, summarized the continued hearing and the changes requested by the commission from a March 4 meeting. The project is proposed for a standalone single-story commercial building approximately 6,450 square feet on a roughly 6,500-square-foot lot at 516 West Whittier Boulevard. The Montebello Public Market is proposed as seven kitchen units with 94 patron seats (20 patio; 74 main/bar seating), a 12-by-6-foot stage for live music and hours of operation of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Only on-site consumption was requested in the CUP.

Staff told commissioners the project lies in Census Tract 530.01, which permits five on-sale licenses and three off-sale licenses; the tract currently shows five on-sale licenses and no off-sale licenses. Hayashi reiterated that state ABC rules limit license availability by census tract and that approval by the Planning Commission does not guarantee the applicant will receive a state license.

Parking and CEQA
To address earlier commission concerns, staff conducted a five-day mini parking study at three city-owned parking lots near downtown and reported combined off-street capacity of about 256 spaces (Newmark Mall ~135, Parking District 2 ~69, a 52-space lot north of Whittier). Staff reported varying vacancy counts during peak periods and concluded there was sufficient parking between the city lots and on-street spaces; the downtown specific plan also calls for on-street short-term parking with off-street long-term parking. Staff recommended the commission adopt Resolution No. 3-25 and find the project exempt from CEQA per CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (existing facilities).

Public comment and concerns about operator history
Applicant Jason (representing owner Yao Pan) said his father owns the property and that the business would proceed with or without alcohol, estimating alcohol would represent roughly 10–15% of sales and that the family intends to refurbish the building and manage the business. A public speaker, Barney Santos, urged caution and said the city records showed “a total of 218 police calls on the 2 properties that the Pan family owns,” plus recent code enforcement issues; he urged the commission to deny a full liquor license until a track record of responsible operation was shown.

Jason responded that he was not aware of the 218 calls and disputed other specific allegations, and staff told commissioners the project location had “less than 10” calls of service and violations from 2020 to 2025 that were not necessarily connected to alcohol or the on-site consumption use.

Enforcement and review mechanisms
Commissioners discussed how a conditional use permit provides oversight the city can use later, including annual compliance reviews. Staff explained ABC performs its own vetting for state licensing and that local approval does not guarantee an ABC license. The commission added a condition that the applicant submit compliance reports annually for the first three years after ABC license issuance; commissioners then amended that to require quarterly compliance reviews for the first two years and annual reviews for the following three years, with the director forwarding reports to the commission for review. Staff noted the commission has previously revoked CUPs for noncompliance.

Motion and vote
The motion (case PC20240015CUP) to approve the CUP with conditions, including the quarterly/annual compliance schedule and the CEQA finding, passed by roll call: Chairperson Medina — Aye; Vice Chairperson Lomeli — Abstain; Commissioner Morales — Aye; Commissioner Cuevas — Aye. The tally was 3 Aye, 0 No, 1 Abstain; the motion passed.

What the approval does not do
Staff and the city attorney reiterated that the approval does not guarantee a state alcohol license. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) remains the sole licensing and enforcement agency and will determine whether and under what conditions a license is issued. The commission’s compliance condition creates a local oversight mechanism that can be used to bring the CUP back for review or revocation if conditions are violated.

Next steps
The applicant may pursue state ABC licensing; the city will require the compliance reports described above to begin after ABC issues a license. Any code-enforcement issues or complaints may also prompt additional local review of the CUP.

Ending note: The commission’s approval clears the local land-use hurdle for on-site alcohol sales but leaves final licensing to state ABC and establishes a multi-year local compliance schedule to monitor operations.","The Montebello Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing the Montebello Public Market at 516 West Whittier Boulevard to seek a Type 47 alcohol license for on-site consumption in conjunction with a restaurant, with quarterly compliance reviews for the first two years and annual reviews for three more years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves four‑story self‑storage at 720 South Maple Avenue; residents raised view and access concerns

Planning commission approves alcohol sales permit for Montebello Public Market with stepped compliance reviews