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Council approves conditional use permit for one‑chair barber at 310 Fourth Street with conditions and direction on citywide cap
Summary
The council approved a Conditional Use Permit and two variances to allow a single barber station by appointment at 310 Fourth Street, adopting conditions to limit impacts and directing staff to return with a proposed citywide cap on similar home‑based personal‑services uses.
The McFarland City Council on June 23 approved a conditional use permit (CUP 2025‑001), a home‑occupation permit and two variances to allow a single‑chair barber station operated by appointment only at 310 Fourth Street.
Planning staff (Brianna E.) told the council the proposed detached addition behind the applicant’s home would house a single barber chair operated strictly by appointment. Staff said the proposed use is not permitted under current McFarland Municipal Code sections cited in the staff report (ordinance sections identified by staff as 17.153.0.04 and 17.153.0.05) and that comparable nearby cities (Wasco, Shafter and Delano) also do not allow barbershops as home occupations in residential zones.
Applicant Victor Oropeza told the council the business would be appointment‑only, not a walk‑in shop, and said operating from home would let him serve a modest local clientele while avoiding high downtown rent and limited shop hours. His wife, Lanisa Ropeza, added that his previous shop provided community volunteering and mentoring at local schools and occasionally offered free haircuts to children in need.
Staff recommended conditions intended to limit impacts, including restricted hours of operation, limitation to a single barber chair, restrictions on signage, and a prohibition on generating pedestrian or vehicular traffic above what is typical for a residential neighborhood. Council discussion covered fairness to existing brick‑and‑mortar businesses, the potential scope of home‑based personal‑service uses (barbers, hairstylists, nail services) and the need to limit cumulative impacts.
Council approved the CUP and associated variances by roll call (ayes: Marion, Vice Mayor O’Connell, Councilor Gonzales, Councilor Perez, Councilor Gutierrez). Council also directed staff to return at a future meeting with a recommended, citywide cap on the number of permitted home‑based barber/hairstylist/manicure operations, along with comparables. Staff noted the applicant had already paid nonrefundable application fees (planner stated the variance payment was “a little over a thousand” and the Conditional Use Permit fee also “above a thousand”; the transcript record of the home‑occupation fee amount was unclear), and that the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology also requires an inspection for home operations as part of licensing.
The council emphasized that conditions will be enforced and permits may be revoked if conditions are violated; staff said enforcement is available if the permitted use generates excessive traffic or other impacts to the residential neighborhood.
