Commission backs land‑use change for Beyond Food Mart site; will include Palmdale’s first hydrogen fueling dispensers

The Palmdale Planning Commission adopted Resolution PC2025‑001 on a 5‑0 vote to recommend approval of a land‑use and zoning change for the northwest corner of East Avenue R and 25th Street East to allow a fueling station, market and car wash, including four hydrogen fueling stations described by staff as the city’s first.

Planning Manager Brenda Magana said the proposal would change the land‑use designation and zoning to permit a market with a car wash and a fueling station that includes “4 hydrogen fueling stations, making this the first hydrogen station for the City of Palmdale,” and that the market “will not include the sale of alcohol or tobacco products.” Magana added the fueling station would operate 24 hours and the car wash would operate from sunrise to sunset.

Public commenters raised safety and environmental concerns because the site borders Palmdale High School. Lisa Craft, a resident who spoke during the public hearing, said the neighborhood already has gas and grocery services nearby and argued a large fueling station would “disrupt the well‑being of this community” and could worsen air pollution and pedestrian safety for students. Another commenter, Aubrey Flowers, said generally that a gas station should not be placed next to a school and urged commissioners to deny the gas‑station portion of the proposal.

The applicant, Michael Ramirez, said the project is a Beyond Food Mart concept, describing a roughly 7,200‑square‑foot market with fresh produce and prepared food offerings alongside fueling. Ramirez described the site as serving gasoline, electric chargers and hydrogen fuel and said the company has multiple locations next to schools that operate without alcohol sales.

Staff responded to school‑proximity concerns by noting the proposed zoning would be neighborhood commercial and that local distance requirements for sensitive uses (including schools) and for alcohol licenses apply; Planning Manager Magana said those distance requirements would forbid an alcohol license near a school. The applicant said the fueling islands will include vapor‑recovery systems and that the car wash will not operate 24 hours.

Commission action and next steps: Commissioner Jones moved and Vice Chair Luhan seconded the motion; the record shows the motion passed 5‑0. The commission’s adoption of Resolution PC2025‑001 is a recommendation to the City Council to approve the general plan amendment and zone change; if the council concurs, the developer would proceed with final design and permitting steps required by the city and state for hydrogen fueling infrastructure.

The applicant said half of the assembled 5,000‑square‑foot parcel will be used for the Beyond Food Mart site and that the other half of the lot remains available for future uses the applicant intends to discuss with the city and community.