Planning commission approves refile for Nutwood self‑storage and RV facility

The City of El Paso de Robles Planning Commission on Sept. 23 approved a refile of expired entitlements to build a self‑storage and RV facility at 65 Nutwood Circle Drive.

Assistant planner Piper Smith presented the project, identified in city files as P250063 with plan development PD2512 and conditional use permit CUP2503. Smith said the proposal covers about 5.35 acres and would place roughly 155,231 square feet of storage space in four buildings, including areas for RV parking and storage. The proposal was presented as a refile of previously approved entitlements and staff recommended approval, subject to existing conditions of approval and mitigation measures adopted with the earlier environmental review.

Staff told the commission the project includes approximately 1,200 storage units under current design standards, which triggers a parking requirement of about 42 spaces; the plan shows six front office/visitor spaces with the remainder accommodated by internal circulation. Smith said landscaping and exterior materials are designed to screen the project from adjacent uses and to meet current zoning requirements for the site, which is zoned C‑2 with a planned development overlay.

The staff report noted the original initial study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) were adopted April 18, 2023 (Resolution 23040). Staff concluded the refile does not change the project scope or increase previously identified environmental effects and found no need for additional environmental review; the project must comply with the mitigation measures in the adopted MMRP.

An attendee who identified himself as Douglas Ayers said he had no comments. A participant identified in the record as Brent confirmed to a commissioner that "nothing's changed at this time." Commissioner questions focused on the private‑road access agreement for Nutwood and the project's economic timing; the applicant indicated negotiations on private‑road arrangements remain as previously described and that construction timing has been influenced by current construction costs.

Commissioner Marlowe moved to approve the refile of the expired project entitlements by adopting draft resolution PC25xxx for PD2512 and CUP2503; Commissioner Connolly seconded. The motion passed by a 7‑0 roll call vote.

The commission's approval preserves the previously imposed conditions of approval and the mitigation measures adopted with Resolution 23040; staff said the project must continue to comply with those requirements during permitting and construction.