Planning commission approves Blaze Utopia fee changes and allows retroactive shed, patio and setback variance with signage condition

The Lake Elsinore Planning Commission voted to recommend city council approval of amendments to the development agreement for Blaze Utopia, a cannabis business at 233 West Midthorn Street, and to approve a separate minor industrial design review and variance allowing an existing unpermitted storage shed, a new attached employee patio and a small fire riser room.

Staff told commissioners the development-agreement amendments change how community benefit fees (CBF) are calculated and paid. The amendments would separate retail and non-retail space when assessing CBF, cap the retail CBF at $25 per square foot (after which the current 4 percent annual increase would stop), reduce the non-retail fee to 5 percent with no annual increase, and allow monthly rather than annual payments. Planning staff recommended the commission find the amendment exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under a class 1 existing-facilities exemption and to recommend city council approval.

On the design-review and variance application for the same property, staff…