El Cajon planning commission approves CFMOTO outdoor vehicle display and sales permit at North Second Street site

The El Cajon Planning Commission on the evening of the meeting approved a conditional use permit and a CEQA exemption allowing outdoor display and sales at an existing vehicle repair facility at 1062 North Second Street.

Senior Planner Mike Villione told commissioners the application would add outdoor display and sales of power-sport vehicles to uses already authorized at the site and that no building or site improvements are proposed. “The subject of the application is 1062 North Second Street, which is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of North Second Street and Sumner Avenue,” Villione said, noting the site is roughly two-thirds of an acre and the existing building is approximately 4,600 square feet.

The request would amend the property’s existing authorizations — originally granted under Conditional Use Permit No. 1939 — to allow outdoor display in paved areas only. Villione said the site plan confines outdoor display to existing paved areas and does not displace required parking or required landscape improvements; the primary display area is at the northeast corner near North Second Street and Sumner Avenue and a secondary display area is behind a planter south of the building entry. He said the site currently provides 11 parking stalls and staff included a condition to ensure adequate parking remains and that employees do not park on adjacent residential streets.

Villione summarized the property's approvals history: Conditional Use Permit No. 1939 (2002) authorizing limited automotive repair and sales for RV-related equipment, a 2023 minor amendment expanding repair services to include powersport vehicles and parts/accessory sales, and a change in the zoning code that allowed indoor-only new automobile sales (ordinance 5136). He said the municipal code still requires a conditional use permit for outdoor vehicle sales and that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the exemption for existing facilities.

Applicant Dan Matar, whom he identified as the owner of CFMOTO of El Cajon, told the commission he purchased the building about three years ago and is bringing a CFMOTO franchise to East County. “I'm the owner of CFMOTO of El Cajon,” Matar said. “So we're just, trying to add to, you know, the El Cajon and, it's a franchise it's a newer franchise dealership that we're looking to bring into El Cajon.” He added he expects the business will produce tax revenue for the city and described prior experience owning franchise dealerships.

Commissioners asked about the secondary display area and vehicle test-driving. Villione answered that no on-site testing is proposed and that street-legal vehicles would, if tested, be driven on public streets and highways. He also said a condition of approval restricts testing to commercial streets and public highways. When asked about the size of vehicles to be displayed in the tight area between a planter and the building, the applicant and staff said the secondary area is intended for smaller power-sport vehicles such as ATVs and street bikes and that the paved area is adequate.

Commissioner Circle moved to adopt the resolutions approving the proposed CEQA exemption and Conditional Use Permit No. 2025-0011; Commissioner Edison seconded. The motion carried by unanimous vote of the members present.

The commission’s approval adds outdoor display and retail sales of power-sport vehicles to the site’s existing repair and indoor-sales uses and includes conditions intended to preserve parking, landscaping, and limit on-site testing to the public right-of-way where permitted.