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Ripon Planning Commission approves unattended EV charging facility at 1504 Colony Road
Summary
The Ripon Planning Commission approved a major site plan permit for an unattended electric-vehicle charging facility at 1504 Colony Road, authorizing 6 dual-sided chargers (12 stalls), canopy coverage, and related site improvements; the vote was 5-0.
The Ripon City Planning Commission approved a major site plan permit to build an unattended electric-vehicle charging facility at 1504 Colony Road, voting 5-0. The project, SR25-53, would place six dual-sided chargers (12 charging stalls) with a canopy on a roughly 27,400-square-foot undeveloped parcel behind La Quinta and Starbucks near the Jack Thomson interchange.
City planning staff presented the project as suitable for a commercial corridor with convenient access to Highway 99 and said the site meets the city's development standards. The staff report described paved asphalt surfacing, a trash enclosure meeting city standards, site lighting, underground utilities, stormwater facilities in compliance with Ripon standards, and approximately 20% of the site landscaped (above the 15% minimum for the zone). The layout includes required ADA access and uses the existing shared driveway for ingress and egress.
"The applicant here tonight is requesting approval of a major site plan permit, to develop an unattended electric vehicle charging facility on about a 27,400 square foot parcel located at 1504, Colony Road," staff member Ken said during the presentation. The Ripon Consolidated Fire Department reviewed the plan and "didn't have any issues with the emergency response, with the site layout," staff reported. As a condition of approval, the Ripon Police Department will require the applicant to provide an emergency contact and install security cameras compatible with the city's wireless mesh system.
Mark Gonzales, representing IANA, the applicant, described his company's background and operational approach. "I come representing IANA. ... We were founded about a year and a half ago by 7 automakers," Gonzales said, and characterized the company's aim as addressing "range anxiety." He said the company typically starts with weekly site servicing and will increase frequency if usage or trash becomes an issue; the stations are monitored 24/7 from the company's headquarters. Gonzales also said the site requires substantial power—"about 2 megawatts"—and that all power for this site will be supplied by MID; the applicant does not plan on on-site battery storage.
Gonzales provided a construction estimate to commissioners: "Our construction timeline is probably anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks..." He confirmed the equipment will serve Tesla and non‑Tesla vehicles, with specific chargers for each, and that on-site maintenance would be contracted locally as needed.
Commission discussion touched on site circulation relative to the Starbucks drive-through, canopy materials and color, signage (the applicant said there would be limited fascia signage but no billboard signage planned), and service/maintenance plans. No members of the public registered opposition during the hearing. A commissioner moved to approve the staff recommendation; the commission approved SR25-53 by voice vote, recorded as 5-0.
Next steps: the applicant will proceed to required building permits and utility coordination with MID; the project must meet the conditions of approval listed in the staff report (including camera compatibility with the city's wireless mesh and providing a local emergency contact).
