Planning Commission approves Gaucho Grill at historic First National Bank building in Old Town Temecula

The Temecula Planning Commission voted 5-0 on April 2 to approve three planning applications allowing Gaucho Grill to occupy and renovate the historic First National Bank building at 28645 Old Town Front Street.

The approvals cover conditional use permit PA23-0467 for a Type 47 on‑sale general eating place alcohol license, modification to the development plan PA23-0499, and a certificate of historical appropriateness PA23-0500 for exterior and interior changes to the 1914 building. The applications were approved subject to the city’s conditions of approval.

Scott Cooper, senior planner for the Community Development Department, told the commission the project includes exterior paint changes using colors from the Old Town specific plan preservation palette, a new accessible entrance at the rear of the building, demolition and re-creation of outdoor patio areas to meet ADA requirements, an enclosed trash area, reconditioning of an outdoor patio cover and bar, and raised landscape planters along Main and Old Town Front streets. Interior work includes restroom renovations, new historically styled doors where needed, floor and finish replacements on both floors, light fixture replacements, kitchen hood and finish upgrades for health‑department compliance, and removing a nonstructural partition in the second‑floor lounge/dining area.

Cooper said the project was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Old Town Local Advisory Committee (OTTLAC) on Feb. 27 by a 5-0 vote with one member absent. He also noted staff’s environmental finding that the project is exempt under the city’s categorical exemptions (cited during the hearing as the general rule exemption and Class 1 for existing facilities).

Applicant and restaurateur Adrian Amosa said Gaucho Grill is a national brand and that he is ‘‘proud to bring Gaucho Grill to Old Town Temecula.’’ He addressed several commission questions on operations, saying, "51% is totally reasonable," in reference to the bona fide eating‑establishment requirement, and adding "Our location is operating 40% or lower on the alcohol sales." The statement aligns with the condition of approval language that the establishment must operate as a bona fide eating place and that food sales exceed alcohol sales on a quarterly basis.

Commissioners discussed several operational and design details before the vote. Commissioner Gary Watts asked that future signage ‘‘be as historical replication as we can to match the building,’’ noting that signage itself was not part of the current approval and will return for staff review. Architect Christopher Campbell said the project team ‘‘intend[s] to remove’’ a metal fire escape attached to the side of the building unless objections are raised, and described the planned reconditioning of the existing patio rather than a full rebuild under the current application. The property manager, Norm Solomon of Zip Third Investments, spoke in support of the applicant and the city’s review process.

The conditional use permit specifies hours of operation in the applicant’s statement of operations: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m. Conditions require a full menu available whenever alcohol is served and that alcohol service end at least 30 minutes before closing. The COA also gives the city the right to inspect records, with 15 days’ notice, to determine gross food versus alcohol sales, consistent with the commission’s discussion of monitoring the bona fide eating‑establishment requirement.

The commission noted several clarifications as part of the approval: the area labeled "private lounge" on the plans will be relabeled "dining area," signage will return for staff review with direction to be compatible with the historic character, the ladder/fire escape shown on earlier photos and drawings is depicted as removed in the elevations, and the rear patio will be refurbished per the approved plans rather than reconstructed. If the applicant later seeks a more substantial patio alteration (different materials or raising the roof), staff said that change would require a separate submittal and staff review and could be circulated to the commission via email.

The commission’s final action was a motion to approve PA23-0467, PA23-0499 and PA23-0500 as conditioned; the motion carried 5-0. The Planning Commission chair noted that appeals of commission decisions must be filed within 15 calendar days using the Community Development Department appeal form and accompanied by the applicable fee.

The applicant and project team said they plan to move forward with the repainting, interior renovations and accessibility work and will return to staff with sign/material details as required by the conditions of approval.