Planning commission approves Thorndike light-industrial building and master plan for Wisteria/Germaine site

The El Paso de Robles City Planning Commission on April 22 approved a development plan for a 10,000-square-foot multi-tenant light-industrial building on Parcel 1 of a redeveloped site at the corner of Wisteria Lane and Germaine Lane.

The vote approved draft resolution A for the project identified in staff materials as PD2405 (project number shown in some agenda materials as PTP24-0062). Commissioner Michael Christiansen moved approval “subject to conditions of approval,” and Commissioner John Connolly seconded. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner Neal abstaining after leaving the room.

City Planner Darren Nash described the proposal as a master development plan that follows a previously approved lot-line adjustment reducing the original eight parcels to four. Nash said the plan shows a 10,000-square-foot building on Parcel 1, and concept envelopes for Parcels 2–4 that will return for design review when those lots are proposed for development. “This development plan is showing the lot number 1 with a site plan parking lot,” Nash said during his presentation.

Commissioners asked for clarifications on building design, access, landscaping and maintenance. Commissioners confirmed that the Parcel 1 building elevations show metal construction with roll-up doors. Nash and the applicant clarified the plans include clear zones in front of roll-up doors to allow movement in and out of the units.

The commission’s conditions require the parkway landscaping (the planting strip between curb and sidewalk) to be installed at the time the parcel map recording is completed; other landscaping behind the sidewalk will be required as each lot develops. Dante Beck, the project civil engineer, told commissioners the parkway strip is within a landscape-and-lighting district and “that strip will get maintained by the city and paid for with taxes with the landscape and lighting district,” while landscaping behind the sidewalk will be maintained through a private common maintenance agreement among property owners.

Access and maintenance also were clarified: the plan shows a paved access from Parcel 1 to Parcel 2 and staff said an easement will be recorded to allow Parcel 2 access through Parcel 1. Nash indicated the paved drive meets a two-way width standard; staff referenced a 24-foot paved-drive minimum for two-way access. Commissioners and staff agreed the easement and maintenance responsibilities will be established in the conditions of approval and through sale negotiations between future parcel owners.

Staff noted a procedural timing limit: the lot line adjustment still needs to be recorded before a building permit for Parcel 1 can be issued. During the meeting staff said the applicant and surveyor expect to record the lot-line adjustment “within the next 3 to 4 months,” and that a building permit cannot be pulled until that recording is final.

Next steps: Parcel 1 development is cleared to proceed under the approved development plan and conditions; future development proposals for Parcels 2–4 must return for design-review (DRC) and major site-plan review consistent with the master plan exhibits. The project record references PD2405 (project number P2405 in staff clarification) and the conditions attached to the approved resolution.

Votes at a glance: Draft Resolution A (PD2405) — Motion to approve by Commissioner Christiansen; second by Commissioner Connolly. Roll-call vote: Christiansen — Aye; Connolly — Aye; Marlowe — Aye; Bridal — Aye; Kogler — Aye; Chairperson Koverubius — Aye. Commissioner Neal abstained (left the room). Outcome: Approved 6-0 with one abstention.