Perris planning commission approves Sunny Sands Manor expansion to 18 beds with conditions

The City of Perris Planning Commission voted 5-0 on April 2 to adopt Resolution 25-06 and approve Conditional Use Permit 25-0001, allowing Sunny Sands Manor LLC to increase bed capacity at 2263 Sunny Sands Drive from 12 to 18 patients, subject to conditions of approval.

The vote followed a staff presentation by Monica Carranza and public testimony from the applicant team and neighbors. Commissioners required the applicant to address parking and access issues, verify septic capacity, provide appropriate on-site trash receptacles, and meet fire marshal and state licensing requirements; commissioners and staff noted that occupancy above 16 patients will trigger additional City building upgrades under the City’s construction/occupancy standards.

Monica Carranza, a city planner, summarized the request and staff recommendation. She said the site at 2263 Sunny Sands Drive is in an R-10000 zone and is surrounded by residential uses. Carranza told the commission the project proposes no exterior changes to the property; the request is limited to increasing the approved use’s patient capacity. Staff also reported the project was noticed within the required 300-foot radius and that no public comments had been submitted to staff prior to the hearing.

Applicant consultant James Erwin described the facility’s role in the state’s continuum of care, saying congregated living health facilities provide subacute, post-acute medical care in a residential setting and help relieve pressure on hospitals. The applicant said the facility will provide 24-hour patient care with a largest shift of five on-site employees (registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, certified nursing assistant, custodian and culinary staff) and that parking on-site is intended for employees and the operator with visitor drop-off using the circular driveway.

Public speakers included Mark Howder, captain, San Bernardino County Fire Department, who said fire apparatus would stage on the street and that the site layout offers multiple egress points from patient rooms. Neighbors and commissioners raised concerns about tandem (stacked) parking, accessibility from the street, the condition of the drive approaches, septic capacity, and provision of trash receptacles appropriate for a medical residential use. The applicant and staff told commissioners they will work with engineering and building officials to provide a paved driveway approach from the north gate to the street and to clarify parking striping, ADA access paths, and trash storage methods.

Building official Jorge Caballero told the commission that city code and building requirements apply: occupancy beyond 16 persons will require upgrades to comply with an R-2.1 occupancy and Type 5A construction (one-hour fire-rated assemblies), and R-4/other occupancy rules limit the number of non-ambulatory residents unless additional measures are taken. Staff explained that state licensing (California Department of Public Health, Title 22) will require a post-approval survey and measurement by state inspectors before a license is issued; the state enforces room size, exit access, and other operational standards.

The commission’s action adopted Resolution 25-06 and approved CUP 25-0001 with conditions. Commissioners recorded no abstentions. Commissioners and staff listed follow-up items to be incorporated as conditions of approval, including verification of septic system adequacy, designated/striped employee parking stalls (six total required, including one ADA stall), paved driveway approach to the street from the north gate, appropriate on-site trash receptacles compatible with residential character, and compliance with the fire marshal and state licensing requirements prior to occupancy.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar (minutes correction to change date in condition from 02/19/2025 to 03/19/2025): motion passed 5-0 (motion by Commissioner Lopez; second by Vice Chair Shively). - Conditional Use Permit 25-0001 / Resolution 25-06 (Sunny Sands Manor LLC, 2263 Sunny Sands Drive): motion passed 5-0 (motion by Commissioner Vaishesh Chaitri; second by Vice Chair Shively). The approval includes conditions described above and clarifications from the building official that occupancy above 16 patients will require building upgrades to meet R-2.1/Type 5A construction standards.

The commission meeting record shows staff and the applicant will return any required plan changes or evidence of compliance to staff and the building official for verification. The applicant indicated willingness to work with city engineering and building staff to address driveway paving and other conditions before final occupancy and state licensing.