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Planning commission approves Ford Pro-branded remodel, expands service to private commercial vehicles at Studebaker Road site
Summary
The commission approved a conditional use permit amendment and a precise plan amendment to remodel a 75,652-square-foot industrial building at 17720 Studebaker Road, allowing the automobile reconditioning facility to serve privately owned commercial trucks and vehicles and to add customer areas and exterior updates branded as Ford Pro.
The Cerritos Planning Commission on April 2 approved a conditional use permit amendment and a precise plan amendment for property at 17720 Studebaker Road, allowing an existing automobile reconditioning facility to provide service to privately owned commercial trucks and vehicles and to remodel the building with new customer areas and exterior updates. The commission voted 4-0 to approve the combined resolutions.
Senior Planner Jeremy Lowe said the property, a triangular 4.63-acre parcel south of Artesia Boulevard, currently contains a 75,652-square-foot warehouse/office building and a 1,565-square-foot garage structure. The applicant, identified as Conan Properties, requested an amendment to Conditional Use Permit 2011-6A (to permit service to privately owned commercial vehicles in addition to vehicles intended for sale at the Cerritos Auto Square) and Precise Plan 1979-16A (to remodel the existing building's interior and exterior).
Interior remodels shown in the staff presentation include a customer intake area and waiting lounge, public restrooms, offices, employee locker rooms and a break room; exterior work includes new facade materials and finishes to reflect Ford Pro branding, replacement of a solid metal garage door with a glass-panel garage door, and screening of roof-mounted mechanical equipment with corrugated metal panels. Landscaping plans prepared by a licensed landscape architect call for drought-tolerant shrubs, new trees (including crepe myrtle, queen palm, date palm and western redbud) and roughly 31,260 square feet of on-site landscaping, which staff said is about 28% of the unbuilt area and meets city requirements.
The staff report said the project was determined to be categorically exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Notices for the public hearing were mailed to property owners within 500 feet on March 21, 2025; staff said one emailed comment in support was received.
Commissioners discussed the standard conditions of approval that apply during construction, including repair of any public improvements damaged by construction equipment. Commissioner Chauhan said she was pleased to see private investment in the city and noted that Ford's broader investment in electric vehicles may affect future service needs; staff and the applicant were asked about electrical capacity and EV servicing.
Vice Chair Reyes congratulated the owner for investing in the city, saying in part, "Thank you for improving that facility and adding more service to our community." The commission voted to combine the two entitlements into a single motion; roll call was recorded as passing 4-0.
Staff recommended the commission adopt resolutions recommending approval of the amendments to the City Council; the motions approved the entitlements as presented and require that the applicant comply with the standard and project-specific conditions listed in the staff report before final permits and occupancy.
