Planning commission approves parcel merger and development plan for Commerce Drive truck tire shop

The Perris Planning Commission on Feb. 5 voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 24-16, approving parcel merger 23-05143 and development plan review DPR 22-00033 to allow a 5,926-square-foot truck tire shop with a 5,920-square-foot canopy on 0.93 acres at the southwest corner of Commerce Drive and Johnson Avenue in the Perris Valley Commerce Center specific plan.

Planning staff described revisions made since the item was continued from the Sept. 18, 2024 hearing. Alfredo (planning staff) said commissioners and an ad hoc committee requested circulation and access changes to avoid commingling truck and employee vehicle movements, the addition of roll-up doors on the canopy facing Commerce Drive to screen tire activities, replacement of horizontal siding with stone veneer, and an increase in on-site landscaping from about 11.8% to 15% to meet the specific-plan standards.

The approved site design separates truck and employee circulation: trucks will enter from Commerce Drive and exit north onto Johnson Avenue, while employee automobiles will use a widened northern driveway with a right-in/right-out pattern. Condition language was amended to record the approval date as Feb. 5, 2025, and to require physical and/or striping measures and signage, to the satisfaction of the city engineer, to discourage vehicles from making prohibited left-out movements at the northern Johnson driveway.

Charles Norman Pulliam, the project's project manager, told the commission the applicant had made the requested changes and hoped for a final sign-off. Staff said the project meets development standards, provides 22 parking spaces, and that the California Environmental Quality Act review resulted in a categorical exemption for infill development under CEQA Guidelines section 15332.

Commissioners sought operational clarifications. Staff and the applicant reported the project's traffic study estimated 77 daily trips (about 38 truck trips), and the applicant said service will be appointment-based with some drop-ins. The commission added a condition of approval requiring the operator to notify drivers about the South Coast Air Quality Management District idling limit (five minutes) and to post signage on site; staff said AQMD enforcement is separate but that the condition would make drivers aware of the limit.

Other conditions and clarifications recorded in the hearing record include:

- Building and canopy design: roll-up doors on the north elevation to screen activity from Commerce Drive; stone veneer at the corner facing Commerce and Johnson; color palette in gray tones.

- Landscaping: revised conceptual plan achieving 15% on-site landscaping with drought-tolerant species and 36-inch trees.

- Walls and screening: an 8-foot concrete block wall is proposed on the south and west property lines to screen interior canopy activity.

- Operations: hours stated as 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; tires and waste will be kept inside the building or under the canopy (not stored in exterior open yards); trash enclosure reduced from four bins to three per applicant's plan and staff review.

- Circulation and traffic mitigation: northern driveway widened to 26 feet to segregate employee vehicles; plan-check-level striping, signage or other channelizing measures to be required to deter prohibited turning movements; truck-route signage on site to instruct drivers of the approved truck circulation pattern to and from the 215 Freeway.

During discussion several commissioners thanked the applicant for changes made since the September hearing and the January ad hoc meeting. Commissioner Isaac moved to approve the resolution with the added conditions; Commissioner Jimenez seconded. The commission voted 5-0 in favor.

The commission's action was recorded as Resolution No. 24-16; staff will process plan check and building permits consistent with the conditions of approval.