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Planning commission approves revised Saba Development site with expanded convenience store and EV charging
Summary
The Yucaipa Planning Commission approved a planning use permit for Saba Development LLC to modify a previously approved commercial project, adding 1,465 square feet to a convenience store, reducing a car-wash setback and adding EV charging; the commission required sound-wall/screening measures to address noise concerns.
On Feb. 5, 2025, the Yucaipa Planning Commission approved a Planning Use Permit (case PLNPHE 204-0007) allowing minor site and building modifications to a previously approved commercial project by Saba Development LLC, including a 1,465-square-foot expansion of the convenience store, a reduced setback for a car wash, and expanded sound‑wall screening to mitigate noise impacts.
Associate Planner Maddie Jordan told the commission the project covers three parcels totaling about 3.17 acres, is zoned CS (service commercial), and would remove existing legal nonconforming single‑family structures to allow a gas station, convenience store, drive‑through car wash, drive‑through restaurant and a retail/office building in a two‑phase buildout. Jordan said the revised site plan provides 67 parking spaces against a development‑code requirement of 63 and includes EV charging as part of phase one; staff concluded the revised proposal remains consistent with the development code and is exempt from CEQA under a Class 32 (infill) exemption.
Commissioners and the applicant discussed noise mitigation and wall placement. Commissioner Tony Hicks emphasized that the sound wall agreed to in the previous approval needed to cover the western property line and extend past the drive‑through restaurant to reduce noise impacts to nearby residences. Jordan confirmed condition language requiring staff review of an appropriate screening barrier along the northern property line and said the noise study identified an 11‑foot wall as recommended mitigation. The commission added language to ensure the wall and perimeter screening required under the prior approval would be reflected in construction documents.
Applicant representative Chris Saba said the development team will implement the previously agreed conditions: “We are reflecting the conditions of approval to the tee,” he said, and described the site as an energy‑center concept with biodiesel and E85 fueling and extensive EV charging. Later the applicant clarified that Tesla chargers on the site will function as general parking as well as charging, with 30‑minute general parking at those stalls so non‑Tesla users may also park there for short periods.
Jordan told the commission the project will submit a concurrent lot merger prior to construction, and that formal landscaping plans and construction drawings — including any required wall/retaining‑wall details — will be reviewed by planning and engineering prior to permit issuance. The project will pay development impact fees based on the adopted fee schedule in effect at building permit issuance.
After discussion and a motion, the commission voted to approve the planning use permit with the staff‑recommended conditions and the added direction to ensure the required sound‑wall/screening is included in the construction documents. The motion carried (motion moved and seconded; commission recorded the motion as passed).
