Planning panel approves two CVS proposals; neighbors ask for design and loading safeguards

The Planning Commission approved two separate CVS proposals on April 28: an adaptive reuse at 1760 Ocean Avenue (approx. 15,000 sq ft) and a new-build CVS at 701 Portola Drive that requires demolition of a gas station and several variances.

Planning staff framed both projects as code-compliant retail (sales-and-service category) and recommended conditional-use authorization with conditions. CVS representatives emphasized outreach and neighborhood support; community speakers offered mixed testimony. On Ocean Avenue, supporters said activating a long-vacant storefront would improve safety and business climate. Commissioners expressed confusion about how "formula retail" and modern pharmacy/retail hybrids are categorized but were told the planning code groups these uses under the sales-and-service provisions (section 9.2.14) and that formula-retail review focuses on competition and cumulative impacts.

For the Portola Drive project neighbors and commissioners raised concerns about corner-site design, the site's large on-street parking area in the public right-of-way, and whether the project should do more to improve the shopping-strip appearance. The sponsor said the public right-of-way parking would remain public and that the project would work with DPW on striping and meters. Commissioners tasked staff and sponsors to continue design discussions and consider visual and loading impacts; motions to approve the projects included those directions and passed.