The City of Perris Planning Commission on Jan. 7 voted unanimously to continue review of the Perris Gateway Commercial Center project after staff notified commissioners of recent letters from the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics and the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (RCALUC).

Chair Hammond opened the public hearing on conditional use permit 24-05060 and development plan review 24-00001, describing a proposed commercial development on a 10.64-acre triangular site near Case, Getz and Ellis that would include a 5,974-square-foot Beyond Food Mart with a drive-through, a 1,667-square-foot automated car wash, vehicle fueling facilities and seven self-storage buildings totaling roughly 138,672 square feet. Staff recommended adoption of a mitigated negative declaration under CEQA and approval of the entitlements.

Project planner Matthew Evans said the site is subject to the Perris Valley Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP) and described zoning, proposed access points and mitigations. Evans summarized the environmental review and noted staff’s recommendation to adopt Resolution 26-01 approving the MND, mitigation monitoring and reporting program and the project’s permits.

Applicant Marwan Al Abbasi, who identified himself as the applicant and stated the project has been under consideration for about three years, told commissioners he had redesigned the site following airport land-use review and said ALUC had reviewed the project. He said the new Caltrans Division of Aeronautics letters came as a surprise and urged reliance on ALUC review and an upcoming FAA determination. "We are more than 200 feet, the closest obstruction," Al Abbasi said, arguing the design meets the applicable airport-zone slopes and noting the fuel system uses underground tanks.

Pat Constander, who said he has long been involved with the Perris Valley Airport, told the commission Caltrans Aeronautics is the governing body for airport permits and raised safety concerns about the proposed fueling facility and the adjacency of a roadway to the runway. "Caltrans Aeronautic is our governing body," Constander said, urging protections for the road and nearby public spaces in case of an aircraft incident.

Given the letters and the technical safety concerns they raised, Chair Hammond recommended continuing the hearing off calendar to allow staff time to consult with Caltrans, RCALUC and FAA officials. Commissioner Lopez moved to continue the item off calendar; Vice Chair Shively seconded and the commission approved the continuance 5-0.

Next steps: The project record will include the Caltrans and RCALUC correspondence and staff will seek additional agency input before bringing the item back to the commission or forwarding a recommendation to the City Council. The commission did not set a return date when it continued the item.