Commission approves JP Custom Contractors' auto‑repair use on Date Palm Drive with gate and landscaping conditions

The Cathedral City Planning Commission voted Feb. 4 to approve Conditional Use Permit 250004 to allow an auto repair shop and associated office and storage at 34870 Date Palm Drive.

Assistant Planner Manuel Rocha described the proposal as a reuse of a 3,274‑square‑foot building with refreshed elevations, a new tubular steel fence along the east property line, upgraded site lighting, a city‑standard trash enclosure and a landscape refresh. Staff recommended the commission find the project exempt from CEQA (Section 15.301, Class 1) and add condition 3.18 requiring the applicant to re‑landscape the Eagle Canyon Drive right‑of‑way and repaint or replace the existing rolling gate prior to final land planning inspection.

Commissioners probed whether the two parcels must be merged before final approval, how shared parking would be handled if one suite was leased separately, and what buffering should be provided for adjacent Eagle Canyon Drive residences. Rocha confirmed parcel merger must be completed prior to final plan completion or at least submitted with construction plans and noted staff’s condition that stored material is prohibited on the vacant lot.

The applicant, identifying himself for J.P. Custom Contractors, said documentation had been submitted and that adding landscape in the back area would not be a problem. Resident Matthew Schafer, who lives across Date Palm Drive, raised a concern about noise and asked whether repair‑shop operations (air wrenches, etc.) would disturb nearby residents.

Vice Chair Mead moved to approve the CUP with staff conditions and add condition 3.18; the motion was seconded and carried with all ayes. Rocha and staff will verify parcel merger and detailed landscaping during plan check and prior to final inspection.