Perris planning commission approves self-storage complex, Beyond Food Mart fueling station and car wash near Perris Valley Airport

The Perris Planning Commission on March 4 approved a commercial development on a 10.64-acre triangular site at Case Road, Getz Road and Ellis Avenue that will include a 138,672-square-foot self-storage complex, a 5,974-square-foot Beyond Food Mart with a drive-through and fuel islands, and a 1,667-square-foot automated car wash.

Staff presented Resolution 26-01 and mitigated negative declaration (MND 2407), saying the Federal Aviation Administration had issued two determinations of “no hazard to air navigation” and that Caltrans’ earlier proximity concerns were informational; the commission adopted the MND and approved Conditional Use Permit 24-05060 and Development Plan Review 24-00001 by a 5–0 vote with one commissioner absent. “As of today, the FAA has determined that the project presents no hazards to air navigation,” said Matthew Evans, contract project planner.

Why it matters: the project brings major commercial services and associated traffic to the south side of Perris while raising airport-safety, drainage and local-traffic questions that commissioners required staff and the applicant to address through conditions of approval. The approved plan calls for seven storage buildings, a 5,000-square-foot fuel canopy with eight fueling islands (16 dispensers) plus a diesel island, 34 parking spaces including EV and ADA stalls, and 45 dedicated RV storage stalls. Staff also described a conceptual landscape plan providing about 79,538 square feet of planting (roughly 21.5% of the site) and 158 trees with conditioned 36-inch boxes at entrances.

The commission discussed several technical conditions before voting. Engineering staff said a PowerPoint showed a left-in-only access but engineering conditions (Condition 5c) require full access off Ellis Avenue; the commission directed that engineering conditions control. Commissioners also asked the applicant to work with staff to explore moving sidewalks to create a landscaped parkway on Case and Ellis where right-of-way allows. Riverside County Fire submitted a letter saying fire‑service impacts can be mitigated through the city’s development impact fee program, and the airport operator and the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) reviewed the proposal and found it conditionally consistent with the Perris Valley ALUCP subject to FAA requirements.

Several commissioners and staff pressed the applicant on potential bird hazards near the airport. An architect and staff pointed to ALUC Condition 60B3, which limits uses that would attract large concentrations of birds; commissioners requested an additional operational condition that property maintenance must avoid creating bird-concentrating features to the satisfaction of the planning division. The commission discussed drainage and water-quality basins to prevent standing water that can attract birds; staff and the applicant described proposed storm piping and on-site basins to connect to the storm system along Ellis Avenue.

Applicant Marwan Alabasi, who told the commission he acquired the land in 2018–19 and will operate the convenience store and storage facility, said he welcomed staff conditions and pointed to the recent FAA clearance. “This is just to show that we are here to stay,” Alabasi said, introducing family members in the audience.

What’s next: The approvals are subject to the conditions of approval adopted by the commission, including the engineering and operational conditions discussed on the record; building permits, grading permits and any required final map recordation remain prerequisites for construction. The resolution and conditions are on file with the planning division.