Planning commission approves Garden Drive travel center with fueling canopy and off‑sale alcohol license request

The Oroville Planning Commission approved a use permit on Feb. 26 for a travel center at the Garden Drive overpass (APN 0310061) that includes a roughly 4,500-square-foot convenience store, a fueling canopy with 16 fueling positions and a diesel canopy. The applicant also requested approval to seek a Type 21 ABC off‑sale license for packaged beer, wine and liquor.

Staff said the project qualifies for categorical CEQA exemptions for new small structures (Sections 15303 and 15183 where applicable) and submitted a biological wetlands report and a traffic study as part of the application. Har Singh, the project's engineer, said he had coordinated with Caltrans and the state review and would continue addressing any Caltrans comments.

Commissioners focused questions on truck turning, access and the adjacency of the Brad Freeman Trail. Staff noted the site plan locates the trail outside the proposed fence line and that the traffic study includes vehicle circulation and truck turning diagrams for the Garden Drive access. Several neighboring property owners had submitted written comments (John and William Wicklas and Steven Coach listed in the record) but no speakers attended to testify in person. The commission approved the permit and the staff recommendations.

Next steps: applicant must satisfy any remaining Caltrans conditions, proceed with utility and improvement permits and follow the conditions in the use permit. If the owner pursues alcohol sales, the ABC licensing process will run separately and require compliance with state licensing rules.