Planning Commission approves moving forward on potential city parking-lot acquisition at former restaurant site

The Solvang Planning Commission on June 1 approved a staff request that will allow the city to pursue use of the former Seir restaurant parcel at 478 Fourth Place as a roughly 20-space parking-lot expansion. The item was pulled from the consent calendar for discussion and the remainder of the consent calendar was approved before the commission voted 3–0 to advance the item.

Community development staff (Raphael) told commissioners the city is currently negotiating purchase terms with the owner and that one option being discussed would be to improve the parcel as a parking lot. Because parking is not an allowed use under the site’s current VMU zoning, staff said the city would seek a conditional-use permit if the acquisition proceeds.

Raphael said the proposed lot would add “about 20 spaces” and stressed that cost and final terms remain under negotiation and therefore were “not for public discussion.” Commissioners agreed the conditional-use permit process is the appropriate vehicle to authorize parking if the city acquires the property.

The staff presentation noted the parcel is currently zoned village mixed-use (VMU) and that the city does not intend to rezone the property at this time. If acquired, staff said the city would return to the Planning Commission to hear a CUP application sponsored by the city and to deliberate conditions such as lot design and compliance with code.

The motion to approve the consent/related item passed 3–0 with Member Peterson and Member Sparks Gkillis recorded absent in the roll call. The commission did not disclose a purchase price during the meeting.

Next steps: staff will continue negotiations with the property owner; if the city signs a purchase agreement the Planning Commission will consider a conditional-use permit for the parking use at a future meeting.