Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves membership vehicle‑storage and workshop permit despite neighborhood questions about parking
Summary
The Gardina City Council approved a conditional‑use permit for Wonderwell South Bay, a membership‑based vehicle storage and hobby‑workshop, after staff and the applicant described safety controls, membership rules and limits on public events; council addressed parking, hours and security concerns.
The Gardina City Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 6741 on Tuesday, granting Conditional Use Permit 1‑26 to allow a membership‑based private vehicle storage and workshop — branded Wonderwell South Bay — at 13625–13629 Alma Avenue in the city's M‑2 industrial zone.
Planning staff described the proposal as an indoor vehicle storage and member workshop inside an existing industrial building (approximately 11,970 square feet on a 0.57‑acre lot). The application proposed up to 35 stored vehicles, a member lounge and a small workshop area with two vehicle lifts used for instructional classes limited to 10 members. Hours of operation were proposed at 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Consultant Lila Gradamaso and applicant representative Cyrus told the council the business model is membership‑based and not a repair‑for‑hire business, salvage yard or auto dismantler. They described the Venice prototype (operating since 2022), membership screening, internal rules, security cameras and limits on event sizes. Supporters from the Venice site and prospective members testified in favor, saying the venue builds community, provides low‑cost skills and offers secure indoor storage for classic cars and collector vehicles.
Council members pressed for details about onsite parking (staff said the site plan shows 18 on‑site spaces — seven front, 11 rear — and that storage is not permitted in those surface stalls), how 35 vehicles would physically fit inside the building (applicant said the 35 are accommodated on the floor plan and staff noted stacking could be a later modification subject to permits), whether members could perform repair‑for‑hire work (applicant and staff said repairs for hire would not be allowed and classes are limited and supervised), limits on public events (applicant said most events would be member‑only with occasional RSVP‑based open events) and whether alcohol or smoking would be permitted (applicant said no alcohol and no cigar smoking onsite). Staff also noted that any activities outside those approved would require separate permits.
After discussion, Council Member Tanaka moved to adopt the staff recommendation; Council Member Francis seconded. The council approved the CUP 4–0 (Serta, Henderson, Tanaka, Francis).
What this means: The conditional‑use permit allows Wonderwell South Bay to operate as described, subject to standard conditions of approval. Staff said the permit includes conditions that prohibit salvage operations, require secure storage practices, limit class sizes and cap the venue’s membership events as described in the planning conditions. The applicant must comply with building, fire and other operational permits before opening.
