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Placentia planners approve two‑story mixed‑use building at 315 West Santa Fe Avenue
Summary
The Placentia Planning Commission approved a use permit and site plan to allow a 2,993‑square‑foot, two‑story mixed‑use building at 315 West Santa Fe Avenue, finding it consistent with Old Town design standards and exempt from CEQA under the Class‑32 infill exemption. The decision passed by roll call; Vice Chair Rock recused and Commissioner Navarro was absent.
The Placentia Planning Commission voted to approve use permit UP2026‑1 and site plan review SPR2025‑11 for a two‑story mixed‑use building at 315 West Santa Fe Avenue.
Associate Planner Lehi Whitaker told commissioners the proposal is for a 2,993‑square‑foot building with a 953‑square‑foot commercial space on the ground floor, a 1,528‑square‑foot residential unit above, a small vestibule between them and a two‑car garage in the rear. Whitaker said the property is a 2,500‑square‑foot undeveloped lot in the Old Town village subsection and that staff finds the project meets the subsection’s mission‑revival design standards and Old Town development rules.
Whitaker recommended approval, saying the project is "exempt from CEQA under section 15332, class 32, infill development" and that legal notices were circulated on April 2 with no responses. Whitaker noted the project meets parking requirements for the residential unit with a two‑car garage and that the Ground Floor commercial uses are limited to those allowed in Old Town’s village subsection.
Commissioners questioned setbacks, permissible ground‑floor uses and trash storage. Staff explained Old Town allows 0–5‑foot side setbacks and that the project uses an adjacent building’s wall to justify a zero setback on one side while providing a roughly 4‑foot walkway on the other. On permitted uses Whitaker said office use is not allowed on the first floor but retail and personal‑service businesses (for example a salon or tea shop) are permitted; uses with alcohol or tattoos would require separate permits. On refuse, staff said Republic Services will supply residential‑style containers and the project’s garage is large enough to store bins and that the conditions of approval will require indoor storage.
Applicant Nadir Haggad and designer Marvin Barriga described the project as a narrow‑lot solution that began as a live‑work concept and evolved to a mixed‑use configuration to maximize flexibility and compatibility with surrounding buildings. Barriga said they worked with staff to keep the design pedestrian‑friendly and consistent with Old Town character.
Commissioner Davis moved to approve staff’s recommendation adopting resolution PC‑2026‑06 with a revised condition; a commissioner seconded. The motion passed by roll call: Commissioners Smith, Guerrero, Evans, Davis and Chair Perez voted yes; Vice Chair Rock excused themself from the item and Commissioner Navarro was absent. Whitaker noted a 10‑day appeal period for the decision.
The commission’s approval includes the corrected CFD reference in the conditions (staff acknowledged a typographic error in a draft condition and said the community facilities district number would be corrected in the adopted resolution).
