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Imperial City planning commission approves kitchen incubator at former post office with SBA funding
Summary
The Imperial City Planning Commission approved a similar‑use determination allowing a kitchen incubator at 116 North Imperial Avenue, citing a roughly $1.2 million U.S. Small Business Administration award to acquire and renovate the site; the vote was recorded as 3‑0. Staff said the facility will be a shared commercial kitchen with training and community programming.
The Imperial City Planning Commission approved a similar‑use determination to allow a kitchen incubator at 116 North Imperial Avenue, the site of the former post office, after staff told commissioners the city received about $1,200,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration to acquire and renovate the building.
Staff presenter (speaker 5) told the commission the incubator is intended to help food entrepreneurs start and grow businesses by providing reserved, licensed kitchen space, plus business development resources, workforce training, culinary education and food‑safety classes. “All activities will occur inside the existing building,” the presenter said, and staff recommended adoption of Resolution PC 2026‑04 approving the similar‑use determination under Section 24.19‑200 of the zoning ordinance; staff also said the project is exempt under Section 15301 (existing facilities).
Commissioners asked about coordination with county environmental health and outreach to existing food vendors. Commissioner Biriana (speaker 2) urged staff to solicit vendor input so the layout and operations match local needs; Parks and Recreation staff (speaker 8) said the city will work with the public health department so the site can be listed as an approved prep site and that some input already came from prior conversations with environmental‑health leadership. “We want to ensure that this site is an approved site by the county,” the staff member said.
The commission discussed operations and liabilities. Parks and Recreation staff said the facility will be open initially Monday–Friday, will require an application and an affordable rental fee, and that users will be required to carry primary insurance with the city listed as additional insured. Staff also said there would be no on‑site sales and no long‑term food storage (no walk‑in freezers), describing the space as a prep site with short overnight storage when needed.
On design and site work, staff said Nicholas Engineering is preparing conceptual plans and that the city is conducting lead and asbestos testing before finalizing renovations. The presenter noted the $1.2 million award is the primary startup funding and that the city anticipates making additional investments as operations mature.
Commissioner Biriana moved to accept the similar‑use determination; Commissioner Alex (speaker 3) seconded. The motion carried, recorded as “motion carries 3 0.”
Next steps: staff will continue design work, coordinate with county environmental health for listing as an approved prep site, and return to the commission with further information as the project advances.
