Planning commission approves continued use of freestanding sign for Truman Street car wash, orders LED panel removed

The San Fernando Planning and Preservation Commission voted unanimously on July 14 to approve a conditional use permit allowing the continued use of an existing freestanding pole sign for a newly built automated car wash at 1335 Truman Street and to adopt a Class 1 categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Planning Associate Marina Cristalova presented the staff report, telling commissioners the sign has been in place for more than 20 years, the cabinet is about 6 by 10 feet and the entire sign stands roughly 25 feet tall. Cristalova said the property previously housed a body shop and that the sign was installed with a permit before adoption of the San Fernando Corridor Specific Plan. Staff recommended approval of CUP 2026-002 with conditions, including removing a recently installed LED panel that staff determined enlarges a legal nonconforming structure.

"Adding a new LED screen under the cabinet is an enlargement. Therefore, the LED sign cannot be permitted," Cristalova said as part of the staff presentation.

Commissioners generally praised the car wash building's mission-style design. "It looks so much like a mission style," Commissioner Sanchez said, calling the project an improvement for the area and noting the added condition requiring maintenance and a site inspection. Vice Chair Aloha also expressed support for the design and the project's consistency with the city's historic character.

The applicant, Aram Eramis Pugosian, said the bottom LED panel would remain static and that the business would maintain the sign. "We're not gonna put any slides or anything so people look or anything like that," Pugosian said, adding that other similar car washes his company built have looked the same for 15 years.

Planning Manager Jose Mendezo told the commission that the LED constituted "an expansion of the sign area, which is an expansion of illegal nonconformity," and confirmed the CUP includes a condition requiring removal of the LED element within 30 days of final approval.

Commissioner Diaz moved to approve the CEQA exemption and the conditional use permit; Commissioner Sanchez seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Sanchez — yes; Commissioner Diaz — yes; Vice Chair Aloha — yes; Chair Salorio — yes. The motion passed unanimously.

The permit allows the existing freestanding pole sign to remain under the stated conditions; the commission record requires removal of the unauthorized LED panel within 30 days of final action. No appeals or further challenges were recorded during the meeting. The commission then moved to the staff communications portion of the agenda and adjourned.