Commission approves Enterprise Rent-A-Car adaptive reuse and indoor car-wash at 3705 Firestone Blvd.

The South Gate Planning Commission on July 13 approved a conditional use permit for an Enterprise Rent-A-Car facility with an indoor vehicle wash and enclosed inventory storage at 3705 Firestone Boulevard.

Associate planner Joshua Valdez described the proposal as an adaptive reuse of an existing 4,159-square-foot commercial building in the Corridor 1 zone. Valdez said the applicant, applying on behalf of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, proposes 22 on-site parking spaces (11 for customer parking and 11 for inventory storage), interior tenant improvements, new architectural treatments, landscaping, accessibility upgrades and an indoor car-wash area with trench drains and an underground clarifier. "The project will retain the existing building footprint while undertaking exterior renovations," Valdez said, adding that staff finds the project meets Corridor 1 development standards and qualifies for a Class 1 CEQA exemption.

An applicant representative (no name provided in the transcript) summarized the proposal as activating a long-vacant site, improving safety and accessibility, and bringing a needed service to the neighborhood: "The project activates a long vacant site, improves the property's condition, and brings a needed service to the area." The applicant said the car-wash area is strictly for Enterprise operations and not open to the public.

Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff on drainage and the clarifier system. Valdez and the applicant said the car-wash floor drains to trench drains and then to a clarifier prior to connection to the city system; Valdez said public works reviews drainage plans and that discussions had taken place with public works to prevent runoff to adjacent streets.

Commissioners also raised traffic, parking and noise concerns because of a nearby high school. Valdez said the primary site entrance is on San Carlos, with exit to Firestone, and that the 11 parking spaces provided for customer use exceed the six on-site spaces required by code. He said landscaping and an existing six-foot block wall along the residential property would help separate operations from nearby homes. On signage, staff said existing rooftop signs may be grandfathered if previously permitted and the applicant intends to reface the sign to match the project.

After questions and a roll-call vote, the commission voted to adopt the resolution approving CUP 26-05. The approval includes conditions of approval listed in the staff report, including drainage/industrial-waste review by public works and compliance with development standards for Corridor 1.

The commission also received one emailed public comment asking whether the proposed rooftop sign complies with city policy and urging voluntary contributions to park enhancement funds; staff said the rooftop sign may be grandfathered but would be refaced to be cohesive with the project.

The decision was recorded at the July 13 meeting; no appeal was recorded in the transcript.