Council approves Take 5 drive-through oil-change conditional use in Ladera with landscaping and traffic conditions

The council approved a conditional-use permit for a Take 5 drive‑through oil‑change facility proposed in the Ladera area, subject to two staff-recommended conditions: enhanced landscape screening (including evergreen trees) along the east property edge and a traffic‑report comparison showing peak and daily trips compared with the Ladera master transportation-impact study (TIS).

Take 5 representatives described the site as a one‑acre parcel with a roughly 1,800 square‑foot building, an expected national average of 30–50 customers per day for the operator’s stores, and operational practices they said meet environmental standards (they said the operation does not use underground pits and that they meet or exceed federal environmental requirements for storage and disposal). The applicant agreed to the two conditions. Planning staff noted the site has no residential development within 200 feet and that public works will review traffic at site‑plan review.

Council members asked about on‑site screening because a proposed daycare is sited to the east; staff said the condition will require beefed‑up landscaping between the uses. Council also asked about operational practices for handling used oil and whether staff would require additional mitigations; the applicant and staff said federal and state environmental and hazardous‑waste standards apply and the operator said it meets or exceeds those standards.

Why it matters: The permit allows a high‑throughput, drive‑through vehicle service in a location near a proposed daycare; staff conditions are intended to reduce visual and traffic impacts before site‑plan approval.

Next steps: Applicant to include the required landscaping plan and traffic comparison with the site‑plan application; public‑works staff will review trip-generation and circulation.