South El Monte Planning Commission Approves Auto‑repair Conditional Use Permit for HK Auto Care at 1848 Tyler Avenue

The South El Monte Planning Commission on July 28 adopted Resolution No. 26-10, approving Conditional Use Permit P26-05 to allow HK Auto Care to operate an automotive body repair and metal-work business at 1848 Tyler Avenue.

Assistant Planner Charlize told commissioners the site is designated industrial and is currently zoned manufacturing on a parcel of about 50,530 square feet with the tenant space occupied by the proposed business measuring roughly 3,886 square feet. Staff said the applicant will reduce the workstation area to about 2,186 square feet, provide eight parking spaces in total, add accessibility improvements to one restroom and install an interior fire‑rated wall to separate the workstation from indoor parking. Staff also said no spray booth is proposed and that the project is exempt from environmental review under section 15301. "Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt resolution number 26 10, approving CUP number 26 dash 0 5 to establish and operate an automotive repair facility at 1848 Tyler Avenue," the presenter stated.

Applicant representative Lee Wichuan told the Commission the business, HK Auto Care, will specialize in automotive body repair and metal work and will not perform painting or refinishing. "So it is a, automobile, body repair facility, and the business special specialized in automobile automotive body repair and the metal work only and does not perform any painting or coding or, refinishing services," he said. When asked whether the operation would produce environmental waste or air emissions, the applicant responded, "Yes. Correct. So there's no, any, other materials or air commissions to the, to the environment." The applicant estimated that construction to enlarge a restroom and add a fire‑rated wall would take about two months once permits are issued and said, "I believe we can finish everything within this year, 2026."

Commissioners asked staff to clarify the street address and how the 300‑foot buffer to residential zoning was measured; staff said the buffer is measured from property lines and noted a few adjacent residential uses are legally nonconforming. The LA County Sheriff's Department reviewed the tenant space plans and suggested revisions for parking and landscaping, and staff reported the applicant added one parking space and two 50‑square‑foot landscaped areas in response.

A commissioner moved to approve the resolution and CUP. In roll call, the record shows affirmative votes from Commissioner Barrera, Commissioner Ortiz, Commissioner Datamasa and Vice Chair Tang; the motion passed and the permit was approved. The Commission’s approval includes conditions intended to limit noise, require use of designated parking, and ensure building and fire code compliance as part of plan check and business licensing reviews. As staff noted during the meeting, the business will be subject to LA County Fire and South Coast Air Quality Management District reviews at the time of business license and building permit submission.