[00:00:01]
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AT 9 A.M..
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MR. TATUM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER. JAWAD.
HERE. COMMISSIONER SPYCHER. HERE. COMMISSIONER ERRECA.
HERE. VICE CHAIRMAN TATUM. HERE. AND CHAIRMAN RAMIREZ DID EXCUSE HIMSELF.
AND MR. VICE CHAIR, YOU HAVE QUORUM. WE'LL MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
I'VE READ THEM AND I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE MINUTES. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
IF YOU WISH TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, NOW IS YOUR TIME TO COME FORWARD.
OKAY. IS THAT REGARDING. WELL, THIS IS ONLY FOR ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE PUBLIC ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[6. PUBLIC HEARING(S)]
AND WE'LL MOVE TO THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA.CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 25-008 FOR PACIFIC AG RENTALS, LLC.
GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANNA BROWNING AND THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU IS CONDITIONAL, USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 25-008 FOR THE APPLICANT.
PACIFIC AG RENTALS. THE PROJECT IS A REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND REPAIR SERVICE FACILITY THAT WOULD OPERATE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 7:30 A.M.
TO 4:30 P.M.. THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 9960 SQUARE FOOT SHOP WITH OFFICE SPACE, A POWER WASH STATION, FUEL STATION, PARKING, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING AND A DRAINAGE DRAINAGE BASIN.
THE FARMDALE LATERAL, MAINTAINED AND OWNED BY THE MERCED IRRIGATION DISTRICT, IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROJECT SITE. THE SURROUNDING AREA IS MADE UP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USES SUCH AS ORCHARDS, ROW CROPS AND RURAL RESIDENCES.
WATER FOR THE HOME WAS PROVIDED BY A DOMESTIC WELL THAT STILL EXISTS ON THE PROJECT SITE, AND WASTEWATER FOR THE HOME WAS MANAGED BY AN ONSITE SEPTIC SYSTEM THAT HAS SINCE THEN BEEN DESTROYED, WITH A PERMIT ISSUED BY THE MERCED COUNTY DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN OCTOBER OF 2025.
ACCESS TO THE SITE IS PROVIDED OFF A DRIVEWAY ONTO HENRY STREET.
HERE IS THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN FOR THE PROJECT.
THE PROJECT WOULD PROPOSE ONE ENTRANCE AND ONE EXIT ONTO ONTO THE SITE, BOTH OFF HENRY STREET.
THE FUEL STATION ON THE SOUTH SIDE IN THE CENTER OF THE PARCEL.
THE PROJECT ALSO PROPOSES 2 DRAINAGE BASINS, 1 ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PROJECT SITE AND 1 ON THE SOUTHEAST PORTION PORTION OF THE PROJECT SITE. THE PROJECT PROPOSES TO INSTALL A TOTAL OF 30 PARKING SPACES, WITH EIGHT BEING EV CAPABLE AND 2 ACCESSIBLE SPACES.
MOVING FORWARD, ON THE LEFT IS A FLOOR PLAN SHOWING THE INTERIOR OF THE PROPOSED BUILDING, AND ON THE RIGHT, THE PROPOSED ELEVATIONS AS PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS.
ANY PROPOSED STRUCTURES AS PART OF THIS PROJECT WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH BUILDING PERMIT AND ADDITIONAL REVIEW. THE PROJECT SITE IS DESIGNATED AGRICULTURAL LAND USE IN THE GENERAL PLAN. THE PROJECT CAN BE FOUND CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE MERCED COUNTY GENERAL PLAN LISTED HERE.
THE PROJECT SITE IS ZONED A-1 GENERAL AGRICULTURE, WHERE AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS, SERVICE, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE IS PERMITTED, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
THE PROJECT CAN ALSO BE FOUND CONSISTENT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS OF THE MERCED COUNTY ZONING CODE IN REGARD TO SETBACKS, PARKING AND LANDSCAPING. STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT CAN BE FOUND CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15303. NEW CONSTRUCTION OR CONVERSION OF SMALL STRUCTURES OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.
[00:05:06]
THE SITE PREVIOUSLY CONTAINED A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. IN THE PAST, RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE WOULD CLASSIFY THE SITE AS DISTURBED DUE TO ITS PREVIOUS URBANIZED USE. THE PROJECT SITE WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS AND SERVICES PROVIDED, AND ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT SITE IS NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND THE USE WOULD NOT BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE SITE OR THE SURROUNDING AREA. NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE MERCED COUNTY TIMES AND MAILED TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN 300FT OF THE PROJECT SITE ON JUNE 11TH, 2026. NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED. GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION, STAFF HAS 2 RECOMMENDATIONS.NEW CONSTRUCTION OR CONVERSION OF SMALL STRUCTURES OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES AND 2O APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CUP 25-008 BASED ON THE FINDINGS INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND SUBJECT TO THE RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. THIS CONCLUDES STAFF'S PRESENTATION.
PLEASE. THANK YOU MARK. I'M KEVIN. I'M THE BRANCH MANAGER FOR PACIFIC AND MERCED ALREADY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOCATED ON 400 WEST TRIALS. WE'D MOVING OUT TO, TO THIS NEW LOCATION.
WE'D LIKE TO GET MORE IN WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND WE THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO GROW IN MERCED COUNTY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? YES. MY NAME IS RHONDA AND WE HAVE LAND THAT BUTTS RIGHT UP TO THE TO THAT PARCEL.
AND WE'RE JUST KIND OF CURIOUS IF WE COULD KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THAT'S WORKING.
IS IT ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE GAS FOR THEIR EQUIPMENT ONLY? OR IS THIS GOING TO HAVE GAS FOR OTHER LIKE, ARE THEY SELLING GAS? WHAT WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE GAS? WE WILL NOT BE SELLING FUEL.
WE WILL HAVE A DIESEL TANK ON SITE. WHICH WILL JUST KEEP ENOUGH DIESEL FOR OUR RENTAL.
SO IT'S FOR YOUR EQUIPMENT ONLY. AND WHAT ABOUT YOU? SAY THAT YOU ALSO HAVE. EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.
WHY DON'T WE DO IT THIS WAY SO WE CAN ORGANIZE IT? ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE'LL HAVE THEM RESPOND TO YOU. OKAY.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS WITH THE WASH WASH STATION AND THE TRUCKS COMING IN AND OUT, IS IT STRICTLY BACK TO THE SAME THING? IS IT STRICTLY JUST THEIR STUFF? IT'S NOT.
IT SAYS TRUCK PARKING. IS IT JUST THEIR STUFF OR IS IT OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN THERE? WHY DON'T WE. ARE YOU FINISHED? YES. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, SIR. IF YOU'D STEP BACK UP, YOU CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC TRUCK PARKING OR ANYTHING PER SE OF THAT.
TRUCKS WILL HAUL EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT. A LOT OF THE FARMERS WILL DRIVE THEIR EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT.
IT'S JUST THE RENTAL EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE PUSHING OUT.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO OTHERS, BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION.
WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL MOTION TO DETERMINE.
THE PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15303.
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR CONVERSION OF SMALL BUSINESS A SMALL STRUCTURES OF THE CEQA GUIDELINES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. I WILL MOTION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NUMBER CU P25-008.
THANK YOU. SECOND. THANK YOU. CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE.
THIS ITEM PASSES. WE MOVE TO ITEM 2 ON THE AGENDA ZONE.
[00:10:04]
VARIANCE NUMBER ZV26-001. MINOR SUBDIVISION NUMBER MS26-001 FOR RAQUEL BETTENCOURT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO THE JULY 8TH, 2026 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING.ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. ANY COMMISSIONER ACTION ITEMS.
[8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT]
NONE. DIRECTOR'S REPORT. YEAH. REAL QUICK FOR THE COMMISSION.HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB, HELPED GET US TO THE FINISH LINE WITH OUR HOUSING ELEMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN CERTIFIED AND HAS REALLY TAKEN OUR PROCESSES FOR PLANNING AND KIND OF EXPEDITED AS BEST AS WE CAN TO MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS AND TO EXCEED STATE REQUIREMENTS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL OF HIS WORK, AS HE'S BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS OR SO, THREE MONTHS. AND ALSO NEXT TO HIM IS TOM NAVARRO.
TOM WILL TAKE OVER AS OUR CONTRACT DEPUTY STARTING ON TUESDAY.
SO VERY EXCITED. TOM HAS A LOT OF CENTRAL VALLEY FOCUS AS FROM FRESNO COUNTY, SANGER, MADERA, TULARE AND OTHERS. AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE TOM PART OF US AS WE FOCUS ON DAIRY AND KIND OF FINE TUNING OUR PROCESS WITH DAIRIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE, ERWIN, AND WELCOME TOM.
THAT IS IT. THANK YOU. MARK. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
COMMENTS. SEEING NONE. WE'RE ADJOURNED AT 9:11.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.