The Ceres Planning Commission approved two requests to subdivide parcels in the Ceres Gateway Center for new development.

Since December, work has occurred at a fast clip on the new 13.68-acre commercial shopping center with new buildings being constructed in the first phase for Starbucks, In-N-Out, Chipotle, Ono Hawaiian BBQ and Quick Quack Car Wash. Construction on Phase 1 has an estimated completion by the fall.

The center is bounded by Highway 99, Service Road and Mitchell Road.

In the first public hearing held Monday evening, the commission approved a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide Parcel 7 of the project into two commercial zoned lots. The 1.8-acre parcel at the southern tip of the center will be subdivided into two separate commercial lots to facilitate the development of two future businesses instead of one. The proponent suggested one use could be a drive-thru restaurant while the second would accommodate a Union 76 gas station with convenience store use and an additional tenant space with a drive-thru.

Senior Planner James Michaels said that plans for a Circle K in the center have been cancelled.

In the second hearing commissioners gave their blessings to a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide a 6.7-acre parcel of the Gateway Center into a 2.14-acre commercial lot for a hotel and a 4.61-acre parcel for junior anchor tenants. Any hotel project would be subjected to a Specific Plan Site Plan to be reviewed and approved by the City Planning Commission.

No specific hotels have been named.

In May the Ceres City Council voted to increase the maximum allowable height of buildings from 35 feet to 50 feet to accommodate a four-story hotel in the Regional Commercial zone.