A one-year extension has been granted to a prior approval of a conditional use permit to build a mixed-use project on the south side of Whitmore Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets.
On March 19, 2018 the Ceres Planning Commission approved a 4,500-square-foot two-story building with retail uses on the first floor and a single-family residence on the second floor. The project is intended to be constructed after two properties are joined in a single third-acre parcel.
A CUP is needed for the project as the site is governed under the Downtown Specific Plan and has a zoning of Planned Community – 67 (PC-67). The Downtown Specific Plan permits neighborhood retail shop uses in this location subject to first obtaining approval of a CUP. Since the primary uses proposed for the site are of neighborhood retail in nature, a CUP was approved for the project to allow for the single-family residential use.
“The one-year time extension request will allow the applicant to continue to prepare the construction plans necessary for building permit submittal,” read a staff report to the commission from Senior Planner James Michaels.
Mohinder Kanda of Ceres owns the site and plans to live on the second floor and occupy one of the retail shops with his notary business. The uses for three spaces have not been identified.
Last year Planning Commissioner Laurie Smith stated she was excited about a mixed-use project in Ceres, saying the proposed building will be “a great addition and the building looks fantastic.” Commissioner Bob Kachel was also excited about the project. Only member Couper Condit voted against it in 2018. He opposed it again during the Nov. 18 meeting.
In other action the Ceres Planning Commission last week gave approval to its second one-year time extension for a previously approved development plan for a 20-unit multi-family residential project at 2800-2808 Blaker Road.
The project area consists of three properties totaling 1.9 acres just east of Blaker Road. The proposed project consists of two five-unit duplexes (10 units total), two four-plex units (8 units total) and two single units for a total of 20 dwelling units.
A city staff report indicated that “As development in the valley has been positive recently, approving the second one-year time extension request would allow the applicant to take advantage of the current market situation and work toward making the necessary preparations in hopes that construction of the project may begin in the near future.”
