Meeting for the first time since Sept. 15, the Ceres Planning Commission on Monday approved two-year time extensions for projects previously approved but not yet built.
The first was an extension for a subdivision of a 35,716-square-foot parcel into three parcels at 2830 Morgan Road. The second was for the proposed Ceres Self Storage at 3418 Mitchell Road.
The commission also held a public hearing regarding a request for a Recycling Center up to 500 square feet located at 1821 Mitchell Road.
Commissioners were okay keeping alive approval for proponents of a parcel split at the northeast corner of Morgan and Kinser roads.
The parcel containing an existing house will be sized at 14,776 square feet, while the second and third parcels will be 10,470 and 10,470 square feet respectively.
Vehicular access to the new parcels will be from Kinser Road. The future property owner of each proposed parcel are responsible for installing a driveway area at the time a single-family residence for each lot is being constructed.
Self Storage extension
The commission also allowed the Ceres Self Storage project to remain current so that it remains valid.
Contract planner Kelsey George said the applicant, Carlo Development of Van Nuys, has cited high interest rates and financing constraints for the momentary delay in construction. The firm has been developing apartment complexes and storage facilities in California for over 40 years.
The project was approved in a 3-1 vote in January 2024 and was set to expire next January.
The Ceres Self Storage project at 3418 Mitchell Road will also include a 1,908 square foot two-story manager’s living quarters with a 616-square-foot two-car garage. The facility will employ two to three employees.
This facility is designed with a unique ramp design to allow two stories of storage units.
An on-site storm water retention basin is also being required.
In 2024 Commissioner Gary M. Condit was against the project over his concerns with additional traffic generated and that traffic studies were not required. City staff said that self-storage facilities generate only “minimal” traffic impacts, the project is an infill project exempt from CEQA environmental review as an infill project. Condit voted to keep the project current.
The facility will not be accessible 24 hours a day for security reasons and for the neighbors’ privacy. Instead, the plan is to allow gate access only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week while the proposed office hours are expected to be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Recycling center approved
Sigifredo Valencia won commission approval to set up a small recycling center north of a Mitchell Road car wash and gas station/convenience store north of Fowler Road.
The center will not exceed 500 square feet within an existing parking lot. The use is allowed within the Highway Commercial, or HC zone.
Ceres resident John Warren questioned if Ceres had too many of the centers. He also expressed concern that the placement of kiosk would be in direct conflict with vehicle traffic.
“It’s just not a good spot for it,” said Warren. “There’s probably better locations.”
George said the city cannot possibly anticipate every problem that might arise but in one year the city can either renew or modify the permit.
The recycling center was approved 3-0.
