Merced Planning Commission Meeting Approves Food Truck Plaza and Massage Spa on June 4, 2025
Merced Planning Commission Meeting – June 4, 2025
The Merced Planning Commission convened on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The meeting featured two public hearings—both resulting in unanimous approvals—and an update on upcoming projects. A brief recess was taken to resolve voting tablet issues before proceeding.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of May 21, 2025: Approved by a 5-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the oral communications period or submitted comments on non-agenda items. No public speakers appeared for either public hearing item.
Discussion Items
- Food Truck Plaza (Item E1): Staff presented a Conditional Use Permit (CUP #25-0003) to operate a food truck parking area with 11 food trucks, a permanent restroom, and outdoor seating at 720 Motel Drive (southwest corner of Yosemite Parkway and Motel Drive). Operating hours were modified to 9 AM–10 PM Sunday–Thursday and 9 AM–11 PM Friday–Saturday, adjustable by the Development Services Director. Condition 32 allowed temporary restroom access for employees via a shared agreement with the adjacent hotel (730 Motel Drive) while permanent restrooms are under construction, with a 12-month timeline. The applicant stated the project was intended as a 2–3 year interim use before redevelopment. The Commission approved the Categorical Exemption (Environmental Review #25-0008) and CUP with 37 conditions, including the modified hours, by a 5-0 vote.
- Massage Therapy Spa (Item E2): Staff presented a Conditional Use Permit (CUP #25-0004) to convert a 1,200-square-foot retail suite into a massage center at 2975 G Street (Bear Creek Plaza). The business is a second location for an existing operator with five years of operation in good standing. Conditions included interior/exterior surveillance cameras, a limit of five massage technicians, and fire extinguisher installation. Staff explained that local ordinance requires Planning Commission review for massage establishments to discourage unlawful activities. The Commission approved the Categorical Exemption (Environmental Review #25-0009) and CUP with 16 conditions by a 5-0 vote.
- Acting Planning Manager’s Report: Francisco, filling in for the Planning Manager, reported that the joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting scheduled for June 18, 2025 (kickoff for the comprehensive general plan update and high-speed rail station area plan) is being rescheduled, likely to June 25, 2025. He also previewed two items for the July 9, 2025 meeting: a general plan amendment for a large housing project in southeast Merced (several hundred units with varied housing types) and a conditional use permit for a new pylon sign at the Marketplace at Merced (formerly Merced Mall).
Key Outcomes
- Item E1: Approved (5-0) Environmental Review #25-0008 and Conditional Use Permit #25-0003 with 37 conditions, including modified hours (Condition 10) and temporary restroom provisions (Condition 32).
- Item E2: Approved (5-0) Environmental Review #25-0009 and Conditional Use Permit #25-0004 with 16 conditions.
- Consent Calendar: Approved (5-0) the May 21, 2025 minutes.
- Meeting adjourned by a 5-0 vote after completion of all agenda items.
Meeting Transcript
I call to order the meeting of the Planning Commission for June 4th, 2025. I now ask for a moment of silence. Commissioner Swiggert, will you please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? We now move over to roll call, Kayla. Commissioner Ochoa. Absent excused. Smith. Absent excused. Gregg's present. Delgadillo. Swiggard. Present. Tao. Here. And Chairperson Gonzalez. Present. We have a quorum. Kayla would now read information about how the public may participate in the meeting. Members of the audience who wish to address the planning commission are requested to complete a speaker card available at the podium at the back of the council chamber. Please submit the completed card to the clerk before the item is called, preferably before the meeting begins. Please submit your public comment to the planning commission electronically no later than one p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments received before the deadline will be sent to the planning commission and will be part of the record and mentioned as part of the public comment portion of the agenda. Material may be emailed to you Planning Web at City of Merced.org and should be limited to 300 words or less. Please specify which portion of the agenda you were commenting on. For example, oral communications or item number. Your comments will be presented to the planning commission at the appropriate time. Any correspondence received after one p.m. will be distributed to the planning commission and retained for the official record. TV video or listen to the planning commission meeting live. Go to the city's website, WW.city of Merced.org, Facebook Live or Comcast Public Access Channel 96. We now move on to item C public comment. Members of the public who wish to speak on any matter not listed on the agenda may speak during this portion of the meeting and will be allotted three minutes. State law prohibits the planning commission from acting at this meeting on any matter raised during the public comment period. Members of the public who wish to speak on a matter that is listed in the agenda will be called upon during this to speak during that discussion of that item. Kayla, do we have any requests to speak at this time? No. Thank you. We now move to item D, consent calendar including minutes. Would the commission like to remove any items for separate consideration? No. Hearing and seeing none. Motion to approve the consent calendar. I second. I have a motion by Commissioner Greggins and a second by Commissioner Swiggert to approve the consent calendar. We now move to a vote. And it has been passed five zero. Your screen to come up? One, two. Sorry.
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