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Record of Proceedings

Merced Planning Commission Meeting – July 23, 2025: Fitness Center and Bar Approvals

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, July 23, 2025
BodyMerced, California
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, July 23, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:04:06

Original source
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0:02

I call to order the meeting of the planning commission for July 23rd, 2025.

0:07

I now ask for a moment of silence.

0:26

Thanks, folks.

0:27

Commissioner Ochoa, would you leave us lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please?

0:55

We now move on to item B roll call.

0:57

Kayla.

1:01

Commissioner Tao.

1:03

Here.

1:04

Smith.

1:05

President.

1:07

President.

1:11

Present.

1:13

Swigger.

1:14

Present.

1:14

Yeah, you can't.

1:15

Present.

1:16

Ochoa?

1:17

Present.

1:17

Gregg's.

1:18

Present.

1:19

And Chairperson Gonzalez.

1:21

Present.

1:22

We have a quorum.

1:23

Kayla would now read information about how the public may participate in the meeting.

1:27

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.

1:35

Please submit the completed card to the clerk before the item is called, preferably before the meeting begins.

1:41

I would like to briefly go over the process of submitting comments to the planning commission.

1:46

Please submit your public comment to the planning commission electronically, no later than 1 p.m.

1:50

on the day of the meeting.

1:51

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.

1:59

Material may be emailed to planning web at city of Merced.gov and should be limited to 300 words or less.

2:06

Please specify which portion of the agenda you were commenting on.

2:09

For example, oral communications or item number.

2:12

Your comments will be presented to the planning commission at the appropriate time.

2:16

Any correspondence received after 1 p.m.

2:18

will be distributed to the planning commission and retained for the official record.

2:22

To be video or listen to the planning commission meeting live, go to the city's website, www.city of Merced.gov, Facebook Live or Comcast Public Access Channel 96.

2:34

Thank you, Kayla.

2:35

We now move on to item C, public comment.

2:38

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.

2:46

State law prohibits the planning commission from acting at this meeting on any matter raised during the public comment period.

2:52

Members of the public who wish to speak on a matter that is listed on the agenda will be called upon to speak during discussion of that item.

3:00

Kayla, do we have any requests to speak?

3:02

No.

3:03

Thank you.

3:04

Is there anybody in the public who wish to speak?

3:10

Is this regarding an agenda item or public comment?

3:16

Hi.

3:18

Okay.

3:19

Not quite yet.

3:22

We'll call you right up, sir, when you're when it comes up for your item.

3:25

Thank you.

3:27

We now move on to item D, consent calendar, including minutes.

3:31

Would the commission like to remove any items for a separate consideration?

3:40

Do we have any request to speak forms for any of the consent items?

3:46

No.

3:50

If there are no folks who would like to remove items or discuss meeting minutes, I will accept the motion.

3:59

Motion to approve.

4:00

Motion to accept the minutes.

4:03

I'll second that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning Commission Operations███████████████████████23%
Food Truck Regulation███████████████████████23%
Public Engagement██████████████████████22%
Economic Development██████████████14%
Procedural███████7%
Public Safety█████5%
Urban Planning███3%
Business License Regulation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Merced Planning Commission Meeting – July 23, 2025

The Merced Planning Commission met on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chamber. The commission considered two public hearing items: a conditional use permit for a fitness center operated by Students With Aspiring Goals (SWAG) at 2241 Cessna Way, and a combined conditional use permit and restaurant encroachment permit for a bar and food truck at 521 West Main Street (Valley Public House). Both items were approved, the first unanimously and the second by a 5–2 vote. The meeting also included approval of the consent calendar and a report on upcoming agenda items.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of July 9, 2025: Approved and filed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Oral Communications (non-agenda): None.
  • Public Hearing E1 (Fitness Center): No public comments.
  • Public Hearing E2 (Bar and Food Truck):
    • EJ Lorenzi (opposition): Expressed concerns about parking availability in the downtown area, particularly the impact of the food truck on limited parking spaces, and noted that similar operations (Tioga and Sequoia) limit their food truck hours. He suggested that the food truck hours should be more restrictive.
    • Michael Gomez (support): Stated strong support for the project, citing alignment with downtown revitalization and noting that parking issues are a sign of a healthy downtown.
    • Gloria Valdovinos, Executive Director, Downtown Merced Partnership: Expressed support for the bar but voiced concern about a rotating food truck potentially competing with brick-and-mortar restaurants, suggesting a more permanent complementary food vendor.

Discussion Items

Public Hearing Item E1: Conditional Use Permit #25-0010 – Fitness Center (SWAG) at 2241 Cessna Way

  • Staff Presentation (Matt Livingston, Assistant Planner): The proposal involves converting a 4,950-square-foot industrial building into a fitness center for private training of high school and younger athletes. The site has a General Plan designation of Industrial and zoning of Light Industrial (I-L). Parking: 14 spaces provided vs. 16 required; staff recommends a parking reduction based on low demand (appointment-based operation). The applicant must submit a parking demand study to the Director of Development Services. Conditions include fire alarm monitoring and signage compliance. Staff recommended approval with 28 conditions.
  • Applicant (Devon Hilliard, founder of SWAG): Stated that the new facility will focus on one-on-one training (baseball, soccer, football) without weights, complementing their existing adjacent fitness facility. They will close their Atwater location and move operations to Merced, citing a contract with Merced City School District.
  • Commission Discussion: Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the program, noting its positive impact on youth. A motion to approve the categorical exemption and conditional use permit with conditions was made and seconded, then passed unanimously.

Public Hearing Item E2: Conditional Use Permit #25-0011 and Restaurant Encroachment Permit #25-0001 – Bar and Food Truck at 521 West Main Street

  • Staff Presentation (Matt Livingston): The applicant, Sair Lara, requests to operate a bar (beer and wine only, type 42 AVC license) with a front patio and a food truck in the private parking lot behind the building. The bar is 650 sq ft, located in the Central Commercial (C-C) zone, within the downtown parking district (exempt from parking requirements). Hours: Thursday–Saturday 12:30 PM–1 AM; Sunday–Wednesday 12:30 PM–11 PM. Food truck allowed 9 AM–11 PM Thursday–Saturday, 9 AM–10 PM other days. Police crime analysis showed 3 public intoxication, 106 disturbances/assaults, 47 code violations, 2 narcotics violations within 500 ft in past year; police department had no objection. Conditions include: public convenience or necessity approval from City Council, no adult entertainment, noise control, patio fence, and police chief can reduce hours if excessive complaints. Staff recommended approval with 41 conditions.
  • Applicant (Sair Lara): Described the Valley Public House as a passion project to bring a sports-bar atmosphere downtown, featuring Valley breweries. He plans to employ 7–9 people at $20/hour plus tips. The food truck will be operated by licensed vendors, not taking public parking (private spot). He noted that adding life to that block will deter crime.
  • Commission Discussion:
    • Commissioner Ochoa supported the project, noting that parking enforcement is a city responsibility.
    • Commissioner Swigger expressed concerns about the food truck location (secluded, lighting, extending hours past other restaurant closings) and potential parking conflicts for loft tenants.
    • Commissioner Greggens supported the project as aligning with downtown goals and appreciated that the applicant went through proper channels.
    • The Chair noted the city is actively addressing downtown parking.
  • Vote: Motion to approve (Ochoa, seconded by Greggens) carried 5–2.

Information Items

  • Report on Upcoming Agenda Items (Francisco Mendoza, Acting Planning Manager):
    • August 6, 2025: Conditional use permit for a second mobile food vendor at 1122 R Street (market with existing food truck).
    • September 17, 2025: Tentative subdivision map for 17 residential lots on 3.5 acres at 2250 Childs Avenue (Southeast Merced, zoning R-15, minimum 5,000 sq ft lots).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved (Unanimous): Environmental Review #25-0014 and Conditional Use Permit #25-0010 for the fitness center at 2241 Cessna Way, subject to 28 conditions and a parking reduction contingent on a parking demand study.
  • Approved (5–2): Environmental Review #25-0018, Conditional Use Permit #25-0011, and Restaurant Encroachment Permit #25-0001 for the bar and food truck at 521 West Main Street, subject to 41 conditions. The approval includes a range of food truck hours (9 AM–11 PM Thursday–Saturday; 9 AM–10 PM other days) and allows the police chief to reduce hours if excessive noise or disturbances occur.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned in memory of Jose Delgadillo, who served on the Planning Commission for six years.

Meeting Transcript

I call to order the meeting of the planning commission for July 23rd, 2025. I now ask for a moment of silence. Thanks, folks. Commissioner Ochoa, would you leave us lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please? We now move on to item B roll call. Kayla. Commissioner Tao. Here. Smith. President. President. Present. Swigger. Present. Yeah, you can't. Present. Ochoa? Present. Gregg's. Present. 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. I would like to briefly go over the process of submitting comments to the planning commission. Please submit your public comment to the planning commission electronically, no later than 1 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 planning web at city of Merced.gov 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 1 p.m. will be distributed to the planning commission and retained for the official record. To be video or listen to the planning commission meeting live, go to the city's website, www.city of Merced.gov, Facebook Live or Comcast Public Access Channel 96. Thank you, Kayla. 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 on the agenda will be called upon to speak during discussion of that item. Kayla, do we have any requests to speak? No. Thank you. Is there anybody in the public who wish to speak? Is this regarding an agenda item or public comment? Hi. Okay. Not quite yet.

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