Friday, May 16, 2003

Landscaping plan approved for Valencia Warehouse

By ALISA KING
Special to the Citizen

City Councilmen approved the Valencia Warehouse's newly revised landscaping plan last Monday night.

After previously being denied a permanent certificate of occupancy two months ago, the owner of the Valencia Warehouse has now made substantial changes to his approved site and landscaping plan.

According to Jim Williams, City Administrator, the owner was issued a 90-day temporary certificate of occupancy with the understanding he would use that time to revise his plans, get them approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council, and make the necessary improvements called for on the newly-approved plans. City Councilmen do not recommend the permission of use of the Warehouse in a residential area. Although, Mr. Williams says that there are other options such as:

1) To qualify as industrial.

2) To rezone

3) To do without retail businesses in an industrial zone

Staff recommends approval of the plan as submitted with the understanding it must be fully implemented prior to June 24, 2003, and that the City be provided with a one-year guarantee on all plant material shown on the plan. Furthermore, staff recommends as an additional condition that all exposed dirt areas on the site be 100 percent stabilized with vegetation by the June 24, 2003 date. The Planning Commission reviewed the plan on May 6, 2003, and recommended it be approved.

In the meantime, City Council plans to evaluate commercial use of the warehouse.