Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

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Heat. Heat. him. Madame clerk, can you please call roll?

Commissioner Nighton here. Commissioner Ramirez here. Commissioner Thomas is absent. Vice Chair Holler here. And Chair Madrid here. Um, Gloria, will you please lead us in the pledge of allegiance?

Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Thank you. So, I see there are no presentations. Um, madame clerk, are there any modifications to the agenda? We have none. Okay. Thank you. Can I ask the planning commission for an all in favor to approve the agenda? I I

hearing none. The agenda is approved. Um, madame clerk, are there any requests to speak on non-aggenda items? Not tonight. Okay. There is one set of minutes for the planning commission's approval. Does the planning commission have any modifications? Could I ask the planning commission for an all in favor to approve the August 27th, 2025 minutes? I I

hearing none. The minutes are approved. I see there are no consent calendar items. Okay. So before we begin this public hearing, I'd like to briefly explain the procedures. Following the staff presentation and any questions from the commission, I will open the public hearing. The applicant will then have an opportunity to speak followed by members of the audience who wish to address the commission. Each speaker will be given up two to three interrupted minutes. three well two three minutes to provide their comments. Please note the commission will not be able to respond to comments or questions posed during this public portion comment portion but may raise questions or issues with staff or the applicant after the public hearing is closed. Okay, this is um item 9.1, Richie Diner restaurant. Could principal Ryan Fowler please introduce the item?

Sure. Good evening, chair and commission. Uh, senior planner Fernando Herrera will be presenting agenda item 9.1.

Thank you. Good evening, members of the planning commission. The project before us is for Rich's Diner plot plan PLN24-0119. The project is located in Manify Lakes Plaza. It's just on the northwest corner of Newport Road and Antelope Road in the vacant space. The project is a request to modify the existing plot plan and develop a new 8,820 ft dining and restaurant in the place of a previously proposed 21,420t commercial space. The general plan and zoning designation of the property is specific plan, more specifically the Menipe village specific plan. Here's what the proposed site plan will look like. There will be one direct point of ingress and um access uh for the parcel itself, but there are multiple points of access located throughout the commercial center. There would be have been previously with the commercial space have been required 466 parking spaces but will now be reduced to 403 parking spaces. There is 548 parking spaces provided in the commercial plaza. The applicant has worked with planning to ensure that the landscaping standards are met. Here is what the proposed landscaping plan will look like. And this is what the architecture of the building is going to look like. So the applicant has incorporated the googi style to accommodate the diner feel of the restaurant and as well as uh be complimentary to the surrounding shopping center. Public notices were sent out on August 31st for today's meeting. All relevant public agencies were noticed and interested parties within a 300 foot

radius to comply with the city's noticing requirements and on-site posting was also provided. Staff did receive three letters um one in support um one from the adjacent property owner and one from Southern California Gas Company. The environmental determination is that since the project had been previously been analyzed under the Meny Lakes Plaza project, no further analysis is required. It is recommended that the project be um the planning commission find that the project has been previously analyzed under the Meny Lakes Plaza project and the new building/rest will have no new impacts and direct staff to file a notice of determination and adopt resolution approving minor major modification number PLN24-0119 for the approval of the new building configuration in the existing Manify Lake Shopping Center located on the northwest corner of Newport Road and Antelope Road. This completes staff's presentation. The applicant and staff are available for questions.

Thank you, senior planner Fernando Herrera. Does the uh planning commission have any uh questions? Not discussion, but questions for staff. Hold off. Okay, Tammy. Um just one question. You mentioned that there was a letter from the gas company, but I don't I don't see it in our folder. That wasn't that was via email. Um, so it's just it's just a standard comments from the the gas company letting the applicant know the procedures for the building uh when they submit their building permits. Oh, okay. Perfect. Thank you.

Good question, Tammy. I didn't see that either. Michael, um, I have it bring up page seven of 10. I have to ask a different question. All right. All right, at the top elevation there on the left. Um it looks like the building uh meets up with that dead wall for in the city beauty supply. This letter we got from Mr. Chu um that has been addressed and it will be addressed at the time. Correct.

Yes. Okay. Yeah, because I see the top right elevation looks like it kind of matches. So, I'm looking at the uh the next door neighbor and it looks like it matches up perfectly. So, um his concern has been addressed. Yes. Uh staff did reach out to them um and the um concerns have been addressed and uh both uh the staff and applicant will work with them to ensure that all of the concerns are met.

Okay. Thank you. Uh my question is so the original square footage approved was 21,420 square ft and now we're going to they're going to reduce the square footage on the in the same envelope to 8820 square feet. Yes. And all that extra footage as you so clearly explained is going to be per parking. There'd be no future anything allowed on that. Um, yes. So, the what was previously the existing square footage is actually be converted to parking spaces located at the rear.

And would there ever be another minor um uh modification that could be in the future to make up for those 8,800 square or those 12,000 square feet? So in the future um if the project owner of the of the commercial center were to ever apply for a modification at that time they would like let's say they were to want to redevelop the shopping center or some other type of proposal was to come um at that point they would handle it that way or um you know it could just be a complete redevelopment and revamp of the shopping center but that could happen 20 years from now 30 years from now 40 years from now 50 years from now. Um, but right just because it's being built at this time doesn't mean that it would essentially be frozen.

And then as far as their conditions of rule are concerned, there really there's no offsite conditions and the on-site are just the customary cookbook. Exactly. Yeah, they're all standard conditions. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner. So, the the original use I don't know what was in the specific plan was commercial retail. Yes, that is correct. So, the parking ratios, even though this is a smaller footprint, the parking ratio is going to be higher for restaurant use. You're going to have longer stays, but it still looks like there's plenty of parking. Yeah. So, for the smaller footprint.

So, for the shopping center, it was analyzed um at for the specific plan at a rate of five per 10,000 uh for the entire shopping center. Uh so, um even then, the shopping center will have ample amount of parking. So, it's going to be more than sufficient. I have I have a question on the I know it's an integral part of Richie, but the the barbecue Allen, is that a part of this action as well? Yes. Does that require AQMD approval?

I don't think so. Or else The reason I asked is because obviously it's a it's an open flame outdoors. it does have emissions. It's something to at least um make sure that that you're following if there is AQMD approval needed that that you follow up on that. That would be my request. Some of Well, our conditions do require compliance with any state or federal laws or any city policies. So, we'll we'll make sure to follow up just in case, but I don't believe that we've had this requirement. Yeah, I'm not opposed to it. I know it's I know it's an an integral part of the operation. I'm just saying is it required? Let's make sure that we check that box if it is.

Right. And we typically route these sort of projects to AQMD. We have a couple of contacts over there that review our our new projects that come in. So I don't think we received anything from AQMD on that. Yeah. I mean you obviously can't put any scrubbers or anything on that. So that's that's the reason for my question. Thank you. So, if we have no further questions, um, I'll open I'll open the public hearing at 6:12. Um, madame clerk, can you confirm that the item was legally noticed and if any correspondence has been received? It was, and correspondence is in your blue folders.

Thank you. Okay. So, at this time, I'd like to invite the applicant to the podium to speak. and and redundant, but I have to ask you, do you agree to all of the conditions of approval? Good evening, Chair Madrid commissioners. Thank you for uh reviewing our request for approval of the Richie Steiner. We're super excited. This is uh it's actually the fourth time we have tried to come into the city, but because of recession and some other things, it has not happened. And so we're super delighted to be here. Um, could you please state your name for the record?

Forgive me. Bryce Myers, BMW Management, representing Richie's Real American Diner. Thank you. Yes. Uh, to answer your question uh through the chair, we do have a few questions and clarifications that we are working on with staff regarding the conditions. However, those will all be worked through and we will do uh in what's in our power to uh to comply with all of the regulations and the conditions. And so we do accept them. So, thank you. Very good. Thank you. I could go on, but I am here at uh at at your leisure to to uh maybe you could address Commissioner Holler's question

about the barbecue smoker. Uh I can things are ever changing. We have never experienced an issue with AQMD. We do work very closely with the fire department to make sure that we are beyond um the range of combustible materials. It's considered and has long been considered in the four times that we have developed the barbecue smokers within Riverside County a backyard barbecue because it doesn't have uh it's not gas related. It's a uh mosquite charcoal wood charcoal flame. Uh it's typically at a much lower heat as we're slow smoking most of the meats, but we do cook to order the steaks from the time we open to the time we close. Um, so we have not experienced that, but if uh something comes up, then we would definitely be working closely with any agency that has uh any concerns or issues.

I I appreciate that. I So fire's concerns are different than uh than AQMD concerns. And again, I don't I'm not opposed to it. I want to make that clear. I just want to make sure we check that box because in other jurisdictions, I have seen issues with outdoor smokers. So hopefully that's not the case. Just want to make sure we we check that box. Great. Commissioner, hi. Thank you for being here. Um, how many employees would be employed by your business?

I would say any given shift would probably be close to about 30 to 35. We obviously would have duplicate amounts of employees because they work different shifts. So, we're probably looking at about 60 or more um in the restaurant itself, but not at the same time. Right. That makes sense. Typically about four managers and then the rest would be uh weight staff and uh front of the house as well as uh back of the house staff, prep cooks and and the like. And um to segue into the parking, so who would park in the employee nine employee parking spaces?

Uh well, it's not designated employee parking, but you hit right on it. That's our likely intention is that employees would be parking back there. um any of them who are driving. Some they uh they share, they ride share, and others uh make it uh car pool and things of that nature. But uh because of the excess land, we wanted to provide an area back there that's not easily accessible to guests and it gives a close proximity for staff and a safe area for them to be able to park as well. Thank you,

Good evening, Bryce. Good evening, sir. Um, I've never seen an applicant so happy. I'm happy. Um, couple questions for you. Um, how what's the capacity? Capacity, I believe it's going to be, uh, roughly 300 seats roughly. That's good size. It is good size. Quite a bit larger than any of the other diners. Actually, it is the largest. Um, the diner in Marietta is about 7,000 square feet. Uh the diner in Ranch Cukamong is about 6,000 square feet and the diner in Tmacula is 4,500 square feet with a very nice large outdoor patio though. Um and your hours 6:00 a.m. 6 a.m. Right.

No, we do not open that early unless the business ends up uh looking like it's going to uh you know require it. But typically we're open at 7:00 in the morning and then we close about Yep. for breakfast. Um, and then we close at 9:30 unless there's some adjustment for uh, you know, summer hours and different things like that. And with that large of a, uh, dining room, um, you can have meeting space available.

I don't have meeting space, but we do have two sides of the dining room. It's kind of like the old box car feel. So, oftentimes we may have a group in the morning uh, for breakfast or something like that. And we have a side of the restaurant that will be kind of what I would consider our secondary side of the restaurant. Um, and so we would be able to accommodate meetings and whatnot, but not large gatherings like a conference, uh, facility. And finally, uh, I'm kind of a history nut. Play it on me. Your grandfather is the founder of Richie, sir. His name is Jack. His name is Jack. Yes. He's no longer with us, but where's where's Richie come from?

Richie? Uh, good question. And so the history of that is uh Richie comes from a gentleman by the name of Rich Schneider who you know as the one of the owners of uh In-N-Out Burger and he was the best friend of my grandfather for many years. We actually used to fly hot air balloons of uh at the Tmacula Balloon Wine Festival back in the 80s and uh and whatnot with the In-N-Out Burger balloon and uh he was looking for names. Didn't want to call it Bryce's Diner so he ended up calling her Richie Diner. He loved the simplicity of of In-N-Out. He's even mentioned in the uh the book that the C the former CFO had written and whatnot, but uh big fan. We're still big fans of In-N-Out as well, but uh we don't have as simple of a menu as In-N-Out as you know. Yeah. Thank you. You're welcome.

So, I have a question. Yes, sir. So, you know, we love our seniors here. So, would you call yourself a senior friendly diner?

Absolutely. Absolutely. Um, my grandfather's aim with a diner is to appeal to all ages, all generations. And so the fun part of the development that we are going after with the the googy theme as well as the interior design, it hearkens to an older generation, but it also appeals to a younger generation to where I don't know if it's hipsters they call them these days, but uh they're definitely a lot younger than me. but they would enjoy whether it's a date for a little Sunday and a and a pie or a a burger shake and fry or something delicious smoked out on our barbecues. You're going to find families, younger generation and uh the senior generation enjoying alike for sure. Thanks, Bryce. You're welcome.

Do uh commissioners have any further questions for Bryce? Okay. Thank you, Bryce. Thank you very much. Okay. Uh, madame clerk, are there any requests to speak or would anyone in the audience like to make a comment? We do. We have two. Gloria Sanchez.

You can't see me. Oh, there you go. Thank you. Magic. Oh, you're magic. All right. Well, not that low. Okay. Thank you. Wow.

Good evening, commissioners, staff, residents. My name is Gloria Sanchez. I live at 29258 Paradise Canyon Drive in the beautiful city of Meny. First of all, I want to welcome Richie's Diner to the city of Meny. We hope that you will approve it and you will love it here as the rest of us. The one thing that I do see that is not in your plans is for a private meeting room. And the reason I bring that up is that in the city of Meny, we have many nonprofits. We have a lot of service organizations that need a place to meet. At the moment, we don't really have that available. And even though you said part of it might be to one side, it is not that so much as to have a private room where the noise level is not so high. Um that is one thing that we've always asked that we look at that. I know we have some community centers on the books to come to Meny. We can't wait that long. I think our nonprofits have uh always again looked for a place. our senior center has been very accommodating to us by allowing some of our nonprofits to meet there. Uh so I would just say that uh as well and um we welcome you. We can hardly wait till it comes because it is coming to our side where I live and that's going to be the major major restaurant in our area which will be used by many of our seniors and that part of town and I'm sure many others. So looking forward to that day when that happens. Thank you.

Thank you, Gloria,

George Kekler. Careful. Magic. Hello, my name is George Kekler. I am a director with the Sun City Cruisers. Uh, thank you for having us here, Commissioner, and, uh, all the staff. Uh, I don't know what to tell you except we really want this diner. We are a car club located here in Meny, California. I live in the lovely suburb of Romoland and uh, we are really looking forward to this. There are approximately uh, 60 members of our club family members. That's 120 people. We probably have 150 cars, old cars, classics. Uh we're looking for somewhere a little bigger to have our meetings. We are stretched to the limit at Archeralds. Uh private uh meeting room would be great, but we'll take half of the restaurant, maybe the whole restaurant. Uh but we we want to welcome you and we want to hope that you all approve this and we can get started on it as soon as we can. So yes. Oh yes, we'll gladly bring our cars and you may have a few extra because sometimes they break down. But uh anyhow, we're uh looking very forward to this and um If you uh need cars, let us know. Thank you very much.

Thus the extra square footage. Thank you, George. That's going to work. Thank you, cruisers. Okay. So, if there are no further speakers, I will close the public hearing at 6:24. Okay. Commissioners, do you have any comments for discussion? Commissioner Nighton, Commissioner Holler, and I don't either.

I'll just make it quick. Um, one thing I have noticed, um, following social media is there's been a big complaint that there's no restaurants on the east side of the 215. This this will be um a very popular restaurant. So, was that Yeah. So, I'm uh I'm looking forward to see if what my fellow commissioners have to say.

Me too. Me too. We do meet at your restaurant in that far south portion in Maretta that gets about 40 people. It's quiet in there, so I think it'll work. Thank you all. Okay, there is one resolution for adoption. Can I get a motion and a second to adopt the resolution as presented by staff? motion.

It's okay. Just eager's good.

Unanimous. Congratulations. Welcome to Metife Richie. [Applause] Wow, some happy campers here. Okay, so that was item uh that was item 9.1. So yes sir, you can stay.

Okay, just Okay. Okay. So, it takes us to item 10 to discussion items. Okay. Discussion items. Uh, community development director Ryan Fowler, do you have any updates or comments for us? Sure. Uh, just a couple of quick updates on things places that have been opening over the last couple weeks. And I apologize if you've heard any of these before, but um, we do have the Poppy's convenience store and car wash up there. It's the on deck uh center on Trumbull Norththeast northwest corner of Trumbull and 74. Hey Richie, we're still in session. Could you guys take it outside?

I mean Bryce. Well, Richie, Bryce, whatever. Sorry, Ryan. Sure. I'll repeat it.

So, so at the northwest corner of the 74 in Trumbull, north portion of the city, there's a center that's called um on deck. And reason it's called there is because it's next to the big league dreams fields up there. They're going to have a hotel eventually um that's all approved entitled but what just opened its doors uh recently here in the last uh week or so was Poppy's uh it's the convenience store car wash. So that center is starting to come along. Um, also across the street, uh, Green Physical Therapy and Rancho Medical. And then up on Meny and McCall next to the Heritage Lake community is the Chipotles that just opens its doors as well. So,

um, one last thing, the pedestrian bridge, uh, across the street over in this center, um, you can see it being constructed. they have the forms up and they're uh pouring those those footings for that bridge and so you can expect that sometime Q1 first quarter um or early next year.

Great. Hey Ryan, um I got a couple updates myself. Um I previously asked about Ambient and uh the Boulders project. um the SECA uh newsletter came out and pretty much right there in bold print said uh ambient is uh has gone dark. Um nobody's heard from them including the city. So um I want to report that. And also the boulders uh now has a now leasing sign up and that plywood facade out in front of it. It's gone. So, um I'm anticipating a grand opening fairly soon on that one. So,

and that one is getting close. Um they're coming in for inspections right now and so we're just working through the last few items there, but they're they're getting close on occupying as well. We we have any questions for Nick since he's here. Progress going well over there, Nick, on the He wants to. He's here. Make make him useful.

I'm sorry. What was the question? On the crossing. How we doing on the the pedestrian crossing or the uh Bradley Road? The wash. Yeah, the wash. So, they they finished pouring their last piles uh this week. They will be mobilizing to start the foundations uh abutments and the uh columns in the middle of the channel over the next the course of the next two or three weeks. So, no complaints. No complaints. It's going good. Oh, wow. I see you're on schedule. Good. Yeah, it's it's going good. We have a couple utility conflicts that we're working through, but other than that, they're they're progressing very well. Very fast. Uh the contractor has been very aggressive on doing the work out there.

Great. Thank you. and uh just the pedestrian bridge crossing. Um it's kind of neat. Right now they're assembling all the um the um steel structure out there in Central Park. So if you get a chance, go look. It's pretty neat. They're they'll actually assemble it uh on the grass and then pick it up and swing it into position.

I want to ask you on Bradley where we don't have the median, but now we have delineators. So that's the same thing as when we have a median. Correct. Um, we kind of did a a a gradual improvement to to uh prevent the left turn movements. So, we started off with the striping, then we added the little u domes, what we call superbot dots, and then now we added the channelizers. So ultimately uh a median will be required because there's a lot of maintenance efforts that go along with having those channelizers and domes because as people will still try to maneuver their way through those. But as as the project that comes into to the uh east

uh will ultim widen the road a little bit more so th those that facility can be placed in its ultimate location because right now it's not in the exact center of the roadway. I guess my I guess what I'm saying is it's it's people are seeing it's not what is end of the world like they thought it was going to be out there, you know. Yeah. So, good job. Yeah, they they they they're finding their ways around uh around into the shopping center. Good. Good. Thanks for being here and thanks for bringing Steve. Okay, that takes us to Oh, okay. Committee activities. Michael,

um on August 28th, I attended uh Meny Night at the Storm Stadium. Yeah, I went there with you. I saw you. You guys didn't go. We missed you. It's okay. Okay. Okay. So, do we have any future agenda items from planning commissioners requests? Nobody. Okay. So, unfortunately, this meeting meeting's over. I adjourn the meeting at 6:32. Thank you all.