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At its May 7 meeting, the San Juan Bautista Planning Commission took another look at specifications for the proposed gas station and mini-market planned for the corner of Hwy 156 and The Alameda and invited public comments before approving on a 3-0 vote the amended site design.
The project has faced many legal challenges and design makeovers since it was first proposed in 2013 and seemed ready to stall again after a design submitted for approval at the Nov. 14, 2023, meeting failed to gain any support from any commissioners.
The new design by architect Fred Avila was based on a suggestion from the city’s historian consultant, Cara Vonk, to make the gas station more harmonious with the town’s historical image, and a suggestion from Commissioner Dan De Vries to use the Windmill Market’s look as a jumping-off point.
The design as submitted includes a 3,775-square-foot convenience store, a six-pump gas station with a 3,440-square-foot canopy, 39 parking spaces, eight electric vehicle charging stations, a 1,978-square-foot lease space, landscaping and an Alcoholic Beverage Control license. In one significant change, the plans no longer include a quick-serve restaurant.
During public comment, representatives of Hacienda de Leal raised objections to the project including the station operating 24 hours a day, possible light and noise pollution at night and the station obscuring the hotel from passing traffic.
Commissioner Jose Aranda questioned co-owner Deval Dalla on these issues. Dalla said the station had to be open 24 hours to keep the business profitable, that the evening lighting was not directed toward the hotel, and that he was not open to using his business signage to advertise any other business.
Aranda also expressed concern that electric cars waiting to use a charging station would fill all of the available parking spaces. According to the developers, Tesla owners are notified by their car’s software of any open spaces at any given station prior to pulling in and would most likely avoid stations where the capacity has been reached.
With no further changes deemed necessary, Aranda and Commissioners David Medeiros and Iraida H. Pisano voted to approve the design. Commissioner Dan De Vries was not present and there is one vacancy.
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