31C - CUP - 2402 S BRISTOL ST - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CUP No. 2015 -01 Variance Nos. 2015 -01 & 2015 -02 March 9, 2015 Page 3 Site Improvements and Landscaoin The applicant proposes to enhance the overall project site with new walls, sidewalks, a new street light, and on- and off -site landscaping. As part of the project, the applicant will remove the existing narrow sidewalk to accommodate new curbs and a wider sidewalk with street tree boxes. Moreover, a new street light will be installed per City standards to the south of the proposed driveway, assisting with the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists in evening hours. These improvements will be consistent with existing development patterns on South Bristol Street. The applicant proposes to leave intact the existing perimeter walls on the project site. These walls currently range from eight to ten feet in height along the project site's property lines where they abut residential uses, and will serve to buffer adjacent single- or multiple - family uses from the car wash stacking lanes and vacuum areas. In addition, the applicant proposes to construct a new eight -foot tall solid wall along the project site's northern boundary with the existing commercial use to the north to provide visual screening of the vacuum areas from Bristol Street, Finally, an enhanced landscaping plan with a decorative water feature is proposed for the site. A 47 -foot wide, four -foot tall water feature is proposed along the project frontage on Bristol Street. The water feature will be constructed using materials that will match the buildings on site and will assist with screening the vehicular lanes of the car wash building near Bristol Street (Exhibit 7). Protect Background The existing car wash building on the project site was constructed in 1970. In 1991, the owners of the site carried out various improvements on the site to upgrade the aesthetics of the building, including a reroof and architectural upgrades. From its original construction to present, the car wash use has occupied only a portion of the subject parcel. The proposed development will expand development onto the entire parcel. In April 2011, the applicant acquired the site, and in September 2012 submitted the current application. Since receiving the initial project application, city staff has worked closely with the applicant to improve on -site circulation and to mitigate any potential negative impacts on sensitive adjacent uses stemming from traffic or noise. South Coast Speedwash at the Autobahn is the applicant's latest venture in car wash construction and is the first proposed Orange County location for the parent company. The company currently operates a similar full- service car wash in the High Desert. community of Victorville. Although modeled after a loose interpretation of the automobile- oriented Googie architectural style, the Victorville Speedwash contains similar high - quality, durable building materials. The applicants intend to construct a similar product in Santa Ana, albeit with more contemporary building materials and styles. 31 C -5