HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2025-23 - IDR- 2025-04 - PA 2019-31 - Blazed UtopiaRESOLUTION NO. 2025-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MINOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN REVIEW
NO. 2025-04 TO LEGALIZE AN EXISTING 392 SQ. FT. ATTACHED STORAGE
SHED AND CONSTRUCT A NEW 373 SQ. FT. ATTACHED PATIO AND A 21 SQ.
FT. FIRE RISER ROOM LOCATED AT 233 WEST MINTHORN STREET (APN: 377-
220-024)
Whereas, Rahman & Associates, LLC., has filed an application with the City of Lake
Elsinore (City) requesting approval of Planning Application No. 2019-31, which includes a minor
Industrial Design Review (IDR No. 2025-04) to legalize an unpermitted 392 sq. ft. storage shed
and construct a 373 sq. ft. patio and a 21 sq. ft. fire riser room. The request also includes a
variance (VAR No. 2025-01) to reduce the proposed storage shed’s rear yard setback from 15 ft.
to 3.5 ft and the proposed patio’s rear yard setback from 15 ft. to 9.4 ft;
Whereas, the project is located on the northeasterly edge of West Minthorn Street on an
approximately 1.37-acre site at 233 West Minthorn Street and encompasses Assessor Parcel
Number 377-220-024;
Whereas, on June 23, 2020, the City Council approved Planning Application No. 2019-31
to establish an approximately 17,037 sq. ft. new cannabis business now known as Blazed Utopia;
Whereas, Section 6.0 of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan (MSHCP) requires that all discretionary projects within a MSHCP Criteria Cell
undergo the Lake Elsinore Acquisition Process (LEAP) and Joint Project Review (JPR) process
to analyze the scope of the proposed development and establish a building envelope that is
consistent with the MSHCP criteria;
Whereas, Section 6.0 of the MSHCP further requires that the City adopt consistency
findings demonstrating that the proposed discretionary entitlement complies with the MSHCP
Criteria Cell, and the MSHCP goals and objectives;
Whereas, pursuant to Section 17.415.060 (Minor Design Review), Section 17.410.070
(Approving Authority), and Section 17.410.030 (Multiple Applications) of the LEMC, the Planning
Commission (Commission) has been delegated the responsibility of reviewing and approving,
conditionally approving, or denying this minor design review application; and
Whereas, on September 16, 2025, at a duly noticed Public Hearing, the Commission has
considered evidence presented by the Community Development Department and other interested
parties with respect to this item.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAKE
ELSINORE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The Commission has considered the project and its consistency with the
MSHCP prior to adopting Findings of Consistency with the MSHCP.
Section 2: That in accordance with the MSHCP, the Commission makes the following
findings for MSHCP consistency:
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PC Reso. No. 2025-23
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1. The project is not subject to the City’s LEAP and the Western Riverside County Regional
Conservation Authority’s (RCA) JPR processes as it is not located within a Criteria Cell.
2. The Project site is flat, heavily disturbed and devoid of vegetation and the site has been
fully developed for commercial uses. The project is proposing to construct three (3) new
accessory structures on already fully developed site. As such, the Riparian/Riverine Areas
and Vernal Pool Guidelines as set forth in Section 6.1.2 of the MSHCP are not applicable.
3. The project is consistent with the Protection of Narrow Endemic Plant Species Guidelines
as set forth in MSHCP Section 6.1.3 and the Additional Survey Needs and Procedures as
set forth in MSHCP Section 6.3.2 because the project is not located within any Narrow
Endemic Plant Species Survey Areas or Critical Species Survey Areas.
4. The project is consistent with the Fuels Management Guidelines because the project site
is not within or adjacent to any MSHCP Criteria Cell or conservation areas.
5. The project has been conditioned to pay any applicable MSHCP Local Development
Mitigation fees.
Section 3: The Commission has reviewed and analyzed the proposed project pursuant to
the California Planning and Zoning Laws (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 59000 et seq.), the Lake Elsinore
General Plan (GP), and the LEMC and finds and determines that the proposed project is
consistent with the requirements of California Planning and Zoning Law and with the goals and
policies of the GP and the LEMC.
Section 4: The Commission finds the project is exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Pub. Res. Code
§§21000 et seq.: “CEQA”) and the CEQA Guidelines (14 C.C.R. §§ 15000 et seq.) pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (Class 3: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures)
and Section 15305 (Class 5: Minor Alteration in Land Use Limitations).
Section 5: That in accordance with Section 17.415.050.G of the LEMC, the Commission
makes the following findings regarding Minor Industrial Design Review No. 2025-04:
1. The project, as approved, will comply with the goals and objectives of the General Plan
and the zoning district in which the project is located.
The project has a General Plan Land Use designation of Business Professional (BP) and
is located within the Limited Manufacturing (M-1) zoning district. The BP land use
designation and M-1 zoning district provides for office and administrative uses, light
industrial, research and development, office-based firms, including office support facilities,
restaurants, medical clinics, public and quasi-public uses, and similar and compatible uses
with a maximum 0.45 floor area ratio (FAR). The project proposes three (3) minor
accessory structures to support an existing cannabis business. The accessory structures
would increase the total square footage of the existing industrial building to 18,050 sq. ft.
which would also increase the FAR to 0.30. Although the accessory structures slightly
increase the FAR, it would still be below the maximum FAR allowed. Furthermore, the
existing cannabis use was found consistent with the General Plan and the M-1 zoning
district as part of its original entitlement approval by City Council in 2020. Therefore, the
project is consistent with the goals and objectives of the General Plan and the zoning
district in which the project is located.
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2. The Project complies with the design directives contained in the LEMC and all applicable
provisions of the LEMC.
The project is appropriate to the site and surrounding developments. The architectural
design of the proposed accessory structures conform to the Nonresidential Development
Standards (Chapter 17.112) of the LEMC. Sufficient setbacks and enhanced onsite
landscaping have been provided thereby creating interest and varying vistas as a person
moves along abutting streets. The architecture has been designed to achieve harmony
and compatibility with the surrounding area and the existing industrial building. In addition,
safe and efficient circulation has been achieved onsite.
3. Conditions and safeguards pursuant to Section 17.415.050.G.3 of the LEMC, including
guarantees and evidence of compliance with conditions, have been incorporated into the
approval of the Project to ensure development of the property in accordance with the
objectives of Section 17.415.050.
Pursuant to Section 17.415.050.E of the LEMC, the project was considered by the
Planning Commission at a duly noticed Public Hearing held on September 16, 2025. The
project, as reviewed and conditioned by all applicable City divisions, departments and
agencies, will not have a significant effect on the environment. Further, compliance with
the conditions of approval will be reviewed during the plan check and inspection review
process prior to commencing operations.
Section 6: Based upon the evidence presented, the above findings, and the Conditions
of Approval imposed upon the project, the Commission hereby approves Industrial Design Review
No. 2025-04.
Section 7: This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
Passed and Adopted on this 16th day of September 2025.
John Gray
Chair
Attest:
_____________________________
Damaris Abraham
Community Development Director
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE )
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I, Damaris Abraham, Community Development Director of the City of Lake Elsinore, California,
hereby certify that Resolution No. 2025-23 was adopted by the Planning Commission of the City
of Lake Elsinore, California, at a regular meeting held September 16, 2025 and that the same was
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners Peters; Vice Chair Carroll; and Chair Gray
NOES: Commissioners Devor and Pease
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
Damaris Abraham
Community Development Director
Docusign Envelope ID: 95BA2327-F590-46AC-AD43-AB9FF2DB47D8