City Council Chamber
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
CITY OF MERCED
Minutes
Planning Commission
6:00 PMWednesday, August 6, 2025
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson GONZALEZ called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
A.1. Moment of Silence
A.2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Commissioner OCHOA led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
B. ROLL CALL
Clerk's Note: Deputy City Attorney TANIGUCHI attended the meeting via Microsoft Teams. Commissioner Smith was absent, excused.
Chair Anthony Gonzalez, Member Yang Pao Thao, Member Emanuelle Ochoa, Vice Chair Jeremiah Greggains, Member Jerry Vue, and Member Conchita Swiggart
Present: 6 -
Member Walter SmithAbsent: 1 -
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
D.1. SUBJECT: Planning Commission Minutes of July 23, 2025 ACTION:
Approving and filing the Planning Commission Minutes of July 23, 2025
A motion was made by Member Ochoa, seconded by Vice Chair Greggains and carried by the following vote, to approve the Consent Agenda.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Pao Thao
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
6 -
No: 0
August 6, 2025Planning Commission Minutes
Absent: Member Smith1 -
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS
E.1. SUBJECT: Conditional Use Permit # 25-0013, initiated by Edgardo Lopez Cruz, on behalf of Eltareb Ali Mohssen Trustee, property owner .
This application involves a request to operate a second food truck within the parking lot of California Liquor & Grocery at 1122 R Street, generally located on the northeast corner of R Street and West 11th Street, within a General Plan designation of Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) and a Zoning classification of Thoroughfare Commercial (C-T) . *PUBLIC HEARING*
ACTION: Approve/Disapprove/Modify
1) Environmental Review #25-0019 (Categorical
Exemption)
2) Conditional Use Permit #25-0013
SUMMARY
Edgardo Lopez Cruz is requesting conditional use permit approval to operate a second food truck within the parking lot located at 1122 R Street (Attachment B). Multiple Mobile Food Vendors on one site are considered a conditional use within a Thoroughfare Commercial (C-T) Zone. The proposed food truck would be located within a parking lot, situated near the southwest portion of the parcel, relatively close to the existing mobile food vendor (Attachment C). The Planning Commission will be reviewing this proposal to ensure that the new site plan is designed in a manner that minimizes negative impacts to the existing site and promotes compatible and orderly development. Staff is recommending approval of this request subject to conditions.
RECOMMENDATION
Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve Environmental Review # 25-0019 (Categorical Exemption) and Conditional Use Permit # 25-0013 (including the adoption of the Resolution at Attachment A).
Assistant Planner LIVINGSTON reviewed the report on this item. For further information, refer to Staff Report #25-617.
Public Testimony was opened at 6:14 PM.
Speaker from the Audience in Favor
August 6, 2025Planning Commission Minutes
MAGDALENA GARCIA, Applicant, Merced, CA
There were no speakers in opposition to the project.
Public Testimony was closed at 6:17 PM.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Greggains, seconded by Member Ochoa and carried by the following vote, to adopt a Categorical Exemption regarding Environmental Review #25-0019, and approve Conditional Use Permit #25-0013, subject to the Findings and thirty-three (33) Conditions as set forth in Staff Report #25-617 (RESOLUTION #4161).
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Pao Thao
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
F. ACTION ITEMS
F.1. SUBJECT: Cancellation of August 20, 2025, and September 3, 2025, Planning Commission Meetings due to a lack of items
ACTION:
Cancel the Planning Commission Meetings of August 20, 2025, and September 3, 2025
A motion was made by Chairperson Gonzalez, seconded by Member Swiggart and carried by the following vote, to cancel the Planning Commission Meetings of August 20, 2025, and September 3, 2025, due to a lack of items.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Pao Thao
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
G. INFORMATION ITEMS
G.1. SUBJECT: Report by Acting Planning Manager of Upcoming Agenda Items
August 6, 2025Planning Commission Minutes
ACTION
Information only.
Acting Planning Manager LAN went over items for the next several Planning Commission meetings.
G.2. SUBJECT: Calendar of Meetings/Events
Aug. 4 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
6 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
18 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
20 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
26 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 City Council, 6:00 p.m. (Tuesday)
3 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
15 City Council, 6:00 p.m.
17 Planning Commission, 6:00 p.m.
H. BUSINESS
H.1. SUBJECT: Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson ACTION
Election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson
Commissioner THAO nominated Chairperson GONZALEZ to continue as Chairperson and Vice Chair GREGGAINS to continue as Vice Chair. Both Chairperson GONZALEZ and Vice Chair GREGGAINS accepted the nominations. There were no other nominations for Chairperson or Vice Chairperson.
A motion was made by Member Thao, seconded by Member Vue and carried by the following vote, to re-elect Anthony Gonzalez as Chairperson and Jeremiah Greggains as Vice Chairperson.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Pao Thao
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -
I. ADJOURNMENT
August 6, 2025Planning Commission Minutes
Clerk's Note: The Regular Meeting adjourned at 6:25 PM.
A motion was made by Chairperson Gonzalez, seconded by Member Swiggart and carried by the following vote, to adjourn the Regular Meeting.
Aye: Chair Gonzalez
Member Pao Thao
Member Ochoa
Vice Chair Greggains
Member Vue
Member Swiggart
6 -
No: 0
Absent: Member Smith1 -