PC 092513 - Laserfiche WebLink

Hopyard Road and Valley Avenue and on Bernal Avenue near Stanley Boulevard are in the C -N District. Mr. Hirst stated that the project has been an existing gasoline and automotive service facility for 41 years and that the existing station was rebuilt in 1989. He indicated that Mike Roseberry is the dealer and has been in business, running the automotive service, for 13 years and the gasoline and snack shop operation for the last eight years. He noted that the proposed business will have the same property owner, the same dealer, and the same businessman who has proven to be established and has operated a successful business at that location for a number of years. Mr. Hirst stated that Mr. Roseberry will be the convenience store operator. He indicated that it is kind of popular to beat up on 7- Eleven or any other corporation, and he wanted to make it clear that this is not a 7- Eleven corporate store; that Mr. Roseberry is the owner and operator and 7- Eleven is the supplier; and Mr. Roseberry does have a supply agreement with 7- Eleven. Mr. Hirst explained that the purpose of his modernization and upgrade is to increase the sales to each customer. He noted that in this day and age, automotive service has become more and more technical; it is becoming difficult to hire qualified people, and remuneration that he can afford is no longer profitable. He added that by converting to a convenience store and carwash, Mr. Roseberry's goal is to increase the sales, increase the ticket size to each of the existing customers. He indicated that they are expecting only a three- to five - percent increase in the number of customers coming into the station. He explained that it is sort of a defensive maneuver where Mr. Roseberry will be offering two services: a 24 -hour convenience store and carwash that do not now exist at a major intersection. He noted that the intersection has 42,000 cars going through it daily and that it is more than just a neighborhood. Mr. Hirst stated that they have done quite a bit of outreach over the last several months. He noted that they have started a support petition on -site, and the 125 to 135 customers who have signed it are now asking when this is going to happen. He stated that he asked Mr. Roseberry why they got only 125 to 130 people, and the answer was that at this point, most people buy their gasoline with their credit card outside and do not come into the store. He indicated that they are trying to get them into the store. He noted that most of those who come into the store are those who come in the early mornings between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., such as construction workers who buy things in the convenience store. Mr. Hirst stated that he has talked to every single merchant in the two adjoining shopping centers, and not one has objected; in fact, most of them liked it because they know that this store will have better coffee than they get. He indicated that he has knocked on about 200 doors in the immediate neighborhood and that they had supplied them with a letter, a site plan, and a simulation of the interior of the store. He added that he has given Ms. Soo a copy of the letter and a map of the doors. He noted that of the 200, they found about 100 people at home, two of whom asked about the 24 -hour operation. He indicated that they now have more people who have commented since. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 25, 2013 Page 4 of 45