Planning Commission approves rezoning to enable Royal Motors' vehicle storage and repair consolidation

The Planning Commission on May 23 approved changes to the planning code to allow Royal Motors and similar long‑standing production, distribution and repair (PDR) uses to continue operating in West SoMa. Planning staff explained the ordinance would rezone 135 Kissling Street from RED (Residential Enclave) to REDMX (Residential Enclave Mixed) and conditionally permit enclosed vehicle storage lots where appropriate, while leaving conditional use authorization to ensure community compatibility.

John Kevlin, counsel for Royal Motors, told the commission the change would permit the company to consolidate its storage and service operations at a site planned for a vehicle stacker system, replacing expiring leases and preserving several hundred PDR jobs. Planning staff framed the change as corrective to a code reorganization that had inadvertently removed previously approvable enclosed vehicle storage lots from WMUG districts; the modification recommended by staff restores conditional use review in WMUG to screen impacts on nearby residential areas.

Commission discussion focused on long‑term land‑use implications, potential pressure from state density bonuses and the Hub plan’s spillover effects. Commissioners who voted yes said the change is limited, helps preserve employment and will be subject to a conditional‑use review when specific projects return to the commission. Commissioners Imperial and Moore voted no, expressing concern about extending vehicle‑storage allowances into WMUG without fuller analysis of neighborhood effects.

Outcome: motion to approve the ordinance with staff modifications passed 4–2.