Commission approves online auto-sales business use permit, with staff conditions
January 25, 2022 | Clearlake, Lake County, California
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The Clearlake Planning Commission on Jan. 25 approved Conditional Use Permit CUP 2021-34 and categorical exemption CE 2021-13 to allow an online wholesale and retail automobile-sales operation (USA Vehicle Locator LLC) to operate from a small office in a general commercial building.
Senior planner Mark Roberts described the proposal as an approximately 650-square-foot Suite A office in a multi-tenant commercial building. Roberts said the business model is primarily online: employees would find vehicles, recondition them off-site, arrange paperwork and delivery, and allow in-person inspection by appointment. Roberts told commissioners the applicant had coordinated with the Department of Motor Vehicles and that, despite being an online-focused operation, the DMV required recognition akin to a dealership licensing type for the activities proposed.
Applicant Tom Ealy told the commission he already holds a wholesale license, a security bond and a sales-tax permit and described the operation as online-driven with vehicles present on-site only for delivery or brief inspection by customers. When asked about parking and potential disputes among tenants, staff said parking could be resolved by additional spaces or lease coordination and that many issues would be private arrangements between tenants, the landowner and neighbors unless the city were asked to label parking per unit.
Commissioners asked whether DMV licensing language (described in the staff report as “unrestricted”) meant the business could conduct on-site sales. Staff and the applicant explained that the Planning Commission’s use-permit conditions could restrict on-site sales even if the DMV’s licensing language described broader recognition; staff said the conditions in the use permit would prohibit on-site sales in practice at that location.
Commissioner McCarrick moved to adopt resolution PC 2022-06 approving CUP 2021-34; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. The conditions require standard coordination with the DMV, building permits and ADA compliance and reiterate that no mechanical work or long-term vehicle storage is permitted at the Suite A location.
The commission closed the hearing after no remote or written comments were received.
Senior planner Mark Roberts described the proposal as an approximately 650-square-foot Suite A office in a multi-tenant commercial building. Roberts said the business model is primarily online: employees would find vehicles, recondition them off-site, arrange paperwork and delivery, and allow in-person inspection by appointment. Roberts told commissioners the applicant had coordinated with the Department of Motor Vehicles and that, despite being an online-focused operation, the DMV required recognition akin to a dealership licensing type for the activities proposed.
Applicant Tom Ealy told the commission he already holds a wholesale license, a security bond and a sales-tax permit and described the operation as online-driven with vehicles present on-site only for delivery or brief inspection by customers. When asked about parking and potential disputes among tenants, staff said parking could be resolved by additional spaces or lease coordination and that many issues would be private arrangements between tenants, the landowner and neighbors unless the city were asked to label parking per unit.
Commissioners asked whether DMV licensing language (described in the staff report as “unrestricted”) meant the business could conduct on-site sales. Staff and the applicant explained that the Planning Commission’s use-permit conditions could restrict on-site sales even if the DMV’s licensing language described broader recognition; staff said the conditions in the use permit would prohibit on-site sales in practice at that location.
Commissioner McCarrick moved to adopt resolution PC 2022-06 approving CUP 2021-34; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call. The conditions require standard coordination with the DMV, building permits and ADA compliance and reiterate that no mechanical work or long-term vehicle storage is permitted at the Suite A location.
The commission closed the hearing after no remote or written comments were received.
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