Zoning administrator approves Dollar Tree 'bargain basement' permit for Escondido shopping center

Sally Schiffman, principal planner and acting zoning administrator, approved a minor conditional use permit (PL25-0298) on April 2, 2026, allowing Dollar Tree to operate a 10,064-square-foot "bargain basement" retail suite at 1580 West Valley Parkway in Escondido.

Robert Berry, senior planner, told the zoning administrator that the site sits within a planned development commercial zone and the Escondido general plan’s planned commercial designation, which permits bargain-basement stores with a minor conditional use permit. He said the building is an existing 25,137-square-foot commercial structure within a 22.7-acre multi-tenant center, and staff concluded the proposed use conforms with the municipal code and the adopted master plan. "So staff recommends approval of the minor CEP for the bargain basement store located at 1580 Valley Parkway," Berry said.

Berry described operations as daily hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., a total of 14 employees (up to three per shift, up to nine on-site at a time), deliveries about three to four times per week, and no expansion of the existing structure; proposed work is limited to interior tenant improvements, replacement of front and rear doors and roll-up doors, restriping of parking, and ADA landing improvements. He said the shopping center’s shared parking (1 space per 232 square feet) provides a total of 1,060 off-street spaces and that the 10,064-square-foot suite would require approximately 43 spaces under the ratio.

A nearby homeowner, Jenny Jameson, identified herself during public comment and asked whether the project would affect the slope behind her backyard. Jameson said, "I'm the house owner of the of the just just the backside of the house." Staff responded that exterior work would be limited to the building itself and would not touch the landscape slope; Berry added that a rooftop maintenance access ladder was being relocated and would be painted to match the building. After hearing that explanation, Jameson said she had no further questions.

Schiffman said she had reviewed the staff report, considered public testimony and the notice of exemption, and found the project categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15301 for existing facilities. "Therefore, per article 61 and the authorities granted to me as zoning administrator and in consideration of the findings of fact referred to as exhibit B of the resolution, I hereby approve, permit PL25Dash0298 for a conditional use permit for a bargain basement store as depicted on the project plans and subject to the conditions of approval," she said. She noted that decisions of the zoning administrator may be appealed to the Planning Commission pursuant to zoning code section 33-1303.

The approval allows Dollar Tree to continue operating the store under the conditional use permit and subject to the conditions included in the draft resolution. No formal vote tally was recorded; the action was an administrative approval by the zoning administrator and may be appealed to the Planning Commission.