National City planning commission approves 24-hour drive-through addition for Karina’s Mexican Seafood

The National City Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit May 4 to add a single-lane drive-through to Karina’s Mexican Seafood at 1705 Highland Avenue.

Erin Rehm of the National City Planning Department summarized the proposal, saying the project would add a 43-square-foot drive-through addition with queuing for nine vehicles, an electronic ordering speaker and an exit lane on a 0.28-acre parcel zoned MXC-2. Rehm told commissioners the operator would maintain 25 parking spaces, employ about 22 people and operate a 24-hour drive-through service; interior dining hours were not proposed to match the drive-through schedule. "The proposal is consistent with the General Plan and the land use code," Rehm said, and staff recommended finding the project exempt from environmental review under CEQA Class 15301 (existing facilities).

Vice Chair Cassel Salgado questioned whether a drive-through had previously occupied the property and whether the property remained for lease; the applicant's representative, architect Bridal Stout, said the operator plans to keep Karina's and that the owner is excited to move forward. Salgado also expressed concern about overnight noise because houses back up to the site and noted the location of ordering speaker boxes. Rehm said the conditions of approval include industry-standard noise-attenuating speakers and reiterated that the city's noise ordinance would apply and could be enforced if complaints arise.

Commissioner Armenta asked whether police-call history had been routed or reviewed; Rehm said the application was not routed to police because it was not an alcohol conditional use permit and the staff file did not include police-call data. Commissioners noted an adjacent 24-hour drive-through already operates nearby and that enforcement or revocation procedures exist if disturbances become egregious.

After discussion, Commissioner Goguete moved and Commissioner Quinones seconded a resolution to find the project exempt from CEQA under Class 15301 and to approve the 20202 CUP for the drive-through addition at Karina's Mexican Seafood. The motion carried unanimously.

The resolution and conditions include requirements for building and fire compliance, engineering and design requirements, landscape and site planning standards for drive-through businesses, noise-attenuating speakers, and additional traffic analysis if the business operations change. Staff will file a notice of exemption under CEQA following approval.