Adelanto planning commission approves subdivision and retail/restaurant project at Highway 395 and Air Expressway

The Adelanto Planning Commission on May 6 adopted Resolution P26-05 to approve a location development plan (2601), Conditional Use Permit 2601 and Tentative Parcel Map 21090 to subdivide roughly 4.06 acres at the northwest corner of Air Expressway and Highway 395 for four drive-through restaurant shell buildings and one retail shell building.

Planner Chris Espinosa summarized staff’s recommendation and said a Class 32 categorical exemption under CEQA was determined to be the appropriate environmental review. "The subject site meets or exceeds all the development standards for the Mixed Use zone," Espinosa told the commission and recommended adoption of the resolution and approval of the entitlements subject to standard conditions.

Developer representative Aaron Michelle presented the project on behalf of the investor group, saying the plan would generate both construction jobs and longer‑term restaurant and retail employment while activating a visible corner on the city’s north side. "My name is Aaron Michelle and I represent the investor group that acquired the parcel and will develop it," he said. He added the team aimed to "start breaking ground before the end of the year," but acknowledged progress was tenant-dependent.

Commissioners questioned document language and site constraints. Commissioner Johnson asked about inconsistent wording in the packet that alternately referred to "business use" and "Mixed Use," and requested clarification; Espinosa said the references did not stem from the most recent Mixed Use ordinance and that the proposal contemplates commercial and retail uses such as restaurants. Johnson also asked whether biological issues — including the presence of Joshua trees — or other Fish & Wildlife concerns could delay the project; the applicant said none had been identified.

Panelists and the applicant also discussed market constraints. Michelle said the main hurdle was securing tenants at current development costs and noted retailers use proprietary forecasting tools to assess sites; he urged the commission to consider city metrics such as rooftops and other housing growth when positioning the site to prospective tenants. He flagged transportation work needed at the Lawson intersection: "We definitely need the traffic light at Lawson," Michelle said, and said Caltrans had approved the concept but city coordination on costs and parcel responsibilities remained.

After closing public comment (no callers), Chair Wagner moved to adopt the resolution and approve the entitlements as read; the motion was seconded and carried on voice vote. The chair read APN numbers into the record as part of the motion and the commission recorded affirmative votes. The approval is subject to the conditions of approval listed in the staff report.

Next steps identified on the record included satisfying the listed conditions, coordinating required traffic improvements with Caltrans and affected property owners, and the applicant’s tenant outreach and financing work before building permits and grading could proceed.