Lompoc Planning Commission approves new Toyota dealership on North Eighth Street

The Lompoc Planning Commission on June 10 approved a development plan and minor use permit for a new Toyota dealership at 1036 North Eighth Street.

Jacob Weintraub, representing the Toyota ownership group, told the commission the project "represents a significant investment in the community" and said the ownership group supports the staff-recommended conditions. The project would demolish existing vacant buildings and construct a roughly 34,661-square-foot facility with a two-story showroom, office and training areas, a 12-bay service center, indoor storage, a car wash and landscaping.

Staff described the site as a 2.9-acre parcel in a planned commercial development and H Street overlay zoning district; adjacent uses include commercial to the north, south and west and medium-density residential to the east. Staff noted the project requires a Caltrans encroachment permit for work on the H Street aprons and said the project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Section 15332 (Class 32, infill development).

The commission and staff focused on three issues the project must address: parking, stall length, and neighborhood screening. Staff reported the project provides 69 parking spaces while the Lompoc Municipal Code requires 85. The applicant proposes 18-foot stall lengths where the code requires 20 feet; staff said the Planning Commission has authority under the preliminary development plan provisions (LMC chapter 17.535.032) to find the proposal meets the intent of the code and approve the reduced dimensions.

Commissioner Cox asked how the project would interface with residential properties to the east; staff confirmed a condition requires construction of a solid eight-foot masonry wall along the eastern property line to provide a visual and noise buffer. Staff also said conditions P50 through P57 were added to ensure compliance with the General Plan noise element and Lompoc Municipal Code chapter 8.08.

Commissioner (mover) moved to adopt resolution 1030-26 approving DR 2025-0004 and MUP 2026-0002; the motion was seconded and passed. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally. Staff and the applicant said they can meet the conditions of approval. The next steps are obtaining the required Caltrans encroachment permit and pursuing building permits per the approved development plan.