Board approves additions at 749 S. Murrieta Parkway and allows pump-area spaces toward required parking

The Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances that allow a convenience store at 749 South Murrieta Parkway to add two retail spaces, expand a nonconforming structure into the rear setback and count pump-area stalls toward the site's required parking total.

Project representatives told the board the site was historically part of a larger shopping center and the lot was later subdivided, leaving the building tight to the property line; the owner’s contractor said the design adds roughly 4,000 square feet of leasable space and that much adjacent parking exists within the shopping-center area. The contractor explained that pump areas function as short-term parking and that the site has many pump positions ("...it's almost 10 pumps over here, so we have 20 parkings" (Speaker 13)).

Planning staff had no objection subject to typical conditions, and commissioners emphasized the practical availability of surrounding parking. A motion to approve the variances carried by voice vote. The applicant was told to pursue any needed easements and to be mindful that the neighboring property owner could limit access to off-site parking if no easement is in place.