PARLIER – Members of the Parlier City Council effectively denied a requested commercial development permit in favor of supporting a project across the street that has not yet gotten off the ground.
During a public hearing June 18, the council considered a conditional use permit (CUP) for a commercial development on the southwest corner of Manning Avenue and Academy Avenue. Three of the four council members present — Mayor pro tem Sabrina Rodriguez was absent — indicated that they did not support the development because it was too similar to other projects in the same area.
When Mayor Alma Beltran asked if there was a motion to approve the CUP application, no other council members present spoke up.
“So there’s no motion to approve, that motion dies, so there’s no action and it’s denied,” Beltran said.
Real estate investment firm Bottom Line Group proposed the development, which would include an 11,200 square foot commercial building and a 5,800 square foot canopy covering 10 double-side fuel pumps.
“We just approved, maybe about two years ago, the same project across the street, and in my district already with that project that’s already approved, that’s four gas stations, so bringing you in would be five,” Councilmember Diego Garza said. “So for me, as that’s in my district, I would like to see a different business come along if it’s possible.”
Jasmine Nell, a representative for the developer, said the development would include much more than a standard gas station and convenience store combination. The store would be more like a mini general store with healthy food options, hot prepared foods and fresh foods, along with a sit-down restaurant. Attached to the development would be a quick-service restaurant with a drive-thru, Nell said.
Additionally, Nell said there would be electric vehicle charging, standard fuel and diesel fuel available at the gas station.
After the non-vote, Beltran told Nell to tell her bosses that the application didn’t go through.
“I would’ve been yes, because I support any business that’s willing to come to Parlier,” Beltran said.
Development debate
Although the CUP application was primarily brought forward to allow the sale of alcohol within the development, the conversation turned into an argument between council members, the mayor and other local developers regarding Beltran’s support of local businesses.
As Garza mentioned, a similar development has already been proposed across the street from the development submitted by Bottom Line Group.
That development, named Prodigy Square, would be located at the southeast corner of Manning and Academy. According to a past CUP approved by the council, it would include a gas station, mini-mart, quick-service restaurant, office space, car wash with vacuums and additional retail space with a drive-thru.
The council first approved a CUP for the development in August 2021. It has come back to the council for revisions a few times since then but the land is still undeveloped.
Conversely, Nell said the owner working with her firm plans to start construction as soon as the project is permitted.
“We’ll be going straight into building permits, straight into civil engineering, not sitting on it for five or 10 years or anything like that, so just want to keep that in mind, that we’re ready to break ground as soon as we get approvals,” Nell said.
The Prodigy Square developer, who is listed on some documents as Shogy Saleh but introduced himself at the meeting as Shogy Ahmed, asked the council to deny the new application.
“I invested a substantial amount of time, money, engineering, permits, planning based on city process,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed said when he first brought his development up, Beltran told him that she didn’t want to see more gas stations. In response, Beltran said that was correct, but she believes the city still needs them and other development to improve its tax revenue.
Ahmed then said Beltran approved his gas station “knowing that she’s not gonna accept any gas stations around town.” Beltran disagreed with that statement and said she cannot legally do that.
“She’s always against small businesses in town,” Ahmed continued. “I don’t know what she has against them.”
Beltran said she is not against small businesses, and also doesn’t necessarily want to see the same business on every corner, but that the city cannot shut doors on businesses wanting to come to Parlier.
“It’s about the community, it’s about bringing more business here, it’s about generating the revenue that we need here for the city,” Beltran said.
At the same meeting, the council approved the city’s budget with a general fund deficit of nearly $872,000.
