The Benicia Planning Commission meets Thursday, and on the agenda are a use permit for nonconforming outdoor storage of construction equipment and materials, and a Variance for takeout service.
The commission held a public hearing on Nov. 9 to discuss the application of the use permit for nonconforming outdoor storage of construction equipment and materials. It was decided by the commission to push the item back to Jan. 11. There were meetings between city staff and the applicant at the project site on Dec. 4. Staff then conducted additional research into the site history and the proposed use. The application was continued to Thursday, as staff say they need more time to complete the analysis before the application returns to the Planning Commission. Staff recommends the commission continue this item until the March 8 meeting.
In other business, Brian McCorduck filed an application for approval a Variance for takeout service within 500 feet of a park in a certain districts to accommodate Sprankle’s Deli, which is moving from its current location at 82 Solano Square to the former site of a Kentucky Fried Chicken at 155 Military West, which has been vacant since 2016.
According to a staff report by Principal Planner Suzanne Thorsen, the former KFC building was issued a permit in December 1973, and the building was completed in 1974. In 1987, the city’s Zoning Ordinance was amended to require a use permit for a drive-up window and to prohibit takeout service within 500 feet of a park. KFC was considered a nonconforming use, but since KFC moved out in 2016, the nonconforming status has been lost.
Thorsen wrote that Sprankle’s staff does not intend to use the drive-up window but a use permit would be required to authorize use of the drive-thru.
McCorduck wants the site to be permitted operating hours within 4:30 a.m. to midnight daily, which are consistent with other eating and drinking establishments either near the site or which have a drive-thru service, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Nation’s Giant Hamburgers and Starbucks. Thorsen wrote that Sprankle’s may opt for more limited hours however. The restaurant at its present site operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., although owner Chantel Sprankle indicated in a previous Benicia Herald article that a breakfast and dinner menu would be added at the new location.
Staff is recommending the Planning Commission adopt a resolution approving the Variance for takeout service within 500 feet of a park.
The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 250 East L St. A livestream of the commission meeting can also be found online at ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.

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