OLD KMART PLAZA

Instead, please come meet with the owner and developer at the Old Kmart site on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.

You probably received your own notice, but the owner and the developer of that site are asking for public input (that's us) for an additional permit to add a truck rental operation to their project.

Everyone we've spoken to vehemently opposed the self-storage project itself. One of the reasons we have problems with undesirable businesses moving into Old Foothill Farms is the perception of this area as a warehouse district. With three other storage facilities within a half-mile, as well as another truck rental yard, most merchants don't see this as a prime retail area and won't move in or stay. We tried to persuade the owner not to go forward with the storage concert, but to develop a retail space with possibly a new, shiny grocery store and some higher-end businesses. They declined to consider any other alternatives.

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Our understanding is that the owner and developer already applied to the county for this additional use permit, and they were denied. In addition to a rental truck business, they were also planning to provide storage for campers, trailers and big rigs. Apparently, they're going to make another attempt, and by receiving no negative input from the neighborhood, they may be able to convinced the County to grant this permit after all.