Planning Officials Approve Newsstand
Overriding a recommendation from city planners, a divided Simi Valley Planning Commission approved a request to build an outdoor newsstand in the Royal Madera Shopping Center.
Department of Environmental Services officials had argued that the shopping center did not have enough parking space to accommodate the new tenant--an 82-square-foot outdoor stand that would sell newspapers and magazines.
But arguing that no members of the community had voiced opposition to the project, planning commissioners voted for it.
“None of the neighbors have said this is a problem,” said Commissioner Michael Piper. “We haven’t had any outcry.”
Commissioner Robert Swoish said the panel had no business micro-managing development in the city.
“This is not that big of a case,” Swoish said. “We are overreaching for control of every situation in town.”
Commission Chairman Richard Kunz and Commissioner Dean Kunicki voted against the project.
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