Council Rejects Pep Boys Retail Center Project

After more than a dozen residents spoke against a proposed Pep Boys retail and automotive service center in their neighborhood, the City Council this week rejected the project on a 3-2 vote.

The council majority agreed with residents who said the center, proposed at Imperial Highway and Rose Drive, would not be compatible with nearby homes.

Councilwoman Constance Underhill said that because the Pep Boys “would be right across someone’s back fence, I would have to say I oppose it.”

Council members Maria Moreno and Michael L. Maertzweiler also voted to overturn the Planning Commission’s recent approval of the project.

Armed with petitions, residents from Placentia, Brea and Yorba Linda whose homes are near the site urged the council to block the project.

“That type of business would be harmful to the tranquillity and peace, and it had a good chance to hurt property values as well,” said resident Nick Lehnert, who filed the appeal on behalf of his neighbors.

The sole support came from the Placentia Chamber of Commerce.

Residents’ main concerns were about noise from the auto repair shop and traffic generated by its customers. They also raised questions about emissions from vehicles being serviced.

Pep Boys, a national chain, had proposed an 18,560-square-foot building for a retail and service facility. The 12 work bays would have been enclosed to reduce the amount of noise in the neighborhood.

Pep Boys had also planned a sound barrier wall at the entrance to the service bays.

Stephen Harris, Pep Boys’ Western region development manager, expressed disappointment with the denial and said the company will reevaluate its options.

“We felt we met all the conditions,” Harris said. “This was the best location” to build a new store.