Chase Bank Building Approved by Planners

The Fountain Valley Planning Commission unanimously approved preliminary plans Wednesday night for a new Chase Bank building on the northeast corner of Magnolia Street and Garfield Avenue.

The 3,433-square-foot building will include a pair of drive-through ATMs, which required a variance so that each lane could be 10 and a half feet wide rather than the 12 feet required by city code.

The commissioners posed various questions as to whether two drive-through lanes were necessary, but their concerns were ultimately addressed by representatives from Stantec, the architectural firm behind the project. In fact, the original plans called for a 4,300-square-foot building, but were ultimately altered to make room for the drive-through lanes on the relatively small lot, which is occupied by a Shell gas station.

Dan Almquist of Stantec told the commission that the plans for this branch building have since been used as the model for Chase's continued expanision throughout Southern California because of the ability to redevelop smaller lots efficiently.

The commission also approved a petition from Bruce Gitmod of to add a 615-square-foot cafe to his produce store at 17970 Magnolia St. The cafe will be open daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., serving coffee, sandwiches and other cafe fare, primarily for take-out.

Linda Johnson, who owns in the same shopping center, spoke out against the petition, citing traffic problems and safety concerns stemming from drivers who, she said, often cut through the center's parking lot near where the outdoor seating area would be located. The commission was sympathetic to Johnson's concerns, but ultimately decided it wasn't Gitmod's repsonsibility to address them, but rather that of the property owner and manager.

In other business, the commission approved a petition by Teresa Nguyen to open the Xuan Lan Beauty Clinic, a salon offering permanent cosmetic make-up and facial services, at 16027 Brookhurst St.