• Planning Commission Meeting June 2015

There was only one real item on tonight's agenda: Discount Tire Centers.

The issue was about the location. It's to be in the building just to the south of Albertson's and the nearest neighbors are Ace Hardware and Massage Envy.

Who knows, perhaps it'll all work out swimmingly and they'll cross promote with offers
to get a massage while you get your tires changed... or get a free tire after ten back rubs. ☺

There was a lot of discussion about decibel levels and noise deadening efforts so that the two businesses could live in harmony. What was easy to see was that there was effort being put forth on all sides. Discount Tire Centers, Massage Envy, the landlord and the planning commissioners.

After a brief presentation, outlining the new business layout, the reps from Discount Tire were explaining all the noise mitigation efforts they plan to use here.

It's all about the decibels. An Ingersoll Rand pneumatic drill with Quiet Tool technology is approximately 80dBs.

• A special noise reduction type of compressor placed at the furthest point away from Massage Envy. 
• Also in mind are rubberized pads under the compressor to reduce vibration. 
• Quiet tech pneumatic tools.  
• On the wall between the businesses will be a special noise deadening drywall. 

In the graphic below, the lower portion is on the alley between them and Albertson's. The upper portion is the common wall with Ace Hardware and Massage Envy is on the right side.

Let's not forget how vibrations tend to be tenacious little buggers and though aren't always heard, quite possibly could be felt as a person was trying to achieve that long sought after moment of Zen after a long day at work. I invite you to rewatch part of the classic T-Rex-water-in-the-cup-vibration scene from Jurassic Park to illustrate the point.

Larry Ferguson, of Massage Envy, spoke for about 6 mins. You can tell that he's very worried about the potential effect of impact wrenches on his business. Even with noise deadening mitigation plans, you're not going to remove the fact that a tire center wants to move next to a massage place.

If you've ever had a massage from one of the modern establishments you know that ambiance is everything.

I was the only public speaker on the topic. I mentioned how that I'm pro business and it would be good to have another tire shop in Wildomar, but part of being "pro business" means being pro existing business too. It would be different if the massage place was trying to move next to a long time tire store, and then asking them to hush up, but Massage Envy has been there for more than seven years.

Also, I mentioned that even with noise mitigation efforts, unless the roll up doors are down, the sounds would echo off of the block wall across from them (Albertson's) and find their way to the front where Massage Envy is. 

The key hangup for tonight's meeting was that there had not been a comprehensive noise/sound test done for the project. So in the end, the item was continued until after such a study is completed. Below are the words of Commission Chairman Veronica Langworthy.

We have two very wonderful businesses that are working to present how to make this happen. I appreciate the graph that was brought in by Massage Envy (a decibel graph). I appreciate the experience of Discount Tires, but to make a decision like this we need more than feelings... we need some facts. A noise study in advance would make us all more comfortable with making a really good decision for both businesses, so you [don't end up as] contentious neighbors.

— Veronica Langworthy

I'd like to see Discount Tire Centers in Wildomar, I'm just not so sure how well of a fit they make in that location. I feel bad for Massage Envy, because even though the landlord made it clear that they want both businesses to succeed, I got the feeling that the tire store would be a bigger feather in their cap (maybe it's just me projecting). I'm probably just a worrier, but I'd be sleeping with one eye open if I were in the front unit... figuratively speaking of course.

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Since I had access to assistant city manager Dan York, I took the opportunity to ask him for some details on the signal light being out at Cervera and Central.

Here's where we're at. Southern California Edison is improving our electrical service through the southern part of the city. Through that process the power going to the signal was down. As a result, we turned the light off. So that when they powered back on we wouldn't blow our controller. 

It was a joint effort between Edison and the city... we've known that. Now that they're completing their work, our signal still didn't energize. Meaning that there was some construction impact to our line. The guys in the field have identified it, they're correcting it, and that light should be energized pretty soon. 

This has been frustrating for us but realistically understanding what's going on. This is good for our community —the upgrade of the electrical power system, and fortunately the traffic volume is such on Central and Cervera that we're able handle it with stop placards.

— Dan York 

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Sometimes you will never know the value of something, until it becomes a memory. — Dr. Seuss

Wildomar Rap hopes Commissioner Gary Brown gets over that bug that kept him from the recent Chamber of Commerce breakfast and tonight's planning commission meeting.