Plans to improve the Jimco Truck Plaza cleared another hurdle.

The Ripon Planning Commission approved the proposed vacation of the public right-of-way – formerly Marich Road, according to the old maps – adjacent to 1002 Frontage Rd. and 1022 Frontage Road and ruled it conforms to the General Plan.

“This is a three-step process,” Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart said of the longtime business along Highway 99.

The first step took place in April when the Ripon City Council adopted a Resolution of Intent to abandon the public right-of-way adjacent to the two Frontage Road properties. Elected leaders sent the resolution to the Planning Commission for a recommendation on General Plan consistency.

Council will take the recommendation from here for approval of the abandonment at a public hearing, Zuidervaart noted.

“The site is looking to connect to City services. (Jimco Truck Plaza) used to be in the County,” he said.

Along with water, sewer and storm drainage, the owners of the truck stop – R.A.T. Oil Inc. – are looking to install curb, gutter and sidewalk along Frontage Road as well as commercial driveway approaches and landscaping on the Frontage Road and Brady Lane side.

Other parts of the plan include demolishing the existing truck wash and constructing a new truck wash / truck service facility, relocating the fueling islands and installing new ones with associated canopies, and refurbishing of the on-site buildings and re-striping the entire area for better truck circulation and truck parking.