The Lathrop Gateway Business Park is tabbed to get a key piece.

The development of a service station for both passenger and commercial vehicles along with two restaurants was approved last week by the Lathrop Planning Commission.

The project calls for the construction of a new 5,650 square foot Circle K convenience store with an auto fueling station consisting of 16 dispenser, a truck fueling station that will be able to accommodate up to four commercial trucks at any one time, and two building pads designed for two future quick service restaurants – most likely, franchise businesses – with drive thru operations consisting of 3,141 square feet and 2,066 square feet in size, respectively.

That’s the first phase of the project, which now has a three-year window for developers to apply for the necessary building permits – they’ll also have an option to apply for an additional one-year extension.

As for construction, developers estimate about “eight or nine months,” if all goes accordingly.

Planners, who gave their OK on the Site Plan Review entitlement, believed that this is what the area along Yosemite Avenue, D’Arcy Parkway, and Vierra Road needs. “Right now, there’s nothing out there,” Chairman George Jackson said.

The project site is at 3401 W. Yosemite Ave, and involves two properties, including the northeast corner of the Yosemite Avenue / D’Arcy Parkway intersection, and the more recent acquisition of an undeveloped area with a public storm drain retention basin for stormwater runoff from D’Arcy Parkway.

Plans on this development have been in the works since January 2023.

“At the time, the applicant’s proposal reflected the use of only one parcel with the main entrance into the site coming off of Yosemite Avenue,” according to City of Lathrop Senior Planner James Michaels in his report from the Sept. 24 special session.

Staff noted back then that the applicant – a longtime developer in Lathrop with several similar-type businesses in the area – could potentially have a more viable project by acquiring the adjoining parcel along D’Arcy Parkway, which was done so in September 2024.

The project, which is on a 3.91-acre site area, is part of the Lathrop Gateway Business Park Specific Plan, and has a “Commercial Service” zoning designation.

Meanwhile, Phase 2 improvements would include one of the quick-service restaurants on one of the Phase 1 building pads.

Phase 3 will also occupy the other Phase 1 building pad. It, too, would be a quick-service restaurant with a drive-thru facility.