DATE: May 21, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION UPHOLDING PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2024-P16 APPROVING A DEVELOPMENT PLAN (D23-00009) AND DENSITY BONUS (DB23-00004) TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING TWO-STORY OFFICE BUILDING AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIX STORY MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF 73 APARTMENTS, INCLUDING EIGHT AFFORDABLE UNITS, FOUR LIVE WORK UNITS, AND 688 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE ON A 1.739-ACRE SITE LOCATED GENERALLY AT 503 VISTA BELLA - VISTA BELLA MIXED USE - APPLICANT: VISTA BELLA INVESTMENTS GROUP LLC; APPELLANT: ELLEN MARCIEL
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution upholding Planning Commission Resolution No. 2024-P16 approving Development Plan (D23-00009), and Density Bonus (DB23-00004) on a 1.739 -acre site located at 503 Vista Bella.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On January 22, 2025, the City Council considered an appeal of the Planning Commission decision to approve the proposed Vista Bella Mixed Use Project. During the agenda item, presentations were provided by Planning staff, Ellen Marciel representing the Oceanside Community Association ("Appellant"), and Gary Miller representing the project applicant. The public hearing was opened, during which several residents expressed project concerns and opposition to the proposed project. After receiving public testimony, the public hearing was closed. The City Council began discussions regarding the proposed project, raising concerns relative to the following issues:
1. Geotechnical Study: Questions arose pertaining to slope stability and the inaccurate geotechnical analysis of a four-story building, rather than the six-story building included as part of the proposed project. In addition, members of the public raised concerns regarding potentially unsafe conditions and slope failure at the project site. As such, the City Coun...
Click here for full text