DATE: August 7, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF THE LOMA ALTA TERRACES PROJECT - APPLICANT: LOMA ALTA TERRACES, LLC, SCOTT DARNELL - APPELLANT: LINK LADUTKO
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution upholding Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-P19 approving Tentative Map (T22-00003), Development Plan (D22-00004), and Density Bonus (DB22-00003) to allow the construction of 13 single-family homes, with one reserved for very low-income households, on a 2.00-acre parcel located between Loma Alta Drive and Crouch Street approximately 150 feet south of Walsh Street.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On January 10, 2024, the City Council considered an appeal of the Planning Commission's October 9, 2023 decision to approve the proposed project. After public testimony and deliberation, the City Council voted unanimously to grant the appeal and deny the project on the basis that the private street serving the proposed subdivision exceeds the City's maximum allowable street grade, thereby constituting a specific adverse impact pursuant to Government Code Section 65589.5(d)(2). Proposed at 16 percent (16%), the street grade exceeds the City standard of 12 percent (12%) maximum grade. Further explanation of this issue is included in the Analysis section.
Pursuant to City Code Section 2.1.43, since the City Council did not adopt the resolution presented as part of the staff report, the decision remains pending until written findings are considered by the City Council at a subsequent meeting. Before a Resolution for denial could be prepared and presented to City Council for consideration, the applicant proposed modifications to the project to address design concerns, reduce reliance on Density Bonus waivers, and eliminate potential adverse impacts associated with the requested waivers. A similar situation occurred with the...
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