3A Public Hearing 2007 0904 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

This infill site has been vacant for over one year and would be redeveloped with a dense housing type that is both pennitted by its General Plan designation and the underlying zoning district, while being compatible with the higher and lower density surrounding residential and commercial development on the Washington Avenue corridor. The four sided architecture will add an attractive element on the commercial corridor while the deep setbacks of the building from the single-family residences to the west and north will alleviate the presence of the 2.5 story structure. The site is served by two AC Transit bus lines, the 84 Somerset and the 85 Washington, with close bus stops across the street at the GreenHouse Market and down the block near Lewelling Avenue. The project complies with the above policies and its General Plan designation. ENVIRONMENT AL ANALYSIS This project to construct 24 townhomes on a site that is less than five acres (1.19 acres) is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guideline Article 19, Categorical Exemption, Section 15332 as Infill Development. Specifically, the project is consistent with the General Plan; the project site is less than 5 acres; the project site was previously developed; the site has no value for endangered, rare or threatened species; approval of the project would not result in any significant environmental effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and the site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. PUBLIC OUTREACH Under nonnal noticing requirements, a legal advertisement for the January 18, 2007 public hearing was placed in the Daily Review newspaper; public hearing notification letters were mailed to the property owners and businesses within 300 feet of the subject property; and public notification placards were posted on the utility poles adjacent to the subject property. Per recent City-instituted guidelines for properties one-half acre in size or greater, a billboard was also erected on the site with the project infonnation, the date of the hearing and an architectural rendering of the project. In addition, the developer presented the project in a Community Meeting at the Marina Community Center on October 10, 2006. Invitations were sent to residents within 300 feet of the site and to the Washington Homeowners Association. The City Council Business Development Subcommittee also reviewed the project on October 12, 2006, and expressed favorable views on the proposed development. The President of the Washington Homeowners Association, Robert Leigh, has reviewed the proposed project and has communicated to City staff that he and the homeowners' group are supportive of the project. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of Zoning Adjustments make the attached Findings of Fact and approve ofPLN2006-00043, subject to the recommended Conditions of Approval. Board of Zoning Adjustments Staff Report PLN2006-00043 January 18, 2007 Page 10 of 11