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File Number: 14-302 <br />Planning Commission Recommendation: <br />The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution (see File <br />14-303 under tonight’s City Council public hearing agenda) that will: <br />A.Approve the project’s categorical exemption under the California Environmental <br />Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Article 19, Section 15303 (e), New <br />Construction of Small Structures. <br />B.Approve PLN2014-00006 to modify Planned Development, PD-77-11, to permit the <br />installation of a pedestrian gate, an automatic vehicular access gate and related <br />fencing to secure the Floresta Gardens residential community on Caliente Drive off of <br />the Washington Avenue frontage, subject to the Recommended Findings of Fact to <br />Approve and subject to the recommended Conditions of Approval. <br />Staff Recommendation: <br />Although the Planning Commission recommended approval of the proposed modification, <br />staff’s position and recommendation as to deny the PD permit amendments as follows: <br />A.Adopt the Resolution (see attached Exhibit J) that denies the request to modify <br />Planned Development, PD-77-11, to the Floresta Gardens residential community. If the <br />City Council adopts the staff’s recommendation, it shall also adopt the Recommended <br />Findings of Fact to Deny (see attached Exhibit J). <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 1977 and 1978, Planned Development permit -- PD-77-11 -- received City Council <br />approvals for the general and precise development plans for the development of Floresta <br />Gardens, an 84-unit residential condominium community on a 6.1 acre site (see attached <br />Exhibit H for excerpts of the staff report from January 1978 for PD-77-11). It is located on the <br />west side of Washington Avenue. To the north, is a shopping center that includes a Kmart, an <br />Orchard Supply Hardware and Elios restaurant. To the east, across Washington Avenue are a <br />variety of commercial uses including a gasoline station, auto repair business and restaurants. <br />Adjacent to the south is Eden Roc Apartments and to the west is Washington Commons, a <br />residential condominium community. <br />Floresta Gardens consists of 21 four-unit buildings, two roadways (Caliente Drive and <br />Caliente Circle) and amenities for residents. Floresta Gardens is accessed via Caliente Drive, <br />a private drive intersecting Washington Avenue as well as a secondary drive accessed from <br />the cul-de-sac end of Fremont Avenue. <br />During the original general development plan review process, City staff recommended that a <br />restrictive gate be placed along the Fremont Avenue entry to discourage cut-through traffic. A <br />dual-lift arm-style gate was approved during the precise development plan process. Due to <br />repeated incidents of vehicles driving through the barrier and vandalism of the gates, a <br />building permit application was submitted on behalf of the HOA to allow for the installation of a <br />six foot tall remote controlled wrought iron vehicular swing style gate with a keyed pedestrian <br />gate. In 2012, a building permit was issued to allow for installation of the requested vehicular <br />Page 2 City of San Leandro Printed on 7/15/2014