22 - Laserfiche WebLink

2. Whether the plan is consistent with the City's General Plan and any applicable specific plan. The site's General Plan Land Use Designation of "Mixed Use/Business Park" allows residential uses requiring high-density residential development. The proposed development of 94 residential units on a 5.9-acre site would have a density of 15.9 dwelling units/acre, meeting the high-density requirements. The proposed project would further several General Plan Programs and Policies encouraging new housing to be developed in infill and peripheral areas which are adjacent to existing residential development, near transportation hubs, or local-serving commercial areas and for the City to attain a variety of housing sizes, types, densities, designs, and prices which meet the existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community. Staff concludes that the proposed development plan is consistent with the City's General Plan, and staff believes that this finding can be made. 3. Whether the plan is compatible with previously developed properties in the vicinity and the natural, topographic features of the site. The project site is surrounded by office uses to the east and west, a public school and office uses to the north, across West Las Positas Boulevard, and Arroyo Mocho to the south and residential uses (Parkside neighborhood) to the south of the arroyo. The proposed residential use would be compatible with the surrounding uses. The building height would be compatible with the office building to the east (approximately 40 feet in height) and the residential buildings on the south side of the arroyo. The buildings have been attractively designed and would be compatible with the design of the surrounding structures. The buildings contain many architectural elements/treatments to help break up the building mass and height. New landscaping would be installed to soften the buildings and help screen the parking areas from off-site views. The majority of the site is relatively level. The existing topography of the site would generally be maintained. Grading conducted on the site will be subject to engineering and building standards prior to any development. Therefore, staff believes that this finding can be made. 4. Whether grading takes into account environmental characteristics and is designed in keeping with the best engineering practices to avoid erosion, slides, or flooding to have as minimal an effect upon the environment as possible. As described above, the site is relatively level with minimum changes in grades proposed. Erosion control and dust suppression measures will be documented in the improvement plans and will be administered by the City's Building and Public Works Divisions. City building code requirements would ensure that building foundations, on-site driveways, and parking areas are constructed on properly prepared surfaces. The proposed development would provide adequate drainage to prevent flooding. Parking lot and roof drainage would drain into the drainage basin area that would filter contaminants before entering the arroyos Summerhill Housing Group Planning Commission Page 22 of 28