[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6578061,"mediaKeyId","3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff","parentId",3076776,"title","Planning commission continues hearing on housing-element zoning changes; requests clearer vacant-lot and household definitions","audioSeconds",1772,"startMs",5450000,"endMs",7222000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff&start=5450&end=7222","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff/thumbnail_5450000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578061/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Planning-commission-continues-hearing-on-housing-element-zoning-changes-requests-clearer-vacant-lot-and-household-definitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578061-c781a0519ea03d8954cb4129d086c4db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117335&Signature=Pie5J4mt4MDwCLFDmd7jGxupqyrywHSPrmGZhT0~hSqQAFtTsTkiackF4jDFivVLF-FqB~jjPcKaHNmUwlHOk0NT0sGMaCaDRuvreRvU41KXGyGSd5kfQlJI-FRQl2hqW52O6544JnngBkPj8XO2cG3EG6ieEFicCG34TLBT6wfENGDZZ70UXpN5U1EEHqpJ3kwUHswdmYsdNoPtuPTfCXxqBGapAlgp24z5v8ghKAi9~1yhsdiPSxy8uHRVxmL-aMqNcXIJgDzLU~8yThaTRK7Ew4PDWiutjt7OE7pZL~PPjVq6cs1WnOusK5761XtjjRdJcLFhjVPZ9ePTGAOqpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lafayette","date","2025-04-22T04:55:50.943Z","article","Senior planner Stephanie Cervantes presented a package of zoning text amendments intended to implement Lafayette's recently certified Housing Element. The draft revisions address multiple provisions required or encouraged by state law, including allowing permanent supportive housing by right in zones that permit multifamily housing, clarifying treatment of group homes and emergency shelters, adopting definitions for employee and farmworker housing, and adding a clear vacant-lot definition for state-law implementation.

Cervantes said the proposed changes also would extend the city's inclusionary housing ordinance citywide (it currently references downtown), and would codify a zoning-summary table the city currently publishes as a web resource. On supportive housing, staff proposed amendments to comply with AB 2162/Gov. Code §6561(a) to allow supportive housing by right where multifamily is permitted. The package also contains a draft definition of \"single housekeeping unit\" intended to distinguish stable household groups from transient occupancies.

Commissioners asked staff to tighten several definitions and to clarify implementation mechanics. Commissioner questions focused on the proposed vacant-lot definition'in the draft a parcel may be considered vacant if it contains no permanent structures or if any existing structure has been both abandoned and uninhabitable for at least one year'and on the new single-housekeeping-unit language that uses the term within its own definition. The vice chair recommended replacing self-referential language so the rule does not read in terms of the defined term itself.

Commissioners also discussed farmworker/employee housing, noting Lafayette has no agricultural zoning districts and that the proposed text removes references to ag zoning to avoid confusion with state provisions that treat farmworker housing differently in ag districts. Staff said the city will allow employee and farmworker housing of six or fewer people as single-family uses as proposed.

After discussion the commission voted to continue the hearing to May 5, 2025, directing staff to return with revised draft language that clarifies the vacant-lot and single-housekeeping-unit definitions and to incorporate commissioner feedback on reasonable-accommodation findings and other objective standards required by state guidance.

The Planning Commission's action was procedural; the hearing was continued for the commission to consider revised text and then recommend adoption to the City Council. The continuation also gave staff time to incorporate edits suggested by commissioners and to prepare the resolution (2025-03) for the May 5 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Staff presented proposed municipal code amendments to implement the certified Housing Element. The commission asked for clearer definitions for \"vacant lot\" and \"single housekeeping unit\" and continued the hearing to May 5 for adoption of the zoning text amendments.","taxTitle","Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",77659,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578065,"Planning commission recommends approval of proposed 90-unit Oak Hill condominium project, with conditions and public art concession",1759,1479000,3238000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff&start=1479&end=3238","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff/thumbnail_1479000.jpg","/articles/6578065/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Planning-commission-recommends-approval-of-proposed-90-unit-Oak-Hill-condominium-project-with-conditions-and-public-art-concession","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578065-b46ec5662eefbac8a98e6ee79bf0c11e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117335&Signature=Y0PiLdSB9uRERf4L5DflTIPQJtPIVS3uHLRN4cNt2YNPh~xkay4qR7o0raYu2stGeIeQLE0Gy2CuHvChALTOaPESmE~EMSmQqcAyeF8BiCmKHqC64fIJtPyATs5-zrtJboF6BY2NCvdr6zr8TQRIld7vThhsiJNgthVSiHEwM--ABqusartltFFLxJlCCtK1fWyt97hyLlkfw9fqyerSXhetJCabEkrQ4AtYnYhJY0DaQlc1naWrwWZgI-GutV7o7TBy0WYhHbpK5ZJN-BZBswZ8iWFflaKD-imPgk721-75xugJiHziDiwa~SltLfGXOp7euUnxPtzcoLxOMTWeIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposal to redevelop 1001 Oak Hill Road as a seven-story building containing 90 condominium units, including 11 below-market-rate units, about 2,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 83 parking spaces. Jean Iceberg, the contract project planner, told commissioners the project consolidates four parcels, demolishes three commercial buildings, removes approximately 23 protected trees and requests waivers and concessions under California's state density bonus law.

\"The project includes 4 parcels and demolition of all 3 commercial buildings on the site. Removal of approximately 23 protected trees, and the merger of those parcels into 1,\" Iceberg said, summarizing the application and revisions since the January study session. She said the applicant revised the inclusionary proposal so below-market-rate units are proportional by bedroom count, reconfigured driveway access to use an existing access easement rather than a new separate entry, reduced retaining wall heights on the west property line and added plantings on the south elevation. Iceberg said the project is identified as categorically exempt from CEQA and that the Design Review Commission recommended approval with requested refinements, including stacker-parking details and landscaping specifics.

Applicant Brian Griggs said the team had limited outreach earlier in the project because of restrictions while negotiating purchase, and that the project team is willing to meet neighbors. \"We're proud of the project,\" Griggs said, and added the team would work with neighbors on landscaping and access concerns raised at the hearing.

Neighbors at Terrace Way told commissioners the project would substantially alter views, privacy and access for the six-unit building immediately west of the site. Anthony Lombardo, who identified himself as an owner of 3572 Terrace Way, said the building's back wall would sit roughly 15 to 17 feet from his balconies and described the change as a severe visual and privacy impact. He also raised construction-noise concerns, property-value impacts and several access questions related to a narrow private drive. Another adjacent owner, Ian Baird, said he had not received mailed notice and asked about notification procedures; staff replied that this project was mailed to owners within 500 feet and that two commenters were on the project's mailing list.

A representative of the NorCal Carpenters Local 152 urged the commission to require developers to hire contractors who pay prevailing area wages for carpenters.

Planning staff listed several conditions of approval proposed in the resolution to the City Council, including an extension of the entitlement term from one to two years, on-site color and material samples before construction, undergrounding a utility pole at the northeast corner of the property and a contribution toward design and construction of the aqueduct pathway adjacent to the site. The project requests waivers to certain objective development and design standards under state density bonus law and a concession to avoid the city's public art fee; the commission's motion explicitly amended the recommendation to the City Council to note the public art concession.

Following deliberation, a commissioner moved to amend the resolution to reflect the applicant's requested public art concession and to recommend the Council approve the project with staff-recommended conditions. The commission voted in favor and the motion carried.

Because the project invokes state density bonus provisions, City Council will take final action on the entitlements. The Planning Commission recommended approval to the Council and asked staff and the applicant to continue outreach to immediate neighbors to resolve access, landscaping and construction noise issues before the Council hearing.","The Planning Commission voted to recommend City Council approval of a seven-story, 90-unit condominium project at 1001 Oak Hill Road under state density bonus law, subject to conditions including undergrounding utilities, landscape details and a public art concession.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6578069,"Planning commission finds Lafayette capital improvement program in conformance with general plan",1196,220000,1416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff&start=220&end=1416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3076776-b95985186f7718de684d72feb98871ff/thumbnail_220000.jpg","/articles/6578069/Lafayette/Contra-Costa-County/California/Planning-commission-finds-Lafayette-capital-improvement-program-in-conformance-with-general-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578069-d17aac3201f5125a0ae5c164042ab758/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117335&Signature=X1aMl-WQ5OqZzZWQSC2lsSjAuZLWZGFqfmWfOO-70kUHXYVRFhYGpzbDEgio1mqdVXwchpYUyrxvsZ2AjtQppR5QkqgpA7RNAwP~LkmYCvWl2myzss2JhXdqx6QrpNc4RDQwoY5ed9ICB3KkzfsEspbv0vOIDtMe2fi2178tcSawpTQ7870lCAYNL-0kApUrbbQWeYADT~E~sk8RiNfBqCAxmgSuUV9YwhvEo5HtJz6vEGehTsG2L4T9Gob~FJJSrCHXuTa9EAmCwnngF2SbnzytUu4wNq6UoGYd3wACvdPsDtVrhOtpp7wWTx0l4GYBIT2BaPWurPSaLJ0BhS4u8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike Moran, the city of Lafayette's director of planning and engineering, presented the city's proposed Capital Improvement Program and told the Planning Commission the program is consistent with the city's General Plan. Moran said the city completed major paving on Pleasant Hill Road, Ocalanes Road and parts of Mount Diablo Boulevard last year and improved the overall pavement condition index from 73 to 76.

The capital program shifts more funding toward repaving instead of surface sealing, Moran said, and increases the five-year pavement maintenance plan after the passage of Measure H. \"Because of that, our pavement condition index, which I reported last year was a 73, is now back up to a 76,\" Moran said. He told commissioners the city expects roughly $1 million per year in today's dollars for pavement maintenance from the measure for about seven years and has reworked the five-year program to take advantage of the new funding.

The proposal on the table includes continued work on the School Street / Topper Lane / St. Mary's project, a West Reach creeks maintenance design for a portion of Lafayette Creek the city owns, bridge maintenance design and a pedestrian-bike station and plaza project near the BART station that contains an art feature. Moran cautioned the BART project's current budget estimate is about $3 million and that bids could come in higher after years of design work.

Commissioners asked about the cost projections and how staff accounts for inflation. Moran said project costs are shown in today's dollars but the pavement management program includes an inflator; if construction inflation outpaces revenue increases, the city could lose purchasing power. Commissioners also asked about coordination with utilities and East Bay Municipal Utility District (East Bay MUD) after utility trenches interrupted recently resurfaced sections of Pleasant Hill Road; Moran said the city shares project lists with East Bay MUD, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and PG&E and is joining a mapping service to improve coordination.

A member of the public, James Terrell, asked about signalizing particular intersections; Moran said there were no plans to install signals at those locations and said new signals cost over $1 million each and must be justified. Commissioners praised recent paving and asked staff to publicize pedestrian safety features such as roundabout guidance and bicycle considerations.

After the presentation and public comment, a commissioner moved that the Planning Commission find the Capital Improvement Program in conformance with Lafayette's General Plan. The commission voted \"aye,\" and the motion carried.

The program as presented foresees more repaving and heavier investment on arterials in coming years; specific construction schedules and project bids will determine final scopes and budgets.","City staff presented a multi-year capital improvement program that increases pavement repaving and funds several design projects; the commission voted to find the program in conformance with the city's general plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission continues hearing on housing-element zoning changes; requests clearer vacant-lot and household definitions

Planning commission recommends approval of proposed 90-unit Oak Hill condominium project, with conditions and public art concession

Planning commission finds Lafayette capital improvement program in conformance with general plan