Planning commission approves Newberg Glen townhomes, allows reduced wetland buffer and 2-year vesting period

The Fortuna City Planning Commission voted Jan. 28 to certify an initial study and mitigated negative declaration and to grant design review and a reduced wetland buffer for the Newberg Glen townhomes at 1569 Newberg Road. The commission also approved a two-year permit vesting period extension.

Sherry Mead, Fortuna’s Community Development Director, introduced the proposal and turned the presentation to Michelle Nielsen of Plan West Partners, who described the project as a 24-unit townhome-style multifamily development with on-site low-impact stormwater features, guest parking, one-car garages for each unit and a small community green.

Nielsen said the applicant requested a reduction of the standard 50-foot wetland buffer to accommodate bioswales and a driveway area; the proposal includes less than 650 square feet of new impervious surface within the buffer, she said. The site is designated high-density residential in the Fortuna General Plan; Nielsen reported the project density is about 7 dwelling units per acre when the wetland and buffer are included and about 11 dwelling units per acre when those areas are excluded from the calculation.

Staff’s environmental packet and recommended conditions include preconstruction biological surveys (including protocol surveys for sensitive amphibians), nesting-bird surveys if work occurs during the migratory-nesting season, and five years of post-construction biological monitoring to confirm the wetland and bioretention features are functioning and plantings establish. Construction noise limits and engineering conditions were also included.

Will Adams, the project owner and builder, told the commission the applicant has built multiple Fortuna projects and described local demand for this housing type: “Our tenants end up staying long periods of time. They’re in high demand,” Adams said. Garrett McSorley, the project architect, acknowledged neighbors’ concerns about drainage, privacy and fencing and said the design reduces impacts on the wetland and places noisier uses, such as a half-court basketball area, away from adjacent homes.

Bridal Byrd, the city engineer, told neighbors the city requires site grading and drainage improvements to avoid exacerbating off-site flooding and said the engineering review will look for opportunities to address legacy drainage issues near the fire department property during project review.

After public comment and discussion the commission approved resolution P-2025-3122 by roll-call vote. Commissioners Bennett, Burke, Doris, Nichols, Vice Chair Kine and Chair Howley voted yes.

The approvals include: certification of the initial study/mitigated negative declaration (State Clearinghouse No. 2024091130), conditional approval to reduce the 50-foot wetland buffer with specified mitigation and monitoring, design review approval of the site and buildings, and a two-year permit vesting period so the applicant may complete permit acquisition. Staff conditions require the applicant to secure all federal, state and local permits and implement biological mitigation and a mitigation-monitoring and reporting plan.