Planned 194-unit Surrio Road multifamily project tabled after commissioners press for rezoning clarity

A proposal for a 194‑unit, five‑building multifamily development along Surrio/Cerritos Road (case 2024‑7909) was tabled by the Planning Commission on Jan. 16, 2025, so staff and the applicant can resolve a zoning and phasing issue the commission flagged.

Senior planner Daniel Alvarado presented the application, describing five buildings totaling approximately 192,570 square feet on about 7.5 acres (applicant materials described the development area as somewhat smaller after planned lot reconfigurations). The applicant, RKSS Santa Fe 1 LLC, represented by Jennifer Jenkins of Jenkins Gavin, proposed a four‑story, interior‑corridor building facing Surrio/Cerritos Road and three-story garden-style buildings behind it, with a central courtyard and resident amenities including a pool and dog park.

A central issue during commission review was a small parcel within the project area (referred to in the staff report as “lot A2”) that remained zoned R3 while the rest of the development area is proposed to be C2. Staff and the applicant told commissioners they intend to apply to rezone that parcel to C2, and staff proposed conditions tying rezoning and lot consolidation to later permit steps; commissioners pressed staff for firmer language requiring that the rezoning be obtained before construction on that parcel and noted the discretion inherent in rezonings.

Alvarado and other staff said the proposed sequencing was intended to allow the developer to proceed with phasing for the main portion of the project while the rezoning application for the smaller parcel is processed. After several commissioners raised concerns about the possibility that a rezoning could be denied after construction began, the applicant asked for additional time to coordinate with staff. The commission voted to postpone the case to the Feb. 6 meeting to give staff and the applicant time to refine conditions related to rezoning, phasing and parking.

Key technical details recorded in the staff presentation and from the applicant: the development proposes 194 dwelling units; the site area under application is about 7.5 acres; the applicant originally proposed 324 parking spaces but, in discussion with staff and citing a HUD lender requirement, agreed to reduce total parking to 303 spaces (about 1.25 spaces per bedroom); the project proposes 11 accessible parking stalls and 30 EV-capable spaces; required open space is 250 square feet per unit and the project proposes substantially more common open space than the minimum.

Public commenters in the hearing included neighbors and representatives of nearby communities. One commenter who lives nearby said he supports the project; another attendee representing a condominium association requested additional traffic mitigation on Surrio/Cerritos Road, including a signal and improved pedestrian crossing at the main driveway.

Ending: The Planning Commission unanimously voted to postpone the matter to the Feb. 6 meeting to give staff and the applicant time to finalize rezoning/permit sequencing and related technical corrections; no development permits were granted on Jan. 16.