Planning commission backs tentative map for 70 Encina Avenue, sends recommendation to council

The Planning and Transportation Commission voted 7-0 on Aug. 27 to recommend City Council approve a vesting tentative map that would merge two parcels at 70 Encina Avenue and create 10 condominium units on the resulting 12,119-square-foot parcel.

The map was presented by Senior Planner Emily Callis, who told commissioners the application "is associated with a recently approved project that was zoned through the plant home zoning (PHZ) process" and that the map "meets the title 21, which is, consistent with the California Subdivision Map Act requirements." Callis also noted the project was analyzed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15183 while the underlying entitlement was reviewed.

Commissioners raised technical drafting and applicability questions during the hearing. Commissioner Paul Heckman proposed four revisions to the record of land use action and conditions of approval to ensure findings and conditions were self-contained, tailored to the 10-unit condominium configuration, and legally precise. Heckman moved the staff recommendation with those revisions. The motion was seconded; a roll call later recorded unanimous support: Templeton, Peterson, Commissioner G, James, Heckman, Vice Chair Chang and Chair Aiken all voted yes.

Heckman’s requested edits included: (1) adding a clarifying sentence to Finding 1 to note there is no adopted specific plan for the site, to make the finding self-sufficient; (2) removing or tailoring a condition in the draft conditions of approval that referenced tenants, trash pickup and townhomes so it applies correctly to a condominium project; (3) deleting a private-street naming condition if staff determines no private street will be created by the project; and (4) a textual change to the extension provision to require any extension request be "submitted prior to the expiration" to align with statutory practice.

Planner Callis and staff said the tentative map was prepared by a surveyor (whose signature is not required until the final map) and that staff would check and correct any owner-of-record discrepancies before the item goes to council. Staff also confirmed that project building permits will have to demonstrate substantial conformance with the approved entitlements and that the map complies with the California Subdivision Map Act and Title 21 local code provisions.

The commission’s recommendation sends the tentative map and staff conditions to City Council for final action. No specific council hearing outcome was recorded at the commission meeting.

Votes at a glance - Recommendation: Approve vesting tentative map for 70 Encina Avenue and forward to City Council, subject to findings and conditions and the 4 drafting revisions proposed by Commissioner Heckman. - Motion: Move staff recommendation with Heckman’s suggested changes. - Vote: 7-0 (Templeton — yes; Peterson — yes; Commissioner G — yes; James — yes; Heckman — yes; Vice Chair Chang — yes; Chair Aiken — yes).