Council denies appeal of Mission Street Studios project; directs enforcement and design-collaboration steps

The Santa Cruz City Council voted to deny an appeal of the Planning Commission approval for a six‑story mixed‑use project at 1118–19 Mission Street — commonly called Mission Street Studios — while directing staff to take several neighborhood-focused follow-ups aimed at parking, loading and design collaboration.

Appellant Bruce Thomas spoke for neighbors on Dufour and Palm streets and identified an ongoing safety issue at the Dufour–Mission intersection: delivery trucks frequently double‑park outside a commercial loading zone, forcing lane closures and creating hazardous maneuvers. “Delivery trucks frequently double parking at the entrance to Dufour Street,” Thomas said during his appeal presentation, and he urged council to resolve enforcement and loading‑zone design before the larger project is built.

Staff earlie…