Council upholds approval for 2020 North Pacific project, rejects tree and encroachment appeals and orders policy review

The Santa Cruz City Council denied two appeals challenging its Planning Commission's June approval of a proposed eight‑story mixed‑use development at 2020 North Pacific Avenue, while modifying conditions for balcony encroachments and directing staff to review the city's heritage‑tree procedures.

The project, proposed by Workbench, would combine two lots for a roughly 169,791‑square‑foot building with 178 residential units (including 30 affordable homes), about 2,727 square feet of commercial/amenity space, 244 bicycle parking spaces and 100 vehicle parking spaces. The application also requested waivers and incentives allowed under state density bonus law and included a heritage‑tree removal permit for six regulated trees (four street trees plus two coast redwoods on Ninth Street).

Appellants raised two main issues: Save Our Big Trees (represented by Jillian Greensite) appealed the heritage‑tree denial for two mature coast redwoods in front of the town clock; the project applicant (Workbench) also appealed several planning…