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Council approves design review for 8th Street Apartments, adding seven units to an existing six-unit site
Summary
The council approved a design-review permit for a 7-unit addition to an existing 6-unit apartment site at 4646 8th Street, expanding the property to 13 units and adding parking, landscaping and common open space.
The Guadalupe City Council on Jan. 28 approved a design review permit that will add seven new apartments to a property at 4646 8th Street, increasing the site from six to 13 units.
Planning staff described the project by Masatani Properties as three ground-floor units and four units above parking, on a 0.75-acre parcel in the R-3 (high-density residential) zone. Bill Scott told the council municipal code section 1873-106 requires council approval to allow more than three units in the R-3 zone and that the project provides 29 parking spaces (9 covered), exceeding the 26-space requirement. Staff noted the ground-floor private yard areas fell slightly short of the 100-square-foot minimum for some units (about 72 square feet) but found the project “substantially conforming” because shared common open areas exceed code requirements.
Architect Greg Rivera and owner Tina Mukai of Masatani Properties said the project aims to preserve existing residents and upgrade the property without displacing current tenants. Rivera told the council exterior upgrades, landscaping, new parking stripes, covered parking and shared open space will modernize the site and provide improved amenities for existing and future residents. Mukai said the owner intends not to displace current tenants and that the project addresses drainage and paving issues that have affected the property.
Planning staff recommended a Class 32 CEQA exemption for infill development and presented standard conditions for design review: exterior materials and color selection that fit the neighborhood, landscaping meeting the 10% minimum (the project proposed 20%), site maintenance conditions, and fence/wall details to be finalized at building-permit review.
After public comment from the project architect and owner and questions about parking, access and maintenance, Council adopted Resolution 2025-07 approving Design Review Permit 2024-057 (DR) and the environmental notice of exemption. Roll call showed unanimity among members present; Council member Costa Junior was absent.
