The Hollister City Planning Commission voted unanimously Nov. 20 to adopt an amendment to map 121-5 that revises the layout of a roughly 18.24-acre parcel along Chapel Road in the city's Chapel Road master plan.

Staff told commissioners the amendment reduces the overall unit count from the previously approved scheme and designates 70 lots for single-family detached homes and 16 "duet"/duplex-style lots, for a total of 86 lots. The revision shifts the 16 duet-style lots from the northern portion of the property to the southern portion to better meet noise-mitigation requirements for parcels that border Highway 25, and it realigns streets and enlarges the neighborhood park by removing a few awkward lots near a cul-de-sac.

Staff said the parcel is in the low-density residential overlay and conforms to the general plan and the previously certified environmental review for the Chapel Road master plan. Staff also described project-specific development standards and conditions carried over from the prior approval, including timing conditions that require building permits and certificates of occupancy for the duet units to be sequenced consistent with the project-specific conditions.

The commission opened the public hearing and received a brief appearance from Peter Smith, the applicant's civil engineer with HMH Veil Engineers. Smith said the team did not bring a formal presentation but explained that "when we rearrange the [lots] ... the cul de sac got larger, which increased the park." He offered to answer questions.

After commissioners asked follow-up questions about the unit counts, map scope and noise mitigation, a commissioner moved to adopt the amendment as presented and a second was given. The voice vote was recorded as unanimous among those present; the chair declared the motion carried.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the amended map and the modified conditions of approval into the final resolution and file the project records per the city's permitting procedures.