ORINDA, Calif. — The Orinda Planning Commission on Nov. 25 voted 3–1 to recommend that the City Council amend the General Plan and rezone 23 Alta Rinda Road from Business and Professional Office/Downtown Office to Downtown General, a designation that allows mixed-use and multifamily residential development.

Christine Thompson, principal planner for the city, told the commission that the 0.6-acre site (about 26,000 square feet) is included in the certified Plan Orinda final EIR adopted in March 2025 and that staff’s consistency analysis concluded no supplemental environmental review was required under CEQA Guidelines §15168(c). Staff’s formal recommendation asked the commission to (1) find the rezoning consistent with the certified EIR and adopt CEQA findings and a statement of overriding considerations, (2) amend the General Plan land-use map to Downtown General, and (3) amend the zoning map to DG (Downtown General), removing a reference to the rescinded Downtown Precise Plan.

Applicants Brian Griggs and Jeff Stone said they were seeking rezoning only and not project approval. Griggs said the action "simply affords us the opportunity to present the city of future housing project" and that any future project would undergo detailed review, including fire‑district review and evacuation modeling. He told commissioners the parcel was acquired earlier this year and that a prior development application had been withdrawn so the request now is limited to map and zoning changes.

A resident, Nick Warnoff, urged the commission to reject the recommendation, saying the rezoning "is literally a life or death issue." Warnoff argued the certified EIR shows downtown housing could have "significant and unavoidable adverse impact on emergency evacuation" and said 23 Alta Rinda is not required to meet the state housing (RHNA) mandate. "Please vote in favor of life and reject the staff recommendation," he said.

Commissioners discussed evacuation risk, traffic and design safeguards. Some members described 23 Alta Rinda as a relatively better location for housing because it offers multiple directions of travel and proximity to the BART station, while others said adding sites before greater progress on evacuation mitigation would be premature. Staff confirmed that objective downtown design standards would apply to any future project under the DG designation.

The commission’s motion — to recommend the General Plan and zoning amendments with the DPP reference removed — was seconded and approved on a roll call with Commissioners Armstrong, Marola and Hubner voting aye; the motion carried 3–1. The chair advised that a written appeal of the planning commission decision may be filed with the planning department within 10 calendar days with the appropriate fee; appeals would be considered by the City Council.

Next steps: the commission’s recommendation will be considered by the Orinda City Council, which may adopt, modify or reject the proposed General Plan and zoning changes. If the council approves the amendments, the parcel’s land-use and zoning designations would change; any future development would require a separate project application and environmental/ design review.