The Lafayette Planning Commission unanimously approved a minor subdivision for 820 Acalanes Road that will divide the existing parcel into Parcel A (1.57 acres, containing the existing residence) and Parcel B (0.97 acres), adopting Resolution 2025-12 and finding the project CEQA-exempt.

Steph (staff) described the proposal and noted that no building is proposed now; future development on the new parcel would require phased hillside development permits (Phase 1 to the Planning Commission; Phase 2 to the Design Review Commission). Staff reported that the city engineer and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District provided substantive comments that were incorporated into the draft conditions to address safe sight distance and emergency access.

One neighbor, Agatha Sue Lee, asked the commission to consider streambed, drainage and hillside protections; staff and commissioners clarified that those issues and detailed environmental reviews will be handled during any future building-phase reviews. The commission and staff reviewed prior subdivision history and the transfer of a northern parcel in 2019 that created a narrow build strip; that history prompted close review of sight-distance and butters' rights (presumed street-access rights).

Given repeated city-engineer concerns about ingress/egress at the curve on Acalanes Road, commissioners added a project-specific condition to require the access point to be located as shown in the plan set dated 01/02/2025 and to require the recordation of a relinquishment of butters' rights except for the approved access area. Commissioner (speaker S3) moved to adopt the resolution with these conditions; the motion was seconded and passed 5–0 in a roll-call vote. The commission announced a 14-day appeal period.

What happens next: If the decision is not appealed, the final map and required easement recordations will be completed and the subdivision may be recorded. Any future development on Parcel B will require additional permits and reviews as noted in the conditions.