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Neighbors say 1776 Green Street site is on state contamination list; commission pauses project for DPH/CEQA review
Summary
Residents told the Planning Commission that the former auto-repair site at 1776 Green Street appears on the state Cortese contaminated-sites list and urged the commission to withhold action until CEQA review and a documented cleanup plan are complete; the commission continued the item to Dec. 5 to allow staff follow-up with Department of Public Health.
The Planning Commission on Nov. 7 halted a decision on a proposal to convert a former auto-repair garage at 1776 Green Street into a multi-unit residential building after neighbors presented soil-test results and asserted the property appears on the state's Cortese list of contaminated sites.
Staff had recommended a conditional-use authorization for a vertical addition and change of use to create five family-sized units, and the project sought variances for front- and rear-yard setbacks tied to the nonconforming existing building. During public comment, several neighbors (represented by Richard Drury and others) said the site has elevated concentrations of petroleum-related compounds and cited Phase II testing showing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes above thresholds. They argued that a CEQA categorical exemption is invalid for sites on the Cortese list and that the commission must require a full CEQA review and an enforceable cleanup plan before the commission acts.
Planning staff and Director Ram said the site was enrolled in a DPH-administered program and that environmental and public-health review is coordinated through the Department of Public Health and DBI; staff recommended the commission continue the item so the record can include DPH/MAHER documentation and a clearer statement on CEQA applicability. After discussion the commission continued the matter to Dec. 5 to allow staff to assemble DPH/MAHER documentation and technical background to present to the commission.
What happens next: staff will consult with Department of Public Health and other agencies to verify Cortese-list status, provide the commission with MAHER/DPH enrollment details and clarify whether a CEQA exemption remains valid; the commission will revisit the project on Dec. 5.
