Commission approves PUD modification at 1700 California Street with condition to secure net +1 dwelling

The Planning Commission approved a proposed modification to the planned-unit development at 1700 California Street that converts underutilized garage area into residential and medical-office uses, reconfigures upper-floor units (combining some units into larger family-sized apartments) and eliminates a portion of the building’s excess parking.

Staff described the proposal as adaptive reuse that would convert 5,179 square feet of ground-floor garage into four new dwelling units with private outdoor space and convert 11,152 square feet of a one‑story portion to rear yard that serves ground-floor units. The sponsor said the reconfiguration yields three new 3‑bedroom units and an increase in family-sized units overall; the project also reduces parking from 200 to 163 spaces and increases bicycle parking.

Commissioners engaged in a lengthy debate over whether the changes constitute unit mergers or legitimate reconfigurations and whether the commission should require a net increase in dwelling units. Several commissioners said they were sympathetic to concerns that converting upper-floor units into larger units while adding small ground-floor studios could reduce the number of smaller, more affordable units available. The sponsor offered to work with staff to achieve a net increase of one unit.

The commission approved the project as amended to require staff and sponsor to pursue a net increase of one dwelling unit; the motion passed 4–1 (Commissioner Moore dissented). The approval included multiple design and parking adjustments described in the staff report.