Planning Commission unanimously approves AvalonBay mixed‑use project at 1150 Ocean Avenue with grocery‑oriented retail and public‑space commitments

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a large mixed‑use project at 1150 Ocean Avenue that implements the recently adopted Balboa Park plan and aims to deliver new rental housing, neighborhood‑serving retail and public‑realm improvements.

Sponsor AvalonBay presented designs for two mixed‑use buildings totaling roughly 173 dwelling units (26 of those identified as affordable in the sponsor’s materials) with approximately 28,000–30,000 square feet of ground‑floor retail configured to attract a grocery tenant and roughly 237 parking spaces overall. The sponsor said the east block’s 20‑foot floor‑to‑floor retail spaces are specifically intended to suit a grocery or a smaller grocery format plus complementary uses; the exact tenant was not yet confirmed.

As part of an in‑kind public‑benefit agreement, AvalonBay will construct public improvements including the extension of Brighton Avenue as a pedestrian‑oriented space and the Lee Avenue extension (a full public street with sidewalks, bike lanes and vehicle lanes) and will dedicate those improvements to the City. Department staff recommended approval and proposed adjustments to the mitigation and monitoring program (notably revised loading hours to balance residential liveability and grocery loading needs).

Community organizations including the Westwood Park Association, the Ocean Avenue Revitalization Collaborative (OARC) and the Housing Action Coalition spoke in favor of the project; neighbors emphasized the project’s potential to replace a long‑standing vacant parcel and to provide a grocery amenity. Commissioners praised the project’s responsiveness to the Balboa Park plan and asked staff and sponsor to continue refining a blank west‑facing wall (adjacent to the new Ingleside Library) with community‑informed artwork or a living/green wall.

Vote and conditions: the commission voted unanimously to approve the conditional‑use and PUD exceptions with recommended conditions, including refined loading hours and continued collaboration on façade and public‑art solutions. Staff clarified the in‑kind credit accounted for construction of public improvements rather than land value; the in‑kind work reduces the applicant’s fee obligation under the Balboa Park plan in exchange for the delivered public improvements.

What’s next: Sponsor and staff will refine design details as required by conditions and coordinate implementation of the in‑kind agreement and future tenanting.