Pleasant Hill planners recommend approval for 4-unit Habitat for Humanity infill amid parking and traffic concerns

The Pleasant Hill Planning Commission voted March 10 to recommend City Council approval of a package of entitlements for a four‑unit Habitat for Humanity project at 85 Woodsworth Lane, including a general plan amendment, a PUD rezone, a tentative minor subdivision, a development plan and architectural review.

Staff told the commission the applicant seeks to redesignate the parcel from multifamily low density to multifamily medium density so the lot can legally accommodate four attached single‑family homes. Staff described the PUD as roughly 2.1 acres and said council approval of a PUD under 4 acres requires compensating benefits such as affordable housing commitments, undergrounding utilities and frontage improvements.

Melanie Mentenko, senior project manager for Habitat for Humanity, told commissioners the site was surveyed and measured at slightly less than the assessor’s 0.2‑acre figure, producing a density calculation of 3.8 units that cannot be rounded up. “That’s why we’re requesting that particular item to be changed,” she said, adding the project’s goal is to provide homeownership opportunities in the city. Mentenko said the development would include three‑ and four‑bedroom units, an accessible unit without a garage, and sustainability features: “we are trying to build all‑net‑zero energy projects…so all of the homes will have solar, EV chargers, and all‑electric appliances.” She estimated, if funding and approvals proceed, approximately three months of site work and about 15 months of construction before occupancy.

During public comment neighborhood residents voiced mixed reactions. Derek Wurst of the Gregory Gardens Community Crew welcomed redevelopment of the long‑vacant lot and asked that the project include a gateway sign to identify the Gregory Gardens neighborhood. Several nearby residents said they support redevelopment of the eyesore lot but urged the commission to reconsider the intensity of four homes on the small parcel and raised parking and traffic safety concerns at the Woodsworth/Treadway intersection.

“Parking has really been a problem,” said Dana Favella, who said she has lived in the area for more than 30 years and worried that four 3‑ and 4‑bedroom homes with limited covered parking would worsen street parking pressures. Michael McCullough, who lives behind the site, asked whether a lighted crosswalk or other pedestrian safety improvements had been considered.

Staff and commissioners clarified several procedural points: the parcels to the east and west remain designated multifamily low density and the new PUD would include a concept plan only for 85 Woodsworth. Staff explained the existing parcels are inside a ‘‘shell’’ PUD and that changing the PUD name for Area 2 does not automatically change development prospects for other nearby lots.

Commissioners reviewed requested deviations from multifamily medium standards — reduced lot width and depth, some reduced setbacks, reduced enclosed garage depth (staff said the requested depth is 20 feet), and tandem parking arrangements — and engineering staff confirmed on‑site stormwater measures including pervious pavers. The architect explained design choices that moved parking toward the front of the units in order to meet required parking counts while keeping architectural interest and entries visible from the street.

Several commissioners said they were comfortable making the required findings for approval given the site constraints and the project’s affordable housing benefits, while also noting the community’s parking and safety concerns should be elevated for additional review. Commissioners asked staff to relay neighborhood concerns to the Traffic Safety Commission and to note possible crosswalk improvements for city consideration; staff said an engineer in the meeting would take notes and the discussion would be recorded for follow‑up.

The commission moved to adopt a resolution recommending City Council approval of the general plan amendment, PUD rezone, minor subdivision, development plan and architectural review for ENT‑2024‑0032, with conditions of approval that included the ARC‑recommended condition that the applicant work with the Gregory Gardens community on signage, required frontage improvements and undergrounding of utilities. The motion passed unanimously.

The item will return to the City Council for final action; the Planning Commission’s recommendation and the community comments will be part of the council record.