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Albany Planning Commission approves two permits with conditions, corrects staff report typo
Summary
The Albany City Planning Commission approved two consent planning permits March 25, 2026, after staff corrected a typo in the Solano Avenue report and commissioners added conditions including a stairwell window and inverted U bike racks; appeal period is 14 business days.
The Albany City Planning Commission approved two consent planning permits on March 25, 2026, after staff corrected a typographical error in one project’s report and commissioners added minor design conditions.
Associate Planner Mira Han told the commission staff had corrected a language error in the staff report for planning application PA26008 (1244 Solano Avenue) that misidentified the side of the lot; corrected documents were uploaded before the meeting. Commissioners Pilch and McLeod had asked to pull items for discussion before a final vote. Mira Han said the orientation in the plans was correct and staff recommended keeping the item on consent unless the commission or the public wanted further discussion.
Commissioners raised design concerns about the Solano proposal’s stairwell (no windows shown in the earlier plan set) and the roofline. Commissioner McLeod said he would "add at least 1 window on the south wall in the stairwell," and commissioners asked that any added window be sized consistent with existing western-wall windows. The participant identified in the record as Cecilia Lee, whom staff indicated was the architect on the line, said they could "be happy to add windows in the stairwell," noting a west-wall opening would be ‘‘fairly simple’’ and that a skylight had been removed for cost reasons.
Commissioners also recommended inverted U–style bike racks for the site. Commissioner McLeod suggested partnering with local nonprofit Albany Strollers and Rollers for distinctive racks, and staff said the condition should specify U‑shaped racks on private property and that public‑right‑of‑way installations would need Public Works review. The commission voted to approve the consent calendar with the conditions described.
Staff announced a 14-business-day appeal period for the approved permits. The commission recorded the vote by roll call; all present commissioners voted yes.
The commission took no other public‑comment items off the consent calendar and moved on to a separate design review item for further discussion later in the meeting.
