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El Cajon council approves Raffo Villas planned unit development
Summary
The El Cajon City Council voted unanimously to adopt a CEQA exemption and approve the Raffo Villas planned unit development and tentative subdivision map, approving five single-family lots on a 0.46-acre site at 920 South Magnolia after a staff presentation and a brief public comment in support.
The El Cajon City Council approved a planned unit development and tentative subdivision map for the Raffo Villas project following a staff report and a brief public comment in support.
Mike Villione, senior planner with the community development department, told the council the proposal includes a planned unit development permit and a tentative subdivision map for a six-lot subdivision with one common lot for a private street and five detached single-family homes on a roughly 0.46-acre vacant parcel at 920 South Magnolia. "The item before you this evening is the Raffo Villas project," Villione said in his presentation, outlining proposed setbacks, parking and site design.
The project as presented would yield just under 11 dwelling units per acre (five units on about 0.46 acres). Villione described site features including a 20-foot private street, 18 parking stalls (with a reduced driveway depth and reverse space), minimum 400 square feet of private open space per unit, 10-foot street setbacks and 5-foot interior and rear setbacks. Proposed building materials include stucco and lap siding with stone highlights; the proposed roof would be about 25.5 feet in height where the zone permits up to 35 feet. Walls and retaining fills up to about 7 feet were described to provide grading for sewer service and drainage, and a stormwater treatment area would be accommodated behind a 42-inch masonry wall and decorative metal fence.
Villione told the council the Planning Commission held a noticed hearing on June 18, 2024; only the applicant offered public comment and the commission voted unanimously to recommend approval. He also said the project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as an infill development under CEQA Guidelines §15332, and staff recommended the council adopt resolutions approving the CEQA determination, the planned unit development, and the tentative subdivision map.
At the public-comment portion of the hearing, Rania Shalom of New Vision Building and Design identified herself as the project designer and said she "agree[d] with all the conditions listed by the city staff for this project" and thanked staff for their help. (The designer referred to the project as "Villa Rufus" in her remarks while staff and the agenda identified the item as Raffo Villas; the record reflects both names.)
After brief council remarks praising the design, the chair moved to close the public hearing; according to the transcript Mike Villione seconded the motion and the deputy city clerk announced, "Motion carries by unanimous vote." A subsequent motion to adopt the resolutions approving the CEQA determination, the planned unit development, and the tentative subdivision map was made as recorded and carried by unanimous vote; the transcript does not show individual roll-call votes.
The council adjourned the session and announced that the adjourned regular joint meeting of the referenced agencies will be held Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., as stated in the record.
