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Proposal to rezone Hillside Church site would shift 6.87-acre parcel to suburban mixed-use
Summary
A master-plan and zoning map amendment would change two parcels (6.87 acres total) at the end of Sutro Street from single-family to suburban mixed-use, aligning the site with denser adjacent zoning; the church would remain and could seek special-use permits for expanded services. Planning Commission hearing is set for May 21, 2026.
Brook Oswald, representing the project applicant, presented a high-level master-plan amendment and zoning-map amendment for land at the terminus of Sutro Street. The site consists of two parcels (about 5.0 and 1.83 acres) and totals approximately 6.87 acres.
Oswald said the current master-plan designation (single-family) and zoning (three dwelling units per acre) are out of step with the surrounding area, which features higher-density designations (multifamily up to 30 dwelling units per acre nearby). The request would reclassify the property to suburban mixed-use and rezone it to allow greater density and a broader set of uses. He emphasized this is a framework-level change — a master-plan and zoning decision — and not final development approval.
The Hillside Church itself will remain on the larger parcel and would be conforming under the proposed MS zoning; any significant changes to church uses, such as expanded daycare or schooling services, would require the appropriate special-use permit. Oswald said there are no finalized development plans and that future development would likely depend on market conditions; he suggested options could include multifamily or small commercial projects.
Oswald described an outstanding eminent-domain/abandonment issue related to a previously realigned Highway 395 alignment and noted adjacent property owners may later request abandonment of right-of-way once costs are reconciled. He also said the Truckucky Meadows regional planning agency must consider a tier change for the site to reflect the higher-density proposal.
The applicant plans a neighborhood meeting at Hillside Church on April 28, and the matter is scheduled for Planning Commission review on May 21, 2026, followed by City Council consideration. Board members asked clarifying questions about likely development types and the church’s ability to expand; Oswald reiterated the current submission is a policy-level amendment and that details will follow in later approvals.
The board did not take a formal vote; this presentation served as an opportunity for early community input ahead of the formal hearings.
