Planning commissioners recommend DDA for 90-unit senior affordable housing; DDA heads to City Council in May

The Benicia Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with Eden Housing to develop about 90 multifamily rental units that would be 100% affordable to residents age 55 and older on roughly 2.75 acres of city‑owned infill sites.

Suzanne Thorson, Benicia’s Development Services Director, told commissioners the scattered‑site proposal implements the city’s housing element by using two of nine city‑owned sites identified for affordable housing. Thorson said the project would replace the existing senior center at one site with a new senior center on the ground floor of a residential building that would be deeded back to the city and operated in perpetuity, and would add a public promenade of just under a half acre adjacent to the city gym.

"This project directly implements our housing element," Thorson said, describing massing concepts that show 3‑ to 4‑story buildings arranged to fit the slope at the Scout site at East L and East 4th streets. She said the city has sought grant funds to support construction of the new senior center and promenade and that public parking displaced by the project would be replaced. Thorson initially cited "101 public parking spaces" for the combined library and senior center lots and then corrected that figure to 110.

Tammy Strauss of Eden Housing, the project's developer and long‑term owner‑operator, said the organization has been engaged with the community for about a year, held public outreach events and dozens of stakeholder interviews, and will continue public engagement with a design workshop at the farmers market on April 30. "We feel that we really have a well informed, well designed plan going forward to offer homes for seniors 55 and plus," Strauss said, and added the development would target "low and very low" income levels.

Thorson told the commission that the housing element EIR was certified in January 2023 and that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under provisions the staff cited for affordable housing, surplus government property, and infill development (transcript referenced CEQA guideline sections 15194, 15312 and 15332). She also said the city complied with the Surplus Land Act and that the land is not in an area of statewide concern identified in CEQA guidance.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about parking and affordability; staff and the developer answered that public parking would be replaced and that proposed units are intended to serve lower and very low income seniors. No members of the public spoke on the item during the meeting; staff said there were no in‑room or online public commenters.

After discussion the commission moved to find the DDA consistent with the Benicia General Plan. Commissioner Lyle made the motion, Commissioner Jessen seconded it, and the commission voted yes in a roll call that recorded support from Commissioners Donahue, Gilpin Hayes, Gorman, Jessen, Lyle, Marshall and the chair.

The commission’s recommendation forwards the DDA to the City Council for consideration in May. Staff and Eden Housing plan additional community engagement ahead of Council review, including an April 30 public workshop at the farmers market focused on facade and promenade design options.