Planning Commission approves 12‑ft retaining wall modification for Almond Street lots, requires painted no‑parking curb

On June 23, 2026, the El Paso de Robles City Planning Commission approved a request to modify retaining‑wall height standards for properties at 128 and 132 Almond Street, allowing as‑built exposed faces in places up to 12 feet. The commission voted 5–0 and attached conditions including final materials review by planning staff prior to permit issuance and that the applicant paint the curb red to designate no parking.

Associate Planner Darcy Delgado told commissioners the site, near South River and Creston Road by the 13th Street bridge, had been redeveloped after a 2020 fire and now includes two single‑family homes and two accessory dwelling units. Staff said routine inspections found an as‑built retaining wall exceeding the typical residential exposed‑face standard; municipal code limits exposed retaining walls in residential front yards to 4 feet, with administrative flexibility for up to 2 feet handled by the Development Review Committee and larger increases elevated to the Planning Commission.

Delgado described the applicant's proposed mitigation measures to soften the wall's massing: a 2:1 sloped soil taper on the Almond Street frontage, landscaping in the right‑of‑way (with an encroachment plan accepted by engineering), stucco finishes, rock wainscoting and decorative trim elements. Engineering staff indicated the outside (north) face could accommodate landscaping but the west face would remain exposed because of footing constraints.

Contractor Robert Potter, who addressed the commission from the podium, described the stone and cladding selections and said construction is nearly complete. "We're 99% there. We just need our sewer and water connection and we can wrap this up and get some housing for some folks," Potter said.

Commissioners raised sight‑distance and parking concerns. Commissioner Christensen asked whether the city should require painted red curb or signage to prevent parking on the narrow Almond Street frontage; Dante from engineering said the street width makes parking on that side infeasible and enforcement would be handled by police if needed, but the city can require red curb or signage through the encroachment permit process. The Planning Commission adopted a motion that explicitly required the applicant to paint the curb red for no parking as part of the approval.

Commissioner Christensen moved to approve the draft resolution with the red curb condition; Commissioner O'Neil seconded. The motion passed on a 5‑0 roll call. Staff included a condition that planning division staff would review final material samples prior to issuance of construction permits; the commission discussed but did not require that final details return to the DRC or the commission.

Next steps: the applicant must submit final construction permit materials and the planning division will verify that final finishes match the approved exhibits before permits are issued. The approved modification allows the applicant to complete the four units and two ADUs subject to the conditions placed on the approval.