Planning Commission grants 2‑year extension for Spring Street Villlage project

On June 23, 2026, the El Paso de Robles City Planning Commission unanimously approved a two‑year time extension for Phase Two of the Spring Street Villages at 3328 Spring Street, extending the project's entitlement expiration to May 14, 2028.

Planning staff told commissioners the request would extend entitlements for Planned Development 1804 and Vesting Tentative Tract Map 3047. Staff said Phase Two would construct 74 multi‑family units, 19 of which would be deed‑restricted as low‑income housing under the project's density bonus provisions. Staff recommended approval and characterized the project as exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under the Class 32 (infill) categorical exemption.

Applicant Ryan Jeffries, who joined the meeting by phone, said financing and higher construction costs delayed progress. "We've been unable to proceed with finalizing the conditions of approval and obtaining construction financing due to the inflated cost of construction at the current moment as well as [the] interest rate environment," Jeffries said, and added the applicant remained "committed to trying to finish" and occupy the project.

Commissioners asked staff to clarify the project's previous approvals and the timing of prior time extensions. Staff outlined that PD 1804 had prior extensions and that a 2024 refile reset timing rules; there was some differing date math in the discussion about overall allowable extension windows, which staff and a commissioner both addressed during the exchange. The record shows the commission considered the staff recommendation and the applicant's financing constraints in adopting the extension.

Commissioner Neil moved to adopt draft resolution PC 26 approving the two‑year extension, Commissioner Roden seconded, and the motion passed on a 5‑0 roll call (Neil, Roden, Christensen, Covarrubias, Chairperson Marlow).

With approval, the project retains its previously approved conditions; staff noted applicants must still obtain required permits and that final materials and conditions tied to the original approvals remain in force. The commission did not change the project's underlying approvals and did not require additional environmental review beyond the CEQA exemption stated by staff.

Next steps: the applicant must continue pursuing permits and financing, and any future time‑extension requests or changes to the approved project would return to the appropriate review body.