Planning commission approves 75‑unit mixed‑use townhome project at Orangethorpe site

The Placentia Planning Commission on March 14 approved a development plan review for a proposed 75‑unit condominium townhome project at 777 West Orangethorpe Avenue and recommended that the City Council approve a separate vesting tentative tract map.

A staff presenter told commissioners the proposal would demolish the former auto dealership and replace it with 75 units—six two‑bedroom units (~1,200 sq ft), 64 three‑bedroom units (~1,450 sq ft) and five three‑bedroom live‑work units (~1,600 sq ft). The project would be about 2.7 acres with a maximum height of roughly 47 feet and 162 parking spaces, which staff described as code‑compliant. Staff said the project sits in Specific Plan 5 (SP5) and is consistent with a 2024 amendment that allows mixed use and a density range of 15–95 dwelling units per acre; the proposed development equates to about 28 units per acre.

Staff recommended adoption of a statutory CEQA exemption under Assembly Bill 130 and approval of development plan review DPR 2025‑53 and related resolutions. The staff member said the project "does comply with all the SP5 development standards and applicable provisions of the municipal code" and described several architectural refinements negotiated with the applicant, including varied roof lines, metal railings and window "eyebrows".

Commissioners pressed staff and Public Works on traffic and circulation. Staff said the city’s trip‑generation screening showed the development would generate fewer peak‑hour trips than the prior car dealership use and that the project screened out for VMT under the city’s guidelines. Deputy Public Works Director Gabriel Guerrero told the commission the developer agreed to install a permanent channelization curb (a curb "pork‑chop") at the Placentia Avenue driveway to enforce the planned right‑in/right‑out movement. Staff also described landscaping easements where private trees will be planted along Placentia Avenue and Orange Thorpe, and said fire access and a fire master plan were prepared to satisfy the fire department’s needs.

The applicant's representative reiterated that the proposal includes three public open‑space areas (a central courtyard and two plazas oriented to the live‑work units), two‑car garages for most units, and pedestrian circulation connecting the project. The developer stated the project requests no deviations or variances and is intended to be built in compliance with SP5 standards.

Commission action and votes: a commissioner moved to adopt Resolutions PC 20206‑04 and PC 20206‑05 (the development plan review and the vesting tentative tract map). On roll call the motion passed with Commissioner Smith Yes, Commissioner Guerrero Yes, Commissioner Navarro No, Commissioner Evans Yes, Vice Chair Rock absent and Chair Perez Yes. The commission instructed staff to file a notice of exemption with the county clerk upon approval and advised the applicant of a 10‑day appeal period to City Council.

What happens next: the project will proceed to City Council for final action on the vesting tentative tract map as recommended by staff. If no appeal is filed within the statutory timeframe, staff will file the required notice of exemption consistent with the AB 130 finding.

Details and context: the project site is adjacent to Fullerton to the west and Anaheim to the southwest. Staff said the proposed development is substantially less dense than a previous entitlement for the site and that many of the conditions of approval mirror those adopted under the prior entitlement. The staff presentation, the deputy public‑works responses about driveway channelization, and the applicant’s statements that they had worked closely with city departments informed the commission’s vote.