Planning commission sets Aug. 25 date-certain for EP2 Reading Oasis project after CEQA addendum concerns

The Planning Commission on a voice vote moved to continue consideration of Amendment Application AMND202066 and parcel map PM-2022091 for EP2 Reading Oasis LLC to a date-certain of Aug. 25 to allow staff and the applicant to address environmental questions raised by city counsel.

Planning staff said the city attorney reviewed the project's CEQA addendum and recommended additional analysis to screen for species listed as special-status since 2005. "Given the age of the EIR and the potential for changed circumstances...our recommendation was that we work with staff and the applicant to bolster that addendum," said Mary Wagner of the city attorney’s office.

Associate Planner Danny Castro told the commission staff needs time to review any supplemental materials and that the timeline depends on what the applicant provides: "For all we know, that could take a week, that could take a year." Developer counsel Mike Dormer asked the commission to set a date-certain rather than leave the item open-ended, saying Madrone (the environmental consultant) "...is gonna have something in about a week for staff to review."

A commissioner urged a firm date to create urgency: "I'll be happy to make a motion to say, let's go date certain on the 25th," and a motion to continue to Aug. 25 was moved and seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote; no individual roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The commission closed the public hearing on the item and directed staff to work with the applicant and counsel so the matter can return on the Aug. 25 agenda.