Developer, neighbor and commissioners agree to workshop conditions before final action

Attorney Mike Dormer, representing the developer, and adjacent property owner Karen Rhodes spoke during public comment. Dormer clarified technical approaches to water quality: "All of our, bioretention cells are under the pavement," he said, adding that a bioswale along the Caltrans right‑of‑way would be planted and that the project would meet state water‑quality requirements.

Karen Rhodes, whose property is adjacent to the site, described a long history with the project and urged the commission to expedite approval to support property owners. "We've worked on this project for 51 years," Rhodes said.

Following public comment several commissioners presented a list of suggested edits to conditions addressing final building elevations, tree preservation and arborist recommendations, replacement planting metrics, bus turnouts, fair‑share funding for fire apparatus and migratory bird protections. Commissioners debated whether to complete the edits in the meeting or continue to allow staff and the applicant to collaborate; the motion to continue to July 28 carried after commissioners voiced general concurrence.

The commission directed staff and the applicant to return with updated conditions and requested clarifications on any mitigation measures that would need CEQA findings for deletion or modification.