Pittsburg commissioners won’t recommend Seeno hillside housing plan

A big housing improvement in Pittsburg’s hills that already was delayed due to a lawsuit was dealt one other blow when the Planning Fee turned down the undertaking.

The fee’s vote is only a suggestion to the Metropolis Council, which has the ultimate say on the Faria/Southwest Hills undertaking on the outskirts of southwest Pittsburg. Nevertheless, commissioners made it clear that they thought the undertaking wants revising.

Citing uncertainty in regards to the undertaking’s particulars and a want for extra time to evaluate revised environmental paperwork, commissioners voted 4-1 to suggest that the Metropolis Council reject the Faria/Southwest Hills grasp plan and improvement settlement. The council will evaluate the undertaking someday in March.

The vote got here after an almost three-hour public listening to on Feb. 14. Solely Commissioner Alvin Jackson was in favor of the undertaking, whereas Commissioner Shauvan Tollier, who lives close by, recused herself.

“I feel we are able to transfer ahead after 20 years (of ready).”

Faria Land Traders, a Seeno/Discovery Builders affiliate, needs to construct some 1,500 houses clustered within the valleys within the southwest Pittsburg hills, which overlook the previous Harmony Naval Weapons Station. The council accepted an earlier model of the undertaking in 2021 regardless of opposition from tons of of residents.

That approval was instantly challenged in court docket by Save Mount Diablo, which argued the undertaking would mar the hills and its habitat between Pittsburg and Harmony.

A choose later dominated that town’s environmental evaluate didn’t correctly analyze the undertaking’s results on air high quality, site visitors, water provide and attainable impacts of the proposed 150 accent dwelling items. The developer’s request for a brand new trial was rejected.

Revised plans have eradicated the ADUs and lowered the event website to 341 acres – concentrating housing within the valley of the 606-acre parcel. One other 265 acres could be open area.

“It’s been a really, very strong evaluation, as we’ve labored on this for the reason that measure was handed (in 2005) that introduced this land into town, and we’re actually pleased with what we’ve provide you with, in live performance with metropolis employees,” stated Louis Parsons of Discovery Builders.

Assistant Director of Planning John Funderburg stated the proposed 1,500 houses was the utmost quantity included for that space within the 2020 common plan.

“It has been contemplated and deliberate for within the common plan for the final 20 years, and it’s been included inside plans for service inside the metropolis sewer and water system grasp plan and different long-range planning paperwork,” he stated.

Jordan Davis, metropolis group and financial improvement director, stated that below the event settlement, the developer would pay about $34,700 per home towards native and regional roadway initiatives, $250,000 to assist the police division broaden its safety cameras, a $2 million payment to offer group facilities, together with different charges. As a substitute of constructing the ADUs, the developer pays in-lieu charges to town for reasonably priced housing, he stated.

Davis additionally famous the developer could be required to offer a number of trails and staging areas to hook up with the close by deliberate regional park.

“We obtained loads of feedback that cited the necessity for Pittsburg residents to have entry to park areas – significantly the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park that’s proposed on the western facet of this undertaking boundary – and as employees, we couldn’t agree extra,” he stated.

Some residents spoke in favor of the plan saying it might deliver much-needed native development jobs.

However close by resident Jason Chi was amongst these opposed, saying security, colleges, site visitors and setting haven’t been adequately addressed.

“I’ve seen the applicant’s clarification in these areas,” he stated. “I feel they’re evasive and deflecting and kicking the can down the street.”

Juan Pablo Galvan Martinez, senior land use supervisor for Save Mount Diablo, stated the developer needs to construct homes “the farthest away from town heart and companies as you presumably might.”

“We aren’t against all improvement,” he stated. “We predict one thing might occur right here. What we would like is what Pittsburg residents – tons of of them – have already voiced: safety of the hills, safety of the views, safety of the standard of life, deliver it down off the ridge – really, there is no such thing as a valley up there – and buffer the park.”

Mindy Jian, an lawyer with Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger for Save Mount Diablo, stated the environmental paperwork and the developer’s grasp plan have been insufficient.

“The town has a second likelihood right here to approve a greater undertaking,” she stated. “This undertaking’s 606-acre website is a chance to place town’s present sustainable planning insurance policies into motion. The undertaking could be a win-win; it can lead to new housing, together with reasonably priced housing, defend town’s hillsides and ridgelines, and undertake a inexperienced and sustainable undertaking.”

A number of commissioners additionally most popular ready, saying it might be greatest to permit for a 45-day remark interval to evaluate the revisions within the paperwork, although the report didn’t change the conclusions and the extra time was not required.

“I feel that whereas it’s not essentially demanded that we flow into (the revised EIR) and permit extra time, I’ve to agree it is a 20-year undertaking,” Commissioner Donna Smith stated. “Why not give the group that desires 45 extra days to think about this, that point; it’s a small time period on this large scope.”

Commissioner Arlene Kobata agreed.

“I’m additionally involved once more in regards to the wildlife,” Kobata added. “That was one large subject with me. That’s their dwelling. And although local weather change goes to occur, we don’t want to hurry their demise.”

Chairwoman Elissa Robinson was additionally not in favor of the undertaking in its present kind.

“ this undertaking now, we are able to accomplish that a lot better,” she stated. “There are such a lot of ideas that we are able to apply right here to make it one thing that’s fashionable, that’s enticing by itself as a result of it’s one thing they haven’t seen earlier than, particularly in a spot in a valley as lovely as this.”

Davis famous that the general public will nonetheless have time to evaluate the EIR revisions earlier than the council listening to, which has but to be scheduled.

“That is only a suggestion on the doc, and any members of the general public may have up till that metropolis council date to proceed to evaluate the doc and there can be further time for public remark,” he stated.

To see the draft EIR, go to www.pittsburgca.gov/faria.