Soledad Planning Commission backs Eden Housing amendment to add 12 units, increase height to 40 feet

The Soledad Planning Commission on May 22 voted 3–1, with one commissioner absent, to recommend the City Council approve an amendment to Planned Unit Development (PUD 2018-02) for Municipal Parcel E. The amendment would add a third floor to one multifamily building, increase multifamily units from 28 to 40 (12 additional rental units), raise the building height from 30 feet to 40 feet, and reduce multifamily parking from 54 spaces to 50 to make room for a fenced, resident-only play area and other amenities.

Anil Mora, associate planner for the City of Soledad, told commissioners the site is zoned R3 (by-right density of 22 units per acre) on an eight-acre parcel that can accommodate up to 188 units; the action before the commission was limited to the height increase and parking deviation that trigger a PUD amendment and recommendation to City Council. Mora said the overall project retains 104 ownership townhomes while the multifamily portion would be rental housing and that the proposed changes would not require additional CEQA review because an Environmental Impact Report prepared at annexation covers the proposal.

Louis Liss, associate director of real estate at Eden Housing, said the nonprofit is seeking state tax-credit financing and must add specified resident amenities (community room, playground, bike room) to qualify. "This request really was generated as a way to create a financially feasible affordable housing project," Liss said, adding the design team worked to "maintain the character of the existing development" while fitting the additional units. Liss also said the three-story design will provide fully adaptable units for accessibility without an elevator, a decision the applicant said helps preserve project feasibility.

Commissioners asked about traffic, emergency access and neighborhood fit. Staff and the applicant said the project’s traffic mitigation measures were analyzed in the 2018 environmental review and that Bridal Canyon Road is a county road outside Soledad city limits, so any secondary egress using that road would require county approval. Staff also said the fire marshal cleared the entitlement-level review for a three-story building but that construction plans would still require detailed department review.

Staff described the affordability breakdown in the amended plan: the multifamily building would add 12 very-low-income rental units and, together with the approved townhomes, the project would deliver a total of 52 income-restricted units under the current agreements (staff cited 14 very low, 14 low and 24 moderate units allocated across the project). Staff said the rental format makes the very-low units easier for eligible households to access than ownership units that require down-payment assistance.

Commissioner Lorenzo Sanchez moved to approve the recommendation to City Council to allow a third floor, 12 additional units, and the reduction of four parking spaces; Commissioner Roberto Cruz seconded. The roll-call vote returned three in favor, one opposed and one absent. The Planning Commission’s recommendation advances the amendment to the City Council for final action.

Next steps: the Planning Commission’s approval is a recommendation; final approval requires City Council action and, if approved, the developer will proceed to construction-plan review and building-permit applications.