El Cajon council approves nine-unit condo project with two deed-restricted moderate‑income units

The El Cajon City Council on an evening vote approved a nine‑unit attached condominium complex at 1471 East Main Street that will include two units deed‑restricted to moderate‑income households.

Spencer Hayes, associate planner with the Community Development Department, told the council the proposal seeks a general plan amendment to medium density residential, a rezone to RM‑2,200, a tentative subdivision map and a site development permit. Hayes said the 0.37‑acre site would house three three‑bedroom units (about 1,150 sq ft) and six two‑bedroom units (about 850 sq ft), with 18 parking spaces and common landscaping and recreation areas. “The project requests to amend the general plan land use designation to medium density residential or MR,” Hayes said during the presentation.

The project includes two density‑bonus units restricted to households at about 80–120 percent of area median income; the staff report and applicant materials call for those units to be deed‑restricted and governed by an affordable housing agreement. Hayes said an initial study and mitigated negative declaration identify two mitigation measures: limiting HVAC noise and requiring a Native American cultural resource monitor during ground‑disturbing activities.

Applicant Vince Catullo of Catullo and Associates reiterated the development will provide 18 parking spaces — two per unit — and said all stalls will be EV‑ready. “I have 18 parking spaces, 2 for each unit,” Catullo said, adding that the two restricted units will be deed‑restricted for 55 years. He also said he will seek a Caltrans design exception for a driveway on East Main Street, and that the driveway as shown is about 160 feet from the center curve, exceeding the 100‑foot state control distance he cited.

The council pressed staff and the applicant about the late Caltrans comment, which flagged a longer setback; Hayes said Caltrans’ informal comment referenced 200 feet in the material the city received but that standards can vary by intersection, and that city traffic engineering had no objection to the driveway. Staff said the conditions are written to allow the driveway to remain if the applicant secures a Caltrans exception or encroachment permit, or for the entry to be removed and replaced with landscaping if an exception is not granted.

A council member raised concerns about investor purchases after construction, citing broader industry activity. Hayes and the applicant said recorded affordability covenants run with the land and will transfer to future owners, limiting sales or rentals to income‑qualified households for the covenant period.

After public testimony and council discussion, a council member moved to adopt the resolutions described in the staff report (items 3 and 4) to adopt the mitigated negative declaration and approve the General Plan amendment, rezone, tentative map and site development permit subject to the conditions in the staff report; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous vote of those present. The clerk noted Council member Kendrick was absent for the vote.

The council adjourned to its next regular joint meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. The project will proceed subject to the conditions of approval and any Caltrans determinations about the proposed driveway.