A site plan was approved for two new triplex buildings on a 0.67-acre lot at 3443 Tenth Street.
An existing house on the parcel will remain.
In a 3-1 vote, the commission approved the plan submitted by Jose Jimenez to build two two-story units behind the existing house as well as a new detached garage for that existing house. One-car garages will be built for each of the six units as well as a six-foot-tall masonry wall along the perimeter.
The R-3 zone allows the multi-family use but has to go before the commission for site plan approval.
As an infill project that is consistent with the Ceres General Plan, the project was exempt from CEQA review. CEQA stands for the California Environmental Quality Act.
The commission expressed concern about placement of the trash enclosure in the back corner of the project. A condition placed on the project is that placement of that enclosure will be approved by the city engineer and local garbage hauler. As designed, the city felt that the long distance to the trash enclosure would require garbage trucks to back out the entire long distance since there is no space to turn around.
“It is going to be tight for the trash truck,” said Kelsey George, the city’s new contract planner.
Ceres resident John Warren said the project was nice but questioned how fire engines would access the units farthest in the back. He also stated: “I’d hate to see garbage trucks backing out on the city streets blindly.”
Nicholas Eckenwiler, an attorney with the California Housing Defense Fund, wrote a letter of support for the project which reminded the city it can be sued for turning down a legitimate project.
“As you are all aware, California remains in the throes of a statewide crisis level housing shortage,” wrote Eckenwiler. “New housing such as this is a public benefit will increase the city’s tax base, it will bring new customers to local businesses, and it will reduce displacement of existing residents and reducing competition for existing housing. While no one project will solve the statewide housing crisis, the proposed development is a step in the right direction. Now, HDF urges the city to approve it, consistent with its obligations under state law.”
Elias Cortez, one of the property owners, said he’s not opposed to moving the garbage enclosure closer toward the street.
City Engineer Mike Beltran said the city needs to talk to Bertolotti Disposal to make sure they are comfortable with drivers backing up that long distance but he also wants to see the enclosure moved closer to the street.
“I think there’s ways in this layout to actually have it moved but we can work with the engineers and the owners in order to make that happen,” said Beltran.
Commission Chairman Gary Condit voted no, preferring to continue the matter until fire officials could be present to satisfy his concerns that there is enough room as drawn to accommodate fire vehicles. Fire officials had already signed onto the plan as acceptable.
Condit also had concerns that Beltran’s department missed the fact that a 200-foot-long driveway was drawn when the preferred standard is a straight shot of 150 feet.
Supporting the site plan as drawn were commissioners Dave Johnson, R.J. Jammu and Dorie Perez.
