■ Proposed subdivision would be five parcels next to Benicia High
A barren, 37,500-square-foot patch of land in Benicia could see new development soon as a proposed five-lot subdivision comes up for city review.
Benicia Planning Commission will review the proposed subdivision at the northwest corner of West 10th and West L streets at its regular meeting Thursday.
The vacant lot is adjacent to Benicia High School. The applicant, Steve Garrett of Castle Companies Inc., proposes to split the lot into five different parcels, all of which would be of equal size at 7,500 square feet each.
The plan is for each parcel to have one single-family household.
According to a report by Principal Planner Amy Million, the area of land for the proposed site has historically never had any major developments. Property owners Breton and Patricia Lobner obtained a permit to fill the property in 2005.
The goal, Million wrote, is to build new developments while still preserving Benica as a small-sized city and maintain the town’s visual characteristics.
The next step will be for the Planning Commission to adopt a resolution recommending the City Council approve the project after it is determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, Million wrote.
Section 15332 of CEQA deals with providing guidelines for infill projects. To be exempt from CEQA, a project must be consistent with zoning regulations, occur within city limits, and be on a site that has no value for threatened species, will not affect traffic or air quality and can be adequately served by required utilities and public services.
As Million’s report notes, the project serves all of those requirements.
After a site review and reconnaissance survey of the property was performed in July, the site was determined to have no value for threatened species and posed no threat to the environment.
An improved alley off West 10th Street would allow emergency vehicle access, she wrote, and the subdivision was found to be consistent with Benicia’s zoning requirements.
However, some trees and large shrubs will have to be removed to make room for the new housing developments, Million wrote. According to her report, removal of mature trees would require a permit from Benicia Parks and Community Services.
In other business, the Planning Commission will hear a presentation on the Solano Comprehensive Transportation Plan and discuss amendments to the panel’s rules and procedures that were adopted in 2008.
Benicia Planning Commission will meet at 7 Thursday night in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St.
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