DATE: JULY 17, 2024
TO: CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
FROM: ANDREA GILBERT, CITY PLANNER
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve, by motion of the Planning Commission, a one-year time extension for PL18-0057.TE04 (Special Conditional Use Permit - Time Extension) and PL18-0058.TE04 (Site Approval - Time Extension).
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BACKGROUND
The applicant, Source Architecture, Inc., received approval of PL18-0057 (Special Conditional Use Permit) and PL18-0058 (Site Approval) by the Planning Commission on July 20, 2020, to develop a 109,581-square foot, three-story assisted living facility consisting of 72 units (132 residents/beds) with supporting facilities. The project site is located on a 3.07-acre site on the south side of Guardian Way between 10th Street and Vernon Avenue, in the RD20 (Residential 20/units per acre) zoning district. The proposed assisted living facility consists of three buildings (Buildings A, B, and C). Building A includes living quarters, the facility’s main office, and several interior amenities including a dining hall, gym, game room, video rooms, and a salon. Buildings B and C include only living quarters. The buildings are all connected by three fully enclosed hallways in the center of the facility. In total, the buildings include 12 one-bedroom units and 60 two-bedroom units totaling 132 beds.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
Since the project was approved in 2020, the applicant has received three one-year time extensions, approved by the Director of Development Services. The City’s Zoning Code allows the Director of Development Services to approve a total of three one-year time extensions. Any subsequent time extension beyond the initial three must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. The applicant is requesting approval of a fourth one-year time extension for the construction and operation of the assisted living facility. The additional time is being requested due to financial constraints experienced over the last few years. The owner has been working diligently to resolve these issues and intends to keep the project moving forward. The project is currently in plan check. However, the necessary permits will not be obtained prior to entitlements expiring on July 20, 2024, therefore the extension is requested. If the request for the time extension is approved, approval of the Special Conditional Use Permit and Site Approval would expire on July 20, 2025.
PUBLIC NOTICE
A 10-day notice was mailed to all property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site. In addition, a notice was published in the Chino Champion on July 6, 2024, and the City posted information on the project on social media outlets. In response to public notice, no comments have been received. The notice exceeds legal noticing requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15332 of the guidelines - Infill Development Projects, as a) the proposed project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations; (b) the proposed project occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; (c) the project site has no value, as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species; (d) approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and (e) the project site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in section 15300.2 of the guidelines apply to the Project. The proposed time extension does not include any change to the Project and therefore is within the scope of the exemption, which adequately describes the activity for the purposes of CEQA. Additional environmental review is not required.