1 Resolution Approving the Sun Valley Estates Site Plan/Design Review (2015-1) Located Southwest of the Intersection of Peach Avenue and Main Street.

Meeting Date: MARCH 03, 2015

Note from TheGardeningSnail: Parts of this page may have been prepared by running a PDF Image Document through a program which converts image to text. My apologies for any Textual Gremlins that may have slipped in. Copy of the Original can be found on the City’s Website. I may also broken up some of the longer paragraphs for ease of reading.

STAFF REPORT

AGENDA ITEM: Resolution Approving the Sun Valley Estates Site Plan/Design Review 2015-01 Located Southwest of the Intersection of Peach Avenue and Main Street.

MEETING DATE: March 3, 2015

PREPARED BY: Holly R. Owen, Planning Director

REVIEWED BY: Odi Ortiz, Interim City Manager

RECOMMENDATION:

Council adopt a Resolution approving the Sun Valley Estates Site Plan/Design Review 2015-01 located Southwest of the Intersection of Peach Avenue and Main Street.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:

Applicant, Gold Circle, LLC, submitted a Site Plan/Design Review application to construct ten (10) single­ family residential units (including 2 model homes), ranging in size from 2,034 sq. ft. to 3,102 sq. ft. in the existing subdivision of Sun Valley Estates (aka Somerset) located southwest of the intersection of Peach Avenue and Main Street on property zoned Low-Density Residential (R-1), APN numbers 047-581-003 and -004; 047- 582-021 and -022; and 047-586-002 through 007.

Tentative Subdivision Map No. 93-01 and a Mitigated Negative Declaration for Somerset were approved in April 1993 by the Livingston City Council for 134 lots on approximately 29.5 acres. The Development Agreement 2004-03 for Somerset (Sun Valley Estates) was approved in July 1993, and the Design review of the original housing product was approved on September 13, 2005.

Twenty-three houses were constructed in and around 2006. As the economic downtown occurred, however, construction ceased and the remaining lots became available for purchase.

Gold Circle, LLC purchased the remaining lots in 2014, and approached the City about building eight ‘spec’ houses and two model homes on an initial ten (10) lots, with expectations to eventually complete the subdivision.

The City Engineer has given them a will-serve letter for water quantity for thirty homes to be built at this time.

The applicant has voluntarily participated in community outreach and has had a positive response to the project from existing neighbors in the subdivision.

In addition, they have agreed to build a wall around the Well #17 in the subdivision (Attachment B). Finally, their intention is to construct a monument sign at Peach Avenue to identify the subdivision at a future date, and this was encouraged by City staff.

There are 110 vacant lots left in the subdivision.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

These new plans range in size from 2,034 sq. ft. to 3,102 sq. ft., are one and two story plans and resemble previously approved plans in the existing neighborhood. Architectural details, such as stone, shutters, vents, and pop-outs provided in the elevations are, as always, standard home features.

DESIGN REVIEW:

The approved design packages for the project includes the following four design plans with three style options for each plan. Plans 1 and 2 are single-story models, while 3 and 4 are two-story models. The floor plans and elevations are attached as part of this staff report.

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Plan Name	Square Footage	Number of Stories	Number of Rooms	Garage Size	Extras
Residence ‘Al ‘	2,034	1	3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms	2 car garage	optional formal dining room or den
Residence ‘A2’	2,343	1	4 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms	2 car garage	separate attached living quarters
Residence ‘A3’	2,602	2	5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms	3 car garage,	optional office
Residence ‘A4’	3102	2	5 bedrooms 3.5 bathrooms	3 car garage	kitchenette

Staff has reviewed the floor plans and elevations for the project. The project successfully addresses many of the architectural recommendations in the Design Guide. The developer will be using the colors and materials compatible with those previously approved for this project. A standard Condition of Approval requiring enhanced side elevations for comer lot homes has been added to the Resolution. The developer is sensitive to the fact that there are existing houses in the subdivision, and has not only made the effort to choose colors and materials that will be compatible with the existing older homes, but has engaged in community outreach with the existing neighborhood, as previously mentioned.

On February 10, 2015, the Livingston Planning Commission approved this Site Plan along with Resolution 2015-01 by a vote of 4-0, and forwarded it to the City Council recommending approval of Site Plan/Design Review 2015-01 subject to the following conditions of approval:

1. Gold Circle, LLC shall provide enhanced elevations for the street sides of comer houses to comply with Resolution 2005-107 (Attachment A).

2. That Gold Circle, LLC comply with the conditions regarding the construction of the perimeter wall around Well # 17, which serves the project and is located on Lot 54 at the northeast comer of Sun Valley Avenue and Spring Brook Drive (Attachment B).

3. Gold Circle, LLC and the City of Livingston shall enter into a Reimbursement Agreement regarding Well #17.

ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS:

The Project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 In-Fill Development Projects).

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GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:

The proposed amendment is not a substantial change and will not affect the determination that the project is consistent with the 1999 General Plan.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Permit fees and tax dollars.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Resolution 2015-

2. Floor Plans and Elevations

3. Planning Commission Resolution 2015-01

4. Project Location Map

5. APN Map

6. Subdivision Map

7. Attachment A, Council Resolution 2005-17

8. Attachment B, Memo from City Engineer

1. Resolution 2015-

RESOLUTION 2015-_

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LIVINGSTON CONDITIONALLY APPROVING SITE PLAN/DESIGN REVIEW 2015-01 FOR GOLD CIRCLE, LLC, SUN VALLEY ESTATES SUBDIVISION

(FORMERLY SOMERSET SUBDIVISION)

WHEREAS, a Vesting Tentative Map 93-01 for Somerset/Sun Valley Estates Subdivision, located southwest of the intersection of Peach Avenue and Main Street in the City of Livingston, was approved in April 1993 and the Final Map for this subdivision was approved on August 16, 2005, by the Livingston City Council; and

WHEREAS, Site Plan/Design Review 2005-05 for the approval of the architectural, landscape and color scheme design for the Somerset (Sun Valley Estates) subdivision was approved by Planning Commission Resolution 2005-23 on September 13, 2005, and City Council Resolution 2005-107 on October 4, 2005, adding modifications to two-story floor plans and homes with more than one exposed side; and

WHEREAS, 23 lots out of a total of 134 lots were completed in 2006 before the economic downturn; and

WHEREAS, Gold Circle LLC has now acquired the remaining lots to be developed and proposes to construct ten (10) single-family residences on ten lots located on Park View Drive, Wells Avenue and Sun Valley Avenues; and

WHEREAS, Staff has met with the applicant and reviewed the Plans with reference to the adopted Livingston Design Guide and distributed the plans for outside agency comments: and

WHEREAS, on February 10, 2015, the Livingston Planning Commission approved Resolution 2015-01, approving Site Plan Design Review 2015-01; and

WHEREAS, this project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 In-Fill Development Projects); and

WHEREAS, Staff has reviewed the plans and elevations with reference to the adopted Livingston Design Guide and distributed the plans for outside agency comments.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Livingston hereby adopts Resolution 2015-_, approving Site Plan/Design Review 2015-01 for Gold Circle, LLC, Sun Valley Estates Subdivision, based on the following facts:

1. That the proposed project is consistent with the 1999 General Plan in the following references:

a. Objective 3.2.A: Designate and allow for the development of a wide range of residential housing types in the City including housing for middle and upper income families to meet the needs of all Livingston residents.

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2. That a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the subdivision was approved in April 1993 by the Livingston City Council and Design review of the original housing product was approved on September 13, 2005.

3. That a notice of public hearing was properly prepared, posted at the City’s normal posting sites, published in the Livingston Chronicle on February 21, 2015, and mailed to adjacent property owners within 300 feet of the site in accordance with State law.

4. That a public hearing to consider the Project was held by the Livingston Planning Commission on February 10, 2015 and all written and oral testimony presented was considered by the Planning Commission prior to their recommendation of Project approval to the City Council.

5. That the Project, subject to conditions, will meet all City requirements, standards, and specifications including design, parking, landscaping, fencing, signage, and zoning, and shall be substantially in accordance with the site plan received on January 22, 2015 by the Livingston Planning Department.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby adopts Resolution 2015-_, approving Site Plan/Design Review 2015-01 for Gold Circle, LLC, Sun Valley Estates Subdivision, subject to the following conditions:

1. Gold Circle, LLC shall provide enhanced elevations for the street sides of comer houses to comply with Council Resolution 2005-107 (Attachment A).

2. That Gold Circle, LLC comply with the conditions regarding the construction of the perimeter wall around Well #17, which serves the project and is located on Lot 54 at the northeast comer of Sun Valley Avenue and Spring Brook Drive (Attachment B).

3. Gold Circle, LLC, and the City of Livingston shall enter into a Reimbursement Agreement regarding Well #17.

Passed and adopted this 3rd day of March, 2015 by the following vote: AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

Rodrigo Espinoza, Mayor of the City of Livingston

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ATTEST:

I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced, passed, and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Livingston, this 3rd day of March, 2015.

Antonio Silva, City Clerk of the City of Livingston

2. Floor Plans and Elevations

 

3. Planning Commission Resolution 2015-01

4. Project Location Map

5. APN Map

6. Subdivision Map

7. Attachment A, Council Resolution 2005-17

8. Attachment B, Memo from City Engineer