SCRP Endorses Mission St Apt. Project

For immediate release July 10, 2006
SCRP Endorses New Apartment Development for Mission Street

The proposed 18-unit mixed-use project for 1805 Mission Street (corner of Baldwin), along with the Planning Commission's recommendations, has received the endorsement of Santa Cruzans for Responsible Planning (SCRP).

The citizen planning group (including several former mayors of the city) believes this is the type of sensible 'in-fill' development needed in Santa Cruz to improve and increase the city's housing supply.

The Planning Commission's recommendations were that:
* the roof height be redesigned to be lower, at least to code requirements;
* limited or no permit parking be considered for the new residential condominium units;
* permit parking be extended to the lower portion of Berkshire Avenue;
* traffic impact fees be directed to three local impacted streets -- Baldwin, Berkshire, and Averitt;
* oak tree protection be provided (per City Arborist's report and public hearing testimony);
* directional curb ramps and a 10-foot corner radius be provided at Mission & Baldwin; and
* signage for commercial/guest shared parking be clear about how such spaces are to be used.

Baldwin Street, along the Mission Street corridor, is near the Long's Drugstore which was a contentious issue when it was proposed for the West Side in the early 1990's. Baldwin is one of the side streets already protected from through traffic by conditions placed on the Long's project.

The basic concept of higher density and smaller units along a major transportation corridor makes good sense, according to SCRP. The proposal for a three-story mixed-use building includes 23 parking spaces, with commercial space on the ground floor, plus a Historic Alteration Permit to relocate the existing single-family frame residence (listed on the Historic Building Survey) to an adjacent, vacant residential lot.

The City Council is to consider this project at its next meeting, Tuesday, July 11.

More: Ren Curry, 466-3332.