City Manager's Updates

Monthly updates from El Cerrito City Manager Karen Pinkos.

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Aug 09

San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Projects Approved

Posted on August 9, 2017 at 11:50 AM by Margaret Livingston

On August 2, 2017, the Design Review Board approved projects at 10192 San Pablo Avenue, 10290 San Pablo Avenue and 11600/11690 San Pablo Avenue (Mayfair Block). Combined, these projects represent 258 units of new housing on San Pablo Avenue within the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Area, including 67 below-market rate units.

See the Major Development Projects webpage.

The projects at 10192 and 10290 San Pablo Avenue are both proposed by Branagh Development. The projects contain 21 and 14 for-sale residential units, respectively, consisting of two and three bedroom units. The projects had previously been presented to the Design Review Board on July 5, 2017. The applicant revised the projects consistent with the Board’s July comments and the projects were approved unanimously.

The Mayfair project is envisioned as a signature and catalytic project for the El Cerrito del Norte BART station area. The project includes 223 residential units, including 67 affordable housing units, and approximately 10,000 square feet of new retail along San Pablo Avenue and Cutting Boulevard, directly adjacent to the El Cerrito del Norte BART station. The Tier 4 project, which under the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan required both Planning Commission and Design Review Board consideration, received approval from the Planning Commission on July 12, 2017 for the components of the project that did not strictly conform with the Tier 2 standards of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. The project received unanimous approval from both the Planning Commission and Design Review Board.

Design Review Board approval represents the final discretionary entitlement required for all three projects. The next steps are for the applicants to prepare and submit construction drawings and apply for building permits, which typically takes about three or four months. The Mayfair Disposition and Development Agreement with the Successor Agency/City for sale of the Mayfair property is still being negotiated and will be brought to the City Council for consideration within the next few months.