San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update (2022)

Background

The San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (Plan), adopted in 2014, laid the groundwork for development and increased economic activity along the San Pablo Avenue corridor. The City is currently working to update components of the Plan and invites members of the community to participate and provide input. Your participation will help create a more vibrant and connected San Pablo Avenue for all.


SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN UPDATE - ADOPTED DECEMBER 6, 2022

On December 6, 2022, the City Council adopted the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update. During the public hearings on November 15, 2022 and continued to December 6, 2022, the following actions were taken:

  1. A resolution certifying the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan;
  2. A resolution amending the Land Use & Circulation Map of the El Cerrito General Plan; 
  3. A resolution amending the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan; and
  4. An ordinance to rezone properties within the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan area.

FINAL DRAFT SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN UPDATE (October 2022)DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SEIR)
The following document is the final draft of the proposed 2022 update to the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (SPASP).  For the currently adopted SPASP (2014), please visit www.el-cerrito.org/SPASP.
San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update

For upcoming meeting information related to Transit-Oriented Development at El Cerrito Plaza Station, visit www.el-cerrito.org/TOD or BART's website here.


PAST MEETINGS

City Council Special Meeting
Date/Time: December 6th, 2022 at 5pm
Location: City Hall Council Chambers or Zoom - Visit www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/18168 to view meeting materials.
Subject: The City Council continued its consideration of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update at this Special Meeting.

Date/Time: November 15, 2022 at 7pm
Location: City Hall Council Chambers or Zoom – Visit http://www.el-cerrito.org/482/Council-Meeting-Videos-Materials to view meeting materials.
Subject: The City Council considered a recommendation on the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan update and the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. The meeting packet will be available at www.el-cerrito.org/DocumentCenter/View/18169.

Date/Time: October 19, 2022 at 7:30pm
Location: Zoom Teleconference
Meeting ID: 862 2052 5498
Passcode: 146987
Join by Phone: 1-408-638-0968
Subject: The Planning Commission made a recommendation to the City Council to consider adoption of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan update and certification of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. For more information, please visit https://www.el-cerrito.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6068 for the meeting packet and the meeting presentation can be found at www.el-cerrito.org//DocumentCenter/View/18046/SPASP_FEIR_PCMtg_20221018.

Date/Time: August 17, 2022 at 7:30pm
Location: Zoom Webinar link Subject: The draft San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update and Supplemental Environmental Impact Report Update was released on July 19, 2022 and the 45-day day public review period was available through September 2, 2022.The City also received public comments on the Draft SEIR at a Special Joint Meeting of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board on August 17, 2022. More information regarding this meeting can be found here.

Date/Time: November 18, 2021 at 5pm
Location: Zoom Webinar (see below) https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85147849775
Webinar ID: 851 4784 9775 Join by Phone: 1-408-638-0968 Subject: San Pablo Avenue Development & Complete Streets Virtual Open HouseJoin City staff to discuss San Pablo Avenue current and proposed residential, commercial, and public projects. Click here to view the meeting flyer. November 18, 2021 Meeting Presentation

Date/Time: March 31, 2021 at 7pm
Location: Webex Teleconference (see below)
https://elcerrito.webex.com/elcerrito/j.php?MTID=m711c27521133184012981c5e793611e9
Event ID: 187 894 6258
Event Password: Planning
Join by Phone: 1-408-418-9388 Access code: 187 894 6258
Subject: The City held a Special Joint Meeting of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board to discuss the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan update. At this meeting, the Planning Commission and Design Review Board reviewed focused areas within the scope for the Specific Plan update that has previously been reviewed by the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, and City Council. Information on the meeting can be found here.

 March 31, 2021 Meeting Packet

March 31, 2021 Meeting Presentation
 
December 3, 2020 at 7:00pm via Webex teleconference
The Notice Of Preparation (NOP) serves as notice to the public and other public agencies that the City plans to initiate preparation of an SEIR. The NOP establishes a 30-day period for acceptance of comments regarding the scope of the analysis to be contained in the SEIR. This comment period will extend from November 23, 2020 through December 23, 2020. During this period, the City will hold a public Scoping Meeting. This meeting provides an additional opportunity to provide comments regarding the scope of the SEIR. The Scoping Meeting was held on December 3, 2020 at 7:00pm via Webex teleconference.

Date/Time: July 29, 2019 at 7pm
 Location: City Hall - Council Chambers, 10890 San Pablo Avenue

Subject: Special Joint Workshop: Community Development Department staff convened members of the City's Boards, Committees and Commissions to provide input. There were 20 attendees who participated. To download a copy of the presentation, click here.

Date/Time: July 27, 2019 at 10am
 Location: Hana Gardens – Senior Center, 10870 San Pablo Avenue

Subject: Community Workshop: Community Development Department staff and the City’s consultant – MIG – held its second public workshop to solicit community input about the update to the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. There were over 25 attendees that participated and staff facilitated dialogue through a series of breakout sessions related the topics listed below. We received feedback pertaining to existing and new public open space standards, existing neighborhood character, parking strategies with a focus on neighborhood streets and retail/commercial area needs in consideration with new development. BART staff also participated in the workshop to discuss their Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) goals at El Cerrito Plaza station.

Date/Time: May 21, 2019 at 12pm 
Location: El Cerrito Royale, 6510 Gladys Avenue
Subject: Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting (CAC): El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce
The Community Development Director presented at the Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon. The topic of the meeting was the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, focusing on the many projects that have been approved utilizing the Plan, and the opportunities for new businesses within those new projects. Any member of the business community is invited to participate in upcoming San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Update workshops and technical advisory meetings.

  • See meeting presentation here

Date/Time: March 21, 2019 7:00 pm
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Subject: Community Workshop
On March 21st approximately 25 residents joined staff to receive an update and provide input on the Specific Plan. The majority of participants said they had not previously participated in public meetings about the Plan. The public had questions and concerns about urban design, parking and about how to attract new businesses to San Pablo Avenue commercial spaces and had a robust dialogue. City staff will be putting together a schedule for the next phase(s) of the update which will include an additional community workshop, joint study session with the Design Review Board and Planning Commission, and several stakeholder and technical meetings.

  • See meeting presentation here

Date/Time: February 5, 2019 7:00 pm
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Subject: City Council Study Session

  • See meeting packet here

Date/Time: January 16, 2019 7:00 pm
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Subject: Design Review Board and Planning Commission Study Session

  • See meeting packet here

Questions and Comments

To submit questions or comments about the Specific Plan, please click here to submit an online form or contact the Planning Department at 215-4330. To monitor and receive more information about the Plan, the Plan’s implementation and the Plan’s update, please subscribe to our Community Development E-Newsletter at: www.el-cerrito.org/CommDev.

This project is funded by grants from the Metropolitan Transpiration Commission and CA Department of Housing and Community Development.