1515 Fourth Street Apartments

On March 10, 2022, the Planning Division received an Environmental and Design Review application for a proposed new seven story mixed use building at 1515 4th Street that would include 191 residential units and 4,000 square feet of commercial space.

On June 16, 2022, the Planning Division received a letter from the applicant intending to withdraw their Environmental and Design Review application and instead pursue a Senate Bill 35 (“SB 35”) process. SB 35 took effect on January 1, 2018, and it requires that development applications meeting certain criteria must be subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process.

On December 29, 2022, the Planning Division received a letter from the applicant withdrawing their SB 35 letter of intent and instead continuing with a formal Environmental and Design Review application process. The applicant also provided revised plans that reduced the number of residential units to 162 units, while maintaining seven stories and 8,900 square feet of commercial space.

In response to the housing crisis in California, the state of California recently passed new laws and acts that restrict the ability of the city to change a proposed project. For this project, as a result of the State Density Bonus Law and the Housing Accountability Act, the City does not have the ability to require the applicant to change the size of the project.

Public Hearings

On March 7, 2023, the Design Review Board recommended Planning Commission approval of the design aspects of the project.

• Packet Materials – DRB 3/7/2023
• Meeting Video – DRB 3/7/2023

On April 11, 2023, the Planning Commission approved the Environmental and Design Review Permit for the project.

• Packet Materials – Planning Commission – 4/11/2023
• Meeting Video – Planning Commission – 4/11/2023

On May 8, 2023, the City Council denied an appeal to the Planning Commission approval of the project and upheld the project approval.

• Packet Materials – City Council – 5/8/2023
• Meeting Video – City Council – 5/8/2023