Planning & Design Commission Meeting on April 27, 2023: Terrace Park Subdivision Recommendation
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Planning & Design Commission Regular Meeting – April 27, 2023
The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission met on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber to consider the Terrace Park Subdivision (P22-045), a proposed 79-unit single-family residential development on a vacant 8.21-acre parcel formerly reserved for a school. The commission conducted a public hearing, heard extensive testimony from residents, and voted unanimously to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council, with a condition to address privacy concerns raised by an adjacent homeowner.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of Minutes (April 13, 2023): The commission approved the minutes of the previous meeting in a single motion. Commissioner Yeung abstained; all other present commissioners voted in favor. (Commissioner Boyd arrived later.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Opposition (majority of speakers): Several residents expressed strong opposition, citing the loss of a promised school site, traffic congestion, parking shortages, and threats to neighborhood character. Speakers noted that the parcel was originally designated for a school and that they had paid taxes (Measure P) and developer fees expecting a school. Others objected to the 100% two-story design, lack of housing diversity, and the back-to-side orientation of lot 1, which would eliminate privacy for a neighboring resident. Some requested the parcel be used for park expansion or community amenities.
- Support (two speakers): Louis Mirante and Connor (both non-residents of the immediate area) spoke in favor, citing the severe housing shortage in Sacramento and the need for infill development. They encouraged the commission to find a way to approve the project.
- School District Representative: Victoria Garcia (Twin Rivers Unified School District) confirmed that bus transportation would be provided if needed, and that Measure P funds were spent in accordance with bond language, with oversight reports available on the district’s website.
Discussion Items
- Staff Presentation: Deja Harris (Assistant Planner) presented the project, which requires a General Plan Amendment, PUD Schematic Plan Amendment, Tentative Subdivision Map, design deviations, and Site Plan and Design Review. The project proposes 79 detached single-unit dwellings (all two-story) on lots averaging 3,348 square feet, with two-car garages and tandem driveways providing four off-street parking spaces per unit. The site is currently vacant and surrounded by existing single-family homes.
- Applicant Presentation: Nick (representing the developer) explained that the Twin Rivers School District declared the property surplus in 2021 after a public process, and his client purchased it at auction. He noted that the district already has adequate school capacity at nearby Regency Park and a new site in Northlake. He offered to work with the adjacent homeowner to address privacy concerns by using opaque windows on the side facing the neighbor’s lot.
- Commissioner Questions & Comments:
- Commissioner Xiong asked about the availability of school bus routes. Commissioner Young asked about parking utilization in the existing neighborhood and noted that tandem garages are often used for storage rather than parking. Commissioner Lamas inquired about the history of the school site designation. Commissioner Chase clarified that the city has no jurisdiction over school district property decisions. Commissioner Boyd asked about the location of public accounting for Measure P funds. Vice Chair Wallace noted that public space (parks) is available within a mile.
- Commissioner Young suggested that the project could benefit from including some single-story homes to serve seniors and provide more housing diversity. Commissioner Macias Reed expressed support for the project, emphasizing the need for all types of housing and noting that the privacy concerns are common in two-story neighborhoods.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Macias Reed moved to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council, with the condition that the applicant work with the adjacent homeowner and staff to address the privacy issue (e.g., opaque windows). Commissioner Kadin seconded the motion.
- Vote: The motion passed unanimously (10-0). Commissioners voting “aye”: Xiong, Chase, Lamas, Buckley, Kadin, Macias Reed, Yeung, Wallace, Boyd, and Chair Hernandez.
- Next Steps: The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for a public hearing tentatively scheduled for late May 2023. Residents within 500 feet will receive mailed notice of the council hearing.
Meeting Transcript
30 seconds has begun. Chair staff is ready when you are. Thank you very much. Uh good evening, everybody. This is the City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission meeting. Today's Thursday, April 27, 2023. And the time is 5 31 p.m. Uh, Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Zhong. Here. Commissioner Chase? Here. Commissioner Lamas? Here. Commissioner Buckley? Here. Commissioner Caden. Here. Commissioner Macius Reed. Here. Commissioner Young. Care. Vice Chair Wallace. Here. Commissioner Boyd is currently absent. And Chair Hernandez. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Thank you very much. I'll start off with instructions for public participation. I'd like to remind everybody here in the chambers that if you would like to speak on an item on the agenda today, please turn in a speaker slip when that item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you've joined the meeting and wish to speak, raise your hand to provide us your opinion during the public speaking, uh public comment speaking period for your item as well. If you're online, click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen in the mobile app. You can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. If you're calling in by telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine. Then to unmute or mute yourself, dial star six. Speakers will be called upon using the last four digits of their phone number, and you will have three minutes to speak once you're called on. As a reminder for folks in the public, if you wish to speak on an item, speaker slips are located on the table over here to my right. Can you guys speak up a little bit? Okay. Is this better? Oh, much better. I got a thumbs up. All right. Um, quick reminder if you missed that, speaker slips are right over here to my right. If you would like to speak on an item today, please fill out a speaker slib.
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