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Project Title: |
Pittsburg Avenue EV Charging Facility Land Use Permit |
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County File: |
CDLP25-02016 |
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Applicant/Owner: |
Donald Wardlaw, More Than Construction, Inc. (Applicant) / 2200 Central Street LLC (Owner) |
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Zoning/General Plan: |
P-1 Planned Unit District / LI Light Industry |
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Site Address/Location: |
Northwest corner of the Pittsburg Avenue and Central Street intersection in the North Richmond area of unincorporated Contra Costa County (Assessor’s Parcel Number: 408-270-009) |
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California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Status: |
Categorical Exemption - Class 3, CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(e), New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. |
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Project Planner: |
Maria Lara-Lemus; (925) 655-2904 |
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maria.lara-lemus@dcd.cccounty.us <mailto:maria.lara-lemus@dcd.cccounty.us> |
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Staff Recommendation: |
Approve (See Section II for Full Recommendation) |
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I. PROJECT SUMMARY
The applicant requests approval of a Land Use Permit to allow the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging facility, including six charging stations sheltered by a solar canopy, and a fenced ground level power bank unit.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Department of Conservation and Development, Community Development Division (CDD) staff recommends that the County Zoning Administrator:
A. FIND that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15303(e) of the CEQA Guidelines.
B. APPROVE Land Use Permit CDLP25-02016 to allow the development of an electric vehicle charging facility on the project site, including six charging stations sheltered by a solar canopy, and a fenced ground level power bank unit, based on the attached findings and subject to the attached conditions of approval.
C. DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
III. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. General Plan: LI Light Industry.
B. Zoning: P-1 Planned Unit District (North Richmond).
C. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Categorical Exemption - CEQA Guidelines, Section 15303(e), New Construction of Small Structures, Class 3 exemption for installation of accessory structures such as a six-stall electric vehicle charging facility.
D. Previous Applications:
1. CDSD15-09423 and CDDP15-03044: This Major Subdivision for a Vesting Tentative Map to subdivide a 5.82-acre industrial lot with two existing, adjoining industrial structures into ten parcels, including a condominium conversion of five existing units in the structures, and a Final Development Plan for the construction of four small accessory structures, paving, landscaping, and frontage improvements and signage was approved by the Zoning Administrator on October 1, 2018.
2. Land Use Permit CDLP21-02012: A Land Use Permit to establish an Enterprise rental truck facility within an existing industrial building was approved by the Zoning Administrator on August 2, 2021. The facility is located in the building on CDSD15-09423 Parcels 4 and 5, with associated Enterprise parking on Parcels 7 and 10.
IV. SITE/AREA DESCRIPTION
The 0.5-acre project site is on CDSD15-09423 Parcel 9 and is situated within an area comprised of various industrial uses, approximately two miles east of San Pablo Bay. Parcels in the vicinity are predominantly used for industrial land uses such as recycling facilities, contractors’ yards, truck maintenance facilities, and distribution centers.
The site is a relatively flat industrial property east of Richmond Parkway, on the northwest corner of the Pittsburg Avenue and Central Street intersection. The frontages of Parcel 9 are fenced along Central Street and Pittsburg Avenue. The Enterprise Rental Truck Facility office space and vehicle wash is located within an existing 20,548 square-foot industrial building on CDSD15-09423 Parcels 4 and 5, located north of the project site.
V. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The applicant requests approval of a Land Use Permit to allow the development of an electric vehicle charging facility, including six EV charging stations sheltered by a 3,720-square-foot solar canopy, and a fenced ground level power bank unit. The facility is intended to serve the Enterprise rental fleet as well as off-site third-party users. No signage is proposed with the project.
VI. AGENCY COMMENTS
An Agency Comment Request packet was sent on June 2, 2025, to a number of public agencies, including the Building Inspection Division, the Environmental Health Division of Contra Costa Health, the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, West County Wastewater, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the City of Richmond, and the North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council. Agency comments received by staff are included in Attachment D. The following are summaries of the comments received.
A. East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): EBMUD submitted an email on June 2, 2025, with no comments.
B. West County Wastewater (WCW): In a letter dated June 9, 2025, WCW staff indicated the project sponsor is responsible for complying with all applicable WCW rules and regulations.
C. Public Works Department, Engineering Services Division: On June 30, 2025, the Engineering Services Division submitted a memo stating that the application was considered to be complete, and the project site was created in 2021 as Lot # of Sub 9423 and that no additional C.3 facilities are necessary.
D. North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council (MAC): On September 2, 2025, the North Richmond MAC recommended approval of the CDLP25-02016 application.
VII. STAFF ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
A. General Plan Consistency: The subject property has a General Plan land use designation of LI Light Industry which allows for low- to moderate-intensity industrial uses. The proposed six-stall EV charging facility would support the County General Plan goals related to the reduction of emissions specifically in Impacted Communities like North Richmond.
B. Zoning Compliance: The subject property is within the North Richmond P-1 Planned Unit District. The P-1 District is generally intended to allow diversification in relationship of various uses, buildings and structures while ensuring substantial compliance with the general plan and the intent of County Code related to public health, safety and general welfare.
The EV charging facility is generally considered to be a quasi-public or accessory commercial land use. As shown on the North Richmond P-1 Land Use Matrix, the LI designation allows a quasi-public facility with a land use permit. Thus, the EV charging facility would be allowed upon the review and approval of this Land Use Permit.
The North Richmond P-1 District includes Design Guidelines that apply to properties in the LI designation. Staff has reviewed the previous entitlement (CDLP21-02012) that established the existing Enterprise rental truck facility. The previous entitlement requires the overall site, including CDSD15-09423 Parcel 9, to be consistent with the North Richmond P-1 improvement standards, which improve the overall appearance of the site (i.e. lighting, fencing and landscape). Thus, the EV charging facility on Parcel 9 is consistent with the North Richmond Design Guidelines.
IX. CONCLUSION
The six-stall EV charging facility, as conditioned, will conform to the LI General Plan land use designation, relevant General Plan policies, and all applicable North Richmond P-1 District development standards. Staff recommends approval of Land Use Permit CDLP25-02016, based on the attached findings and subject to conditions of approval.