|
|
|
|
Project Title: |
Discovery Bay Community Service Department Administrative Building Development Plan |
|
|
|
|
County File(s): |
CDDP24-03052 |
|
|
|
|
Applicant/Owner: |
Jasmine Dennis, RPM Team (Applicant) / Town of Discovery Bay (Owner) |
|
|
|
|
Zoning/General Plan: |
P-1 Planned Unit District/ PS Public and Semi-Public |
|
|
|
|
Site Address/Location: |
1601 Discovery Bay Boulevard in the Discovery Bay area of unincorporated Contra Costa County (Assessor’s Parcel Number: 008-200-017) |
|
|
|
|
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Status: |
Categorical Exemption, CEQA Guidelines Sections 15303(c) |
|
|
|
|
Project Planner: |
Grant Farrington, Planner III (925) 655-2868 |
|
|
grant.farrington@dcd.cccounty.us |
|
|
|
|
Staff Recommendation: |
Approve (See Section II for Full Recommendation) |
|
|
|
I. PROJECT SUMMARY
The applicant requests approval of a Development Plan to modify approved Final Development Plan CDDP74-03014 to allow construction of a new 8,315 square-foot administrative building for the Discovery Bay Community Service Department, 28 new off-street parking spaces, a new administrative building monument sign, and 10,357 square feet of new landscaping. The applicant also requests a Tree Permit for the removal of three code-protected trees, including one 60-inch diameter Acacia and two 14-inch diameter Mediterranean Fan Palm trees.
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(c) of the CEQA Guidelines.
B. APPROVE Development Plan CDDP24-03052 to modify approved Final Development Plan CDDP74-03014 to allow construction of a new 8,315 square-foot administrative building, 28 new off-street parking spaces, a new monument sign and 10,357 square feet of new landscaping, and a Tree Permit for the removal of three code-protected trees, including one Acacia and two Mediterranean Fan Palm trees, 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: PS Public and Semi-Public.
B. Zoning: P-1 Planned Unit District.
C. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): CEQA Guidelines Sections 15303(c), New Construction of Small Structures, Class 3 exemption for the construction of a new commercial building up to 10,000 square feet in floor area on sites zoned for such use in an urbanized area.
D. Previous Applications:
1. CDDP74-03014: The Final Development Plan of Discovery Bay for the development of approximately 1,343 acres into single and multi-family dwellings, and supporting uses, was approved by the Planning Commission on June 3, 1975.
2. CDDP24-03026: This Development Plan to allow a 2-foot rear yard setback on the subject property (where 3-feet is the minimum required) for construction of three retaining walls up to 4 feet in height to replace three existing, failing retaining walls with a Tree Permit for the removal of 23 code-protected palm and myoporum trees ranging in size from 9 to 18-inches was approved by the Zoning Administrator on October 22, 2024.
IV. SITE/AREA DESCRIPTION
The subject property is a 7.38-acre irregularly shaped parcel within the Discovery Bay P-1 Planned Unit District that is partially occupied by the Discovery Bay Community Center and the associated recreational facilities. The proposed administrative building would be located on the southwestern portion of the property south of the Community Center. This portion of the property is relatively undeveloped except for a small shed, which would be removed to accommodate the building. The property is predominantly flat and fronts Discovery Bay Boulevard to the west. There are several mature trees along the eastern property line.
The parcels in the surrounding area along Discovery Bay Boulevard and Willow Lake Road are developed with residential uses in accordance with the Discovery Bay Final Development Plan as well as retail businesses, religious and educational institutions and other land uses that serve the Discovery Bay community.
V. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The applicant requests approval of a Development Plan to modify Final Development Plan #CDDP74-03014 to allow construction of a new 8,315 square-foot. 20-foot 9¼ inch tall administrative building for the Discovery Bay Community Service Department, 28 new off-street parking spaces, a new administrative building monument sign, and 10,357 square feet of new landscaping. Additional improvements include bicycle parking for up to four bicycles, new lighting in the parking areas as well as sidewalk and drive aisle improvements. The applicant has submitted a WELO application for the new landscaping. The applicant also requests a Tree Permit for the removal of three code-protected trees, including one 60-inch diameter Acacia and two 14-inch diameter Mediterranean Fan Palm trees.
VI. AGENCY COMMENTS
An Agency Comment Request packet was sent on December 3, 2024, to a number of public agencies, including the Building Inspection Division, the Advanced Planning Section, the Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department, the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the Town of Discovery Bay Community Services District, and the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District. Staff subsequently send a second Agency Comment Request packet on March 7, 2025 to the Engineering Services Division. Agency comments received by staff are included in Attachment D. Following are summaries of the comments received.
A. The Town of Discover Bay CSD: On December 10, 2024 the CSD returned the Agency Comment Request form with no comments.
B. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District: On December 20, 2024, the Fire Protection District submitted a letter stating that the developer shall comply with the 2022 California Fire Code including but not limited to adequate and reliable water supply and the installation of hydrants and an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.
C. Public Works Department, Engineering Services Division: On April 30, 2025, the Engineering Services Division submitted a memo describing the regulatory programs that applied to the subject parcel and included a number of conditions of approval and advisory notes to be applied to Development Plan CDDP24-03052.
The April 30, 2025 Public Works conditions of approval and advisory notes are incorporated in the Conditions of Approval and Advisory Notes.
VII. STAFF ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
A. General Plan Consistency: The subject property is located in the PS Public and Semi-Public General Plan land use designation. The PS designation is intended for uses and facilities owned or operated by public entities or private entities serving the public. The proposed administrative building will be utilized by the Town of Discovery Bay Community Service Department. The project does not include any aspect that would otherwise conflict with this designation. Thus, the proposed 8,315-square-foot building meets the intent and purpose of the PS designation.
The project is also subject to the Policies, Goals and Actions of Chapter 8: Public Facilities and Services Element of the General Plan. The proposed project is for the Town of Discovery Bay which provides sanitary and water services for the Discovery Bay community. Policies PFS-P1.1 through P1.3 outline specific recommendations for the new construction of public building facilities including:
• Consideration of potential effects on the physical, social, cultural, and recreational needs of the surrounding community when developing new County facilities.
• Location of new County facilities that involve regular community access in places that are easily accessible by public transit, walking, and micromobility, to the greatest extent possible.
• Encouragement of and when possible requirement of public agencies to locate, design, construct, and operate facilities in a manner that complements and avoids conflict with adjacent land uses.
The proposed 8,315-square-foot administrative building on the subject Town of Discovery Bay property will be in a location that is central to the Discovery Bay residential and business community and accessible by pedestrians as well as bicycles. The project will allow the Town of Discovery Bay to continue and enhance its operations of providing water and sanitary service to the community and not displace any existing buildings or residences. In addition, the project is located on a portion of the subject lot that is currently underutilized and thus will not require demolition of the existing recreational facilities on the property. Accordingly, the project meets the policies and goals of Chapter 8: Public Facilities and Services Element of the General Plan.
B. Zoning Compliance: In general, land uses in a Planned Unit District (P-1) that are in harmony with each other, serve to fulfill the function of the P-1 District, and are consistent with the General Plan are allowed. The proposed project is within the Discovery Bay Planned Unit District, within an area designated in Final Development Plan CDDP74-03014 for a community center and recreational facilities. This location also serves as the administrative offices of the Town of Discovery Bay. The proposed project for a new administrative building for use by the Town of Discovery Bay Community Service Department will continue ongoing water and sanitary service to the community without impacting existing land uses or negatively impacting any of the adjacent lots. In addition, the building meets all applicable height and setback requirements for the P-1 District. Thus, the project complies with the development standards of the District.
C. Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance: The project includes a Tree Permit for the removal of three code-protected trees, including one 60-inch diameter Acacia and two 14-inch diameter Mediterranean Fan Palm trees. The trees proposed to be removed are shown on the project plans in Attachment C. The trees are in the location where the proposed construction of the administration building are to take place and that construction cannot be reasonably accommodated on another area of the property, given the existing community center and recreational facilities on the property. Thus, the factors for approval of a tree permit pursuant to the County Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance have been established.
D. Sign Ordinance: The proposed project includes a new monument sign for the administrative building that is subject to the regulations of Chapter 88-6 of the County Ordinance Code. Monument signs are limited to 35 square feet in area, 12 feet in total height, and have no more than two display surfaces. The proposed monument sign will be located at the southern entrance to the subject property near the new administrative building and include sign copy that says, “DISCOVERY BAY CONTRA COSTA ADMIN FACILITY” on one side and “DISCOVERY BAY ADMIN FACILITY” combined with the logo for the Town of Discovery Bay on the back side. The total computed square footage for the proposed sign is to be approximately 11 square feet. The total height of the monument sign is 8’4”. Thus the monument sign complies with the regulations of Chapter 88-6.
VIII. CONCLUSION
The proposed modification of Final Development Plan CDDP74-03014 to allow construction of a new 8,315 square-foot administrative building for the Discovery Bay Community Service Department, 28 new off-street parking spaces, a new administrative building monument sign, and 10,357 square feet of new landscaping is consistent with the PS Public and Semi-Public General Plan land use designation, the policies and goals of the Public Facilities and Services Element and complies with applicable development standards for P-1 Planned Unit District. The Tree Permit to allow the removal of three code-protected trees, including one 60-inch diameter Acacia and two 14-inch diameter Mediterranean Fan Palm trees in the location of the administrative building and the new off-street parking spaces, which cannot be reasonably accommodated on another area of the property. Staff recommends that the Zoning Administrator approve Development Plan CDDP24-03052 and the Tree Permit, based on the attached findings and subject to the attached conditions of approval.