Architectural Review Board - June 4, 2026

Board backs 228 apartments on San Antonio Road

The Architectural Review Board voted 4-0 to back an eight-story, 228-apartment development at 762 San Antonio Road. The agenda record characterizes the action as a recommendation to the City Council, although the recorded motion was worded only as acceptance of the project and did not specify whether it also covered the environmental addendum, corrected approval conditions or requested waivers. A council decision was anticipated in August 2026.

The proposal would demolish three commercial buildings on a two-acre site. It includes 30 deed-restricted lower-income apartments, representing 13% of the units, as well as three levels of above-grade parking with 248 vehicle spaces and 228 long-term bicycle spaces.

Staff described the development as a builder’s-remedy proposal reviewed under the standards in effect when its Senate Bill 330 pre-application was filed on Jan. 9, 2024. According to staff, the revised proposal grew from seven to eight stories and from 178 to 228 apartments. Staff also said an environmental review addendum found no new significant impacts requiring a subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report.

Board members supported the project’s overall design but raised concerns about vehicle circulation, deliveries and pickup activity. Kendra Rosenberg suggested clearly marked pickup and delivery spaces near the San Antonio Road entrance, while David Hirsch urged coordination with the city on a pickup and drop-off solution. Marton Jojarth questioned whether access from San Antonio Road and Legghorn Street would operate safely and said the increase in project size should have been communicated more clearly. Mousam Adcock noted that unit plans had not been provided and urged the final design to retain the depicted roof trellis and overall architectural character. The motion carried without recorded amendments.

Downtown garage advances on a 2-1 vote

The board recommended approval of a six-story downtown parking garage on a 2-1 vote, subject to re-evaluating the flared base of a corner stair to preserve an adjacent pedestrian passage of at least five feet. The proposed 266-space garage would replace the 86-space Parking Lot D at 375 Hamilton Avenue. City Council consideration was anticipated in September 2026.

The design reserves about 4,000 square feet near Hamilton Avenue and Waverly for potential future affordable housing. Kendra Rosenberg and Mousam Adcock voted for the recommendation, saying the proposed central elevator would serve people approaching from several directions and improve safety and activity in the rear of the garage. David Hirsch voted no, arguing that the elevator location and pedestrian circulation needed further study and suggesting that the elevator be moved closer to the front or corner access area.

A public commenter argued that the garage and parking replacement associated with Lot T should be evaluated together under the California Environmental Quality Act. City staff responded that parking replacement was not legally required and that the projects had independent utility for environmental review. Adcock also encouraged installing rooftop photovoltaic panels during initial construction, but that was not included as a condition of the motion.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet