DATE: October 23, 2025
TO: Planning Commission
FROM: Steve Kowalski, Senior Planner
SUBJECT
Title
Proposal to Subdivide an Existing 0.15-acre site to allow for the construction of a 14-Unit Condominium building at 1289 Russell Way, for which a corresponding Site Plan Review and Density Bonus Application (Application No. 202205806) was previously approved in 2023, Requiring Approval of a Vesting Tentative Tract Map (VTTM) for Condominium Purposes (Tract No. 8762) and Finding that the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to Section 15332 of the CEQA Guidelines. Applicant/Property Owner: Horacio Woolcott, 4WR LLC.
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Planning Commission approve the proposed Vesting Tentative Tract Map (Tract No. 8762) to allow the construction of a 14-unit condominium subdivision and find that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, based on the analysis set forth in this staff report and the findings (Attachment II), and subject to the conditions of approval (Attachment III).
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SUMMARY
The applicant is requesting approval of a Vesting Tentative Tract Map for Condominium purposes (Tract No. 8762) to convert a 14-unit rental apartment building that was previously approved, but not yet built, into a 14-unit for-ownership condominium subdivision.
On November 2, 2023, the Planning Director approved Site Plan Review and Density Bonus Application No. 202205806 (Attachment VI) allowing the construction of the 14-unit apartment building on the subject site, including one unit that would be offered for rent affordable to very low-income households. Due to a significant increase in interest rates since the previous approval, the applicant is now proposing to subdivide the project into condominiums in order to be able to sell each unit individually, which would likely increase the project’s feasibility. The proposed subdivision would feature a single parcel with each condominium owner owning the airspace within their individual unit and an equal share of the common areas and improvements within the development, which would be maintained by a Homeowner’s Association (HOA). As with the original plans for the apartment building, to comply with the requirements of the City’s Affordable Housing Ordinance, the owner has committed to providing one of the 14 units for sale to a very low-income household.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Draft Findings for Approval
Attachment III Recommended Conditions of Approval
Attachment IV Vesting Tentative Tract Map
Attachment V Affordable Housing Plan
Attachment VI Previously Approved Project Plans (for reference only)