SLO County could get a new 24-unit duplex project. Here’s the plan
A new duplex housing development took its first step toward approval in Paso Robles.
On Tuesday, the Paso Robles Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve 24 homes at 420 Creston Road from Montage Development Inc., with Commissioner Eric Marlow absent.
Split across 12 two-story duplexes on 4.32 acres, the development qualified for the state density bonus law by designating 5% of its units — or one unit — as affordable housing for a very-low income household that make 50% of the county median income or less, according to the meeting staff report.
The 24 homes are all planned as 4-bedroom, 2-1/2-bath condominiums at around 1,200 square feet, and each unit comes with a 2-car garage, according to the staff report. The project also will have 13 additional uncovered parking spaces.
As a condo development, each unit can be sold individually, with the single affordable unit currently capped at a sale price of around $200,000 under the San Luis Obispo County Affordable Housing Standards, according to the staff report.
The full retail price of the other units has not been determined, with more details to come as the project progresses.
Duplex condos to fill undeveloped lot
Normally, the developer would have been limited to building 20 units on the lot, but by designating just one of those units as affordable housing, the developer was allowed to add four additional “density units,” according to the staff report.
Qualifying for the state density bonus law — which allows developers to build more units on less land so long as some of the units are deed-restricted as affordable housing — also allowed the developer to request a concession from the city.
In this case, the developer used its concession to waive a requirement to include a playground with at least three pieces of permanent play equipment, according to the staff report.
Though Commissioner Patrick Connally questioned why the developer would use a concession to waive the playground requirement, applicant representative and Arris Studio Architects architect Rebecca Newman said that the undeveloped area of the site isn’t a good fit for a playground due to its steep 35% grade.
Commissioner Mark Koegler echoed some of those concerns, largely due to the project’s overall family-friendly layout.
“I certainly understand that, (with) the density, that the city has no ability to really comment negatively on the 24 units,” Koegler said. “A project of this nature with four-bedroom units just really is screaming for some play area for the children that are gonna be present.”
Newman said these concerns were addressed by the condos’ 250-square-foot backyards, which will provide outdoor space and could serve a similar role for families.
The project will require the removal of 10 existing oak trees that are in poor condition due to drought stress, according to the staff report. They will be replaced with 29 new oaks.
Interestingly, the project is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act because under the California Building Code, multifamily housing such as duplexes are not required to provide handicap-accessible guest parking spaces, Newman said.
With the Planning Commission’s approval, the duplex project will next be heard by the Paso Robles City Council at an upcoming date.
