9-9-21 View N Branciforte and Wter A04.1
9-9-21 Side View From Water A04.2
9-9-21 Rear View from N Branciforte A04.3

Welcome

Welcome to the City of Santa Cruz project page for 831 Water Street. Here you will find information about this project including the projects description, plan set, and future meetings relating to this project. You can also contact the City Project Planner by using the Question or Comment section below. 

Project Description

  • Project Size: Significant Development Project
  • City of Santa Cruz Project Number: CP20-0121, CP24-0148 (Modification)
  • Address: 823, 825, 827, 831, 833 - Water St.
  • APN: 009-212-30, -31, -38

CP24-0148 (Modification): On October 2, 2024, a modification of permit CP20-0121 was submitted to allow for reduction in commercial space from 2,404 square feet to 800 square feet, combination of the two original separate buildings into one structure, to construct all 140 residential units as affordable (ranging in affordability from extremely low income to moderate income), and to reduce the total number of on-site vehicle parking spaces to from 136 to 43. The modification includes the same three incentives/concessions as the previously approved project: 1) Exceed height limitations with a building that is approximately 53-feet in height and five stories; 2) Reduced open space requirements; and 3) Exceed Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Pursuant to City Council direction provided on September 10, 2024, the modifications will be reviewed by the Planning Commission for compliance with the objective standards that were in place at the time of the original approval, at a noticed public hearing.

CP20-0121: On July 1, 2021, the City received an application for an SB35 project that consists of a four or five story mixed-use building with 145 residential apartments and ground floor commercial space.  The state legislature passed SB 35 in 2017 in order to remove barriers to the development of affordable residential urban infill projects and to limit certain types of discretionary home rule oversight that have prevented the development of an adequate supply of housing within the state. When a project qualifies for streamlined ministerial approval under SB 35, the City has a limited time to apply its objective standards to the project, and is strictly prohibited from applying any discretionary standards that would chill the development of affordable housing on a suitable site identified in its general plan. The application is currently under review for compliance with objective standards.

Project Status:

Application for a SB35 Project - Approved by City Council on December 14th, 2021.

Contact Information: 
Senior Planner: Ryan Bane
Email: rbane@santacruzca.gov

For media inquiries, visit the City’s Newsroom.

Community Meetings/Webinars and Public Hearings

A community meeting is required pursuant to the City’s Community Outreach Policy for Planning Projects, and the feedback provided may contribute to alterations in the project design and additional project entitlements. Meeting information will show here once available.

November 20, 2024 Community Meeting:

On November 20, 2024 a community meeting will be held. Below you will find the link to the community meeting. For those who cannot attend, the community meeting will be recorded, posted, and available on this webpage after the meeting.

Join the Virtual Public Community Meeting for 831 Water Street on November 20, 2024 at 6:00 PM

You are invited to attend a Public Community Meeting, to be held on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, for the project application related to 831 Water Street, Project Number: CP24-0148. 

Community members can click the link below to join the community meeting:

  • When: November 20, 2024 06:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
  • Topic: Virtual Community Meeting for Project 831 Water Street (CP24-0148)
  • Webinar Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84416407747 
  • Webinar ID: 844 1640 7747
  • Call:  669 444 9171

831 Water Street Community Meeting Series: Meeting 1 of 2

Join the Applicant to Discuss a Proposed Project at 831 Water Street

  • Date: 01/27/2021 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location: Virtual Meeting - Zoom
  • Introduction: Ask Questions and Provide Feedback for the proposed project at 831 Water Street.

Visit the 831 Water Street project page to sign up for future updates review plan sets and other information about the proposed project. 

The most prevalent comments and concerns raised by the community during the January 27th meeting were as follows:

  • ·neighborhood compatibility - such as height, size, and general architecture,
  • the design does not reflect the historic design of the Villa de Branciforte area,
  • solar impacts on adjacent residences,
  • excessive traffic on already congested surrounding intersections,
  • excavation may disturb or uncover historic artifacts,
  • the project should be LEED certified,
  • general support of an affordable housing development but at a reduced scale,
  • separate buildings for low income and “workforce” tenants; and
  • concerns with high groundwater at this location that may be overlooked if measured during a drought year.

A number of community members spoke in support of the development, including but not limited to some who support the affordable housing but not the design or massing of the buildings. One resounding request was a desire for the developers to work with the community to develop the site. The city’s next steps are to: evaluate these comments with the applicants, review the project for eligibility to utilize SB 35, complete the Pre-application comment letter to the applicant (which will also be posted to the city’s website), and coordinate a second community meeting.  Mike Ferry is the Planner for this project.

 


 

 

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Application Materials & Plan Set

Documents

Additional Materials


Stay Informed

If you would like to be updated on project related information and meeting, please enter your information below to be added to the emailing list. The news categories, listed below, will keep you posted on this specific project whether its an update about revised plans, or an upcoming meeting.

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