Nineteen townhomes are proposed on a vacant lot and a partly paved parking lot between MacDorsa Park and Scotts Valley Fire Department on Erba Lane. (Brian Phan — Santa Cruz Local file)
SCOTTS VALLEY >> The Scotts Valley Planning Commission on Thursday advanced plans for a 19-townhome development on Erba Lane, but they said they wanted developers to consider additional parking, larger garages and more units accessible to disabled residents.
The planning commission unanimously approved the land division, environmental and design reviews, and streamlined approval under state law SB 330. Conditions of approval included increased garage sizes, more street parking and more units accessible to disabled residents.
Darian Dennler, a representative of the developer City Ventures, said he would work with city staff to address the commission’s concerns before the Scotts Valley City Council considers the project. A date has not yet been set for the city council meeting.
Each of the three-story units is expected to have an “undersized” two-car garage that is smaller than 22 feet by 22 feet, according to the plan set. Eight guest parking spaces are proposed on the streets of the project.
Scotts Valley Planning Commissioner David Hodgin said the limited parking for tenants and visitors will mean “that whole neighborhood will have a parking issue.”
Nineteen townhomes are proposed on Erba Lane in Scotts Valley. (City Ventures)
Hodgin added that the development will only offer two units accessible for people with disabilities. He said elderly or disabled tenants could have trouble visiting second or third-floor units. Hodgin said
Scotts Valley resident Josh Bauer said the neighborhood already has limited parking, and he feared that the proposed townhomes would worsen the problem.
“The idea that people will park both of their cars in these tiny garages is a fantasy that these developers are trying to sell, because people aren’t going to do that,” Bauer said.
Eight of the new units would be accessed from Erba Lane and other 11 units would be accessed by a new cul-de-sac that intersects Erba Lane, according to a city staff report. The plans also describe a new common area with picnic tables and fescue grass, as well as a private path of concrete and decomposed granite.
On the same 1.03-acre property in 2021, the Scotts Valley City Council approved six homes and two duplexes. However, the plans were stalled, and a new applicant proposed 19 three-bedroom townhomes in May. All the homes are expected to be for sale, including two homes for “low-income” buyers and one home for a “moderate-income” buyer. State authorities set income limits annually.
Applications for below-market-rate housing in Scotts Valley are administered through a third party called Housekeys. Residents can submit a profile and find more information on the Housekeys website.
A site plan shows the configuration of 19 townhomes on Erba Lane. (City Ventures)
A map shows the location of a planned housing development on Erba Lane. (Nik Altenberg — Santa Cruz Local)
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Ruby Lee Schembari is a student at Cabrillo College and editor in chief of The Cabrillo Voice.
