SUBJECT: Design Review Permit #21-01, initiated by Merced County Employee Retirement Association, property owner. This application involves a request to construct a 12,500-square-foot office at 690 W. 19th Street. The 0.41-acre vacant lot is generally located at the southeast corner of W. 19th Street and N Street, within a Central Commercial (C-C) Zone. *PUBLIC HEARING* ACTION: Approve/Disapprove/Modify 1) Environmental Review #21-36 (Categorical Exemption) 2) Design Review Application #21-01 SUMMARY Merced County Employee Retirement Association is requesting approval to develop a 12,500-square-foot office on a vacant 0.41-acre parcel located at 690 W. 19th Street. This infill lot is located at the southeast corner of N Street and W. 19th Street, within a Central Commercial (C-C) Zone (Attachment B of Planning Commission Staff Report #21-919). An office is considered a principally permitted use within the C-C Zone. However, because the subject site is located within the City’s Design Review Boundary (generally located in Downtown and west of Downtown - Attachment G of Planning Commission Staff Report #21-919), the proposal requires a design review permit from the Planning Commission. The design review permit generally focuses on building and site plan aesthetics, but it may also be used to address other issues regarding the site plan, noise, lighting, hours of operation, etc. Staff has reviewed this proposal, and is recommending approval of this application subject to the conditions within the staff report. RECOMMENDATION Planning staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve Environmental Review #21-36 (Categorical Exemption), and Design Review Permit #21-01, including the adoption of the Draft Resolution at Attachment A subject to the conditions in Exhibit A and the findings/considerations in Exhibit B.

Committee

Planning Commission

Requested by

Development Services Department

Introduced

November 9, 2021

On agenda

December 8, 2021

Passed

December 8, 2021