PREPARED BY: SANDRA CASTANEDA DATE OF MEETING: 07/28/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDERATION OF A VESTING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP TO ALLOW FOR THE SUBDIVISION OF A 2.39 ACRE PARCEL, IDENTIFIED AS ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 411-330-041, INTO TWO PARCELS OF 1.97 ACRES AND 0.42 ACRES
CEQA: The proposed project (vesting tentative parcel map) has been determined to be categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15315, Class 15, Minor Land Division.
Recommendation
Conduct public hearing; adopt Resolution
Body
REQUESTED ACTION
A request for approval of a vesting tentative parcel map to allow for the division of a 2.39-acre parcel, identified as assessor’s parcel number 411-330-041, into two parcels of 1.97acres, and 0.42 acres. The parcel is currently owned by the City of San Pablo (“City”). The City and Danco Communities (“developer”), an affordable housing developer, entered into a Development and Disposition Agreement (“DDA”) in order to facilitate a two-phase, mixed-use affordable housing development project known as Alvarado Gardens. This minor subdivision is a requirement of the DDA to create a separate parcel containing the Blume House and related buildings to be retained under City ownership.
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
A Public Hearing Notice was published in the West County Times (West Contra Costa edition of the East Bay Times) newspaper on Wednesday, July 18th, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Vesting Tentative Parcel Map has been determined to be categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15315, Class 15, Minor Land Division.
BACKGROUND
The City of San Pablo currently owns subject parcel (APN: 411-330-041), which is part of the old City Hall site, located at the northwest corner of San Pablo Avenue and Church Lane. The City entered into a DDA with Danco Communities to develop the 4.43-acre site with a mixed-use project featuring 100-units of affordable multi-family housing and 7,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space. The former City Hall property consists of three parcels. “Lot A” (APN: 411-330-041), which is 2.39 acres, is proposed to be subdivided into two parcels, Lot 1 and Lot 2 as part of the current Phase 2 of the Alvarado Gardens development. “Lot B” contains the completed Phase 1 of the project, and “Lot C” contains the Alvarado Abode Museum, which the City will continue to own.
The request to subdivide Lot A is intended to separate Phase 2 of the Alvarado Gardens project from a cluster of three historic buildings owned by the City (the Blume House Museum, the Bunk House and the Teixeira House), referred to as the “Historic Budlings Parcel”, which will be excluded from the project and retained by the City. Under Section 1.2.2 of the DDA, the developer is required to prepare and record a Parcel Map creating two parcels: one for Phase 2 of the project, (resulting Lot 2) and one for the Historic Buildings Parcel (resulting Lot 1).
The proposed Vesting Tentative Parcel Map will satisfy this requirement. It ensures that the City can retain ownership of the parcel containing the historic structures while allowing the developer to proceed with Phase 2 of the Alvarado Gardens project. In addition, the parcel map establishes the necessary vehicular, pedestrian, utility, and parking access easements to ensure both resulting parcels are properly served.
GENERAL PLAN CONFORMANCE
The General Plan designation of the applicable parcel is Mixed Use Center- Old City Hall. The designation allows for a variety of commercial, residential, and public institutional uses. The Vesting Tentative Parcel Map is consistent with the General Plan 2035 as identified in General Plan Guiding and Implementing Policies for Land Use and Physical Design for promoting a sustainable and balanced land use pattern, ensure planned uses are compatible with existing uses and provide for appropriate transitions and buffers for new uses, preserving the City’s overall image, and recognizing the importance of promoting housing and mixed-use development.
SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN CONFORMANCE
The site is located within the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, designated Mixed Use Center- Old City Hall Site. The Specific Plan describes the Mixed Use Center City Hall site as follows:
The Mixed Use Center City Hall Site designation is limited to the 4.46-acre City Hall site at 13813 San Pablo Avenue. Mixed-use development may be all residential or mixed use that may include commercial, office (including medical offices), residential, institutional, and hotel. Typical heights are expected to be two to five stories, with a maximum height of 60 feet. The maximum FAR is 2.5 and the maximum residential density allowed is 60 units per gross acre (included within the FAR limit).
The Parcel Map is consistent with the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan as it implements an approved development project that provides affordable housing and creates a pedestrian- and transit- friendly environment along San Pablo Avenue.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
As required in Municipal Code Section 16.04.050 (F)(1) - Planning Commission Action, for parcel maps, the Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing and shall approve, conditionally approve or disapprove the vesting tentative map subject to the determination that the project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
Prior to approving an application for a vesting tentative parcel map, the Planning Commission shall find that all of the following are true:
A. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Plan consistency. That the proposed map is consistent with the general plan and any applicable specific plan or other adopted applicable plan;
B. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Design or improvement. That the design or improvement of the proposed subdivision is consistent with the general plan and any applicable specific plan;
C. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Type of development. That the site is physically suitable for the type of development proposed;
D. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Density of development. That the site is physically suitable for the proposed density of development;
E. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Fish or wildlife. That neither the design of the subdivision nor any proposed improvements is likely to cause substantial environmental damage, or
substantially and avoidably injure fish or wildlife or their habitat;
F. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Public health. That the design of the subdivision or type of improvement is not likely to cause significant public health problems;
G. <https://ecode360.com/45745512>Access. That the design of the subdivision or the type of improvements will not conflict with easements acquired by the public at large for access through, or use of property within, the proposed subdivision.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission conduct a Public Hearing and adopt Resolution PC26-10 approving PLAN26-06-0013 to approve a Vesting Tentative Parcel Map, subject to the findings and conditions.
ATTACHMENTS
Att A. Resolution PC26-10
Att B. Location Map
Att C. Vesting Tentative Parcel Map
Att D. Notice of Public Hearing