On October 28, the Planning Board approved indefinitely extending the term of the St. Joseph Community Master Plan Planned Development Permit with modifications to upgrade the means of street closure on Chestnut Street. The extension ensures that permit conditions relating to traffic, parking, special events, pedestrian safety, and aesthetics related to the St. Joseph Community will continue to be implemented.
Background
In 1999, the Planning Board approved a master plan and use permit for the St. Joseph site at 1109 Chestnut Street. The permit required re-approval of uncompleted projects after 10 years. In 2009, the Planning Board extended the approval to November 30, 2024. No complaints or concerns have been raised in the meantime.
Completed projects (link downloads document) include a library, science labs, and gym remodeling, among others. Pending projects such as a science and communication arts facility are approved as part of the master plan, but no further development is currently planned, as enrollment and staffing do not warrant expansion. Future remodels or expansions would still be subject to design and historic review.
There are no changes to the original development plan, which includes conditions addressing community concerns relating to traffic, parking, special events, pedestrian safety, and aesthetics. Consequently, staff supported making the Planned Development approval permanent and indefinite, as would normally be the case for a Planned Development rezoning.
Separately, the St. Joseph Community wanted to amend the Chestnut Street closure plan between San Antonio and San Jose Avenues. This block, with school buildings on both sides and no residential or commercial frontage, is closed during school hours so students can safely pass between campus buildings. The current closure, consisting of a metal gate with signage, does not meet traffic engineering standards.
The request is timely because the Chestnut and San Jose intersection is part of the planned Neighborhood Greenways. A Neighborhood Greenway is a street modified to prioritize bicycle and pedestrian traffic while calming vehicle traffic. The applicant will fund modifications to the closure features and participate in implementing its Neighborhood Greenway. The new closure will be more aesthetic, meet traffic engineering standards, and allow for flow-through of pedestrians and bikes while blocking vehicles.
Board discussion and vote
The Board approved the resolution to indefinitely extend the St. Joseph Community Master Plan Planned Development Permit, with modifications to clarify the means of street closure on Chestnut Street and an amendment allowing the City Engineer flexibility to grant reasonable time extensions for completion. Addressing concerns about making a permit indefinite, the Board noted that an existing condition allows the Planning Board to revoke or modify the permit if certain conditions are met. The resolution passed 4-0 with three Board Members absent.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
