City hearing today on next steps for tearing down Macy’s at La Cumbre

A plan to tear down Macy’s at La Cumbre Plaza and build 680 rental apartments goes before a city hearing officer and design board at 3 p.m. today, Monday, Nov. 9.

The project would cover 8.8 acres at 3805 State St., the Macy’s site at La Cumbre Plaza. Of its 680 apartments, 54, or 7.9%, would have capped rents: 39 for very-low-income households for at least 55 years and 15 for moderate-income households for at least 90 years.

Residents who haven’t yet commented on the plan need to do it today, at the meeting or by email beforehand. Only people who comment can appeal the map or design decisions, and the deadline to appeal them would be Thursday, Nov. 19.

What gets decided today

Staff Hearing Officer Tess Harris is to decide whether to split the 14.9-acre lot in two and whether the project is exempt from state environmental review. The Architectural Board of Review is to rule on the design.

Under state housing law, if the map meets the city’s clear, measurable standards, the city can’t reject it or cut the number of homes, and the design board can’t do either on subjective grounds, the agenda says.

Under staff’s proposed conditions, building permits come later, after the City Council signs off on a map dividing the land.

Anyone who comments before today’s decisions can appeal within 10 days, but only on issues they raised. The map decision goes to the Planning Commission, the design decision to the City Council. Each appeal costs a steep $1,206. Planning staff, (805) 564-5578, or the City Clerk, [email protected], can explain how to file.

Joint Staff Hearing Officer and Architectural Board of Review special meeting, Monday, Nov. 9, 3 p.m., David Gebhard Public Meeting Room, 630 Garden St. Item I, PLN2024-00227. Speak in person with a speaker slip, or raise a hand on Zoom or by phone (1-669-444-9171, webinar ID 893 3376 5270). Watch on City TV 18. Email [email protected] or [email protected] before the meeting begins.

How to be heard

To have a written comment entered in the public record, residents need to email it before 3 p.m. today, though the city warns that anything after 9 a.m. may not be read in time. People who attend in person or join on Zoom get 2 minutes to speak.

What city planners recommend

City planners recommend approving the map with conditions, finding the project exempt from state environmental review, and approving the design.

What the board said last time

At a March 2024 review of an earlier, 642-unit version, the minutes record board member Richard Six as “overwhelmed by the size of this project” and Vice Chair Dennis Whelan as finding the site and project “overbuilt despite complying with all the zoning and state laws.” They record Chair Lauren Anderson calling it “a great project that is going in the right direction.” All three remain on the board.