By Staff
On May 15, Monrovia’s Development Review Committee (DRC) considered an application submitted by Richman Residential for a 296-unit multi-family housing project located just south of the Gold Line stop at Station Square (located at the NE corner of Duarte Avenue / Magnolia Avenue). After a thorough review, the DRC voted unanimously to recommend that the Planning Commission approve the proposed project. Given that recommendation, the Planning Commission will now consider the project on June 13, 2018, and if approvals are granted at that meeting the City Council will be considering the matter in July 2018.
Additional details related to the Richman Residential Project includes the following:
-The Richman Residential Project is being developed under the auspices of the Station Square South Specific Plan, which consists of a 3.79-acre property adjacent to and south of the Gold Line Monrovia Station, which includes several parcels in and around 1725 Peck Road and 225 West Duarte Road.
-The development will be a transit-oriented, 3, 4, and 5-story multi-family residential development of 296 dwelling units, yielding a density of 78 dwelling units per acre (gross).
-The project proposes to change Peck Road north of Duarte Road to a publicly accessible driveway and drop-off area for the adjacent Metro Gold Line Monrovia Station. The site is part of the Station Square Transit Village.
-As part of the project, there are a total of 26,671 square feet of amenities for residents, including three courtyards, a pool court, common roof decks, a dog-run, and a greenhouse. Balconies are provided for each unit, except for the live/work units.
The project also provides three types of planned public open spaces, including:
-A 15,488 square foot drop-off plaza (and accessible paths) for Gold Line station passengers
-An approximately 475-foot long paseo (walking path) located along the northern portion of the site connecting to the drop-off plaza
-A 2,130 square foot publicly-accessible open space area fronting Magnolia Avenue
The project includes a six-story (seven level) above-ground parking garage that accommodates 522 vehicles.
An Initial Study of Environmental Impacts was prepared recommending the adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impacts in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. The Initial Study is an environmental analysis of the proposed Station Square South Specific Plan to determine if the project will have potentially significant effects on the environment. After reviewing the Initial Study and the applicable mitigating measures for the project, the Planning Staff has determined that this project will not have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, a Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared.
A Notice of Intent to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration has been distributed for a 30-day public review and comment period through June 13, 2018.
The Development Review Committee completed an advisory review of the project at a Special Meeting on May 15, 2018. During this meeting, the Planning Division Staff provided an overview presentation of the project.
The Development Review Committee serves in an advisory capacity to both the Planning Commission and the City Council on the Station Square South Specific Plan. In addition to the Development Review Committee’s review of the project, the formal planning application will require public hearings before the Planning Commission and the City Council.
The public comment period on the MND for the Richman Residential Project are now underway and comments on the project or the environmental documents can be sent to planning@ci.monrovia.ca.us.
