Item 24 - Agreement No. 2025-01 - MLC Holdings

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SPR No. 2025-01, VTTM No. 2025-01, and DBA No. 2025-01 — MLC Holdings, Inc./Meritage Homes (2020 East First Street) March 24, 2025 Page 12 area that is currently developed with an office building and surface parking lot. Additionally, a consistency memo was drafted by the applicant's environmental consultant, First Carbon Solutions. The memo was reviewed by City staff and peer reviewed by the City's own environmental consultant, Ardura Consulting. The peer review found the proposed project to be consistent with the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Subsequent EIR approved and certified for the MEMU. It was also determined that the project would not result in serious health problems, as the proposed use is a compatible land use and the build out of the project site is within the anticipated build out MEMU area, which was evaluated under the MEMU EIR and Subsequent EIR. The overall project site provides an opportunity for additional housing and development that would otherwise continue to remain as a vacant, under-utilized parcel. These improvements will help to enhance the quality of life in the surrounding community by providing eighty-six for -sale, market -rate and affordable housing, with five onsite affordable units. The proposed project is part of the MEMU and has been designed to incorporate significant design features, articulating elevations in order to minimize any visual impacts on surrounding land uses. Lastly, the project has been designed to maintain all easements and retain reciprocal access with the neighboring property. Based on this the proposed project warrants approval of the vesting tentative tract map. General Plan Consistency The proposed project aligns with several goals and policies of the City's General Plan. Goal LU-1 of the Land Use Element (LU) aims to provide a land use plan that enhances quality of life while respecting the existing community. By introducing high -quality housing that includes both market -rate and affordable units, the project would improve the quality of life for the surrounding community by activating an underutilized site and contributing to the area's vibrancy. Additionally, the proposed development would be of a comparable mass and scale to the existing multi -family buildings in the area, ensuring compatibility with surrounding land uses. This aligns with Policy LU-1.1, which seeks to foster land use compatibility to enhance livability and promote a healthy lifestyle. The project also supports homeownership opportunities at both market -rate and affordable levels, directly aligning with Policy LU-1.2, which encourages innovative development strategies to expand homeownership opportunities across all income levels. Furthermore, the proposed development is located within a built -out urban area, qualifying it as an infill project. By incorporating a mix of affordable and market -rate housing, it aligns with Policy LU-1.5, which promotes quality infill residential development that provides a diverse range of housing types while accommodating residents of all income levels and age groups as well as Policy LU-4.7 which promotes mixed -income developments with mixed housing types to create inclusive communities and economically diverse neighborhoods.