Remarks by Bao Pham
29 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 35:14
“You know, on the fencing and landscaping plan, it indicates that the public accessible common space, it's fenced in and the rendering shows it like a six foot fence. The legend says that it's going to be publicly accessible from, I think, in the morning to dusk. Other projects we've seen, even in the similar vicinity, the open space were pretty much open. There wasn't a particular fencing and limited access. So I'm wondering why we arrived at that decision to fence it in.”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 36:15
“So it does comply with our development code standards to be able to fence in publicly accessible space?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 36:30
“And then typically Are there signage that would indicate to the public that because you know, obviously, visually, if you're gonna walk past this project, and you see a six foot fence, you would assume that this is private, open space, even if there is an egg gate, you would assume is a, you know, tenant accessible gate only. So would there be signage that indicate that this is publicly accessible space from x time, you know, dawn to dusk?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 37:18
“Yeah, I mean, I don't particularly have an opinion on the matter at the moment. But to me, it seems to defeat the purpose of providing openly accessible space. If it doesn't visually indicate that it's publicly accessible. Granted, I understand that, you know, we have to balance that with the actual on the ground issues of, you know, obviously, people taking advantage of open space for other usage other than what was intended for. But I think that's something we should consider. And then this might not pertain to the actual site plan, but it could be on the site plan. The floor plan itself…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 40:01
“Yeah, I acknowledge that. To me, this doesn't seem ideal, but obviously it's the choice of the applicant. And then one last thing. This is also a gated project, or at least partially gated. Is there a reason why the gate is located deeper into the site? I think our minimum is 40 feet for a pedestrian gate. Is there a reason why it's... kind of deeper into the into the lot rather than potentially you know enclosing half of the public publicly accessible parking stalls yeah if I could clarify Commissioner Pham are you you so you're talking about the gate but are you asking about why it's not…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 41:51
“And I'm assuming the applicant has proposed a parking management plan for just to make sure those kind of unsecure parking stalls wouldn't be used by other properties. Because I'm sure it's all meant for the tenants, or sorry, all meant for the property owners, right?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 42:19
“Other than that, I do agree with Commissioner Leo. From the landscape plan and you know the proposed trees looks like they were right directly on top of the location of the existing location, so I was assuming they were keeping that the trees. But if they're not there are a few projects of notice. What comes to mind is the project on harbor that is kind of at the border of Santa Santa and found valley. Where the. The trees were new, but I think they were chosen specifically so that they had a larger canopy, as well as they provide screening for the balconies on the second and third floor. I…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:03:26
“No, I think you've answered all of my concerns and my questions. I do like the material choice and the architecture. It's very interesting. Yeah, we're excited about it. I appreciate it. Thank you.”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:40:20
“Nancy, can you explain for me, you know, We just saw another project that didn't propose trash enclosures, but this project does. Are there distinctions we need to be aware of why certain developments will provide trash enclosures while other developments have trash cans in the garage and then pull it out on trash days?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:41:04
“So generally, for a project like this, we would see trash enclosures?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:41:09
“And then, you know, The units that are facing First Street, they seem to be elevated a couple of feet off of the right of way. Is that a development standard or is it just existing site conditions? That's the reason why, you know, there's like a plaza that's kind of raised up a couple of feet from the existing sidewalk.”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:41:53
“In general, I think that's a better approach, the way the applicant is proposing the elevated stoop, just because it's, you know, all the Out front entry is facing the street. It's great for package. Amazon can drop off the package. It's a slightly kind of recessed back. So obviously people are walking down the street. They're not going to grab someone's package. So in general, I think all the other developments we've seen does have an elevated stoop, which I think in general is ideal. Other than that, I'm very glad to see a development in this area of First Street. It's been kind of run down…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:43:14
“Okay, so the neighboring residents didn't have any concerns?”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 1:43:27
“Great. And then one other point, I think obviously we don't want to reference other projects, but for this project in general, I do like the approach. I'm not sure if it's input from planning or input from the design team, but the balconies being, for the most part, enclosed with drainage, kind of a little downspout, I think that approach for kind of these type of homes or these types of projects makes sense. because it provides a certain level of privacy especially for units facing the street as well as in the future I think having them slightly enclosed it makes a forbearance maintenance…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 2:24:39
“Just because we've talked about other projects and then now we're talking about park, I think it would be interesting, you know, we killed two birds with one stone for future projects. If we were to acquire or we have vacant lots, if we look into potentially maybe a parking structure with a park on top, it will help alleviate parking demands as well as there's still a park on top of a parking structure. You know, obviously we have We're not shy about height in the city, in different areas of the city. You know, two level of parking plus a park on top would kind of serve dual purpose or dual…”
Planning Commission · Sep 14, 2026
- Play at 31:57
“I'll get out of the way. I was hoping for some clarity on the zoning map where it looks like previously and, you know, obviously the map is really big and the zoning code has a lot of changes. So I'm just going to do some nitpicky overview of certain areas for explanations. Previously we had SFRs, R2s, but now it's rezoned to just, I believe, SFR. And then there is a seven unit per acre designation to it. I wanted some clarification on, it's a single family property, but why would there be a seven unit per acre designation on it?”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 33:13
“And then, you know, state law currently has SB9 designated lot splits, urban lot split only applicable to single family zone parcels. Previously, there are parcels that are zone R2, which would designate it as a multifamily lot. But now we're down zoning those R2 lots down to single family lot with that then open door for more parcels to be to would qualify for SP nine. That's what that was my train of thought when I saw that.”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 34:42
“Okay. So it's not that we're rezoning down. It has to correlate with the general plan as well?”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 34:54
“I'm pretty sure it's just a matter of tabulation, but previously the schools were calculated as open or shown graphically as open space. Now they're shown as institutions space in the zoning map. Previously we didn't calculate the schools as open space, you know, the city's open space, right?”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 35:19
“Okay. So then that wouldn't change. We wouldn't have less open space technically on paper, even though the map shows less green hatches. Correct. That's it for me. Yeah.”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:37:56
“Yeah, I think the main topic that seems to be brought up is there needs to be clarity. And I'm glad Ali brought up our other, was it the TUD with the overlay? And there seems to be a similar feedback. There needs to be clarity. So I think, you know, next meeting, if we're able to just kind of, you did a great job today as well, just to kind of, clarify that it's not going to be a, you know, the zoning code is adopted, and then the next day, you know, a business is kind of hit with a code enforcement letter, right? I think those are similar kind of ideas that we've discussed previously, that…”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 2:57:19
“Thank you, staff. Thank you, Siri. And I was going to thank the consultants, you know, because the actual physical zoning code, it's very well done, in my opinion, good diagrams, I've always asked for it. As opposed to our current zoning where it's very hard to navigate. But I really like the way it's organized. I prefer table formats, which is what is being presented right now, or is being proposed. I think that, you know, It will really help facilitate developers, even homeowners, to be able to point to things, point to diagrams, and for you as planners to point back to the homeowners, the…”
Planning Commission · Aug 11, 2026
- Play at 31:57
“I'll get out of the way. I was hoping for some clarity on the zoning map where it looks like previously and, you know, obviously the map is really big and the zoning code has a lot of changes. So I'm just going to do some nitpicky overview of certain areas for explanations. Previously we had SFRs, R2s, but now it's rezoned to just, I believe, SFR. And then there is a seven unit per acre designation to it. I wanted some clarification on, it's a single family property, but why would there be a seven unit per acre designation on it?”
Planning Commission · Aug 10, 2026
- Play at 33:12
“Okay. And then, you know, state law currently has SB9 designated lots splits, urban lots split only applicable to single family zone parcels. Now, previously, there are parcels that are zoned R2, which would designate it as a multifamily lot. But now we're down zoning those R2 lots down to single family lot with that then open door for more parcels to be to would qualify for SB9. That's what that was my train of thought when I saw that.”
Planning Commission · Aug 10, 2026
- Play at 34:42
“Okay. So it's not that we're rezoning down. It has to correlate with the general plan as well?”
Planning Commission · Aug 10, 2026