Morris Canal mixed-use building (Case P2026-000063)

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: preliminary and final major site plan with one sign variance for a five-story mixed-use building with 96 apartments (10 affordable), about 1,800 square feet of retail and 25 parking spaces in the Morris Canal redevelopment area (case P2026-000063).
Where it stands: approved 7-0 on October 13 with staff conditions plus four added conditions.
Next: resolution memorialization at a later meeting.

Through lot with frontage on Pacific Avenue, Holiday Street and the light rail line. Unit mix: 16 studios, 44 one-bedrooms, 24 one-bedroom-plus-dens, 11 two-bedrooms and one three-bedroom; the 10 affordable units (four studios, five one-bedrooms, one three-bedroom) were approved by the state's affordable housing division the same day.
25 garage spaces (3 required), 49 bike spaces, trash chutes on all floors, a rooftop lounge and terrace, green roof, and no vinyl siding. Six street trees plus a contribution for two more.
Only deviation: two residential signs instead of one, because there are two lobbies.
The redevelopment plan calls for a 10-foot walkway along the light rail line; the owner grants the city an easement and maintains it.

Added conditions: forestry permits before the zoning permit; a fence along the rail line (replace the chain link if it proves to be the applicant's, otherwise work with the transit agency); inquire about a loading space with the city and the transit agency; and ADA ramps and crosswalks aligned with the walkway on Pacific and Holiday, subject to transit agency and city approval.
Commissioners raised shade trees along the rail line (transit rules likely bar planting within 25 feet), bike racks, trash door placement, retained mature street trees and good-neighbor construction practices near historic homes.
A nearby resident objected that the building would crowd the neighborhood and worsen parking; the board attorney explained that the board applies the redevelopment plan and does not make the rules.
City planning staff said they agree with the testimony and that the easement fits the plan's park goals; Ward described the plan's vision for a trail along the light rail line and the difficulty of coordinating with the transit agency. Commissioners praised the design and affordable housing; vote 7-0 including Councilwoman Little.

2026-10-13 - Planning Board (video of the October 13 Planning Board meeting, auto-captions)
No Planning Board agenda page is on file for this meeting.

About 61 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - Planning Board	61

2026-10-13 - Planning Board - Approved 7-0 with staff conditions plus four added (forestry permits, fence, loading space, crosswalks). About 61 minutes, the longest item of the night.