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CC May 30, 2024
District: 3
250-Unit Mixed-use | 118 Red Bird Ln | Approved ③
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DISTRICT: 3
5402 S Congress Ave 118 Red Bird Ln
South Congress | 2.72 Acres | 250-275 Units | Approved
In a city grappling with an affordability crisis, one might expect a proposed development offering 28 units at 50% MFI to be welcomed with open arms. However, Rastegar’s 250-unit mixed-use product at 5402 South Congress Avenue has proven that the path to more affordable housing is rarely smooth, especially when it collides with the additional concerns of established neighborhoods.
Rastegar Property Company, represented by Amanda Swor of the Drenner Group, sought to rezone 2.72 acres on Red Bird Lane, South Congress Avenue, and W Mockingbird Lane from single-family and commercial to mixed-use with a density bonus (CS-MU-V-CO-DB90-NP). The goal was to create a unified vertical mixed-use development with 250-275 multifamily units, 9,600 SF of ground-floor pedestrian-oriented uses, and 28 affordable units for households earning 50% or less of the area's Median Family Income (MFI).
The Bird Streets of Pleasant Hill neighborhood group fought the rezoning for multiple reasons. They argued that the developer pivoted to a much denser plan to take advantage of the city's new density bonus program for affordable housing (DB90).
‟As soon as the density bonus of affordability came along they dropped that plan and went for this, and now we're stuck defending Mystery Creek.
Brad Massingill, representing the neighborhood group, argued passionately against the development in the name of environmental conservation, warning against the “looming climate catastrophe.” The neighborhood submitted a petition with 45 signatures, 21% of the surrounding properties, opposing the rezoning to anything other than SF-2, SF-3, or SF-4.
‟Besides the valid petition, our neighborhood of 70 homes, we ended up with over 45 people signing on to petition, so it's pretty much unanimous the way that the neighborhood feels about this.
Massingill also expressed concerns about the development's scale and potential impact on the area's infrastructure and character.
Council Member José "Chito" Vela, District 4 supporter the 250-275 Unit product. Regarding community assets, Vela pointed out the 1-acre park and “potentially other benefits” that the developer is considering.
‟What we're trying to do in this case is really mimic the Domain zoning that is right across the street from this property. This is a warehouse industrial are"They're going to be dedicating a 1 acre park as part of the redevelopment of this property when it redevelops and there will also potentially be other benefits that are being considered."
City staff from the Watershed Protection Department indicated that their analysis found no classified waterways, floodplains, or identifiable critical environmental features on the site or within 150 feet of it.
In the end, the City Council approved the rezoning on all three readings, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, District 6, voting against and Council Member Allison Alter, District 10, absent.
Developer: Rastegar Property Company, Arturo Garza Phone: (512) 566-8663
Staff Report: C14-2023-0034
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