The downtown Sunsweet 83-unit residential/commercial mixed-use project is a big step closer to construction, as the Morgan Hill City Council approved the developer’s site plan at the April 19 meeting.
Developer Republic Properties, in partnership with property owners Rocke and Glenda Garcia, made a list of key changes to the project since it last appeared on the council agenda in February. Specifically, the council was worried about the size of the project’s leasing office and parking supply, among other design features.
The revised project presented to the council April 19 will implement an on-site “parking management plan,” requiring new residents of the apartment complex to park their vehicles in a basement garage built exclusively for them, according to City Planner Terry Linder.
The parking garage will be located underneath the Sunsweet project, which will occupy a 1.7-acre site along Depot Street, with frontage on East Third and Fourth streets—next to the new downtown parking garage.
Linder explained the parking plan will include stickers or decals that residents will place on their vehicles, allowing them to park in the basement and authorities to determine if they are parking in public areas downtown—which the council hopes will not happen.
The basement garage will have vehicle entrances and exits on Depot Street.
The developer also increased the total number of parking spaces for the project to 129, which exceeds the city’s requirement of 124 spaces (119 for the 83 apartments), Linder said.
The four-story project also has more commercial space—8,051 square feet—than it had previously. This space, which will likely include a dining establishment, will be located along Third Street.
The fifth floor of the project is not a full story, but rather contains loft areas for the upstairs units, according to city staff.
The residences would be a combination of studios as well as one- and two-bedroom units. The project also features an outdoor plaza of 18,600 square feet, surrounded by the residential building.
Rocke Garcia said at the April 19 meeting that he and his wife, who have owned the Sunsweet downtown property for decades, are excited to finally build the project.
“This is an absolutely fantastic project that we’re going to be proud of for many years to come,” Garcia said.
Most councilmembers were eager to approve the revised site plans. Councilmember Caitlin Jachimowicz said she was impressed at the developer’s detailed response to the council’s previous concerns from February.
“I hope all the developers are paying attention to how well it can work when we all work together,” Jachimowicz said.
Councilman Rene Spring cast the only dissenting vote against the Sunsweet plans. He did not comment at the April 19 meeting, but he also voted against the plans in February. At that time, he was concerned with the height of the project, which was proposed at 60 feet at its highest point.
Linder said at the April 19 meeting that the developer reduced that maximum to 57 feet. The height of the project varies from 20 feet at its lowest point, to 50 feet at the top of the residences. The top of the proposed elevator tower is the project’s highest point at 57 feet.
