Developers have agreed to reduce the number of apartments proposed for Brea Place, a mixed-use project at State College Boulevard and Birch Street that includes housing, commercial space and a hotel.
After roughly two hours of discussion, the Brea Planning Commission late Tuesday asked Hines, the Texas-based development company, to return with a new proposal reducing the number of apartments from 747 to 690.
The change could be presented at the Planning Commission meeting on May 23.
All five commissioners voiced concerns about the project’s density, particularly toward the north end of the property adjacent to residences. The height of the building at that end will be dropped from five stories to four.
“It’s obvious that it is just too much mass,” Commissioner Pat Fox said. “I don’t see any relief from traffic.”
Plans for the southern end of the project, adjacent to the Brea Mall and Brea Marketplace, will remain as proposed, with 16,900 square feet of commercial space, 462 units in a five-story building and a 150-room Marriott hotel.
Brea Place has been discussed over several packed Planning Commission meetings. Dozens of community members have addressed the commission, both in support and opposition of the project
Along with traffic concerns, opponents have pointed to the lack of a new environmental impact report based on current data.
There is an addendum to the 2003 EIR, however, and City Planner Jennifer Lilley has said all of the technical studies for the addendum were based on 2016-17 data.
“I don’t think a new EIR is needed,” Commissioner Melanie Schlotterbeck said. “I’m comfortable with the addendum.”
The project requires Planning Commission approval, but does not have to go before the City Council, though it could be appealed later to the council.