Martinez, CA
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Project Description
The project site, located on a vacant lot on Wyoming Street, is partially developed with an underutilized religious facility. The site has historically been owned by the Pleasant Hill Free Will Baptist Church since 1956, who built the existing church building at the site.
For the project, titled “Wyoming Heights,” the Applicant proposes to demolish the existing, underutilized religious institution structure at the site to develop 41 single- and multifamily homes, most of which would be duet style and sharing a common wall. The project would dedicate 20 percent of the units as deed-restricted units affordable to low-income households, for a total of eight below-market rate units. The site would also be developed with private streets, utilities, landscaping, and stormwater treatment facilities.
The project also proposes to utilize the California State Density Bonus Law, which allows developers who provide affordable housing units to pursue concessions and waivers to certain development standards. The applicant is requesting concessions related to maximum height and minimum usable open space. The applicant is also requesting waivers related to distances between structures, dwelling units per acre, minimum side yards, minimum side yards (second story), minimum rear yards, loading facilities, retaining wall and fence height, parking design criteria, regulation of driveways, and slope of driveways.
Regulatory Background
While the project site is zoned R-6.0 One Family Residential District (“R-6”), it also falls within the Community Services Overlay (“CSO”) District, which was adopted on January 17, 2024.
The CSO District’s purpose is to encourage multi-family residential development, particularly affordable housing, on lands owned by existing legal religious organizations and community-oriented non-profit organizations. The CSO District regulations are similar to the State’s Affordable Housing on Faith and High Education Lands Act of 2023 (Senate Bill No. 4), which also allows multi-family development on religious institution sites.
The CSO District specifically allows higher levels of residential density than what would normally be permitted in exchange for providing deed-restricted affordable housing units. In addition, CSO District eligible projects would also have a streamlined review process and be considered “by right.” By right development means that projects must be reviewed for their consistency with objective development standards and the City has no discretion for any subjective standards, such as design review. Because the City has no discretion beyond objective standards, these projects are considered ministerial and exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) review, public hearing processes, and are reviewed and approved administratively.
Status
Major Subdivision and State Density Bonus Applications
On May 20, 2025, the applicant submitted 1) Major Subdivision #9701 and 2) State Density Bonus Law applications to convert the previously approved project into 41 individually-owned lots with associated easement areas and modify State Density Bonus Law waiver requests. On June 11, 2025, the City determined the applications incomplete.
On June 20, 2025, the applicant resubmitted their application. On June 26, 2025, the City determined the applications complete.
On July 8, 2025, the Planning Commission considered these applications and approved the project. The agenda, staff report, and associated materials for this meeting can be found here. The associated Approval Letter is available in the "Documents" tab below.
Universal Design Exemption Request
On May 12, 2025, the applicant submitted an application for Universal Design and Accessibility Exemption, consistent with the requirements of Martinez Municipal Code Section 15.34.140. The applicant's request was subsequently approved on June 3, 2025. The associated Approval Letter is available in the "Documents" tab below.
CSO District, State Density Bonus, and Tree Permit Applications
On September 10, 2024, the City received an application for 1) by right approval pursuant to the Community Services Overlay District, 2) State Density Bonus, and 3) a Tree Permit for the removal of 43 trees to facilitate the development. On October 8, 2024, the City determined the application to be incomplete.
On November 19, 2024, the City held a Community Meeting to present the project, receive feedback, and answer questions. The presentation and recording from that meeting are available below:
- November 19, 2024, Community Meeting Presentation Slides
- November 19, 2024, Community Meeting Recording
On February 20, 2025, the applicant re-submitted their application, and on March 19, 2025, staff determined the application to be incomplete again.
On April 11, 2025, the applicant re-submitted their application and was deemed complete by staff on May 7, 2025.
On May 8, 2025, the City approved the applicant's request for: 1) by right approval pursuant to the Community Services Overlay District, 2) State Density Bonus, and 3) a Tree Permit for the removal of 43 trees to facilitate the development. The associated Approval Letter and Project Plans are available in the "Documents" tab below.
Right-of-Way Easement Summary Vacation Application
On November 4, 2024, the City received an application to abandon an existing Right-of-Way Easement at the project site. On November 21, 2024, the City deemed the application related to the easement abandonment complete. On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, the City Council approved the abandonment. The associated Approval Letter and Project Plans are available in the "Documents" tab below.
Contact Information
Applicant: Peter Lezak, Mark Scott Construction
(925) 944-0502 - Email Applicant
Project Planner: Brandon Northart, Associate Planner
(925) 372-3518 - Email Planner