Antioch to Talk “Innovative Housing” and Accessory Dwelling Units

On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council will discuss creating an innovative housing overlay district and accessory dwelling units.

The council will ultimately look to amend its municipal code allowing them to rezone either 31 or 33 parcels at 26 sites according to the agenda—in an effort to create the ability for an application for a “cottage community” to be submitted.

Cottage Communities
The cottage communities envisioned by the Policy Grant team are high-quality, dignified homes. They are not tuff sheds or sanctioned encampments. Homes could be built in factories or on site and would be no more than 1,200 square feet. Each home would have its own bathroom and kitchen. Cottage communities would include shared amenities like community gardens or on-site supportive services. Figure 1 shows a rendering of a similar community made up of manufactured homes that Hope Solutions has proposed in Pittsburg

All sites are currently developed with faith institutions and have large parking lots or unused land that could accommodate residential uses in addition to the religious assembly use. Sites were selected based on their ownership status, physical capacity to accommodate real estate development, and proximity to essential services. As shown in Attachment D, most of these sites are near schools, shopping centers, and bus stops, making them good locations for affordable housing.

In total, the 33 sites make up 90 acres of land, of which approximately 80 percent (almost 70 acres) is estimated to be developable.

Most of the proposed IH Overlay sites are zoned R-6, which allows for the development of one single-family home on its own lot. The application of the IH Overlay would greatly increase the development potential on these sites.

The agenda states that Six sites (St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, Heritage Baptist, First Family Church, The Landing Place, Grace Bible Fellowship, and Iglesia Nueva Esperanza) are also identified in the Housing Element. These six sites could develop higher-density housing based on their Housing Element rezoning and in compliance with the City’s Multi-Family Residential Objective Design Standards, or they could develop cottage communities under the proposed IH Overlay standards. Furthermore, any sites that qualify for streamlining under SB 4 could also use State law to develop traditional multi-family residences through the SB 4 ministerial process.

Planning Commission Meeting

At the October 18, 2023 Planning Commission meeting, there were five people who provided public comment, including a local faith leader, members of Hope Solutions, and Antioch residents. Comments were all supportive of the proposed zoning text and zoning map amendments. Speakers highlighted the collaborative approach to policy-making and the engagement with unhoused residents as particularly positive aspects of the project.

The Planning Commission unanimously voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the zoning text amendments. The Commission also recommended in a 5-2 vote to remove Cornerstone Christian Center from the proposed Overlay due to concerns with its land capacity given modular classrooms currently on the site. The two dissenting Commissioners were supportive of the project but did not want Cornerstone Christian Center excluded.

According to the Staff Report, here are the 26 possible sites on 32 parcels.

Cornerstone Christian Ctr. — E 18th St
Cornerstone Christian Ctr. — 1715 E 18th St
Grace Bible Fellowship — 3415 Oakley Road
Johns Lutheran Church/ Antioch Christian Center — 1360 E Tregallas Rd
Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church — 2200 Country Hills Dr
Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church — 2200 Country Hills Dr.
Heritage Baptist — 5200 Heidorn Ranch Rd
Templo Santo Church — 201 E 18th St
Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church — 1313 A St
Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church — 1403 A St
Jubilee Christian Center/ Pentecostal Holiness Church — 11 Texas St
Iglesia Ni Cristo 548 Texas St
Iglesia Ni Cristo 508 Texas St
Wesleyan Church 2800 Sunset Ln
Hillside Baptist Church 108 Hillside Rd
Hillside Baptist Church 108 Hillside Rd
Antioch Family Church 330 Worrell Rd
Kings Chapel of Antioch 320 Worrell Rd
First Missionary Baptist Church 620 E Tregallas Rd
The Landing Place (Acts Full Gospel East County) (formerly Salvation Army) 620 E Tregallas Rd
Eastside Church of Christ 1020 E Tregallas Rd
First Christian Church 2725 Minta Ln
New Life Free Will Baptist/Rivertown Community Church 11 Worrell Rd
Antioch United Methodist Church on the Rock 50 Walton Ln
First Family Church 3195 Contra Loma Blvd
First Family Church 3195 Contra Loma Blvd
First Family Church 3195 Contra Loma Blvd
Ignatius of Antioch Church 3351 Contra Loma Blvd
Palabra de Dios 501 Auto Center Dr
Iglesia Nueva Esperanza/Antioch Covenant Church 1919 Buchanan Rd
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 3015 Rio Grande Dr
Journey Church 1200 Putnam St
Antioch Church Family 55 E 18th St