On Tuesday, the Oakley Planning Commission will hold a work session regarding a preliminary General Plan Amendment at 40 Mercedes Lane.
The 5.7-acre site is currently zoned commercial, however, O’Hara Properties, LLC is looking at an alternative idea and concept to change the zoning of the property to residential – thus, would allow for 58-single family lots. This requires a general plan amendment.
With a work session, no formal vote will take place, but rather the planning commission and community can provide feedback to the applicant. Based on feedback, the applicant can keep the property zoned commercial or begin the process to request a General Plan Amendment–or put the property up for sale. Either way, the properly will be developed at some point with either commercial or housing.

Sample provided by O’Hara Properties. Duets are considered attached single-family homes, with two residences built on the same piece of property and share a wall.
According to Matt Beinke of O’Hara Properties, he provided an example (above) of what the duet housing would look like at the potential 58-unit the Laurel Village site. He said each of the homes would share a wall and would be no more than two stories tall. He said they are not looking at apartments or commercial with housing above out of respect to the neighborhood behind the property.
Beinke added while the zoning is deemed “residential high”, its due to the city’s zoning language, not the number of homes proposed on the property. He says the 58 units is consistent with everything being built today.
For Tuesday, the plan shows 58 single-family lots with standard lot sizes on the outside of the map consisting of 2,352 square foot lots, standard interior lots consisting of 2,072 square foot lots, and the largest lot (lot 8) is 3,016 square feet. The conceptual plan includes an additional parcel for a drainage facility. The density of this plan is approximately 10.17 dwelling units per gross acre. It is important to note that this plan is preliminary, and it lacks the same amount of information as a tentative map and development plan application would, including the lot dimensions, right of way widths, and landscaping.
Editor’s Note – Fuller Misleads Public on Process
As usual, Oakley Councilmember George Fuller is misleading the public on social media—again. This is a work session that will provide feedback to the applicant. No formal vote will take place. Fuller also suggesting a referendum begin, is a bit premature while taking cheap shots at his fellow councilmembers is exactly why the city is moving forward with a Code of Conduct with statements made such as this:
“Meadows can always count on his fellow Rotary Club members to vote as he directs them. So, we will proceed through pro forma governmental rituals before the council approves the rezoning of the parcel and the project.” – said Fuller on social media and his website.
Fuller also suggesting the vote will come before the council is also premature because the Planning Commission has taken no action because the applicant has not taken any action—if Fuller is suggesting he would pull the item after a commission vote, that might be grounds for his recusal as he has telegraphed his vote publicly.
Finally, O’Hara Properties have nothing to do with E Cypress as Fuller suggests, that is an entirely different owner and developer.
If You Go
- Tuesday, February 4
- 6:30 pm
- 3231 Main St, Oakley CA
- Full Agenda – Click here
Related
- April 10, 2023 – Oakley Set to Discuss Zoning, McDonald’s and Carwash — project was ultimately approved which both McDonald’s and Quick Quack Car Wash have already been built.