Graham Hill Rd, 715

Welcome

Welcome to the City of Santa Cruz project page for 715 Graham Hill Rd. Here you will find information about this project including the projects description, plan set, and future meetings relating to this project. You can also contact the City Project Planner by using the Question or Comment section below.

Project Description

Project Size: Large Development Project
City of Santa Cruz Project Number: CP23-0146
Address: 715 Graham Hill Rd
APN: 060-141-05

Special Use Permit, Design Permit, Nonresidential Demolition Authorization Permit, Heritage Tree Removal Permit, and Slope Development Permit to 1) recognize the use of the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant (GHWTP) and to 2) consider proposed modifications to the existing site, including demolition of the existing operations building and construction of new and/or modified administration, operations, and maintenance buildings and addition of related site improvements at the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant, located at 715 Graham Hill Road, as part of the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant Facility Improvements Project. The subject site lies on land non-contiguous to the City, surrounded by properties of existing residential use within the jurisdiction of the County.

Pursuant to California Government Code Section 53091(e), local ordinances do not apply to "the location or construction of facilities for the production, generation, storage, treatment, or transmission of water", such as tanks, pipelines, and water-treatment equipment, and much of the overall modernization project remains exempt from local land use controls. Proposed actions associated with related facilities, such as administrative and operations buildings, are subject to the City's zoning requirements. Although in operation since 1960 as a water treatment plant, no permits for the existing facility were processed prior to inception of the existing use. Review of the existing use will therefore be considered for necessary entitlements in conjunction with proposed modification to the administration and operations building and related site alterations.

The proposed scope of work subject to City Planning permits includes demolition and renovation of portions of the existing Operations Building, construction of a new Administration Wing to be attached to the modified Operations Building (thereby creating the Administration and Operations Building), construction of a new Maintenance Building to replace existing on-site trailers, and reconfiguration of on-site parking, at locations within 20 feet of slope of 30% or greater.

On June 13, 2023, the City Council adopted a motion to review the entirety of the GHWTP project, including requested entitlements which would otherwise be decided by the Planning Commission pursuant to the City's Municipal Code. Accordingly, the Planning Commission will review the applications and make a recommendation to the City Council.

An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared and circulated for public comment for the overall GHWTP modernization project. Several community meetings have been held to elicit public feedback.