87 housing units proposed at Todd Point
Fort Bragg Planning Commission awaits first look at the project next Wednesday, March 12
In a town starved for affordable and worker housing, the biggest private housing development project in years will be on the agenda of the Fort Bragg Planning Commission on Wednesday, March 12.
The plans are for 87 housing units on 2.7 acres behind the Fort Bragg Outlet store, just south of the Noyo Bridge on the west side of State Route 1 and just north of the Emerald Dolphin Inn.
The project proposes a 107-car parking lot for seven different housing units and asks the city to raise the maximum height of units allowed from 28 feet to 38 feet to serve three-story units. The city is also being asked to allow smaller outside decks than currently allowed.
Eleven percent of the units would be affordable to very low income families.
Akashdeep “Kosh” Grewal is the developer. The property had appeared to be headed to becoming a gas station before this was proposed. It was sold in 2022 to Kosh Petroleum of Roseville. Kosh Petroleum is owned by Kosh Grewal, according to a public records search.
The proposed project would include six studio apartments ,36 one bedroom and 45 two bedroom units. Amenities include an outdoor playground and two outdoor courtyards.
The developer promises extensive landscaping and improvements to Harbor Drive and frontage road. The applicant has requested these three inclusionary housing incentives, an increase in the height limit from 28 feet to 38 feet, a reduction in capacity fees to offset storm water improvements, and a reduction in balcony size from 100 square feet to 50 square feet, The address is 1151, South Main Street.
The Fort Bragg Planning Commission is an advisory body to the city council. Their job is to study planning, zoning, water and environmental issues and then approve or disapprove the project. The applicant can appeal the decision to the City Council. In the case of a project this large for Fort Bragg, the council would certainly want to weigh in.
This project could also be appealed to the California Coastal Commission, as it would block limited ocean views from State Route 1.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed through law that make it much harder for cities to deny affordable housing and workforce housing. The city of Fort Bragg has sought to build workforce housing in this area on a different tract of land. It would be very close to the college and close to the town’s medical facilities, while still walkable to downtown Fort Bragg. This might necessitate a safer crossing of State Route 1 for those on the west side of the highway. Those who cross Noyo Bridge on foot on the west side going north and wish to go any further now find they have made a big mistake.
There will be a follow up story on this development this week.
