The update project design, now with 11 buildings instead of 12 and a lot more trees | Image from city staff report

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The Westwood Garden Apartments in Arcata is likely getting a lot more residents, after the Arcata Planning Commission approved a project that will more than double the size of the apartment complex on Westwood Court. 

The complex, which is one of several sites in Arcata owned by Strombeck Properties, currently holds three buildings with a total of 60 two-bedroom apartments. Strombeck Properties and its hired consulting firm LACO Associates now plans to add 11 buildings, which would hold 102 total one-bedroom units. Initially the planners proposed adding 12 buildings, but during a meeting in September the planning commission rejected the proposed project, asking that the planner return with an amended design that retained more open space on the property. 

In addition to removing one of the buildings from the plan, the designers also changed the general layout of the buildings. Four buildings that include parking on the ground floor with apartments above will be added to the perimeter of the existing buildings on the site, and seven apartment buildings will be added to the green space at the center of the property. 

The planners had also initially proposed removing 49 trees from the property to make room for the new developments. But at the request of the planning commission, the project now only includes removal of 21 trees, plus the planting of 33 additional trees. 

Several community members, mostly residents or neighbors of the Westwood Garden Apartments, voiced concerns over the project during Tuesday’s meeting, urging the commission not to approve the development. The biggest issue people had was with the closeness of the buildings, which they feared would cause privacy issues and would shade the existing residents. 

Raelina Kriskston, a resident of the apartments and a current Arcata city council candidate, delivered a very thorough presentation to the commission, highlighting the buildings “being placed unreasonably close together” and the project taking away some of the outdoor recreation area that is very important to the residents. 

“Yes, we need housing,” Kriskston said during the meeting. “But moreover, we need housing that will serve our community in the future. This project is objectively and practically inferior to quality and standards that we as a community need in order to grow in a healthy way.”

Kriskston pushed for a design that included more stories on the buildings, so that the same number of units could be fit into a smaller footprint – something she pointed out is what the City is looking to do with the proposed Gateway Area Plan. But Steve Strombeck, the owner of the property, said he is not willing or able to support a design with buildings more than two stories tall. 

“At this point in time, I’m not willing to go up three or four stories,” Strombeck, who had called into the meeting, said. “It’s just cost-prohibitive.” 

Despite the developers having made the changes requested by the planning commission at the last meeting, several of the commissioners still weren’t thrilled with the project. But because of the need for housing in Arcata, Commissioner Daniel Tagney made a motion to approve the project.

At first it seemed like no one was going to second the motion. Then Commissioner Judith Mayer said she feared that if the commission didn’t vote on the project, that the planners would return with a proposal that was subject to Housing Accountability Act – which limits government bodies’ ability to deny affordable housing projects – and would no longer need the Planning Commission’s approval.

Christian Figueroa then seconded the motion, which passed 4-1, with Mayer dissenting. Planning Chair Julie Vaissade-Elcock had recused herself because her husband did work on the project. 

Now that the Planning Commission has approved the permit for the project, the permit has a 10-day appeal period. If no one appeals within 10 days, the development can move forward.