This is a much better design than the previous version, members of the Encinitas Planning Commission said as they voted Thursday to approve what’s slated to become the largest apartment complex in the city. “The list of before and afters is, I think, very favorable for this project,” Commission Chair Steve Dalton said, mentioning that he was particularly impressed that the new plans the Quail Meadows project call for a “substantial reduction” in building height from six stories to four. Commissioner Chris Ryan said she found the previous version of the project “a little bit shocking,” saying it had looked like a “a hospital or an Amazon warehouse” and revised design was much better. Representatives for developers Baldwin & Sons said Thursday they incorporated a number of changes sought by the Planning Commission when it reviewed their previous plans in 2022. At that time, the commissioners found the plans lacking and postponed their vote. The new changes include: Reducing the number of units. There’s now 448, instead of 485. Decreasing the building height. Instead of four six-story structures with an above-ground parking complex, there are now two four-story structures with underground parking. Increasing the number of units set aside for low-income people. There’s now 90, instead of 72. And, those low-income units will go into both of the proposed four-story buildings. The previous plans called for putting all the low-income units into one apartment building at the back end of the property and all the market-rate apartments into three structures toward the front — a proposal that planning commissioners said at the time was likely to be opposed by state officials because of equity issues. Baldwin & Sons representative Maria Miller also said Thursday night that the new changes include squeezing the buildings a bit closer together and leaving more habitat restoration space — nearly 3 acres instead of 1.5. The 12-acre project site is located along Quail Gardens Drive, just north of its intersection with Encinitas Boulevard. Even with the new design, however, the project has room for improvement, some commissioners said. The vote to approve the development permits was 3-1, with Commissioner Robert Prendergast opposed and Commissioner Susan Sherod abstaining. Sherod said she abstained because she was torn between the benefits and the downsides of the development plans, while Prendergast said he couldn’t vote in favor because he believed the huge apartment complex would have an unacceptable impact on Quail Gardens Drive’s already troubled traffic safety conditions. Opposition to the Quail Meadows development plans has been fierce over the years and nearly 20 project opponents spoke during Thursday’s public hearing. Traffic congestion, parking place shortages and floodwater control issues were frequently mentioned concerns. The commission’s decision to issue the permits can be appealed to the City Council, and the permits associated with the project’s planned storm drain repairs and habitat restoration work can be appealed to the state Coastal Commission. However, options for blocking the project are limited, city officials stressed. Like other recent controversial housing projects in Encinitas, the Quail Meadows project is considered a “by-right” development where options for denying permits are very limited because the development plans include housing for low-income people.