HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-056 Croak & Jordan Medium Density (Legislative Action)X11
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AGENDA STATEMENT
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING DATE: September 9, 2008
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING: (Legislative Action) - PA 07-056 Croak and
Jordan Medium Density: General Plm and Eastern Dublin Specific Plan
Amendment and Fallon Village PD - Stage 1 Development Plan
Amendment to change the existing M(;dium Density portion of the Croak
and Jordan properties to Medium-Low Density and Medium-Mid Density
land use designations with minimum rear yard setback requirements.
Report prepared by. Jeff Baker, Senior Planner
ATTACHMENTS: 1) Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt a Resolution
amending the City of Dublin General Plan and Eastern Dublin
Specific Plan to change the existing Medium Density land use
designation on the Croak and Jordan properties to Medium-Low and
Medium-Mid Density designations, with the draft City Council
Resolution included as Exhibit i\.
2) Resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an Ordinance
approving a PD-Planned Development Rezone with amended Stage
1 Development Plan for the Medium-Low and Medium-Mid density
designations on the Croak anc Jordan properties, with the draft
Ordinance included as Exhibit A.
3) City Council/Planning Commiss on Study Session Staff Report dated
August 19, 2008 with attachmen-:s.
4) City Council/Planning CommiE sion Study Session draft Meeting
Minutes dated August 19, 2008.
5) Resolution transferring original hearing jurisdiction of these
amendments to the City Council pursuant to Section 8.96.020.C.3 of
the City of Dublin Zoning Ordinance due to the unique policy
implications of these amendmem s.
RECOMMENDATION: 1) Receive Staff presentation;
2) Open the Public Hearing;
3) Receive public testimony;
4) Close the Public Hearing and deliberate; and either
5) Adopt the following Resolution(s):
a. Resolution (Attachment 1) recommending that the City Council
adopt a Resolution approving; a General Plan and Eastern Dublin
Specific Plan Amendment to change the existing Medium
Density land use designation on the Croak and Jordan properties
to Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density designations; and
COPY TO: Property Owners
File
ITEM NO.
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GAPA4\2007\07-056 Croak and Jordan Medium Density\Planning Commission\9.9.08\pcsr 9.9.08 East Dublin Density.DOC
b. Resolution (Attachment 2) recommending that the City Council
adopt an Ordinance approving a PD-Planned Development
Rezone with amended Stage 1 Development Plan for the
Medium-Low and Medium-Mid density designations on the
Croak and Jordan properties.
OR:
c. Resolution (Attachment 5) transferring original hearing
jurisdiction to the City Council because of the unique policy
implication of these proposed amendments.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Background
The City Council held a Strategic Planning Session on January 12, 2007. During this Strategic Planning
Session the City Council discussed the existing General Plan and Specific Plan Residential Land Use
Designations within the City of Dublin and the need for larger private yards. Concerns were raised during
this discussion regarding the need for a variety of housing types (i.e. detached units, row homes, stacked
flats, etc.) and homes with larger private yards on undeveloped land within the Eastern Dublin Specific
Plan (EDSP) area that has a Medium Density (6.1-14 du/acre) land use designation.
Staff studied the densities, residential land use policies, existing land use patterns, the City of Dublin
Village Policy Statement, and the status of entitlements for the land designated for residential development
within the EDSP. Staff Reports were prepared for the April 3, 2007, and October 16, 2007, City Council
Meetings with different policy alternatives for City Council consideration.
City Council Action - April 3, 2007 & October 16, 2007
The City Council reviewed both of these Staff Reports and continued to express a desire to provide a
housing product type that is between a stacked product and a E -- --
larger single-family detached unit (Attachment 3 pages 29-37 and Jordan Croak
48-54) with a private usable yard. The City Council also Ranch" LqR Property
17 expressed a concern over the existing policy to calculate densities aG Es , AC ;
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based on gross rather than net acreage. AC
The City Council identified two remaining Medium Density
properties (Croak and Jordan) (Map 1 to the right) within the
EDSP that do not have vested development rights and that do not
have a current development application in process with the City.
On a motion, the City Council directed Staff to prepare General
Plan and Specific Plan Amendments (GPA/SPA) and amend the
PD Stage 1 Development Plan as described below with the goal of
creating private usable yards:
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1. Create Medium-Low Density (6.1-10 du/acre) and Medium-Mid Density (10.1-14 du/acre) land
use designations to replace the existing Medium Density (6.1-14 du/acre) land use designation on
the Croak and Jordan properties;
2. Calculate densities for the two new land use designations based on net developable acres; and
3. Require usable yards for development within the Medium-Low Density designation.
Planning Commission Action - November 27, 2007
Staff prepared a GPA, SPA, and Fallon Village Stage 1 Development Plan Amendment for the Croak
and Jordan properties as directed by the City Council. On November 27, 2007, the Planning
Commission held a Public Hearing to review the proposed amendments to the General Plan, EDSP,
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Map 1 - Vicinity Map
Stage 1 Development Plan (Attachments 3 pgs 54-66 and 66-81). The Planning Commission raised a
number of concerns with the proposed amendments, including the following:
1. Medium density product type already exists;
2. Can achieve private yards in Medium Density;
3. Loss of units and fairness of Net Density;
4. Limit market demand flexibility;
5. Limited impact/application of policies; and
6. Need market study to verify market demands
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that .he City Council not approve the
proposed GPA, SPA and Fallon Village Stage 1 Development Plan Amendment. Please refer to
Attachment 3 (pages 7-14) for a discussion of the Planning Commission concerns.
Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session - August a9, 2008
The City Council and Planning Commission held a joint Study Session on August 19, 2008, to discuss
the proposed land use designations, gross vs. net density requirements, and usable yard requirements.
The Study Session Staff Report (Attachment 3 pgs 1-14) included three policy alternatives for
consideration by the City Council. The City Council directed Staff -:o proceed with Alternative A and
prepare a GPA, SPA, and PD Stage 1 Development Plan Amendment .o create the following:
1. Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density land use designations;
2. Minimum 15' rear yard setback requirements units with private rear yards; and
3. Minimum 20' rear yard setback requirements for 1 in 5 units with private rear yards.
The following is a discussion of the proposed GPA, SPA, and PD Stage 1 Development Plan
Amendment for the Croak and Jordan properties. The Planning Commission is requested to review the
proposed amendments and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the adoption of the
proposed GPA, SPA and PD Stage 1 Development Plan Amendment.
ANALYSIS:
Proposed Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density Designations
Land Use Designations
Staff prepared the following definitions for proposed new Mediurl-Low Density and Medium-Mid
Density land use designations on the Croak and Jordan properties:
Residential: Medium-Low Density (6.1-10 units per net residential acre).
Units in this density range will be detached, zero-lot line, duple:, and/or townhouse developments
suitable for family living with private flat usable outdoor yard areas that accommodate leisurely
activities typically associated with a residence. Unit types and densities may be similar or varied.
Assumed household size is two persons per unit.
Residential: Medium-Mid Density 00.1-14 units net residential acre).
This density range allows detached, zero-lot line, duplex townhouse, and/or garden apartment
developments suitable for family living with private flat usable outdoor yard areas that
accommodate leisurely activities typically associated with a residence or usable common areas (tot
lot, picnic area, swimming pool areas, etc.) that accommodate recreational and leisurely activities.
Unit types and densities may be similar or varied. Assumed household size is two persons per
unit."
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Location of Proposed Land Uses
The existing Medium Density sites on the Croak and Jordan
properties would be equally divided into Medium-Low and
Medium-Mid Density as shown on Map 2 (to the right). The
proposed land uses maintain the transition from the more intense
High Density Residential and Mixed Use at the core of the Fallon
Village Center to the less intense Low Density Residential uses that
surround the Village Center.
Development at the midpoint of the proposed density range would
result in the same number of units (104 units on Croak and 234 units
on Jordan) anticipated for the existing Medium Density that was
studied in the Fallon Village SEIR and would maintain the existing
jobs/housing balance. (Please refer to the October 16, 2007 City
Council Staff Report Tables 2, 3 and 4 included in Attachment 3 on
pgs 40, 44 and 46). The units would simply be redistributed across the
proposed Medium-Low Density and Medium-Mid Density designations
and no additional environmental review would be required.
Conclusion - Land Use Designations
The proposed Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density designations ensure that a variety of different
housing types are constructed on the Croak and Jordan properties (i. detached and attached housing).
The Medium-Low Density designation also ensures that the homes have private yards. However, the
land use designations do not guarantee the size of these private yards. Therefore, the proposed PD Stage
1 Development Plan Amendment (discussed below) includes minimum rear yard setback requirements
to ensure that the private yards are large enough to be usable.
Rear Yard Setback Requirements
The proposed Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density designation: permit a variety of attached and
detached product types as discussed above. The Medium-Low Density designation requires each unit to
include a private usable yard. The Medium-Mid Density designation allows either a private usable yard
for each unit or shared common areas.
The properties in the EDSP have Planned Development (PD) zoning, with development standards that
are tailored to each development. 13D zoning with customized development standards is intended to
provide greater flexibility and creativity than traditional zoning. The Croak and Jordan properties are
subject to the Fallon Village PD Stage 1 Development Plan which includes development standards. The
proposed PD Stage 1 Development Plan Amendment (Attachment 2, Exhibit A) would modify the
existing development standards to require the following rear yard setback requirements for the proposed
Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Density designations as directed by the City Council at the August 19,
2008 Study Session:
¦ Minimum 15' flat usable rear yard setback for attached and detached units with private yards;
and
¦ Minimum 20' flat usable rear yard setback for 1 out of every 5 attached and detached units with
private yards.
Examples of what could occur in a 15'-20' rear yard include children's play equipment, a patio with
table and chairs, a garden, or a hot tub. The proposed Stage 1 PD Am-ndment includes a revised Stage 1
PD Site Plan showing the location of the land uses, and the 15'-20' rear yard setback requirement as
described above. Please refer to Exhibit A of Attachment 2 for the proposed Stage 1 PD Amendments.
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Map 2 - Proposed
Land Use Designations
In accordance with the Dublin Zoning Ordinance, a PD Stage 2 Development Plan is required before
development can occur on the Croak and Jordan properties. The Stage 2 PD will include additional
development standards for the Medium-Low and Medium-Mid Dens ty designations that are tailored to
the proposed development and that incorporate the required 15'-20' rear yard setback as required by the
Stage 1 Development Plan.
Conclusion -Private Yard Requirements
The proposed 15'-20' flat usable rear yard setback requirement for the proposed Medium-Low and
Medium-Mid Densities would apply to attached and detached units that include private rear yards. The
proposed setback requirements are provided to ensure that the private yards Medium-Low and Medium-
Mid Densities are large enough to accommodate leisurely activities that typically occur in rear yards.
The PD zoning with customized development standards will continue to allow flexibility and creativity
while providing a minimum rear yard setback.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council has the authority to modify General Plan and Spec] fic Plan Land Use Designations at
any time. On April 3, 2007, and with further direction on October 16, 2007 and August 19, 2008, the
City Council directed Staff to prepare a General Plan/Eastern Dublin Specific Plan Amendment to
replace the existing Medium Density (6.1-14 du/acre) portion of the Croak and Jordan properties with
Medium-Low (6.1-10 du/acre) and Medium-Mid Density (10.1-14 dil/acre) land use designations. The
City Council further directed Staff to prepare a PD Rezone with ame lded Stage 1 Development Plan to
include rear yard setback requirements for the proposed Medium-Lo ,v and Medium-Mid Density. The
proposed amendments to the General Plan, EDSP, and PD Stage 1 Development Plan will implement the
City Council direction and ensure a variety of housing types with private usable rear yards.
Planning Staff is requesting that the Planning Commission make a recommendation to the City Council
on this project as noted above. However, should the Planning Commission determine that these
amendments have policy implications that are unique the Commission may, pursuant to Section
8.96.020.C.3 of the Zoning Ordinance, transfer its hearing jurisdiction to the City Council. Section
8.96.020.C.3, "Referral to City Council," states that "At any point in the project review process the
Planning Commission may transfer original hearing jurisdiction to the City Council at its discretion
because of policy implications, unique or unusual circumstances, or the magnitude of the project."
Should the Planning Commission so desire to transfer the origiral hearing jurisdiction, Staff has
included a Resolution (Attachment 5) that sets forth those unique policy implications.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The project has been reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), State CEQA
Guidelines and the Dublin Environmental Guidelines. On December 6, 2005, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 222-05 certifying a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) (SCH
#2005062010) to the Eastern Dublin EIR, a program EIR, initially certified by the City of Dublin in
1993 (SCH#91103064) and the Eastern Dublin Property Owners SEIR (SCH # 2001052114) certified in
2002 by Resolution 40-02 for the Fallon Village project. The prior E,IRs are available for review in the
Community Development Department. The proposed project is within the scope of the SEIR for the
Fallon Village project area because the project does not result in increased units or density beyond what
was previously studied for the subject properties, and therefore no additional environmental review is
required.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission: 1) Receive Staff presentation; 2) Open the Public
Hearing; 3) Receive public testimony; 4) Close the Public Hearing and deliberate; and either, 5) Adopt
the following resolutions: a) Resolution (Attachment 1) recommending that the City Council adopt a
Resolution amending the City of Dublin General Plan and Eastern Lublin Specific Plan to change the
existing Medium Density land use designation on the Croak and Jordan properties to Medium-Low and
Medium-Mid Density designations; and b) Resolution (Attachment 2) recommending that the City
Council adopt an Ordinance approving a PD-Planned Development Rezone with amended Stage 1
Development Plan for the Medium-Low and Medium-Mid density de,,:ignations on the Croak and Jordan
properties OR c) Adopt the Resolution (Attachment 5) transferring original hearing jurisdiction to the
City Council because of the unique policy implication of these proposed amendments.
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
APPLICANT:
PROPERTY OWNERS:
LOCATION:
EXISTING ZONING:
EXISTING GENERAL PLAN/SPECIFIC
PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATIONS:
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
City of Dublin
Francis Croak
1262 Gabriel Court
San Leandro, CA 94' 77
Jordan Ranch LLC
5000 Hopyard Road, Ste. 170
Pleasanton, CA 9458 3
APN 985-0027-007,905-0002-001, AND 905-0002-002
PD - Medium Densiy, Residential
Medium Density Residential (6.1-14 du/acre)
The project has be--n reviewed under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), State CEQA
Guidelines and the Dublin Environmental Guidelines.
On December 6, 2005, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2:2-05 certifying a Supplemental
Environmental Irr pact Report (SEIR) (SCH
#2005062010) to the Eastern Dublin EIR, a program EIR,
initially certified by the City of Dublin in 1993
(SCH#91103064) and the Eastern Dublin Property
Owners SEIR (SCH # 2001052114) certified in 2002 by
Resolution 40-02 for the Fallon Village project. The
prior EIRs are available for review in the Community
Development Department. The proposed project is
within the scope of the SEIR for the Fallon Village
project area becaus-- the project does not result in
increased units or density beyond what was previously
studied for the subject properties, and therefore no
additional environmental review is required.
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