HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6.2 Heritage Park & DDSP GPAOF
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DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
July 15, 2014
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
CITY CLERK
File #420 -30
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager J
Heritage Park General Plan and Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan
Amendment (PLPA 2013 - 00002) and Downtown Dublin Specific Plan General
Plan Amendment project (PLPA 2013- 00073) (Related to agenda item 6.1)
Prepared by Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner and Mike Porto, Consulting Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Council will consider a General Plan Amendment and Dublin Village Historic Area
Specific Plan Amendment for the Heritage Park project. The 6.55 -acre project site has a
current General Plan Land Use Designation of Retail /Office. The Applicant proposed a General
Plan and Specific Plan Amendment to re- designate 5.94 -acres to Medium Density Residential
(0.61 -acres would remain Retail /Office). The proposed amendments would enable development
of the Heritage Park project which includes demolition of a 110,000 square foot office complex
and reconfiguration of the site for the development of 54 single - family detached homes and a
14,000 square foot, two -story office building. The corresponding project entitlements are
included as a separate item on this City Council agenda.
The City Council will also consider an amendment to the General Plan to incorporate the
recently adopted Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Amendment. The changes include
increasing the number of residential units permitted in the Downtown by 1,200 units and
decreasing the amount of commercial square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet. The
actual Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Amendments and CEQA Addendum were previously
approved by the City Council at a public hearing on May 6, 2014.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
All costs associated with the processing of the Heritage Park Project application were borne by
the Project Applicant. All costs associated with the processing of the DDSP Amendment Project
were borne by developers who have processed recent General Plan Amendments that
decreased densities on their site(s).
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing, deliberate and adopt a
Resolution Amending the General Plan and Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan for the
Heritage Park Project and amending the General Plan for the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
Amendment Project.
Page 1 of 6 ITEM NO. 6.2
Submitted By "Reviewed By
Community Development Director Assistant City Manager
DESCRIPTION:
Background:
Heritage Park Project
The Heritage Park project site is located in the southeasterly portion of the Dublin Village Historic
Area Specific Plan (DVHASP) area north of Interstate Highway 580, south of Dublin Boulevard,
east of Donlon Way, and west of San Ramon Road (APN 941 - 1550- 005 -03). The Applicant is
proposing to demolish the existing 110,000 square foot office complex and reconfigure the site
for the development of 54 single - family detached homes and a 14,000 square foot, two -story
office building. The Planned Development rezoning with a related Stage 1 and Stage 2
Development Plan, Site Development Review, Parcel Map and Vesting Tentative Subdivision
Map, Environmental Impact Report, and Development Agreement for the Heritage Park Project
has been considered as a separate item on this City Council meeting agenda.
Vicinity Map 1: Heritage Park
The current request is approval of an amendment to the General Plan and DVHASP to change
the land use designation of 5.94 -acres from Retail /Office to Medium Density Residential (0.61 -
acres will remain Retail /Office and will be reserved for a new office building). The proposed
amendments will enable development of the proposed project as described above.
Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Amendment Project
The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) area is located in the southwestern portion of the
City and is approximately 284 acres in size. The project area is generally bound by Village
Parkway to the east, Interstate 580 to the south, San Ramon Road to the west, and Amador
Valley Boulevard to the north. There are some partial boundary limits that extend beyond those
roadways, most notably for a portion of San Ramon Road, a portion of Amador Valley
Boulevard, and all of Village Parkway within the Specific Plan area.
Page 2 of 6
The proposed General Plan Amendment will
incorporate the following DDSP amendments
that were adopted by the City Council on May
6, 2014: 1) increase the residential
development cap in the downtown from 1,300
units to a total of 2,500 units; and 2)
corresponding reduction in the commercial
development potential from 3,035,540 square
feet to 2,262,540 square feet to offset
impacts from increasing the residential cap.
General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments
State law allows only four (4) General Plan
Amendments per Element per calendar year.
These two projects combined represent the
second amendment to the General Plan Land
Use Element in 2014.
Vicinity Map 2: DDSP Districts
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In order to avoid amendments in excess of the number permitted by State law, General Plan
amendments for specific projects can be grouped together and adopted by one Resolution.
Therefore, the proposed General Plan Amendments for the Heritage Park Project and the DDSP
Amendment Project have been grouped together to be heard on the same agenda and
approved with one action (Resolution). The companion approvals associated with the Heritage
Park Project will be heard as a separate agenda item on this same City Council agenda, and, if
approved, will not become effective until the General Plan Amendments are approved and
effective. The companion approvals associated with the DDSP Amendment Project were
approved by the City Council on May 6, 2014.
Specific Plan amendments are not limited to four per year; however, the proposed Dublin Village
Historic Area Specific Plan Amendment for the Heritage Park Project has been grouped
together with its companion General Plan Amendment. Please refer to the separate Staff
Report on this agenda for the Heritage Park Project for a complete discussion of the proposed
projects and related entitlements.
ANALYSIS:
Heritage Park Project
The Heritage Park Project includes an amendment to the General Plan and Dublin Village
Historic Area Specific Plan to change the land use designations as shown in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1: Land Uses — Heritage Park Project
Existing
Proposed
Use
Acres
acres
RO
Retail /Office
6.55
.61
MDR
Medium Density Residential
0
5.94
Total
6.55
6.55
Page 3 of 6
The requested amendments to the General Plan and Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan
would require adjustments to various figures, texts, and tables in both the General Plan and the
Specific Plan to ensure consistency throughout the documents. A Resolution with the exact
amendments proposed is included as Attachment 1 to this Staff Report.
DDSP Amendment Project
The proposed General Plan Amendment will modify Table 2.1 in the General Plan to raise the
limit for residential development in Downtown from the current 1,300 units to a total of 2,500
units throughout the three districts in the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP). To offset
potential impacts resulting from an increase in residential development Downtown, the proposal
also includes reducing the non - residential (commercial) development potential from 3,035,540
square feet to 2,262,540 square feet, also throughout the three districts.
The proposed DDSP Amendment will capture market demand for housing Downtown (which is
one of the guiding principles of the DDSP to create a vibrant downtown) and it will also provide
opportunities for the City to meet the obligations of the Housing Element and the Regional
Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers that have been assigned to Dublin by the State of
California.
There are two RHNA - related challenges that the City is facing: 1) Meeting the current Housing
Element RHNA obligation; and 2) Meeting the future Housing Element RHNA obligation.
Recently- initiated General Plan Amendment studies to decrease residential densities in the
Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area have the potential to impact the City's ability to meet the
current RHNA obligation. This includes projects at the East Dublin Transit Center Site A -1,
SummerHill /DiManto Parcels 3 and 4 (currently inactive), and the Frederich /Vargas properties.
All of these projects, in addition to other projects that are moving forward but do not require
General Plan Amendments, such as Wallis Ranch, are proposing to decrease the development
densities on each site. If these projects to reduce densities are to be considered, the units that
are being "lost" need to be accounted for elsewhere in the City to satisfy the current Housing
Element cycle.
The City is currently preparing a Housing Element update which must identify sites to
accommodate the RHNA allocation for the 2014 -2022 planning cycle. A sites inventory analysis
has identified a shortage of sites to accommodate this future RHNA allocation, resulting in a
deficit of 1,075 housing units. Staff identified the DDSP as an area that could accommodate
these residential units. This issue was discussed by the City Council at the meeting on July 16,
2013 and by consensus, the City Council directed Staff to study an increase in the residential
development capacity in the DDSP. The City Council adopted the DDSP Amendment to
accommodate these additional units at their meeting on May 6, 2014 (Attachments 2 and 3).
The City Council also reviewed the draft Housing Element, which includes the additional units in
the Downtown to address the RHNA obligation, and directed Staff to submit the draft Housing
Element to the State for review on June 17, 2014 (Attachment 4).
Because of the need to group the General Plan Amendments together as discussed in a
previous section of the Staff Report, the City Council did not adopt a Resolution approving the
DDSP General Plan Amendment at the May 6, 2014 meeting, but instead took a straw vote in
favor of the Amendment and deferred action to a later date.
A Resolution with the proposed change is included as Attachment 1 to this Staff Report.
Page 4 of 6
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Heritage Park Project
The Project is located in the Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan area for which a Mitigated
Negative Declaration was adopted on August 1, 2006 by Resolution No. 149 -06. The previous
environmental analysis was updated for the Project through a project- and site - specific Heritage
Park Environmental Impact Report ( "EIR ", SCH # 2013092043). The Heritage Park EIR
analyzed the environmental impacts of the Project, including the proposed demolition and
redevelopment to office and residential uses and was circulated for a 45 -day public review and
comment period. Given the proximity of the Project to the Dublin Historic Park, aesthetics and
cultural resources impacts were a particular focus of the EIR. A number of potential impacts
were identified, most of which can be mitigated to less than significant. No significant
unavoidable impacts were identified in the EIR. Following the public review period, the City
prepared a Final EIR containing written responses to all comments received during the public
review period, which responses provide the City's good faith, reasoned analysis of the
environmental issues raised by the commenters. The Final EIR, which includes the Draft EIR
and written responses to comments, is incorporated herein by reference and is available for
review in the Planning Division at City Hall during normal business hours. Adoption of the Final
EIR is included as a separate item on this same City Council Agenda.
DDSP Amendment Project
The City prepared an Initial Study and CEQA Addendum, dated February 24, 2014,
documenting that there would not be significant environmental impacts occurring as a result of
this project beyond or different from those already addressed in the Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan EIR (SCH# 2010022005) (certified by the City Council on February 1, 2011 via Resolution
08 -11) and is incorporated herein by reference and is available for review in the Planning
Division at City Hall during normal business hours. The Addendum was approved by the City
Council (Resolution 50 -14) on May 6, 2014.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIONS:
On June 10, 2014, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Heritage Park
Project. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14-
29 recommending that the City Council approve the General Plan and Dublin Village Historic
Area Specific Plan Amendments for the Heritage Park project (Attachment 5).
On March 11, 2014, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the DDSP Amendment
Project. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14-
12 recommending that the City Council approve the General Plan Amendment for the DDSP
Amendment project (Attachment 6).
PUBLIC NOTICING:
In accordance with State law, a public notice was mailed to all property owners and occupants
within 300 feet of the Heritage Park Project site to advertise the project and the upcoming
public hearing. A public notice was also published in the Valley Times and posted at several
locations throughout the City.
For the DDSP Amendment Project, an eighth -page legal notice was published in the Tri- Valley
Times and a public notice was mailed to all property owners and tenants within the 284 -acre
DDSP boundary.
Page 5 of 6
A copy of this Staff Report has been provided to the Applicant of the Heritage Park Project and it
has been made available to all parties interested in the DDSP Amendment Project.
ATTACHMENTS: 1.
Resolution amending the General Plan and Dublin Village Historic
Area Specific Plan for the Heritage Park Project and an amendment
to the General Plan for the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
Amendment Project
2.
City Council Staff Report for the DDSP Amendment dated May 6,
2014
3.
City Council Resolution 49 -14
4.
City Council Staff Report for the Draft Housing Element Update
dated June 17, 2014
5.
Planning Commission Resolution 14 -29
6.
Planning Commission Resolution 14 -12
Page 6 of 6
RESOLUTION NO. XX -14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * **
APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN AND DUBLIN VILLAGE HISTORIC
AREA SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THE HERITAGE PARK PROJECT AND AN AMENDMENT TO
THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THE DOWNTOWN DUBLIN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT
PROJECT (PLPA- 2013 -00002 and PLPA- 2013 - 00073)
WHEREAS, the Applicant for the Heritage Park Project, Bates Stringer Ventures,
proposes to demolish an existing 110,000 square foot office complex and develop 54 small lot
single - family homes and a two -story 14,000 square foot office building on approximately 6.6
acres in the Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan ( "Specific Plan ") area. The project
proposes a General Plan and Specific Plan Amendment to change the land use designations on
a 5.94 acre portion of the site from Retail /Office (RO) to Medium Density Residential (MDR),
and proposes a PD- Planned Development rezoning with related Stage 1 and Stage 2
Development Plan, Site Development Review, Vesting Tentative Map and Development
Agreement for the entire 6.6 acre site. The proposed development and applications are
collectively known as the "Heritage Park Project "; and
WHEREAS, the City initiated amendments to the General Plan and Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan (DDSP), known as the "DDSP Amendment Project" to: 1) Allow an increase in
the number of residential units permitted in the DDSP by 1,200 units and to decrease the
amount of non - residential square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet; 2) Create minimum
density thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts; and 3) Restrict residential
development west of San Ramon Road in the Retail District; and
WHEREAS, the Heritage Park Project site is located at 11875 Dublin Boulevard, west of
San Ramon Road; south of Dublin Boulevard; east of Donlon Way; and north of Interstate 580;
and
WHEREAS, the DDSP Amendment Project area is located in the southwestern portion
of the City and is approximately 284 acres in size. The project area is generally bound by
Village Parkway to the east, Interstate 580 to the south, San Ramon Road to the west, and
Amador Valley Boulevard to the north; and
WHEREAS, consistent with section 65352.3 of the California Government Code, the City
obtained a contact list of local Native American tribes from the Native American Heritage
Commission and notified the tribes on the contact list of the opportunity to consult with the City
on both of the proposed General Plan Amendments. None of the contacted tribes requested a
consultation within the 90 -day statutory consultation period for either the Heritage Park Project
or the DDSP Amendment Project and no further action is required under section 65352.3; and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State
guidelines and City environmental regulations, require that certain projects be reviewed for
environmental impacts and that environmental documents be prepared; and
1
WHEREAS, on , 2014 the City Council adopted Resolution xx -14 certifying an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and adopting CEQA Mitigation Findings and a Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Heritage Park Project; and
WHEREAS, on June 10, 2014, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -28
recommending that the City Council certify the Final EIR for the Heritage Park Project, which
resolution is incorporated herein by reference and available for review at City Hall during normal
business hours; and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2011, the Dublin City Council adopted Resolution 09 -11
approving the DDSP and associated implementation actions. At the same time, the City Council
adopted Resolution 08 -11 certifying the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Environmental Impact
Report (SCH# 2010022005, incorporated herein by reference). The DDSP Environmental
Impact Report evaluated the potential impacts associated with intensifying development in the
284 acre Downtown Dublin area to accommodate additional residential and non - residential
uses; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an Addendum, dated February
24, 2014, incorporated herein by reference, was prepared, which describes the DDSP
Amendment Project and its relation to the analysis in the DDSP EIR; and
WHEREAS, on May 6 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution 50 -14 adopting an
Addendum to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR for the DDSP Amendment Project,
which Resolution is incorporated herein by reference and available for review at City Hall during
normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, on June 10, 2014, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -29
recommending that the City Council approve the proposed General Plan and Specific Plan
Amendments for the Heritage Park Project, which Resolution is incorporated herein by
reference and available for review at City Hall during normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2014, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -12
recommending that the City Council approve the proposed General Plan and Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan Amendment for the DDSP Amendment Project, which Resolution is incorporated
herein by reference and available for review at City Hall during normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution 49 -14 approving the
Downtown Specific Plan Amendment for the DDSP Amendment Project, which Resolution is
incorporated herein by reference and available for review at City Hall during normal business
hours, and which stated that the Resolution shall not take effect until the corresponding General
Plan Amendment, to be considered by the City Council at a later date, is effective; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated July 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed both the proposed General Plan and Dublin Village Historic Area
Specific Plan Amendments for the Heritage Park Project and the proposed General Plan
Amendment for the DDSP Amendment Project; and
2
WHEREAS, the City Council held a properly noticed public hearing on both the General
Plan and Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan Amendments for the Heritage Park Project
and the proposed General Plan Amendment for the DDSP Amendment Project, on July 15,
2014, at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated July 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed the Heritage Park project, including the General Plan and Dublin
Village Historic Area Specific Plan amendments, and the DDSP Amendment Project, including
the General Plan Amendment, and related CEQA review for both projects, for the City Council;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a properly noticed public hearing on the Heritage Park
project and DDSP Amendment Project, including the proposed General Plan and Dublin
Village Historic Area Specific Plan amendments, on July 15, 2014, at which time all interested
parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, on , 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution xx -xx certifying the
Heritage Park EIR and adopting CEQA mitigation findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program for the Heritage Park Project, which resolution is incorporated herein by
reference and available for review at City Hall during normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the DDSP EIR and the approved CEQA
Addendum, and all above - referenced reports, recommendations, and testimony prior to taking
action on the DDSP Amendment Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct
and made a part of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council finds that the General Plan and
Specific Plan amendments for the Heritage Park Project and DDSP Amendment Project, as
set forth below, are in the public interest, will promote general health, safety and welfare, and
that the General Plan as amended will remain internally consistent. The Heritage Park Project
is consistent with the guiding and implementing policies of the General Plan in each of its
Elements and will allow for redevelopment of the site for office and residential uses in a
developed area and will be compatible with the adjacent Dublin Heritage Park and Museums.
The development of the Heritage Park Project is consistent with the goals and policies of the
General Plan Elements. The General Plan Amendments noted below will ensure that the
implementation of the proposed project is in compliance with the General Plan and that each
element within the General Plan is internally consistent.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby adopts the following
amendments to the General Plan for the Heritage Park Project and DDSP Amendment
Project-
3
Figure 1 -1 (Land Use exhibit) shall be amended for the project site as shown below to change
the land use designation on a 5.96 acre portion of the project from Retail /Office to Medium
Density Residential:
r1l 1" t. hw HNWkIC AREA �P CUX P1 AN
R0110SED GENERAL PLAN LAND USES
Table 2.1 (Land Use Development Potential: Primary Planning Area) shall be amended as
shown below (table footnotes not included):
Table 2.1 - LAND USE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL: PRIMARY PLANNING AREA
RESIDENTIAL
Acres
Dwelling
Dwelling Units
Persons/
Population
Units /Acre
Dwelling Unit
Low Density Single
44.0
0.5 -3.8
22 -167
2.7
59 -451
Family
J
J
Single Family
901 .9
0.9-60
812 -5,411
2.7
2,192- 14,610
Medium Density
196.54
J 6.1- 14.0
1,199 -2,752
2.7
J 3,237 -7,430
Medium -High
78.4
14.1 -25.0
1,105 -1,960
2.7
2,983 -5,292
Medium -High and
11.2
14.1 -25.0
158 -280
2.7
427 -756
Retail/Office
J
J
Mixed Use
15.3
6.1 -25.0
93 -382
2.7
251 -1,031
TOTAL
1,247.34
2,389- 10,952
9,149 - 29,570
DOWNTOWN
Acres
Dwelling
Dwelling Units
Persons/
Population
DUBLIN
Units /Acre
Dwelling Unit
SPECIFIC PLAN
Medium,
230.2
6.1 -25.1+
2,5002
2.7
6,7504
Medium- High or
High Density
DOWNTOWN
Acres
Maximum Floor
Maximum
Square Feet/
Jobs4
DUBLIN
Area Ratio
Potential
Employee
SPECIFIC PLAN
(Gross)
Square Feet....
Village Parkway
32.9
.35
501,593
200 -450
1,115 -2,508
District
Retail District
113.1
J .60
J 2,762,7325
200 -450
J 6,139- 13,814
Transit - Oriented
84.2
1.2
3,821,5525
200 -450
8,492- 19,108
District
4
230.2
7,085,877
15,746- 35,430
COMMERCIAL
Acres
Floor Area
Square Feet
Square Feet/
Jobs4
Ratio (Gross)
(millions)
Employee
Retail /Office
J 33.9
J .25- .60
.37 -.89
200 -450
J 822 -4450
Retail /Office &
40.8
.25- .50
.44- .89
220 -490
898 -4,045
Automotive J
J
J
J
Campus Office
0
.25- .80
J 0
260
J 0
Business
102.8
.30- .40
1.34 -1.79
360 -490
2,735 -4,972
Park/
Business Park/
56.7
.25 -.40
.62 -.99
360 -490
1,265 -2,750
Industrial: Outdoor
Storage
Medium -High and
11.23
25- .60
12- .29
200 -450
267 -1,450
Retail /Office
Mixed Use
15.33
.30 -1.00
.20- .67
200 -400
500 -3,350
TOTAL:
260.7
3.09 -5.52
6,478- 21,017
PUBLIC /SEMI -
Acres
Floor Area
Square Feet
Square Feet/
Jobs4
PUBLIC /OPEN
Ratio (Gross)
(millions)
Employee
SPACE
Public /Semi - Public
138.2
.50
.83
590
1,407
Facilities J
J
J
J
Semi - Public
0
.50
0
590
0
Facilities
SCHOOLS
Acres
Floor Area
Square Feet
Square Feet/
Jobs
Ratio (Gross)
(millions)
Employee
Elementary Schools
87.8
.50
1.91
590
3,237
Middle Schools
6.0
.50
.13
590
220
High Schools
50.5
.50
1.10
590
1,864
PARKSIPUBLIC "
Acres
Number
RECREATION
Neighborhood Park
19.0
5
Community Parks
49.8
5
Regional Parks
0
0
Open Space
428.5
Stream Corridor
52.9
TOTAL
732.7
3.97
6,728
ACRES
DWELLIN
POPULATION
SQUARE
JOBS
G UNITS
FEET
1. For dwelling units, population and jobs, a decimal fraction
of .5 or less is disregarded;
a decimal fraction greater than
.5 is rounded up to the nearest whole number.
2. Refer to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan.
3. Not included in Grand Total as it is already accounted for under
the Residential classification.
4. The Jobs range has been calculated by dividing the minimum square feet (millions)
with the maximum
square
feet/employee and dividing the maximum square feet/employee. Before dividing, the square feet (millions) must be
multiplied by 1,000,000.
5. Maximum Development Potential in the Retail and Transit - Oriented Districts were modified by the 2014 Downtown
Dublin Specific Plan Amendment (City Council Resolution 49 -14)
Table 2.4 POTENTIAL RESIDENTIAL SITE: PRIMARY PLANNING AREA
\\\IV
Amount of
Amount of
Floor to Area
Donlon Canyon (California
Difference
1
existing
197
246
Medium High Density
1998
Highlands)
Valley Christian Center
acreage in
2
Specific Plan
15 ±..
22
Medium High Density
Specific Plan
dwelling units
Starward
3
24
31
Medium Density
2000
Starward Row
6.61 acres
4
Up to 172,759
077
10
Medium High Density
2007
WicklowSquare
5
0
059
54
High Density
+83
2005
Downtown Dublin Specific
6
294
1,300
Village Parkway District
8.28 acres
14 -25
Plan Area
+31 units
Density
(176) units) on
units /acre
Retail District
8.28 acres
Business
Transit Oriented District
8.95 acres
.30 to .40 FAR
Bancor: Alcosta
+98,148 SF
7
feet on 8.95
462
56
Medium High Density
2008
Dublin Housing Authority
10.07 acres
8
7,144 SF*
23.8
378
Medium Density
2013
Park Sierra Phase 1
9
acres
89
209
Medium High Density
2000
Park Sierra Phase 11
10
5.7
74
Medium Density
2000
Archstone
11
739
177
Medium High Density
2003
Trumark: Scarlett Place
12
4
60
Medium High Density
2003
Bancor: Pak N Save (Tralee)
13
1061
233
Medium High Density
2012
Heritage Park
14
5.94
54
Medium Density
*Site Map Numbers correspond to numbered areas on Figure
2 -1: Sites for
Housing Development
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby finds that the amendments to
the Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan are consistent with the Dublin General Plan as
amended because the amendments conform to the Specific Plan to match the change in the
General Plan land use designations for the Heritage Park Project site and make other
corresponding changes based on that change in land use.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby adopts the following
amendments to the Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan for the Heritage Park Project:
Table 1: Maximum Development Potential in the Specific Plan area
(Existing development acreage and square footage from the Alameda County Assessor's Office —Current as of July 2014)
SP /GP land
Amount of
Amount of
Floor to Area
Development
Difference
use category
existing
proposed
Ratio or
Potential under
development
acreage in
number of
Specific Plan
Specific Plan
dwelling units
area
Retail /Office
217,882 square
6.61 acres
.25 to .60 FAR
Up to 172,759
- 45,123 SF
feet on 20 acres
Medium Density
0
5.94
6.1-14
Up to 83
+83
units /acre
Med /High
150,656 sf
8.28 acres
14 -25
Up to 207 units
+31 units
Density
(176) units) on
units /acre
8.28 acres
Business
56,054 square
8.95 acres
.30 to .40 FAR
Up to 154,202
+98,148 SF
Park /Industrial
feet on 8.95
SF
Parks /Public
6,344 square
10.07 acres
No specific
7,144 SF*
+800 SF
Recreation
feet on 2.52
development
acres
intensity noted
0
TOTAL
279,770 SF and
334,105 SF and
+53,825 SF
176 units on
290 units
and 114 units
approx. 39.75
acres
°urart uumin Mistonc t arK urart master Tian proposes an uuu square root pavmoniaassroom ouuaing.
Exhibit 2: Shall be revised to reflect the current boundaries of the Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan.
Exhibit 4: Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan Existing Land Uses
X.
r0r m a
'h d °
'. I 'I
Section 4.5 add: Medium DC Existing as of July 2014 ion for a 5.94 acre site which
permits resi -14 du /acre, and
Retail /Office designation for a majority of the project area, which allows
shopping centers, retail shops, eating establishments, business and
professional offices, motels, and service stations. There are approximately
14.06 acres that are currently designated Retail /Office, of which 1.65 acres
are vacant parcels.
Section 4.5 add: Page 15: PD: Planned Development,... (in this case, a combination of
commercial office, residential, restaurant and church uses).
Exhibit 5: Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan Existing General Plan Land Use
7
Section 5.3 Land Use Categories to add:
Medium Density Residential designation which permits residential units at a
density of 6.1 -14 du /acre.
Exhibit 6
I WT119TE11l
Dublin Village Historic Area
nmn U,M �'
Specific Plan Zoning
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py iary W""�� R a IV,
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d
Existing as of July 2014
Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan Land Use Plan
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this approval for the Heritage Park Project shall not
take effect until the Ordinance adopting the Development Agreement for the Heritage Park
Project takes effect and is recorded on the Property.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
0
2014 by the following
ABSTAIN:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
G:IPk20131PLPA- 2013 -00002 Heritage Park Office GPAIPC Mtg 6.10.141CC Reso GPA SPA Heritage Park.docx
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19 82
DATE: May 6, 2014
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager f
SUBJECT: Amendments to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDS )
Prepared by Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
CITY CLERK
File #420 -30
The City Council will consider General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments for changes
proposed to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) and an Addendum to the DDSP EIR.
The proposed changes include increasing the number of residential units permitted in the
Downtown by 1,200 units and decreasing the amount of commercial square footage permitted
by 773,000 square feet, creating minimum density thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail
Districts, and restricting residential development on the west side of San Ramon Road in the
Retail District. Other minor amendments are also included. No specific development is
proposed as a part of this project, and Site Development Review approval will be required
before any new construction could commence. An Addendum to the EIR has been prepared
which concludes that all potential environmental effects were adequately addressed in the
original EIR.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
2GTiL
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct the public hearing, deliberate, and take the
following actions:
a) Take a straw vote regarding the proposed General Plan Amendment;
b) Adopt a Resolution adopting an Addendum to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan EIR
related to increasing the number of residential units and decreasing the amount of non-
residential square footage permitted in Downtown Dublin; and
c) Adopt a Resolution amending the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) to allow an
increase in the number of residential units permitted in the DDSP by 1,200 units,
decrease the amount of non - residential square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet,
create minimum density thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts, and
restrict residential development west of San Ramon Road in the Retail District.
Page 1 of 8 ITEM NO. 6.1
Submitted By
Community Development Director
DESCRIPTION:
Background
eviewed By
Assistant City Manager
On February 1, 2011, the City Council adopted the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) (City
Council Resolution 9 -11) and certified the associated Final Environmental Impact Report (City
Council Resolution 8 -11). The Specific Plan was developed with the intent to incentivize
residential and commercial development in Downtown Dublin and represents a vision of the
future development for the Downtown area that provides flexibility to respond to market
conditions.
A map of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Area is shown in Figure 1 below, and in
Attachment 1.
The DDSP established three distinct
districts (shown in Figure 1), each
including its own set of development
standards tailored to the envisioned
uses. The Transit - Oriented District
embraces the recent opening of the
West Dublin BART station and is the
district where a vast majority of the new
residential development in Downtown
Dublin is envisioned to take place. The
Retail District includes much of the
existing retail core and aims to
stimulate infill development and
revitalization of aging buildings and
large parking areas. The Village
Parkway District embraces the
existing successful service and retail
uses along a "Main Street" corridor with
an aim to reutilize and re- tenant existing
buildings with more intense uses such
as restaurants, service retail, and other
local- serving businesses.
Figure 1: DDSP Districts
w '
d
�G
Since the adoption of the DDSP in 2011, Downtown has seen several new development
projects come to fruition and more that have been approved, but not yet built. New businesses
have opened in existing buildings such as Sports Authority, Savers, Sprouts Farmer's Market,
new buildings have been constructed for new commercial tenants such as REI, Freebirds, Habit
Burger, new residential projects have opened (Connolly Station), and other residential projects
have been approved, although construction has not yet started (former Crown Chevy site,
Veteran's Housing project). Capital improvements have also been made (Golden Gate
Page 2 of 8
Streetscape Enhancement Project) and Downtown Dublin continues to enjoy a successful
resurgence.
When the DDSP was written, the development potential envisioned was a maximum of 1,300
residential units in the three districts (in addition to the 53 units already existing at Wicklow
Square at the Dublin Senior Center) and over 3 million square feet of potential commercial
development that could include retail, office, and other non - residential uses. The development
potential currently allowed in the DDSP is as follows:
Table 1: Development Potential in the DDSP
737,100
,I$
2,202,710 1,100
(plus 150 hotel rooms)
20,730
m
3,035,540 1,300
(includes hotel room square footage)
Since the adoption of the DDSP, there has been continued interest in the development of
additional residential units in Downtown — particularly in the Transit - Oriented District, where
1,003 of the available 1,100 residential units are already entitled. These units are accounted for
in the completed Connolly Station apartment project (309 units), the AMB /Prologis /Corovan
warehouse site (308 units), the former Crown Chevrolet site (314 units), and the Veteran's
Housing site (72 units).
In 2011, the City engaged the Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to review
the DDSP and provide an assessment on priorities for implementation, which were contained in
a final report (Attachment 2). The report contained several suggestions on incentivizing
development in Downtown, one of which was to remove the residential unit cap to let the market
dictate how much housing in Downtown Dublin could be accommodated. Although City Staff is
not recommending to remove the cap altogether, given the high demand for residential units in
Downtown and, in particular, near the West Dublin BART station, the City is proposing to raise
the limit for residential development from the current 1,300 units to 2,500 units throughout the
three districts. To offset potential impacts resulting from an increase in residential development
Downtown, the proposal also includes reducing the non - residential (commercial) development
potential from 3,035,540 SF to 2,262,540 SF, also throughout the three districts.
The proposed amendment will allow the area to capture market demand for housing Downtown
(which is one of the guiding principles of the DDSP to create a vibrant downtown) and it will also
provide opportunities for the City to meet the obligations of the Housing Element and the
Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers that have been assigned to Dublin by the
State of California.
Page 3 of 8
There are two RHNA - related challenges that the City is facing: 1) Meeting the current Housing
Element RHNA obligation; and 2) Meeting the future Housing Element RHNA obligation for
2014 -2022. Recently- initiated General Plan Amendment studies for the East Dublin Transit
Center Site A -1, SummerHill /DiManto Parcels 3 and 4, and the Frederich /Vargas properties
have the potential to impact the Housing Element and the City's ability to meet its current RHNA
obligation. All of these projects, in addition to other projects that are moving forward but do not
require General Plan Amendments, such as Wallis Ranch, are proposing to decrease the
development densities on each site. If these projects to reduce densities are to be considered,
the units that are being "lost" need to be accounted for elsewhere in the City to satisfy the
current Housing Element cycle.
After taking all of the City's potential development sites into account, the City is expecting to still
have a deficit of 1,075 below market rate housing units to meet the future Housing Element
RHNA obligation for 2014 -2022. This issue was discussed by the City Council at the meeting
on July 16, 2013 and, by consensus, the City Council directed Staff to study an increase in the
residential development capacity in the DDSP, which City Staff has identified as an area that
could accommodate residential development. The Planning Commission also discussed the
Housing Element and RHNA obligations at the meeting on February 25, 2014 where the
concept of increasing the development potential in the DDSP was considered.
ANALYSIS:
It is important to maintain a proper balance of land -uses in Dublin to provide for economic
growth, quality jobs, and a balance of residential choices to support the long -term interests of
the City to have a diverse, robust and high - quality community. Identifying viable sites for
residential growth, while maintaining a sufficient reserve of land for future commercial -
development, is always a challenge in any growing community. However, increasing the
residential development capacity within the DDSP area is considered a viable option. Interest in
residential development opportunities in Downtown has proven to be strong, and it is recognized
that having more residents in Downtown will create additional opportunities for restaurant,
entertainment, and other commercial uses. Even with the potential increase in residential units
in the DDSP and the corresponding decrease in commercial square footage, there remains over
two - million square feet of commercial development potential available for future non - residential
projects.
Allowing additional residential development in Downtown could compensate for reducing the
development potential and density on several residential sites in Eastern Dublin for the current
Housing Element cycle and could accommodate future requests to reduce project densities on
other project sites for the next Housing Element cycle. Furthermore, a strong, vibrant residential
base in the Downtown could provide opportunities for additional economic development and
attract entertainment, retail, and restaurant activities long sought by the community.
In addition to increasing the overall number of units permitted in the DDSP, two other proposed
amendments focus on ensuring that future residential development is focused in the key areas
of Downtown and that future residential development enables the number of units hoped for to
the Downtown. These proposed changes are described in more detail in the following sections.
1. Increase residential development potential in the DDSP
In order to accommodate the additional residential growth without creating new impacts, the
proposal is to increase the residential development potential of the area while reducing the
Page 4 of 8
commercial development potential. All other development standards and design guidelines
currently in the DDSP that affect development (such as maximum FAR, building height,
setbacks, etc.) are proposed to remain unchanged unless specifically noted.
The main impact of adding residential units to Downtown would be to the transportation and
circulation system. An analysis completed by RBF Consulting (the group that prepared the
original DDSP Environmental Impact Report) assessed how much commercial development
potential would need to be removed from the DDSP to ensure that the impacts of adding 1,200
residential units could be negated. The results of the analysis indicated that the equivalent
commercial reduction should be 773,000 square feet to ensure that the impacts to the
circulation system and traffic flow in Downtown (and throughout the City) would be no greater
than what was already anticipated in the DDSP EIR.
The proposed changes to the development potential in the DDSP are as follows:
Table 2: Net New Development Potential in the DDSP
737,100 100 543,850 400 (193,250) +300
2,202,710 1,622,960
( +150 hotel 1,100 ( +150 hotel 1,900 (579,750) +800
rooms) rooms)
20,730 100 20,730 200 -- +100
3,035,540 2,262,540
(includes150 1,300 (includes150 2,500 (773,000) +1,200
hotel rooms) hotel rooms)
Table 3 -4 (Net New Development) of the DDSP is proposed to be amended to increase the total
residential units to 2,500 and decrease the Non - Residential square footage by 773,000 square
feet and Table 6 -1 (Development Pool) is proposed to be amended to make the same changes
as noted above.
2. Establish minimum residential densities in the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts
Currently, the DDSP does not specifically identify a minimum density for any of the districts,
although the DDSP notes that Medium to High Density development is appropriate. The
proposed amendment provides more specificity and certainty for future developers and will allow
the City to comply with our RHNA obligations by establishing a minimum density for residential
development in the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts. Due to the urban nature of these two
districts and their close proximity to the West Dublin /Pleasanton BART station, the ULI panel
recommended, and Staff concurs with, ensuring that development of a certain minimum
residential density occurs. The proposed minimum density in the Retail District is 22 units per
net acre and the proposed minimum density in the Transit - Oriented District is 30 units per net
acre.
Page 5 of 8
Table 3 -4 (Net New Development) of the DDSP is proposed to be amended to identify minimum
residential densities in both districts.
3. Allow residential development in the Retail District core area only
Residential development is currently allowed throughout the Retail District. Staff is
recommending focusing future residential development and mixed use projects in those areas
that are closest to the BART station. The proposed amendment would allow residential
development in the Retail District only in the core area east of San Ramon Road. There are a
finite number of units allocated to the Retail District. The intent of this amendment is to focus
the limited residential development in the optimal location to achieve the goals of creating a
vibrant, walkable downtown that is accessible to the BART station and that preserves the
viability of existing commercial uses on the perimeter of the Retail District. Those properties in
the Retail District west of San Ramon Road would remain available for all types of non-
residential uses currently permitted in the DDSP, but new residential development would be
prohibited. Similarly, residential development was not permitted in this area prior to adoption of
the DDSP. Figure 2 illustrates those properties in the Retail District that will be affected by this
change.
Table 3 -1 (Land Uses) of the DDSP is
proposed to be amended to allow residential
units in the core of the Retail District only.
Additionally, Table 3 -1 will be modified to
allow Live=ork units in the Retail District of
the DDSP. Currently, the DDSP allows
Live=ork in the Transit - Oriented District, but
not the Retail District. This modification
would allow them in both districts.
The exact amendments to Table 3 -1, Table
3 -4, Table 6 -1, and the text sections of the
DDSP are detailed in the Resolution adopting
the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
Amendment, which is included as
Attachment 3 to this Staff Report.
GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT:
Figure 2: Affected Retail District Properties
The amendment to the General Plan is fairly limited in scope. General Plan Table 2.1 (Land
Use Development Potential: Primary Planning Area) will need to be updated to reflect the
increase in allowable residential units and also the decrease in maximum non - residential
development potential.
State law limits General Plan amendments to four per General Plan Element per calendar year.
This approval would be the second amendment to the Land Use Element for Calendar Year
2014. In order to avoid amendments in excess of the number permitted by State Law, General
Plan amendments for specific projects can be grouped together and adopted by one resolution.
Therefore, this proposed General Plan Amendment will be grouped together with several other
proposed General Plan Amendments for other projects. These General Plan Amendments will
Page 6 of 8
be considered by the City Council as a separate item on a future agenda and approved under
one resolution. All approvals related to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Amendment will not
become effective until the General Plan Amendment item is approved and effective later this
year.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was prepared to address potential environmental
impacts of the DDSP. The DDSP EIR (SCH# 2010022005) was prepared in accordance with
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and was certified by the City Council on
February 1, 2011.
An Initial Study was prepared to analyze the potential environmental impacts of allowing an
increase of 1,200 residential units in Downtown while decreasing the amount of commercial
square footage by 773,000 square feet. All of the environmental impact sections were
examined, no new significant environmental impacts were identified, and no substantial
increases in the severity of previously- identified impacts were discovered. The Initial Study
included a detailed analysis of the traffic impacts of additional residential units and determined
that there would be no net impact if the amount of commercial development in the DDSP were
reduced by enough to offset the increase of residential units. The analysis determined that the
equivalent to 1,200 residential units is 773,000 square feet of non - residential (commercial)
development potential, and therefore the Initial Study concluded that there were no new impacts
to transportation and circulation in the DDSP area beyond those identified in the 2011 EIR.
To document the findings of the Initial Study, an Addendum was prepared, which concludes that
the potentially significant effects of the project were adequately addressed in the prior EIR,
notes the project changes, and notes their relation to the analysis in the prior EIR.
The Resolution adopting the Addendum is included as Attachment 4 to this Staff Report.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
At a meeting on March 11, 2014, the Planning Commission reviewed and considered the
proposed amendments. After considerable discussion and deliberation, on a vote of 4 -1, the
Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -12, recommending that the City Council approve
the General Plan and Downtown Dublin Specific Plan amendments with the following
modifications:
1) Recommend that the City Council consider a meeting with the DUSD regarding potential
school district impacts, prior to adopting the Amendments.
2) Recommend striking Footnote #6 of Table 3 -1 regarding the properties west of San
Ramon Road.
The March 11, 2014 meeting minutes are included as Attachment 5 to this Staff Report,
Resolution 14 -11 (recommending adoption of the CEQA Addendum) is included as Attachment
6, and Resolution 14 -12 (recommending approval of the General Plan and Specific Plan
amendments with the modification noted above) is included as Attachment 7.
Page 7 of 8
Staff's recommendation to restrict residential development west of San Ramon Road remains
and the Draft Resolution for City Council consideration (Attachment 3) includes Footnote #6 of
Table 3 -1.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS /PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Staff met with representatives from the Dublin Unified School District in September and
December 2013 to review the proposed increase in residential units in the Downtown. Although
the District initially expressed concerns about the potential impacts resulting from an increase in
students generated by the additional units, the District did not provide any formal comments on
the proposed DDSP amendments.
A notice of this public hearing was published in the Tri- Valley Times and mailed to all property
owners and tenants in the Specific Plan area, those within 300 feet of the existing Specific Plan
boundaries, and all persons who have expressed an interest in being notified of meetings
related to this project.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. DDSP Boundary Map
2. ULI Technical Advisory Panel report dated July 2011
3. Resolution amending the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) to
allow an increase in the number of residential units permitted in the
DDSP by 1,200 units, decrease the amount of non - residential square
footage permitted by 773,000 square feet, create minimum density
thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts, and restrict
residential development west of San Ramon Road in the Retail
District
4. Resolution adopting an Addendum to the Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan EIR related to increasing the number of residential units and
decreasing the amount of non - residential square footage permitted in
Downtown Dublin, with the Initial Study /Addendum included as
Exhibit A and the Statement of Overriding Considerations included
as Exhibit B
5. March 11, 2014 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
6. Planning Commission Resolution 14 -11
7. Planning Commission Resolution 14 -12
Page 8 of 8
RESOLUTION NO. 49 - 14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AMENDING THE DOWNTOWN DUBLIN SPECIFIC PLAN (DDSP) TO ALLOW AN
INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS PERMITTED IN THE DDSP BY 1,200
UNITS AND TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF NON - RESIDENTIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE
PERMITTED BY 773,000 SQUARE FEET, CREATE MINIMUM DENSITY THRESHOLDS FOR
THE TRANSIT- ORIENTED AND RETAIL DISTRICTS, AND RESTRICT RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT WEST OF SAN RAMON ROAD IN THE RETAIL DISTRICT
PLPA- 2013 -00073
WHEREAS, the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) project area is located in the
southwestern portion of the City and is approximately 284 acres in size. The project area is
generally bound by Village Parkway to the east, Interstate 580 to the south, San Ramon Road to
the west, and Amador Valley Boulevard to the north; and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2011, the Dublin City Council adopted Resolution 09 -11
approving the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) and associated implementation actions.
At the same time, the City Council adopted Resolution 08 -11 certifying the Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2010022005, incorporated herein by
reference). The DDSP Environmental Impact Report evaluated the potential impacts associated
with intensifying development in the 284 acre Downtown Dublin area to accommodate additional
residential and non - residential uses; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, the City initiated an amendment to the DDSP to increase the
number of residential units permitted in Downtown by 1,200 and decrease the amount of
commercial square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet, to create minimum density
thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts, to restrict residential development west
of San Ramon Road in the Retail District, and including other minor amendments, hereafter
referred to as the "2014 DDSP Amendment" or "the Project "; and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State
guidelines and City environmental regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for
environmental impacts and that environmental documents be prepared; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an Addendum, dated February
24, 2014, incorporated herein by reference, was prepared, which describes the 2014 DDSP
Amendment and its relation to the analysis in the DDSP EIR; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on the
Project, including the proposed Specific Plan Amendment, on March 11, 2014, at which time all
interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
Page 1 of 4
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2014, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -11
recommending that the City Council adopt an Addendum to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan
EIR related to increasing the number of residential units and decreasing the amount of non-
residential square footage permitted in Downtown Dublin, which Resolution is incorporated
herein by reference and available for review at City Hall during normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2014, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -12
recommending that the City Council amend the General Plan and Downtown Dublin Specific
Plan to allow an increase in the number of residential units permitted in Downtown by 1,200 and
decrease the amount of commercial square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet, to create
minimum density thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts, and including other
minor amendments, which Resolution is incorporated herein by reference and available for
review at City Hall during normal business hours; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated May 6, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed the 2014 DDSP Amendment, including the associated General Plan
Amendment and CEQA Addendum, for the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council held a properly noticed public hearing on the 2014 DDSP
Amendment on May 6, 2014, at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be
heard; and
WHEREAS, the City Council considered the DDSP EIR and CEQA Addendum, all above -
referenced reports, recommendations, and testimony to evaluate the Project; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 DDSP Amendment shall not take effect until the corresponding
General Plan Amendment, to be considered by the City Council at a later date, is effective.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct
and made a part of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby approves the following
amendments to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan:
Table 3 -1 shall be revised as follows:
Table 3 -1: Land Uses
Allowed
Allowed
Prohibited
Allowed 6
Page 2 of 4
Prohibited 2
Allowed
Aflowed 3
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Allowed
Prohibited
Allowed
Allowed 3
Allowed
Allowed
Prohibited
CUP /PC °
CUP — Conditional Use Permit PC — Planning Commission
TUP — Temporary Use Permit ZA — Zoning Administrator
ZC — Zoning Clearance MUP — Minor Use Permit
Table 3-4 shall be revised as follows:
Table 3-4: Net New Development
543,850
1,622,960
( +150 hotel rooms)
20,730
22 units/net acre
1,900 30 units/net acres
200
2,262,540 2,500
(Includes 150 hotel rooms)
Notes Includes projects that have been approved, but not yet
constructed
Table 6 -1 shall be revised as follows:
Table 6 -1: Development Pool
No minimum
1,145,050 1,900
( +150 hotel rooms)
0 200
Allowed 6 Allowed
Allowed
_ Allowed Allowed
Allowed
Allowed a Allowed
Allowed
- ZC or MUP /ZA ZC or MUP/ZA
ZC or MUP/ZA
,■ CUP /ZA CUP /PC
CUP /ZA
CUP /PC CUP /PC
CUP/PC
CUP /PC CUP /PC
CUP /PC
TUP TUP
TUP
Notes 1
Additional and similar uses may be permitted by the Community Development Director.
2
Prohibited unless adjacent to Dublin Boulevard.
3
Assuming accessibility (ADA) standards can be met.
4
May be permitted with a CUP /PC in a mixed -use development.
5
Subject to additional development standards if located within 1,000 feet of 1 -580 or 1-680.
6
Allowed throughout the Retail District except on those properties west of San Ramon
Road.
CUP — Conditional Use Permit PC — Planning Commission
TUP — Temporary Use Permit ZA — Zoning Administrator
ZC — Zoning Clearance MUP — Minor Use Permit
Table 3-4 shall be revised as follows:
Table 3-4: Net New Development
543,850
1,622,960
( +150 hotel rooms)
20,730
22 units/net acre
1,900 30 units/net acres
200
2,262,540 2,500
(Includes 150 hotel rooms)
Notes Includes projects that have been approved, but not yet
constructed
Table 6 -1 shall be revised as follows:
Table 6 -1: Development Pool
No minimum
1,145,050 1,900
( +150 hotel rooms)
0 200
Page 44, Section 3.4.8 Multi - Family Residential, shall be amended to read as follows:
3.4.8 Multi - Family Residential
Multi - Family Residential development is generally in the form of stacked flats (apartments
or condominiums) and attached townhouses. Minimum residential density is 22 units per
net acre in the Retail District and 30 units per net acre in the Transit - Oriented District.
The Village Parkway District has no minimum density requirement. Higher density
residential uses are appropriate and strongly encouraged, especially in the Transit -
Oriented District near the BART station.
Page 47, second and third paragraphs after Table 3 -3: Base and Maximum FAR Per
District shall be amended to read as follows:
This Specific Plan allows for a future construction of approximately 2.2 million square feet
of non - residential development and 2,500 residential dwelling units.
Assuming an average of 1,200 square feet per residential unit (and an average of 500
square feet per hotel room), this represents 5.26 million square feet under this Specific
Plan.
Page 57, Building Design Table (Retail District) Section 2, "Residential Uses" shall be
amended to include the following (all other portions of Section 2 shall remain the same):
Not permitted west of Sao Ramon Road.
Allowed at a minimum density of 22 units per net acre
■ Permitted within a residential development or mixed -use development if
designed teased on the following standards:
Page 66, Building Design Table (Transit- Oriented District) Section 2, "Residential Uses"
shall be amended to include the following (all other portions of Section 2 shall remain the same):
Permitted within a residential development or a mixed -use development if
designed based on the foll6wing standards:
The residential density shall be a minimum of 30 units per net acre
and shall not exceed 85 units per acre.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 6th day of May, 2014, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Biddle, Gupta, Haubert, and Mayor Sbranti
NOES: Councilmember Hart
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
k . 141?
City Clerk
Reso No. 49 -14, Adopted 5 -6 -14, Item 6.1 Page 4 of 4
� C ,
• o —
Mayor
or
19 82
/ii � 111
DATE:
TO:
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
June 17, 2014
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager "
SUBJECT: Update to the Housing Element of the General Plan
Prepared by Mamie R. Delgado, Senior Planner
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
CITY CLERK
File #420 -30
The State of California requires that the City Council adopt a comprehensive, long -term General
Plan for the physical development of the City. The Housing Element is one of seven mandated
elements of the General Plan and must address the existing and projected housing needs for all
economic segments of the community. State law requires that Housing Elements be updated
and certified no later than January 31, 2015. The City of Dublin has contracted with Veronica
Tam & Associates to assist Staff with the update to the City's Housing Element. The purpose of
the meeting is to review the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element and solicit feedback from the City
Council and interested parties. The City Council is requested to direct Staff to submit the draft
Housing Element to the State of California Department of Housing and Community
Development for review.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution directing Staff to submit the draft
2015 -2023 Housing Element to the State of California Department of Housing and Community
Development for review.
Submitted By
Community Development Director
DESCRIPTION:
'Reviewed By
Assistant City Manager
The State of California requires that the City Council adopt a comprehensive, long -term General
Plan for the physical development of the City. The Housing Element is one of seven mandated
elements of the General Plan and must address the existing and projected housing needs for all
economic segments of the community. State law requires that Housing Elements be updated
and certified by January 31, 2015.
Page 1 of 5 ITEM NO. 8.4
Having a certified Housing Element is not only required by State law but also enables the City to
be more competitive for grant funding. Several housing, community development and
infrastructure funding programs include housing element compliance as a rating and ranking
requirement.
BACKGROUND:
The City's current Housing Element was adopted by the City Council on March 2, 2010 and was
subsequently certified by the State of California Department of Housing and Community
development on May 12, 2010. The current Housing Element covers the planning period of
2009 -2014.
The City of Dublin has contracted with Veronica Tam & Associates to assist Staff in updating the
City's Housing Element for the 2015 -2023 planning period. Staff and the consultant team have
reviewed existing programs; evaluated the amount of land remaining for residential
development; and collected data on housing needs, housing constraints and housing resources.
On February 25, 2014, a public meeting was held with the Planning Commission to provide an
overview of the Housing Element including the review process with the State Department of
Housing and Community Development. On May 13, 2014, a second public meeting was held
with the Planning Commission to present the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element and solicit input
from the Planning Commission and the public. The Planning Commission adopted Resolution
14 -24 recommending that the City Council direct Staff to submit the draft 2015 -2023 Housing
Element to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development for
review (Attachment 1). A public meeting notice for both meetings was posted in the Tri- Valley
Times and was sent to developers, service providers, housing advocates, human services task
force members, current Human Services Commission members and interested parties who
requested notification of public meetings related to the Housing Element update. There were no
members of the public in attendance at these public meetings.
This is the third public meeting on the update to the General Plan Housing Element. The City
Council and interested parties are being asked to review the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element
(Attachment 2) and provide feedback. The City Council is also being asked to adopt a
Resolution directing Staff to submit the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element to the State of
California Department of Housing and Community Development for review (Attachment 3).
ANALYSIS:
Goals and Policies
The draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element is substantially the same as the 2009 -2014 Housing
Element. The goals and policies (Attachment 1, page 5) remain the same and address the
following:
• Ensure that a broad range of housing types are provided to meet the needs of existing
and future residents;
• Encourage and facilitate the development of low -and moderate - income housing;
Page 2 of 5
• Maintain and enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods in Dublin;
• Promote equal opportunity for all residents to reside in housing of their choice; and
• Increase energy efficiency and conservation in residential developments.
One minor addition to the goals and policies is including persons with developmental disabilities
as a special housing needs population within the larger category of persons with disabilities.
One minor deletion to the goals and policies is removing Policy B.6 related to the redevelopment
of the Arroyo Vista site (now Emerald Vista). This policy is no longer relevant as the project has
been completed. All other goals and policies remain substantially the same as the current 2009-
2014 Housing Element.
Housing Programs
The Housing Programs (Attachment 1, page 8) implement the goals and policies of the Housing
Element and are grouped into the following six categories:
• Housing Conservation
• Production of Housing
• Provision of Adequate Housing Sites
• Removal of Governmental Constraints
• Promotion of Equal Housing Opportunity
• Green Building Programs
Changes to the Housing Programs include establishing new objectives for the 2015 -2023
planning period and removing existing programs which have been completed. Completed
programs include redevelopment of the Arroyo Vista site (now Emerald Vista); implementation
of the Dublin Transit Center master plan; adoption of a reasonable accommodation procedure;
adoption of amendments to the emergency shelter and transitional housing regulations; and
adoption of regulations for supportive housing and single room occupancy units.
Appendices
The draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element also includes a number of appendices. Appendix A
includes a summary of public participation in the update process. Appendix B includes a review
of accomplishments for the previous 2009 -2014 planning period. Appendix C is the technical
background report and includes a housing needs assessment; analysis of housing constraints;
and analysis of housing resources. Appendix D is an inventory of vacant and underutilized
properties that could contribute to meeting the City's regional housing needs obligation.
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Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
The State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is required
by law to determine the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), by income category, for
each Council of Governments (COGs) including the Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG). The RHNA is based on Department of Finance population projections and regional
population forecasts used in preparing regional transportation plans. ABAG is required to
allocate to each locality within its region a share of housing need totaling the RHNA for each
income category. Localities are required to update their housing element to plan to
accommodate its entire RHNA share by income category during the specified planning period.
Under the current Housing Element, which covers the 2007 -2014 planning period, Dublin's
share of the RHNA is 3,330 units. Dublin's share of the RHNA for the 2015 -2023 planning
period has been reduced by 1,045 units as compared with 2007 -2014, and is as follows:
Table 1. Dublin's Regional Housing Need Allocation (RHNA)
Income Category
Number of Units
Assumed Densities
Moderate
2007 -2014
2015 -2023
RHNA
Very Low
1,092
796
Min. 22 du /acre
Low
661
446
Moderate
653
425
10 -21 du /acre
Above Moderate/
Market Rate
924
618
Less than 10 du /acre
Total
3,330
2,285
TOD
In order to meet Dublin's share of housing need, the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element must
show that there is an adequate amount of land, at appropriate densities, to achieve 2,285
housing units by income category (see Table 1 above). State law has established that lower
income units are achievable on land designated for 30 dwelling units per acre or more.
However, the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element demonstrates that lower income units can also
be achieved at 22 dwelling units per acre; moderate income units are considered achievable at
10 -21 dwelling units per acre and densities less than 10 dwelling units per acre are considered
above moderate /market rate.
Based on the number of residential projects approved but not under construction as of January
1, 2014, the remaining vacant land available for residential development, and with the approval
of the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan Amendments to increase the residential development
capacity downtown, all income requirements have been met (see Table 2 below).
Table 2. Dublin's RHNA Sites Inventory
Page 4 of 5
Very
Low
Low
Moderate
Above
Moderate
Total
RHNA
796
446
425
618
2,285
Approved Projects
0
76
0
1,139
1,215
Vacant Sites
0
0
448
517
965
DDSP
TOD
891
0
0
891
Retail
400
0
0
400
Village Parkway
0
0
200
200
Surplus /Shortfall
+125
+23
+1,238
+1,386
Page 4 of 5
Streamlined Review
In December 2012, the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD) published their Housing Element Update Guidance to assist local governments with a
streamlined update and HCD review. The Update Guidance is designed to create efficiencies
and clarity in the housing element update process; reduce the number and scope of housing
element submittals per jurisdiction; and provide for a 60 -day HCD review, with priority given to
jurisdictions utilizing the streamlined review process.
The streamlined review process is designed for jurisdictions that have an existing certified
housing element, and much of the information from the previous planning period is still current
and /or particular conditions and circumstances have not significantly changed since the last
update. While the entire Housing Element must still be updated, HCD review will be limited to
changes that have occurred since the prior planning period. HCD will not review areas that have
not changed since their content continues to be sufficient to meet statutory requirements. Staff
will be submitting the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element for the streamlined review process.
Next Steps
The City Council is being asked to adopt a Resolution directing Staff to submit the draft 2015-
2023 Housing Element to the State Department of Housing and Community Development for
review. The State would review the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element and provide comments to
Staff within 60 days of receiving the draft document. While the State is reviewing the draft 2015-
2023 Housing Element, Staff will begin the environmental review process. Once the State
determines that the City's Housing Element is certifiable, Staff will return to the Planning
Commission and City Council for formal adoption of the 2015 -2023 Housing Element.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS /PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A public notice was mailed to developers, stakeholders, service providers and interested
persons who have expressed an interest in receiving notices regarding the Housing Element
update. The public notice was also published in the Tri- Valley Times and posted at several
locations throughout the City. A copy of this Staff Report has been posted to the City's website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State guidelines and City
environmental regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for environmental impacts
and when applicable, environmental documents prepared. Staff is recommending that the
review of the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element be found Categorically Exempt from the CEQA
pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, Class 6 (Information Collection).
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Planning Commission Resolution 14 -24 recommending that the City
Council direct Staff to submit the draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element
to the State of California Department of Housing and Community
Development for review
2. Draft 2015 -2023 Housing Element
3. Resolution directing Staff to submit the Draft 2015 -2023 Housing
Element to the State of California Department of Housing and
Community Development for review
Page 5 of 5
RESOLUTION NO. 14 -29
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING
GENERAL PLAN AND DUBLIN VILLAGE HISTORIC AREA SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENTS
FOR THE HERITAGE PARK PROJECT
PLPA- 2013 -00002
WHEREAS, the Applicant, Bates Stringer Ventures, proposes to demolish an existing
110,000 square foot office complex and develop 54 small -lot single - family homes and a two -
story 14,000 square foot office building on approximately 6.6 acres in the Dublin Village Historic
Area Specific Plan ( "Specific Plan ") area. The project proposes a General Plan and Specific
Plan Amendment to change the land use designations on a 5.85 acre portion of the site from
Retail /Office (RO) to Medium Density Residential (MDR), and proposes a PD- Planned
Development rezoning with related Stage 1 and Stage 2 Development Plan, Site Development
Review, Vesting Tentative Map and Development Agreement for the entire 6.6 acre site. The
proposed development and applications are collectively known as the "Project "; and
WHEREAS, the Project site is located at 11875 Dublin Boulevard, west of San Ramon
Road; south of Dublin Boulevard; east of Donlon Way; and north of Interstate 580; and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State
guidelines and City environmental regulations, require that certain projects be reviewed for
environmental impacts and that environmental documents be prepared. To comply with CEQA,
the City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on the
Project, including the proposed General Plan and Specific Plan amendments, on June 10, 2014,
at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated June 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed the Project, including the General Plan and Specific Plan amendments,
for the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed and considered the Final EIR and all
reports, recommendations and testimony prior to making its recommendation on the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct
and made a part of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission hereby recommends that
the City Council adopt a Resolution approving General Plan and Specific Plan amendments for
the Heritage Park project, which resolution is attached as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by
reference.
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 10th day of June 2014 by the following vote:
AYES: Bhuthimethee, Do, O'Keefe
NOES: Kohli, Goel
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Planning Commission Chair
ATTEST:
Assistant Community Development Director
2276790.1
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RESOLUTION NO. 14 -12
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AMEND THE GENERAL PLAN AND
DOWNTOWN DUBLIN SPECIFIC PLAN (DDSP) TO ALLOW AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS PERMITTED IN THE DDSP BY 1,200 UNITS AND TO
DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF NON - RESIDENTIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE PERMITTED BY
773,000 SQUARE FEET AND CREATE MINIMUM DENSITY THRESHOLDS FOR THE
TRANSIT- ORIENTED AND RETAIL DISTRICTS
PLPA- 2013 -00073
WHEREAS, the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) project area is located in the
southwestern portion of the City and is approximately 284 acres in size. The project area is
generally bound by Village Parkway to the east, Interstate 580 to the south, San Ramon Road to
the west, and Amador Valley Boulevard to the north; and
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2011, the Dublin City Council adopted Resolution 09 -11
approving the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) and associated implementation actions.
At the same time, the City Council adopted Resolution 08 -11 certifying the Downtown Dublin
Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2010022005, incorporated herein by
reference). The DDSP Environmental Impact Report evaluated the potential impacts associated
with intensifying development in the 284 acre Downtown Dublin area to accommodate additional
residential and non - residential uses; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, the City initiated an amendment to the DDSP to increase the
number of residential units permitted in Downtown by 1,200 and decrease the amount of
commercial square footage permitted by 773,000 square feet and to create minimum density
thresholds for the Transit - Oriented and Retail Districts, hereafter referred to as the "2014 DDSP
Amendment" or "the Project "; and
WHEREAS, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State
guidelines and City environmental regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for
environmental impacts and that environmental documents be prepared; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an Addendum, dated February
24, 2014, incorporated herein by reference, was prepared, which describes the 2014 DDSP
Amendment and its relation to the analysis in the DDSP EIR; and
WHEREAS, a Staff Report, dated March 11, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference,
described and analyzed the 2014 DDSP Amendment, including the associated General Plan
Amendment and CEQA Addendum, for the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a properly noticed public hearing on the
Project, including the proposed General Plan Amendment, on March 11, 2014, at which time all
interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution 14 -11, dated March 11, 2014,
recommending City Council adoption of the CEQA Addendum; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission considered the DDSP EIR and CEQA Addendum,
all above - referenced reports, recommendations, and testimony to evaluate the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct
and made a part of this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City
Council approve the Resolution attached as Exhibit A (removing the amendment related to
prohibiting residential uses west of San Ramon Road), approving amendments to the General
Plan based on findings that the amendments are in the public interest and that the General Plan
as so amended will remain internally consistent.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City
Council approve amendments to the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan based on findings that the
amended Specific Plan will continue to be consistent with the Dublin General Plan, as amended.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of March 2014 by the following
vote:
AYES: Bhuthimethee, O'Keefe, Do, Goel
NOES: Kohli
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APAAN 4061—
Planning Commission h a i r p e r s o n
ATTEST:
Assistant Co unity Development Director
GAPAM20131PLPA- 2013 -00073 DDSP Amendment Residential lncreaselPC Mg 01.14.20141Att 3 - Reso SPA and GPA.DOC
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