HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.3 Let Dublin Decide Initiativeor
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DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
June 3, 2014
Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
CITY CLERK
File #630 -30
Christopher L. Foss, City Manager "
Presentation of Certificate of Sufficiency of Petition for the 'Let Dublin Decide
Initiative of 2014" and Consideration of Potential Actions on Initiative
Prepared by Caroline P. Soto, City Clerk/Records Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City Clerk will present the City Council with Certificate of Sufficiency of Petition for the "Let
Dublin Decide Initiative of 2014." The City Council will then be asked to exercise its ministerial
duty relating to the initiative and to take one of three actions: 1) Adopt the proposed initiative
ordinance without alteration, or 2) Place the proposed initiative ordinance on the November 4,
2014 ballot, or 3) Order a staff report before making a decision as to whether to place the
initiative on the ballot or adopt the ordinance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Potential impacts on the City due to this initiative include the costs associated with the election.
The potential future impacts of the actual initiative are unknown.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consistent with its ministerial duty under the Elections Code, Staff recommends that the City
Council take one of three actions: 1) Adopt the proposed initiative ordinance without alteration;
OR, 2) Adopt a Resolution Ordering the Submission to the Qualified Electors of the City of
Dublin an Ordinance titled the, "Let Dublin Decide Initiative," at the General Municipal Election to
be Held on Tuesday November 4, 2014 and Providing for Submission of Ballot Arguments and
Rebuttals; OR, 3) Order a report concerning potential fiscal, general plan and zoning, land use,
infrastructure, and other impacts of the initiative before taking any other action.
F 7
Submitted By
City Clerk /Records Manager
e''
Reviewed By
Assistant City Manager
Page 1 of 4 ITEM NO. 8.3
DESCRIPTION:
On March 14, 2014, a proposed ballot initiative was submitted to the City which its proponents
titled the Let Dublin Decide Initiative 2014. In accordance with applicable law, the City Attorney
provided a ballot title and summary on March 28, 2014, and a notice of intent to circulate voter
petitions on the measure for signature was published in the Tri- Valley Herald on April 4, 2014.
A copy of the notice of intent is attached hereto as Attachment 1, the text of the initiative is
attached hereto as Attachment 2, and the ballot title and summary is attached hereto as
Attachment 3. The proponents gathered signatures intending to submit sufficient signatures in
time to qualify the measure for the November 4, 2014 general election.
Signed petitions supporting the measure were submitted to the City Clerk on May 16, 2014 and
forwarded to the County Registrar for inspection and verification. On May 29, 2014, the County
Registrar provided a certificate (dated May 28, 2014), stating that based on the number of
registered voters in the City, the petition qualified for the ballot. A copy of the Registrar's
Certificate to Initiative Petition is attached hereto as Attachment 4.
Elections Code section 9114 provides that if it is determined that a petition is sufficient; the Clerk
shall certify the results of his examination to the City Council at its next regular meeting.
Let Dublin Decide Initiative
If approved, the initiative would amend the City of Dublin General Plan as follows:
• Create a new Eastern Study Area (as depicted in the initiative), consisting of
approximately 1,650 acres located immediately east of the City's current boundaries.
• Establish a guiding policy that Dublin decide what, if anything, should happen in the
Eastern Study Area. In furtherance, City policy would be that the City Council, as soon as
practicable, should apply to the Local Agency Formation Commission to obtain an
amendment to the City's Sphere of Influence in order to bring the Eastern Study Area
within the City boundaries and pursue annexation.
Establish an "Eastern Urban Limit Line" along the northern, eastern, and southern
boundaries of the Eastern Study Area. The City would be prohibited from approving the
permanent use or extension of City services, such as roads and utilities, beyond the line.
Its location could only be changed by the voters.
Create and apply Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use
designations within the Eastern Study Area. The initiative indicates that these
designations mimic the current designations under the Alameda County General Plan
and are intended to maintain existing land use restrictions. The designations would
remain in place unless and until the City Council adopts an Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan consistent with the requirements of the initiative.
• Following receipt of any application to change a land use designation within the Eastern
Study Area, the City Council would be required to appoint a 15- member Citizen Oversight
Committee to participate in the creation of the Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan,
which would serve, if adopted by the City Council, as the framework for future
development in the Eastern Study Area.
Page 2 of 4
The Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan would be subject to the following
restrictions:
1. Sixty percent (60 %) of the Eastern Study Area must remain permanently protected,
such that it remains in open space or agricultural use.
2. Development is precluded in areas at or above 770 -feet above sea level in order to
protect ridgelines within the Eastern Study Area.
3. No future residential structures within the Eastern Study Area may be visible from a
residence in the City of Dublin that existed on the date that the initiative takes effect.
4. Local wetlands, streams and wildlife habitats, including Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands, would be protected within the Eastern Study Area, in conformance
with local, state and federal laws.
5. Future development within the Eastern Study Area must pay for its own infrastructure
and public services, so that the burdens of development are not borne by the rest of
the City.
6. Multi -use trails must be included in the Eastern Study Area providing connection
points to nearby regional parks. The land and improvements for such trails must be
provided by the future development.
In addition, the initiative would make permanent the City's Western Urban Limit Line
adopted by the voters as Measure "M" in 2000, which would otherwise expire in 2030.
City Council Actions Upon Certification
Upon certification of the petition, the City Council must take one of following three actions:
1. Adopt the ordinance (the text of the initiative, Attachment 2) without alteration, at the
meeting where certification of the petition is presented, or within 10 days after it is
presented.
2. Submit the initiative to the voters at the next general election.
3. Refer the initiative measure to any City agency for a report on fiscal matters; general and
specific plan consistency; land use issues, including impact on availability and location of
housing and the City's ability to meet regional housing needs; the initiative's impact on
funding for infrastructure funding and maintenance; its impact on the City's ability to
attract and retain businesses; its impact on agricultural lands, open space, traffic and
business districts; and "any other matters the council requests to be in the report."
If a report is ordered, it must be presented to the City Council no later than 30 days after the
county elections official certifies the petition's sufficiency to the City Council. After receiving the
report, the City Council's choices are again to adopt the ordinance within 10 days or submit the
initiative to the voters.
Page 3 of 4
Within the 30 -day time frame allotted, Staff will be unable to produce a comprehensive report on
the topics outlined in the Elections Code, but Staff could produce a less- than - comprehensive
report on any of the topics listed, including additional topics requested by the City Council.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS /PUBLIC OUTREACH:
None.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Notice of Intent to Circulate
2. Text of Initiative
a. Attachments -Text of Initiative
3. Ballot Title and Summary
4. Registrar's Certificate to Initiative Petition
5. Proposed Resolution Ordering the Submission to the Qualified
Electors of the City of Dublin an Ordinance titled the, "Let Dublin
Decide Initiative," at the General Municipal Election to be Held on
Tuesday November 4, 2014 and Providing for Submission of Ballot
Arguments and Rebuttals
6. Exhibit A to Resolution, Measure to be Considered by Voters
a. Attachment to Measure to be Considered by Voters
Page 4 of 4
Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition
Notice is hereby given by the persons whose names appear hereon of their intention to circulate
the petition within the City of Dublin for the purpose of laying out a clear path for Dublin to
establish control over the area immediately adjacent to Dublin's current eastern city boundary,
through a combination of an urban limit line and specific planning regulations. A statement of
the reasons of the proposed action as contemplated in the petition is as follows:
Dublin's citizens and its Council need to have a say in what happens in the 1650 -acre area
immediately east of Dublin's current boundaries. This area was included in Dublin's General
Plan until 2002, when it was removed as a neighborly gesture to the City of Livermore, which
claimed to support an open space buffer between Dublin and Livermore. However, Livermore
has since approved large projects, including a gambling casino and outlet mall, right near
Dublin's borders. While these projects may bring financial benefits to Livermore, they cause
adverse impacts on Dublin's citizens.
In 2011, Livermore submitted an application to bring this land (and additional acreage) into
Livermore's Sphere of Influence. Bringing property within a city's Sphere of Influence is a first
step toward annexation into that city. Annexation into Livermore would leave Dublin and its
citizens with no control over what additional development Livermore could approve on Dublin's
borders.
We need to dictate the protections that will apply in this area, while also assuring that we have
control over any proposed change in land uses. This initiative is proposed for the following
purposes.
• To mandate that 60% of this area remain in permanent open space or agricultural uses.
• To ensure that ridgelines in this area are protected.
• To protect views of this area from existing homes in Dublin.
• To ensure that environmentally sensitive areas such as Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands in this area are protected.
• To lay out a clear path leading to Dublin, and not Livermore, having control over this
area.
• To establish a permanent Eastern Urban Limit Line, which defines the outer limits of any
potential future growth in Dublin and which can be changed only by a vote of the people
of Dublin, along the eastern edge of this area.
• To require that any future development pays for its own infrastructure and public services
so that these costs are borne only by property owners within this area.
• To ensure that a citizen's oversight committee will participate in the City's review of any
land use changes.
o To require that proposals to change land uses be denied, unless and until a plan is adopted
for the entire area that ensures all of these goals can and will be realized.
To make permanent the Western Urban Limit Line, which is currently set to expire in
2030
-2-
LET DUBLIN DECIDE INITIATIVE PETITION
CITY OF DUBLIN
REQUEST THAT MEASURE BE PLACED ON BALLOT
We, the undersigned, registered qualified voters of the City of Dublin, County of Alameda,
propose an initiative measure that addresses land use in Dublin. This initiative lays out a clear
path for Dublin to establish control over the area immediately adjacent to Dublin's current city
boundaries through a combination of urban limit lines and specific planning regulations. We
intend that the severance clause set forth in the initiative measure be applied to this entire
petition. We petition that this initiative measure be submitted to the voters of Dublin. If this
petition contains sufficient signatures to qualify for a special election, we petition that this
measure be submitted to the voters at a special election, and we request that the special election
be scheduled so that it occurs as soon as possible.
FULL TEXT OF THE INITIATIVE MEASURE
The people of the City of Dublin do ordain as follows:
I. TITLE
This Initiative measure shall be known as the "Let Dublin Decide Initiative."
11. THE EASTERN STUDY AREA
This Initiative addresses the Eastern Study Area, an area that lies immediately adjacent to the
eastern City limits. The Eastern Study Area is approximately 1,650 acres and does not include
any prime agricultural land. It is depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2 to this Initiative.
The Eastern Study Area has been included in City planning efforts dating back to the early
1990s, when the City of Dublin and the Alameda County LAFCO first considered bringing the
area east of Dublin's original boundaries within Dublin's control. The area was included in
Dublin's General Plan until 2002, when it was removed as a neighborly gesture to the City of
Livermore, which claimed to support an open space buffer between Dublin and Livermore.
However, Livermore subsequently has approved large projects, including a gambling casino
(Casino 580) and the Livermore Outlet Mall, right near Dublin's borders. While these projects
may bring financial benefits to Livermore, they have caused and will continue to cause traffic
congestion and other adverse impacts on Dublin's citizens.
In 2011, the City of Livermore submitted an application to LAFCO to bring 2,278 acres of land
adjacent to Dublin city limits, including the Eastern Study Area, into Livermore's Sphere of
Influence. Bringing property within a city's Sphere of Influence is a first step toward annexation
into that city. If the Eastern Study Area is annexed into Livermore, Dublin and its citizens would
have no control over what additional development Livermore could approve in the future on
Dublin's borders.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page I -
III. PURPOSES
Dublin's citizens and its Council need to have a say in what happens in the Eastern Study Area
immediately adjacent to Dublin. We need to dictate the open space protections that will apply in
this area, while also assuring that we have control over any proposed change in land uses.
Action is urgently needed to address these concerns and begin the process of bringing the
Eastern Study Area within Dublin's control before Livermore can seize control for itself. This
Initiative is enacted for these purposes.
This Initiative is adopted to address the subject of land use and to achieve the following goals
and purposes:
• To mandate that 60% of the Eastern Study Area remain in permanent open space or
agricultural uses.
• To ensure that ridgelines in the Eastern Study Area are protected
• To protect views from existing homes in Dublin of the Eastern Study Area
• To ensure that environmentally sensitive areas such as Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands in the Eastern Study Area are protected, and that all impacts are
properly mitigated in conformance with local, state and federal laws.
• To lay out a clear path leading to Dublin, and not Livermore, having control over the
Eastern Study Area.
• To establish a permanent Urban Limit Line, which defines the outer limits of any
potential future growth in Dublin and which can be changed only by a vote of the people
of Dublin, along the eastern edge of the Eastern Study Area.
• To require that any future development in the Eastern Study Area pays for its own
infrastructure and public services so that any costs of providing those services are borne
only by property owners within the Eastern Study Area.
• To ensure that a citizen's oversight committee will participate in the City's review of any
land use changes proposed in the Eastern Study Area.
• To require that any proposals to change land uses to allow more intense uses be denied,
unless and until a plan is adopted for the entire Eastern Study Area that ensures all of
these goals can and will be realized.
• To make permanent the Western Urban Limit Line, which is currently set to expire in
2030.
IV. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Initiative:
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 2 -
"City" and "Dublin" mean the City of Dublin located in Alameda County, California.
"Council" and "City Council" mean the City Council of the City of Dublin.
"Eastern Study Area" means the area addressed by this Initiative, immediately east of Dublin's
existing eastern border. The Eastern Study Area is depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2.
"Effective Date" means the date this Initiative takes effect, which shall be on the earliest date
legally possible. If the four amendments of the mandatory elements of the General Plan
permitted by state law for any calendar year have already been enacted in the year in which this
Initiative would otherwise take effect, the General Plan amendments set forth in this Initiative
shall take effect on January 1 of the next year.
"Filing Date" means the date the Notice of Intent To Circulate Petition for this Initiative was
presented to Dublin,
"General Plan" means the General Plan of the City of Dublin, as it exists on the date this
Initiative takes effect (unless this Initiative makes specific reference to the General Plan in effect
on a different date).
"Initiative" means this Let Dublin Decide Initiative.
"Local Agency Formation Commission" or "LAFCO" means an agency as described in the
Cortese -Knox- Hertzberg Act, Government Code sections 56000 and following, that is
responsible for deciding issues related to spheres of influence and annexations.
"Measure M" is the initiative that created a Western Urban Limit Line, and is referenced in the
General Plan as City Council Resolution 209 -00, adopted by initiative on November 7, 2000.
"Sphere of Influence" or "SOI" has the meaning ascribed in Government Code section 56076,
i,e. "a Ulan for the mobable uhvsical boundaries and service area of a local auencv."
V. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
The Eastern Study Area is added to the General Plan, as follows. The text and diagrams of
General Plan are amended as follows.
A. Diagram Amendments.
The Dublin General Plan Land Use Map, and all figures in the General Plan that depict the
planning area of the City, are amended to encompass the diagrams in Exhibits A -I and A -2
attached to this Initiative, which is incorporated by reference. Exhibit B attached to this
Initiative is the Dublin General Plan Land Use Map on the Filing Date, Exhibit C is from the
County's General Plan Land Use Map, and shows the County land use designations for the
Eastern Study Area as of the Filing Date. Exhibits B and C are included for comparison
purposes and are not enacted by this Initiative.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 3 -
B. Eastern Study Area in Chapter 2.
The following text is added to Chapter 2 (Land Use and Circulation: Land Use Element) of the
General Plan, at the end of the chapter:
2.7. Eastern Study Area.
This section 2.7 was enacted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
The Eastern Study Area is an area comprised of approximately
1,650 acres located immediately east of the Eastern Extended
Planning Area. It is generally depicted in the land use map (Figure
1 -1, which conforms to Exhibit A -1 of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative). The Eastern Study Area lies inside the Eastern Urban
Limit Line established by the 2014 initiative. The Eastern Study
Area comprises a "Planning Area" in the General Plan, separate
from the Primary, Western Extended and Eastern Extended
Planning Areas.
A. Guiding Policy for the Eastern Study Area.
Take all steps necessary to ensure that the Eastern Study Area is
brought under the control of the City of Dublin, so that Dublin will
decide what, if anything, should happen in this area. It is the
policy of Dublin that the Council should apply to LAFCO and
obtain an amendment of Dublin's Sphere of Influence to include
the Eastern Study Area, and pursue annexation of that area, as soon
as practicable in compliance with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
B. Eastern Urban Limit Line.
To facilitate Dublin's plan to obtain control over the Eastern Study
Area, to encourage LAFCO to approve an application to amend
Dublin's Sphere of Influence to include the Eastern Study Area,
and to ensure that urban services cannot be provided by Dublin
outside the Eastern Study Area without a vote of the people of
Dublin, an Eastern Urban Limit Line is established around the
Easter Study Area, The Eastern Urban Limit Line is shown on
the General Plan Land Use Map (Figure 1 -1).
The City shall not approve or recommend approval of the
permanent use or extension of City services or facilities, including
but not limited to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban
development beyond the Eastern Urban Limit Line. The location
of the Eastern Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 4 -
C. Land Use Designations for the Eastern Study Area.
Land within the Eastern Study Area is designated Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture, as shown on the Land
Use Map (Figure 1 -1). These land use designations mimic the land
use designations adopted by the voters of the County for this area,
and are intended to maintain the land uses that were permitted in
the Eastern Study Area when the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative
became effective, Accordingly, they apply to legal parcels,
meaning any parcels created after annexation that meet the
minimum parcel size requirements as well as all parcels recognized
as legal parcels by the County prior to annexation. These land use
designations shall remain in place unless and until such time as the
City Council adopts an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan
consistent with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative.
Resource Management, This designation requires a minimum
parcel size of 100 acres and a maximum building intensity for non-
residential uses of .01 FAR (Floor Area Ratio) but not less than
20,000 square feet per legal parcel. One single family home per
legal parcel is allowed provided that adequate road access, sewer
and water facilities, and public services are provided. Residential
and residential accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor
space of 12,000 square feet. The population density for Resource
Management is 2.7 persons per residential unit. Apart from
Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource Management and
Large Parcel Agriculture (see below), all buildings shall be located
on a contiguous development envelope not to exceed 2 acres,
except they may be located outside the envelope if necessary for
security reasons or, if structures for agricultural use, necessary for
agricultural use. All development must comply with the Goals,
Guiding Policies, Policies, Implementing Policies and
Implementation Measures that apply throughout all three other
Planning Areas (the Primary and Extended Planning Areas), as
those policies exist at the time such development is approved.
Subject to the provisions of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative,
this designation permits agricultural uses, recreational uses, habitat
protection, watershed management, public and quasi - public uses,
areas typically unsuitable for human occupation due to public
health and safety hazards such as earthquake faults, floodways,
unstable soils, or areas containing wildlife habitat and other
environmentally sensitive features, secondary residential units,
active sand and gravel and other quarries, reclaimed quarry lakes,
and similar and compatible uses. Sand and gravel quarries allow a
range of uses including sand and gravel processing, associated
manufacturing and recycling uses requiring proximity to quarries,
reclamation pits, and public use areas. This designation is intended
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 5 -
mainly for land designated for long -term preservation as open
space but may include low intensity agriculture, grazing, and very
low density residential use. Development that would interfere with
the ability to adopt an effective Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan that complies with the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative is not allowed.
Large Parcel Agriculture. This designation requires a minimum
parcel size of 100 acres. The maximum building intensity for non-
residential buildings shall be .01 FAR but not less than 20,000
square feet per legal parcel. Where permitted, greenhouses shall
have a maximum intensity of .025 FAR. One single family home
per parcel is allowed provided that adequate road access, sewer
and water facilities, and public services are provided. Residential
and residential accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor
space of 12,000 square feet. Additional residential units may be
allowed if they are occupied by faun employees required to reside
on -site. All development must comply with the Goals, Guiding
Policies, Policies, Implementing Policies and Implementation
Measures that apply throughout all three other Planning Areas (the
Primary and Extended Planning Areas), as those policies exist at
the time such development is approved. The population density
for Large Parcel Agriculture is 2.7 persons per residential unit.
Apart from Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture (see below), all
buildings shall be located on a contiguous development envelope
not to exceed 2 acres except they may be located outside the
envelope if necessary for security reasons or, if structures for
agricultural use, necessary for agricultural use. Subject to the
provisions of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, this
designation permits agricultural uses, agricultural processing
facilities (for example wineries, olive presses), limited agricultural
support service uses (for example animal feed facilities, silos,
stables, and feed stores), secondary residential units, visitor -
serving commercial facilities ( by way of illustration, tasting
rooms, fruit stands, bed and breakfast inns), recreational uses,
public and quasi - public uses, solid waste landfills and related
waste management facilities, quarries, windfarms and related
facilities, utility corridors, and similar uses compatible with
agriculture. Development that would interfere with the ability to
adopt an effective Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan that
complies with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative is not
allowed.
Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture. On lands designated either
Resource Management or Large Parcel Agriculture, the City shall
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 6 -
neither provide nor authorize public facilities or other
infiastructure in excess of that needed for permissible development
consistent with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. This policy
shall not bar 1) new, expanded or replacement infrastructure
necessary to create adequate service for areas other than the
Eastern Study Area, 2) maintenance, repair or improvements of
public facilities which do not increase capacity, and
3) infrastructure such as pipelines, canals, and power transmission
lines which have no excessive growth- inducing effect on the
Eastern Study Area and have permit conditions to ensure that no
service can be provided beyond that consistent with development
allowed by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. "Infrastructure"
for purposes of this paragraph shall include public facilities,
community facilities, and all structures and development necessary
to the provision of public services and utilities.
D. Land Use Designations May Be Changed Only If An
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan Is Adopted.
The Council shall not amend any land use designation for any
property in the Eastern Study Area to a designation that would
allow a greater intensity of development unless an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan has been adopted for land uses for the
entire Eastern Study Area, and the proposed amendment is
consistent with that Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan. The
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan must comply with and
include the following policies, which can be amended only by a
vote of the people of Dublin:
1. Sixty percent (60 %) of the land in the Eastern Study Area
shall be permanently protected such that it will remain in
open space or agricultural uses. Acceptable open space may
include but is not necessarily limited to parks or trails,
either public or private, or private property that is subject to
a recorded conservation easement limiting use of the
property to open space, agriculture, grazing, wetland or
habitat preservation or enhancement, or other similar uses.
2. Protect ridgelines in the Eastern Study Area by precluding
development on lands over 770 feet in elevation above the
mean sea level. As is the case with the Development
Elevation Cap for the Eastern Extended Planning Area, this
Eastern Study Area Development Elevation Cap requires
that on lands above 770 feet, residential, commercial and
industrial uses are not allowed; and only public, semi-
public, or open space uses; reservoirs, water lines, grading,
and infrastructure and construction activities necessary for
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 7 -
development on lands located at or below 770 feet in
elevation are allowed.
Protect views of existing Dublin residents by requiring that
no future residential structures, if any, in the Eastern Study
Area shall be visible from a residence in the City of Dublin
that existed on the date the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative took effect.
4. Protect local wetlands, streams and wildlife habitats in the
Easter Study Area, including Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands, in conformance with local, state and
federal laws.
5. Any future development within the Eastern Study Area
shall pay for its own infrastructure and public services
(including police, fire, schools and roads), so that the
burdens imposed by development in the Eastern Study Area
are not borne by residents in other areas of the City.
6. Multi -use trails shall be included in the Eastern Study Area.
These trails shall be provided by dedication of land and
construction of improvements, or by the funding of
acquisition and construction costs. The trails shall provide
for connection points to the East Bay Regional Park
District lands located north of the Eastern Study Area.
E. Citizen Oversight Committee.
Following receipt of any application to change a land use
designation on any property within the Eastem Study Area to a
designation that would allow more development than is allowed
under the existing designation, the City Council shall appoint a
fifteen (15)- member Citizen Oversight Committee, as follows:
1. Each member of the Council shall appoint one resident of
Dublin, for a total of five (5) members. In addition, the
City Council shall appoint three (3) representatives of
landowners in the Eastern Study Area, two (2)
representatives of local environmental groups, two (2)
representatives of the Dublin Unified School District, two
(2) representatives of business interests and one (1) "at
large" representative.
2. Concurrent with the appointment of the Citizen Oversight
Committee, the City Council shall adopt guidelines and
polices that shall establish how the committee will
participate in the processing of any proposal to adopt an
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 8 -
Easter Study Area Comprehensive Plan or change any
land use designation in the Eastern Study Area to a
designation that would allow more development. The
guidelines and policies shall address all of the following:
a. The addition or substitution of members.
b. Term of membership.
c. Methods of communication.
d. Access to and distribution of application materials
presented to the City.
e. Meetings among committee members, with City
staff, and with members or subcommittee of the
Council.
f. Presentation of committee discussions, conclusions
or consensus items to City decision makers.
g. The mechanism by which the City Council must
respond to committee conclusions, comments and
concerns prior to making any decision on an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan or land use
designation amendment,
C. Western Urban Limit Line.
City Council Resolution 209 -00, adopted by initiative on November 7, 2000 as "Measure M ",
created the Western Urban Limit Line. That initiative and the Western Urban Limit Line are
amended to make the Urban Limit Line permanent so that it can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin.
1. Amendments To Measure M
Measure M is amended. The following underlined text is added by this Initiative. The stricken
text is deleted. The plain text is included for comparison and context, and is not adopted by this
Initiative.
Section 2.B.2 of Measure M is amended as follows.:
2. Amend Section 1.8.1,Western Extended Planning Area, to add
the following after "Other land use categories" and before Table
1.1:
"Urban Limit Line. An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative
in for the Western Extended Planning Area. The Urban
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 9 -
Limit Line is located along the city limits line as of the effective
date of the initiative. Pursuant to the initiative, lands west of the
Urban Limit Line are designated as Rural Residential /Agriculture
on the Land Use Map. The initiative is effective until changed by
the voters, ; the location of the
Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of the people of
Dublin during the °rte etiye peri ^', and only following review and
approval of a General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any
request to change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a
request to amend the land use designation to an urban
designation. " -
Section 2.B.3 of Measure M is amended as follows:
3. Amend Section 2,Western Extended Planning Area, to add the
following at the end of the section, after Table 2.2:
"All lands in the Western Extended Planning Area located west of
the Urban Limit Line as defined in Section 2.B.2 above, shall be
designated Rural Residential /Agriculture r r a period of 30 yea
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initiative and may be changed only a vote of the
people of Dublin. The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills and to restrict further
urban development in the western hills, instead guiding it to areas
of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban services can be
provided in a more efficient and cost- effective manner.
In addition to restricting urban development, the City will not
approve or recommend approval of the permanent use or extension
of city services or facilities, including but not limited to utilities or
roads, to support or facilitate urban development beyond the Urban
Limit Line."
Measure M as amended by this Initiative may be further amended only by a vote of the people.
2. Amendments to the General Plan To Reflect A Permanent Western
Urban Limit Line.
The following text amendments are made to the following Sections of the General Plan. The
following underlined text is added by this Initiative. The stricken text is deleted. The plain text
is included for comparison and context, and is not adopted by this Initiative.
The last paragraph of Section 1.4.2 is amended as follows:
An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on November 7,
2000 for a portion of the Western Extended Planning Area, and
that Urban Limit Line was made permanent by the 2014 Let
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 10 -
Dublin Decide Initiative. The Urban Limit Line is coterminous
with the City limit line as of the effective date of the 2000
Initiative. Pursuant to the 2000 Initiative, lands west of the Urban
Limit Line are required to be designated as Rural
Residential /Agriculture on the General Plan Land Use Map (Figure
1 -1) for n period of 30 years s fi-em the off etiye date of initiative
Resolution ''Inn nn The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills by guiding development
to areas of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban
services can be provided in a more efficient and cost effective
manner. The City will not approve or recommend approval of the
permanent use or extension of City services or facilities, including
but not limited to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban
development beyond the Urban Limit Line. The location of the
Urban Limit Line may only be changed by a vote of the people of
Dublin during the a ffeetive pe , and only following review and
approval of a General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any
request to change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a
request to amend the land use designation to an urban designation
The last paragraph of Section 1.8.1.73 is amended as follows:
Urban Limit Line.
An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on November 7,
2000 for the Western Extended Planning Area. The Urban Limit
Line is located along the City limit line as of the effective date of
this initiative. Pursuant to the initiative, lands west of the Urban
Limit Line are designated as Rural Residential /Agriculture on the
General Plan Land Use Map (Figure 1 -1). The Initiative, as
on ig nally enacted, was 4s effective for thirty (30) years from its
effective date. The 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative deleted the
provisions that made the 2000 Initiative effective for only 30 years
and made the Western Urban Limit Line permanent. The
location of the Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin dur -inn the °r€ e ive per -i , and only
following review and approval of a General Plan Amendment by
the City Council. Any request to change the Urban Limit Line
must be accompanied by a request to amend the land use
designation to an urban designation.
The last paragraph of Section 2.1 is amended as follows:
The majority of the Primary Planning Area has been developed
since the 1960's; therefore, the Land Use Element focuses on the
remaining uncommitted sites and on the potential for more
intensive use of existing sites. Land use changes in the Eastern
Extended Planning Area have been more dramatic with the
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implementation of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. With the
exception of Schaefer Ranch, development in the Western
Extended Planning Area was initially is restricted until 2030
pursuant to initiative Resolution 209 -00 adopted on November 7,
2000. The 2000 Initiative established a Western Urban Limit Line,
and the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative made that Urban Limit
Line permanent so that it can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin.
The first paragraph of Section 2.4 is amended as follows:
2.4 WESTERN EXTENDED PLANNING AREA
The Western Extended Planning Area is over 3,000 acres (see
Table 2.3 below) of which approximately 2,647 acres lie west of
the Urban Limit Line and have been designated Rural
Residential/Agriculture
date of C t y Catmoil nan„ t „tio 209 nn adopted by initiative o
November 7, 20 . The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills and guide development to
areas of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban services
can be provided in a more efficient and cost - effective manner. The
Western Urban Limit Line was made permanent by the 2014 Let
Dublin Decide Initiative, and can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin. In addition to restricting urban development, the
City will not approve or recommend approval of the permanent use
or extension of City services or facilities, including but not limited
to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban development
beyond the Urban Limit Line.
Guiding Policy A.I.a. in Section 2.5.5, Western Extended Planning Area, is amended as follows:
a. An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on
November 7, 2000 for the majority of the Western Extended
Planning Area. The Urban Limit Line is located along the City
limit line as of the effective date of the initiative. Pursuant to the
initiative, lands west of the Urban Limit Line are designated as
Rural Residential/Agriculture on the General Plan Land Use Map
(Figure 1 -1). The Initiative as originally enacted, was is effective
for thirty (30) years from its effective date. The 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative amended the General Plan to make the Western
Urban Limit Line permanent. The location of the Urban Limit
Line may be changed only by a vote of the people of Dublin-dw4*g
the off „tive period, and only following review and approval of a
General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any request to
change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a request to
amend the land use designation to an urban designation.
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VI. CONFORMING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
The following amendments to the General Plan are made by this Initiative to ensure the General
Plan remains internally consistent and correlated. Underlined text is added and strikethrough
text is deleted. Plain text is included for comparison and context.
The amendments added by this Section VI of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative may be
amended or deleted by the Council pursuant to usual procedures without a vote of the people of
Dublin, so long as doing so effects no substantive change to or conflicts with any provisions in
any other Section of this Initiative.
Section numbers references within these conforming amendments are to sections of the General
Plan.
Conforming Amendment #I. The second paragraph of Section 1.1 is amended as follows:
The text and plan maps adopted by the City Council in this General
Plan constitute a guide for the day to day physical development
decisions that shape the social, economic, and environmental
character of the City and its dv� planning areas. In
accordance with Government Code Section 65300, the General
Plan includes policies for the Planning Area, including the City
limits proper and those areas outside the City limits that bear
relation to Dublin's planning. Consequently, the Dublin Planning
Area includes the Primary Planning Area, and two Extended
Planning Areas; (the Eastern Extended Planning Area and the
Western Extended Planning Area), and the Eastern Study Area.
The City and its Extended Planning Areas cover approximately
18.76 square miles of which 14.62 square miles are located within
the City limits. The remaining 4.14+ square miles is located within
the Western Extended Planning Area beyond an Urban Limit Line.
I_n addition, the Eastern Study Area covers approximately
acres or approximately 2.6 square miles.
Conforming Amendment #2. Section 1.4 is amended as follows:
1.4 PRIMARY AND E TT?A DED DUBLIN'S FOUR
PLANNING AREAS
The General Plan includes policies for all four three of the City's
Planning Areas: the Primary Planning Area, Eastern Extended
Planning Area an4-Western Extended Planning Area and the
Eastern Study Area. The Primary Planning Area consists of the
original 1982 City boundaries and those annexations occurring to
the west between 1985 and 1991 and is roughly 3,100 acres. The
Eastern Extended Planning Area is located east of the Primary
Planning Area while the Western Extended Planning Area is
located west of the Primary Planning Area. The Eastern and
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Western Extended Planning Areas are coterminous with the City's
Sphere of Influence and are described in further detail below.
The Eastern Study Area was created by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative which also established a policy that the Council
should apply to LAFCO and obtain an amendment of Dublin's
Sphere of Influence to include the Eastern Study Area, and pursue
annexation of that area. The Eastern Study Area lies cast of the
Eastern Extended Planning Area and inside the Eastern Urban
Limit Line established by that initiative. For more detailed
information about the Eastern Study Area and policies applicable
to that area, see Section 2.7.
Conforming Amendment #3. A new Section 1.4.3 is added immediately following Section
1.4.2, as follows:
1.4.3 EASTERN STUDY AREA,
The Eastern Study Area was added by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative, and is subject to the policies set forth in Section 2.7.
Conforming Amendment #4. Section 1.8.1.2 is amended as follows:
1.8.1.2 POPULATION DENSITY MEASUREMENTS
Assumed residential household size in all three four Planning
Areas is based on Dublin's average household size of 2.7 persons
per unit as reported in the 2010 US Census data.
Conforming Amendment #5. A new Section 1.8.1.7A is added, immediately following Section
1.8.1.7, as follows:
1.8.1.7A. EASTERN STUDY A
For the land use classifications applicable in the Eastern Study
Area, see Section 2.7 below.
Conforming Amendment #6. Section 2.1 is amended as follows:
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Government Code sec. 65302(a) identifies the required content for
land use elements. A land use element must 1) designate the
proposed distribution of specified uses and facilities; 2) identify
population density and building intensity standards for each land
use district; 3) identify areas subject to flooding and review those
areas annually; 4) create a timber production land use category
where appropriate; and, 5) consider the impact of new growth on
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military readiness activities carried out on military bases,
installations, and operating and training areas.
Each of these required features is included in Dublin's adopted
General Plan, although not all are present in the Land Use
Element. Dublin's General Plan Map for all the Primary
Extend Planning Areas, Figure 1 -1, summarizes the proposed
distribution of residential, commercial, industrial, and open space
uses. The map also shows existing schools and other public
buildings and grounds. Policies further defining the location and
intensity of residential, commercial, and industrial uses appear in
this Land Use Element. Policies relating to open space and parks
appear in the Parks and Open Space Element (Chapter 3); policies
relating to schools, and solid and liquid waste disposal facilities
appear in the Schools, Public Lands and Utilities Element (Chapter
4). Background information supporting the adopted policies is
located in the corresponding Land Use, Open Space, and Schools,
Public Lands and Utilities sections of the Technical Supplement.
Population density and building intensity standards are presented
in sec. 1.8.1 Land Use Classifications of Chapter 1, and in sec. 2.7
pertaining to the Eastern Stud. Areas subject to flooding and
appropriate land use policies are presented in the Seismic Safety
and Safety Element (Chapter 8). Dublin's General Plan contains no
timber production land use category because no timberland as
described in Government Code sec. 65302(a)(1) occurs anywhere
in the City's planning area. Policies related to military readiness
activities at the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area can be found
in the Schools, Public Lands and Utilities Element (Chapter 4).
The majority of the Primary Planning Area has been developed
since the 1960's; therefore, the Land Use Element focuses on the
remaining uncommitted sites and on the potential for more
intensive use of existing sites. Land use changes in the Eastern
Extended Planning Area have been more dramatic with the
implementation of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. With the
exception of Schaefer Ranch, development in the Western
Extended Planning Area is restricted until 2030 pursuant to
initiative Resolution 209 -00 adopted on November 7, 2000. The
Eastern Study Area is subject to the policies described in sec. 2.7.
Conforming Amendment V. A new Section 3.5 is added at the end of Chapter 3 (Land Use
and Circulation: Parks and Open Space ) of the General Plan:
3.5 EASTERN STUDY AREA
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The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations which were
adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and will result in preservation of existing areas of
open s ace in the condition they. were in as of the effective date of
that initiative. These designations cannot be amended to allow
more development unless and until an Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan is formulated for the area. If an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered, the
subjects of parks and permanent open space would be addressed in
the context of the Plan being proposed, and olicies specific to the
Eastern Study Area would be considered at that time. (See Section
Conforming Amendment #8. A new Section 4.8 is added at the end of Chapter 4 (Land Use
and Circulation: Schools, Public Lands, and Utilities Elements), as follows:
4.8 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses. Accordingly, the
Eastern Study Area is not expected to generate substantial needs or
have substantial impacts related to public schools, public lands,
solid waste, sewage treatment and disposal, water supply, or the
Alameda County Hazardous Waste Management Plan. Similarly,
the Eastern Study Area is not expected to have anyqppreciable
effect on military readiness._
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use
designations cannot be amended to allow more development unless
and until an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted
for the area. If an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were
being considered, the subjects of public schools, public lands, solid
waste, sewage treatment and disposal, water supply, the Alameda
County Hazardous Waste Management Plan and effect on militar
readiness would be addressed in the context of the Plan being
proposed, and .policies specific to the Eastern Study Area would be
considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment ##9. A new paragraph is added at the end of section 5.1 as follows;
The Eastern Study Area, which lies outside City limits as of the
effective date of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative that added
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the Eastern Study Area to the General Plan, is served primarily bX
the proposed extension of Dublin Boulevard from Fallon Road to
Airway Boulevard, (See Table 5.1 below). Streets in the Eastern
Study Area are shown on the Circulation Map as amended by the
2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management and
Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in this
Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative seek to preserve existing uses. Accordin 1 the Eastern
Study Area is not expected to impose substantial needs or have
substantial impacts related to circulation. The Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations
cannot be amended to allow more development unless and until an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If
an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being
considered, circulation issues would be addressed in the context of
the Plan being_ proposed, and policies specific to the Eastern Study
Area would be considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #10. The third and fourth paragraphs of Section 7.1 are amended as
follows:
Those statutorily required resources that do not occur in the
Primary ^" E to.-n- -°d- Planning Areas of Dublin are not discussed.
Specifically, Dublin is an inland city which contains no forests,
harbors, fisheries or mineral extraction areas.
Air quality and wastewater disposal have been the Tri- Valley's
most difficult conservation issues affecting urban growth, even
with construction of the Livermore Amador Valley Wastewater
Management Association (LAVWMA) pipeline, and significantly
improved air quality. The extent of development in eastern the
Eastern Extended Plannin Area of Dublin has drawn greater
attention to other conservation issues -- conversion of agricultural
land to urban uses; loss of open space; hazards posed by
development in steep and landslide prone areas; increased runoff;
and, erosion and stream siltation. Additionally, the prospect of
renewed or intensified air quality and sewage disposal problems
accompanies plans approved or under consideration that would
result in up to 200,000 jobs in the Tri- Valley.
Conforming Amendment #11. Section 7.1.2 is amended as follows:
7.1,2 EASTERN HILLS
The eastern hills are not as valuable as the western hills for habitat
resources. Productive agricultural soils are likewise limited; the
Eastern Extended Planning Area and the Eastern Study Area do
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 17 -
does not include prime agricultural land or farmlands of Statewide
importance. At best, the forage produced in the Planning Area is of
some local importance. Throughout the northern, central, and
eastern portions of the Eastern Extended Planning Area, much of
the land had been under Williamson Act contracts that prohibit
development for a minimum of ten years while providing tax
advantages to landowners. In recent years, a number of landowners
have not renewed their contracts, and the lands are no longer in
Williamson Act contracts.
Conforming Amendment #12. The first paragraph of Section 7.2 is amended as follows:
7.2 STREAM CORRIDORS AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION
Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning Areas, and the
Eastern Study Area are located within Livermore Drainage Unit
which is one of two major drainage basins in the Alameda Creek
Watershed. Of the many streams in the Livermore Drainage Unit,
two flow through Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning
Areas — Alamo Creek and Tassajara Creek, respectively. Alamo
Creek runs in a north -south direction just west of Dougherty Road;
Tassajara Creek also runs in a north -south direction and is located
just west of Tassajara Road. Portions of these creeks have been
channelized and remaining sections are being improved as a result
of subdivision developments. Cottonwood Creek flows through
the Easter Study Area, and is protected by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #13. A new Section 7.9 is added at the end of Chapter 7
(Environmental Resources Management: Conservation Element), as follows:
7.9 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses and will result in
preservation of existing areas of open space and agricultural uses
in the condition the were in as of the effective date of that
initiative.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture.. land use
designations are respectful of environmental resources and they
cannot be amended to allow more development unless and until an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If
an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 18 -
considered, the subjects of stream corridors and riparian
vegetation, erosion and siltation control, oak woodlands, oak
woodlands, air quality, agricultural lands, archeologic and historic
resources, and open space maintenance /management would be
addressed as applicable in the context of the Plan being proposed,
and policies for the Eastern Studv Area would be considered at that
time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #14. Section 8.1 is amended as follows:
Few potential building sites within the U,-;,.,ary or Ex4en „a
Planning Areas are without geologic impact or hazard. The hazard
may be actual, such as an active landslide or proximity to an active
fault, or potential, such as a proposed cut that might activate a
landslide. Mitigation of hazards may increase construction cost,
but will reduce long -term costs to both property owners and the
City.
Conforming Amendment #15. A new Section 8.4 is added at the end of Chapter 8
(Environmental Resources Management; Seismic Safety and Safety Element) as follows:
8.4 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Mana ement
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses. That Initiative
amended General Plan Diagrams to map seismic and geologic
hazard areas, and flood areas. Evacuation routes for this Planning
Area are along the existing roadway system, depicted in the
Circulation Map as amended by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use
designations restrict development and they cannot be amended to
allow more development unless and until an Eastern Stud
Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered, the risk of
ground shaking, rupture, and failure due to earthquakes, landslide,
subsidence and liquefaction hazards, flooding, and urban and
wildland fires would be addressed as applicable in the context of
the Plan being proposed, and policies for the Eastern Study Area
would be considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #16. Section 9.1 is amended as follows;
9.1 INTRODUCTION
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Government Code sec. 65302(f) outlines the statutory requirements
for Noise Elements. Recognizing the State Office of Noise Control
(ONC) guidelines, Noise Elements must quantify current and
projected noise levels for local noise sources. Among the noise
sources to be evaluated are highways and freeways, arterials and
major streets, railroads and rapid transit systems, airports and
heliports, industrial plants, and other ground stationary sources
identified by local agencies as contributing to the community noise
environment.
Traffic noise is the major source of noise in Dublin's thme
Planning Areas. Therefore, the focus of this Noise Element is the
effect of traffic noise on locating categories of land use and
developing projects within those categories. Information
supporting the adopted noise policies is located in the
corresponding Noise Element section of the Technical Supplement,
and the Eastern Study Area is projected to experience the same
level of noise along the freeways and major roadways as is
described and projected within the Eastern Extended Planning
Area. The City's Planning Areas contain no railroads, airports,
heliports or industrial plants. However, the Parks Reserve Forces
Training Area (Parks RFTA) does contain a heliport and is located
between Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning Areas.
Noise impacts from the Parks RFTA were addressed in the Army's
2005 Environmental Noise Management Plan (ENMP).
Additionally, the southern portions of the Eastern Extended
Planning Area east of Tassajara Road fall within the Livermore
Municipal Airports Airport Influence Area (AIA). Noise impacts
from the Livermore Municipal Airport were addressed in Alameda
County's 2012 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP).
Development within the AIA must be consistent with the ALUM
Traffic is the primary source of continuous noise in Dublin. Noise
exposure contours have been plotted for 2011 (based on current
traffic data) and projected to 2035 based on anticipated traffic
volume increases (see Figures 9 -1 and 9 -2). The Community Noise
Equivalent Level (CNEL) describes 24 -hour average noise levels
measured in decibels (dB) taking into account the increased
sensitivity of people to noise during evening and nighttime hours.
Sound levels between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. are penalized 5 dB
and those between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m, are penalized 10 dB.
The dB scale is logarithmic; a 3 dB difference normally is
discernable and a 10 dB increase is subjectively heard as a
doubling in loudness.
The Land Use Compatibility Table (Table 9.1) provides the basis
for decisions on the location of land uses in relation to noise
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 20 -
sources, and for determining noise mitigation needs. Noise impacts
resulting fiom development within the Eastern Extended Planning
Area were addressed in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan
Environmental Impact Report and subsequent environmental
analyses for projects within the Eastern Extended Planning Area.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture.jand use
designations that apply in the Eastern Study Area, which were
adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and thus are not expected to alter noise. Existing and
projected noise contours in the Eastern Extended Planning Area
are extended into the Eastern Study Area. The Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture designations cannot be
amended to allow more development unless and until an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered,
noise issues would be addressed as applicable in the context of the
Plan being proposed, and policies for the Eastern Stud
would be considered at that time. (See Section 2,7).
Conforming Amendment ##17. Appendix A (General Plan Amendments) is amended as
follows, An additional row is added. In the "Amendment" column of that new row, "2014 Let
Dublin Decide Initiative" is added, In the "Approval" column of that new row, "Initiative" is
added. In the "Dated Adopted" column of that new row, "11 -4 -14" (or such other date as this
Initiative is adopted) is added. In the "GP Updated" column "TBD" is added.
Conforming Amendment #18. The second paragraph under the heading "Agricultural
Workers" on page Appendix C -16 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is amended
as follows:
Dublin is an urbanized community with no undeveloped parcels
zoned for agricultural use, though land in the Eastern Stud Area is
designated in the General Plan for agricultural uses. The
agricultural land use designation is intended to maintain existin
uses and is not expected to expand agricultural uses. Because a
negligible portion of community residents are employed in
farming, fishing, and forestry occupations and there is little
potential for this occupational category to expand within Dublin,
no housing programs or policies are needed to address the needs of
farm- workers.
Conforming Amendment #19. The text immediately following the heading `B. Governmental
Constraints" on page Appendix C -32 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is
amended as follows:
B. Governmental Constraints
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City ordinances, policies, and other regulations can impact the
price and availability of housing in Dublin. Land use controls, site
improvement requirements, building codes, fees, and other local
programs to improve the overall quality of housing may serve as
constraints to housing development.
The following public policies can affect overall housing
availability, adequacy, and affordability.
Land Use Controls
The Dublin General Plan, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan,
Downtown Core Specific Plan, Village Parkway Specific Plan, and
West Dublin BART Specific Plan establish land use designations
for twee four areas of the City:
• Primary Planning Area;
• Eastern Extended Planning Area; and
• Western Extended Planning Area; and
• Eastern Study Area.
Conforming Amendment #20. A new section is added on page Appendix C -34 of the City of
Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element, after the section entitled "Western Extended Planning Area
and immediately before the section entitled "Livermore Airport Protection Area (APA)," as
follows:
Eastern Study Area
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. That initiative also
established a Eastern Urban Limit Line around the eastern edge of
the Easter Study Area, which can be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin. The Resource Management and Large
Parcel Agdculturc land use designations.. that apply in this Plannin
Area, which were adopted by that initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and will result in preservation of existing areas of
open s ace and agdeultural uses in the condition the were in as of
the effective date of that initiative. These land use designations are
not residential designations and they restrict development.
Accordingly, no sites in the Eastern Study Area are considered to
be sites with residential development potential in Figure C -7.
Also, because these land use designations maintain the status quo,
they are not projected to affect substantially the need for housing.
Accordingly, the addition of the Eastern Study Area to the General
Plan is not intended to and does not affect the adequacy of this
Housing Element for all other areas encompassed within the
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 22 -
General Plan, or its conclusions regarding housing needs and the
City's ability to meet housing needs.
eeds.
The Resource Management and Lame Parcel Agriculture land use
designations cannot be amended to allow more development unless
and until an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is ado ted
for the area. If an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were
being considered, the subject of housing needs would be addressed
as a licable in the context of the Plan bein ro osed and
policies for the Eastern Study Area would be considered at that
time. (See Section 2.7 of the General Plan) However, since the
Eastern Stud Area is no.t..presently designated with a residential
land use category, the possibility of adopting an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan is not a present, actual constraint on
housing.
Conforming Amendment #21. The text immediately following the heading "Biological
Resources" on page Appendix C -57 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is
amended as follows:
Biological Resources
The Primary Planning Area is in the Livermore drainage unit of the
Alameda Creek watershed. Of the many streams in this drainage
area, one flows through the City -- Alamo Creek. The creek runs
along the eastern side of Dublin near Dougherty Road. A major
portion of the creek is channelized, and remaining sections have
mostly been improved as a result of subdivision developments. The
Extended Planning Area lies within other watersheds. Several
significant streams traverse the Extended Planning Area and the
Eastern Study Area — Hollis Canyon and Martin Canyon Creeks in
the western hills and Tassajara and Cottonwood Creeks in eastern
Dublin. Extensive areas of riparian vegetation are located along
stream courses in the Western Extended Planning Area. This
riparian woodland has importance to wildlife in the area.
Considerable damage to riparian areas has resulted from intensive
animal grazing. New development is required to provide open
stream corridors of adequate width to protect riparian vegetation.
Where construction requires creekbank alteration, revegetation
with native riparian vegetation is required. Special consideration is
given to the protection or enhancement of riparian woodland areas
of the Western Extended Planning Area biological resources due to
the unique habitat value of these biological resources.
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VII. INCONSISTENCY WITH OTHER BALLOT MEASURES
This measure is intended to be comprehensive. It is the intent of the people that in the event this
measure or measures relating to the same subject shall appear on the same election ballot, the
provisions of the other measure or measures shall be deemed to be in conflict with this measure.
In the event that this measure receives a greater number of affirmative votes, the provisions of
this measure shall prevail in their entirety, and all provisions of the other measure or measures
shall be null and void. Conflicting measures include the Dublin Open Space Initiative Of 2014
and any measure that addresses land use in and near Dublin. Any measure that restricts,
supplements or affects, in whole or in part, General Plan policies, goals, action items, provisions
or language relating to all or any portion of the Eastern Study Area, whether such reference or
initiative measure does so by specific application to the Eastern Study Area or as a more general
enactment that could otherwise be applied in a manner that would affect the Eastern Study Area,
is a conflicting measure.
VIII. EXEMPTIONS
This Initiative shall not apply to any of the following: (1) any land that, under state or federal
law, is beyond the power of the local voters; and (2) any property that, as of the Effective Date,
has vested rights that preclude application of this Initiative.
IX. IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS INITIATIVE
Upon the Effective Date of this Initiative, City staff is directed to take promptly such
administrative and clerical steps as may be required to implement this Initiative, including,
without limitation, revising any General Plan figures to reflect the provisions adopted by this
Initiative.
This Initiative is intended to ensure that the General Plan remains an integrated, internally
consistent, and compatible statement of policies for the City as required by state law, and to
ensure that the actions of the voters or the City Council in enacting this Initiative are given
effect. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by law, any provision of the General Plan that is
adopted between the Filing Date and the Effective Date of this Initiative shall, to the extent that
such interim- enacted provision is inconsistent with the General Plan Amendment enacted by this
Initiative, be deemed void and unenforceable, and shall be amended as soon as possible and in
the manner and time required by state law to ensure consistency between the provisions adopted
by this Initiative and other elements of the General Plan.
To the extent permitted by law, the voters of the City authorize and direct the City staff and
decision makers to amend any elements or provisions of the General Plan, including all exhibits
and figures, and all other City ordinances, policies, and implementation programs, as soon as
possible, to implement this Initiative and to ensure consistency and cot-relation between this
Initiative and other elements of the General Plan. The preceding sentence shall be interpreted
broadly pursuant to Pala Band of Mission Indians v. Board of Supervisors, 54 Cal.AppAth 565
(1997) to promote the requirements that a general plan constitute an integrated and consistent
document.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 24 -
After the Effective Date, any provision of the Municipal Code that is inconsistent with the
General Plan Amendment shall be deemed null and void.
X. INTERPRETATION
To ensure that the voters' intent prevails, words in this Initiative shall be interpreted according to
the purposes described in this Initiative, and shall be applied according to their plain meaning. In
the event the plain meaning is not clear, we the voters declare our intent that this Initiative be
interpreted in light of those ballot materials and campaign materials that are offered in favor of
this Initiative. We also declare that we adopt our findings based upon our general knowledge of
Dublin geography, planning, development, community need and desires, and upon those ballot
and campaign materials that are offered to the public in favor of this Initiative.
Any titles of the sections or subsections of this Initiative are inserted for convenience of
reference only and shall be disregarded in interpreting, applying or implementing any part of the
provisions of this Initiative.
This Initiative shall be interpreted so as to be consistent with all applicable federal and state
constitutions, laws, rules, regulations and requirements.
XI. SEVERANCE
If any word of this Initiative, or its application to any situation, is held invalid or unenforceable,
in a final judgment that is no longer subject to rehearing, review or appeal by a court of
competent jurisdiction, then the invalid word is severed, and /or the invalid words are severed,
and the remaining parts of this Initiative, and the application of any part of this Initiative to other
situations, shall continue in full force and effect. We, the people of the City of Dublin, declare
that we would have adopted this Initiative, and each section, each paragraph, each phrase and
each word, irrespective of whether any other portion, or application to any situation, be held
invalid. It is our intent that any portion of this Initiative that can lawfully be implemented be
implemented, even if doing so would not permit implementation of the purposes of this
Initiative, even if doing so would otherwise appear trivial or inconsequential, and even if the
valid portion appears intertwined with the invalidated portion. As the body enacting this
Initiative, we state our intent that if severance is being considered, each section, each paragraph,
each phrase and each word of this Initiative be interpreted to be complete in itself, and
functionally and grammatically separate from each other word. Moreover, if the portion ruled
invalid can be the subject of a valid advisory measure, then we direct that such portion be
deemed an advisory measure and we urge the Council to follow our advice.
XII. AMENDMENT
Clerical changes to reproduce or relocate any text or diagram of this Initiative, or rename any
diagram of this Initiative, may be made, without a vote of the people, so long as doing so effects
no substantive change. The name of the Eastern Study Area enacted by this Initiative and the
name of the Eastern Area Comprehensive Plan addressed in this Initiative may be amended by
the Council without a vote of the people, so long as doing so effects no substantive change.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 25 -
The contents of Exhibits A -1 and A -2 may be displayed in any manner deemed appropriate by
City staff or decision - makers so long as displaying the contents in a manner other than as
depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2 effects no substantive change. For example, the circulation
aspects of Exhibit A -2 may be displayed in a General Plan circulation diagram that does not also
display geologic hazards, so long as the geologic hazard information is depicted in all General
Plan diagrams that address geologic hazards. The Urban Limit Line and the Eastern Study Area
Boundary shown in Exhibits A -I and A -2 may be amended only by a vote of the people of
Dublin. The land use designations shown in Exhibit A -1 may be amended only pursuant to
General Plan Sections 2.7,13 and 2.7.E as enacted by this Initiative. The city limits and Sphere of
Influence boundary, and proposed city limits and proposed Sphere of Influence boundary in
Exhibits A -1 and A -2 may be amended without a vote of the people only to reflect LAFCO
decisions. The aspects of Exhibit A -2 that pertain to transportation, geologic hazards and
potential flooding may be amended without a vote of the people, so long as the amendment does
not conflict with Section V.B (Eastern Study Area in Chapter 2) or V.C.I (Western Urban Limit
Line) of this Initiative.
Section V.C.2 of this Initiative sets forth text amendments to make Measure M and the Western
Urban Limit Line permanent. The exact wording used in these text amendments may be
amended without a vote of the people only if the following three requirements are met: (1) the
General Plan indicates that the Western Urban Limit Line and Measure M are permanent, (2) the
text of Measure M (as amended by this Initiative) is reflected in the General Plan, and (3) the
General Plan indicates that the provisions of Measure M (as amended by this Initiative) can be
amended only by a vote of the people.
Text and/or diagrams that are included within this Initiative for comparison or reference
purposes only, and which are not enacted by this Initiative, may be amended, supplemented or
repealed according to the same procedures that would apply if this Initiative had not been
enacted, provided that doing so effects no substantive change to any provision of this Initiative
that can be amended only by a vote of the people or in accordance with certain procedures.
Corrections may be made to fix any typographical or clerical errors in this Initiative, without a
vote of the people, provided that doing so effects no substantive change.
No other part of this Initiative may be altered, repealed or amended, except upon a subsequent
vote of the people of Dublin.
XIII. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Unless a shorter statute is enacted by the State Legislature, all provisions of this Initiative shall
be deemed subject to Government Code section 65009(c), and no action or proceeding
challenging all or any part of this Initiative shall be maintained unless commenced and service
made within ninety (90) days of the date of the legislative body's decision. We intend the date
of the legislative body's decision to be the date of the election at which the voters adopt this
Initiative. If such date cannot lawfully be deemed the date of the legislative body's decision,
then we intend the date of the legislative body's decision to be the earliest possible lawful date.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 26 -
XIV. EXHIBITS
The following is a list of exhibits, This list is provided for ease of reference only, and does not
constitute part of the matters adopted by this Initiative. However, the exhibits themselves which
are described as being enacted by this Initiative are so enacted.
Exhibits A -1 & A -2: General Plan diagrams showing the Eastern Study Area. These diagrams
are enacted as amendments to all General Plan diagrams by this Initiative.
Exhibit B. Dublin General Plan Land Use Map as of the Filing Date. This map is provided for
reference only and is not enacted by this Initiative.
Exhibit C. County's Land Use Map, showing County land use designations for Eastern Study
Area as of the Filing Date. This map is provided for reference only and is not enacted by this
Initiative.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 27 -
Publiclseml-pubItclopen space
NJ Re&nol Park
,,,,r+ Parked Public Recreation
ON OponspaoO
111101 stream Conidor
Pubho Lands
Public /Somi-putsm
80IM-PutrLd
Resource Management
LV Large Parcel Agdoulline
[C]F ComrrivnAy Park
"s Neighbothood Square
P Neighborhood Park
Regional Park
Oty of Livennoto
U], City of Pleasanton
ED city of son, Ramon
Commercial/industrial
Residential
NN� Oetterat Commercial
Rural RosidentiallAgrtculture, (11 Untl per,100 Gross Reeklonfial Acres)
RetadiOffica
Estate Residential (0,01 - 0.8 dufac)
Retailloffice and Automotive
,110 '? Lovy-Donsity Single Family (0.5.3.8 dulao),
Neighborhood Commercial
Sin tito Farnty Residentat (0.9 - &0 dtslac)
General cornmorcialfcarnpos Offloo
Medfurn-OonsIty Rooldentfial (6,11 - 14,0 dulac)
Carnpus Office
IM Mediu(niHoh-Density Residential (14.1 -25.0 dulaP)
Industrial Park
ffigh-Density Residential (25.1 + "ac)
Business Pwk/findusuim
Business Park;1ndustrial and! Owdoor Storage
Mixed Use
City of DUbfin Urnits
Mixed Use voompus, office
Sphere of Influence
ModiumtHigh Density Residential and Retail Office µ Proposed City of Dublin Lionts and Proposed Sphere of Influence
Downtown Dublin
urban Limit Line
M Downtown OuNin -'Village Parkway District
Eastern Study Area Boundary
��ffA Downtown OUNIA -Transit-Orionled 04tricl
ff,j Downtown DvWfn - Retail District
EXHIBITA -1
TRANSPORTATION
N Arterial and Regional 85 Private EJ City of Dublin
Corridor M Freeway and Existing Sphere of influence
00 Collector and Future Regional Corridor 1: :1 Eastern Study Area Boundary
Regional Corridor --- - Proposed Class 11 Bike Urban Limit Line
0011, Local Residential Lane Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
-- Iron Horse Trail
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS
M O.2 %Annual Chance Flood Hazard (500 Year Flood Hazard)
M 1 % Annual Chance Flood Hazard (100 Year Flood Hazard)
POTENTIAL FLOODING
M Liquefaction Areas ON Fault Boundary Stream
40 Landslide Areas CDC, Fault Traces
Molffam
LU
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EXHIBIT B
3
A)i
Public /Seml- Public /Open Space Corn mercialfindustrial
Regional Park
0 Parksl Public Recreation
Open Space
Stream Corridor
Public Lands
Public l Semi - Public
- Semi - Public
Reswrce Management
Large Parcel Agriculture
0 Community Park
FN Is Neighborhood Square
na Neighborhood Park
ar Regional Park
{ City of Livermore
Q City of Pleasanton
City of San Ramon
PROPOSED CITY OF DUBLIN LIMITS AND
/ PROPOSED SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
URBAN LIMIT LINE
EASTERN STUDYAREA
I
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LAND USE
DESIGNATION
EASTERN STUDY AREA
i
7 LARGE PARCELAGRICULTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION
Residential
General Commercial
.Rural
Reta l,Off ce
ResidenliaVAgricLlture (1 Umll per 100 Gross Residential Acres)
- Reta 110ffice and Automotive
Estate Residential (0.01 - 0.8 dulac)
Lo,v- Density Single Family (0.5 - 3 -8 dulac)
Neighborhood Commercial
Single Family Residential (0.9 - 6.0 dulac)
- General CommercialfCampus Office
Medium- Density Residenlial (6.1 - 14.0 dulac)
Campus Office
1. lediumlFligh- Density Residential (14.1 - 25.0 dulac)
Industrial Park
High- Density Residential (25.1+ dulac)
- Business Parkllndustnai
Busmess Parkllndustmal and Outdoor Storage
- Mixed Use
�, -,. City of Dublin Limits
?Z4 Mixed Use 21Campus Office
L� Sphere of Influence
Medium+High.Density Residential and Retail Office
Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
Downtown Dublin
Urban Limit Line
Downtown Dubl In - Village Parkway District
(; .j Eastern Study Area Boundary
} Downtown Dublin - Transit - Oriented District
Downtown Dublin - Retail District
EXHIBITA-1
PROPOSED CITY OF DUBLIN LIMITS AND
PROPOSED SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
URBAN LIMIT LINE
EASTERN STUDYAREA BOUNDARY
" + 97j,
t.�
City of Dublin t
City or 1'lea'antcuf
City of Livermore
TRANSPORTATION
Arterial and Regional Private C. I City of Dublin
Corridor 00 Freeway and Existing F-1 Sphere of Influence
I Collector and Future Regional Corridor l:: 7 Eastern Study Area Boundary
Regional Corridor Proposed Class II Bike 0 Urban Limit Line
Local Residential Lane M Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
°•••• Iron Horse Trail
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS
1 0,2 %Annual Chance Flood Hazard (500 Year Flood Hazard)
1 % Annual Chance Flood Hazard (100 Year Flood Hazard)
POTENTIAL FLOODING
M Liquefaction Areas Fault Boundary Stream
Landslide Areas CDC Fault Traces
EXHIBITA -2
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Ballot Title and Summary for Proposed I nitiative Filed with the City Clerk of the City of
Dublin on March 14, 2014 by Claudia McCormick, Gregory Tomlinson,
and Mona Lisa BalI ester os
I nitiative M easure To Be Submitted Directly to the Voters
The City Attorney has prepared the fol lowi ng title and summary of the chief purpose and poi nts
of the proposed measure:
LET DUBLI N DECI DE I NI TIATIVE OF 2014
The i nitiativewould mend the City of Dublin General Plan as fol lows:
• Create a neN Eastern Study Area (as depicted in the initiative), consisting of
approximately 1,650 acres located immediately east of the City's current boundaries.
• Establ i sh a gui di ng pol icy that D ubl i n decide what, if anythi ng, should happen i n the
Eastern Study Area. In furtherance, City policy would bethat the City Council, as soon
as practicable, should apply to the Local Agency Formation Commission to obtain an
amendment to the Ci ty' s Sphere of I of I uence i n order to bri ng the Eastern Study A rea
within the City boundaries and pursue annexation.
• Establ i sh an " Eastern U roan L i m i t L i nd' a1 ong the northern, eastern, and southern
boundaries of the Eastern Study Area. The City would be prohibited from approving the
permanent use or extend on of Ci ty servi ces, such as roads and uti I i ti es, beyond the I i ne.
I is I ocati on coul d onl y be changed by the voters.
Create and appl y Resource M anagement and Large Parcel Agri cul ture I and use
desi gnati ons w i thi n the Eastern Study Area. The i nitiative indicates that these
designations mimic the current designations under the A I ameda County General PI an and
are intended to maintain existing land use restrictions. The designations would remain in
place unless and until the City Council adopts an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive
Plan consistent with the requirements of the initiative.
•
Following receipt of any application to change a land use designation within the Eastern
Study Area, the City Council would be required to appoint a 15- member Citizen
Oversight Committee to participate in the creation of the Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan, which would serve, if adopted by the City Council, asthe
framework for future development in the Eastern Study Area.
The Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan would be subject to the fol lowing
restrictions:
1. Sixty percent (60 %) of the Eastern Study Area must remain permanently
protected, such that it remains in open space or agricultural use.
2. Devel opment i s precl uded i n areas at or above 770 -feet above sea I evel i n order to
protect ridgelineswithin the Eastern Study Area.
3. No future residential structures within the Eastern Study Area may bevisiblefrom
a residence in the City of Dubl in that existed on the date that the initiative takes
effect.
4. Local wetlands, streams and wildlife habitats, including Cottonwood Creek and
other seasonal wetlands, would be protected within the Eastern Study Area, in
conformancewith local, stateand federal laws.
5. Future development within the Eastern Study Area must pay for its own
infrastructure and public services, so that the burdens of development are not
borne by the rest of the City.
6. Multi -use trai Is must be included in the Eastern Study Area providing connection
poi nts to nearby regional parks. The land and improvements for such trai Is must
be provi ded by the f uture devel opment.
In addition, the i ni ti ative woul d make permanent the Ci ty's Western Urban Limit Lineadopted
by thevotersas Measure" M" in 2000, which would otherwise expire in 2030.
REGISTRAR OF VOTERS CERTIFICATE TO PETITION
I, Tim Dupuis, Registrar of Voters for the County of Alameda, State of California, hereby certify that:
an Initiative Petition Entitled: Let Dublin Decide Initiative of 2014, was filed with Dublin City Clerk
within the statutory time limit and forwarded to this office for verification on May 19, 2014 and;
The petition contained 3,556 signatures; and
Pursuant to California Elections Code section 9215, in order to be sufficient, the petition must have been
signed by 2,292 qualified registered voters of the City of Dublin, that number being equal to ten percent of
the total registered voters of the City at the last Report of Registration to the Secretary of State; and
I have examined, or caused to be examined, signatures on the petition pursuant to California Elections Code
sections 9211 and 9115; and
Have determined that the petition contained 426 valid signatures of qualified registered voters in the City of
Dublin based on the random sample examination set forth in section 9115 and the formula prescribed by the
California Secretary of State; and
That this number represents 130% of the total number of signatures needed to qualify the initiative; therefore
The petition is found to be sufficient to require the City Council of the City of Dublin to take the
appropriate action specified in the California Elections Code.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 28th day of
May, 2014.
Ti9i Dupuis
Registrar of Voters
County of Alameda
State of California
RESOLUTION NO. XX - 14
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
* * * * * * * * * **
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
ORDERING THE SUBMISSION TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AN ORDINANCE TITLED THE "LET DUBLIN DECIDE INITIATIVE" AT THE GENERAL
MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2014 AND PROVIDING
FOR SUBMISSION OF BALLOT ARGUMENTS AND REBUTTALS
WHEREAS, on March 14, 2014, a voter initiative, titled the "Let Dublin Decide Initiative,"
was filed with the Dublin City Clerk which, if approved, would adopt a new ordinance in the City
of Dublin restricting development to the west of the City limits and authorizing development to
the east of the City limits under limited circumstances, and
WHEREAS, on March 28, 2014, a title and summary of the initiative was provided to the
proponents; and
WHEREAS, on May 16, 2014, proponents of the initiative filed with the City Clerk
documents purporting to include signatures representing at least ten (10) percent of Dublin
registered voters ( "the Petition "); and
WHEREAS, the Petition, received May 16, 2014, was forwarded to the Alameda County
Clerk for review; and
WHEREAS, the County Registrar has provided a certificate concerning review of the
Petition; and
WHEREAS, Elections Code section 9114 requires the City Clerk, as the City Elections
Official, to examine such petitions and determine the sufficiency thereof within 30 working days
of filing of the petition; and
WHEREAS, Elections Code section 9114 provides that if the City Clerk determines a
petition to be sufficient, the Clerk shall certify the results of his or her examination to the City
Council at its next regular meeting; and
WHEREAS, Elections Code section 9215 requires that, upon certification by the City
Clerk to the City Council, the City Council must take one of three actions prescribed under that
section, namely: 1) adopt the ordinance, without alteration, at the meeting at which the petition
is certified, or a regular meeting within 10 days of that meeting; 2) submit the ordinance to the
voters pursuant to Elections Code section 1405, subdivision (b) at the next regular municipal
election; or 3) order staff to submit a report concerning potential fiscal, general plan and zoning,
land use, infrastructure, and other impacts of the initiative within 30 days of the meeting at which
the petition is certified; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Elections Code section 9114 and other applicable law,
the City Clerk certified the sufficiency of the Petition at the June 3, 2014 meeting of the Dublin
City Council; and
WHEREAS, November 4, 2014 is the date of the City's next regular municipal election;
and
WHEREAS, provisions of the Elections Code set forth the procedures and requirements
for the submission of measures to the voters, including: consolidation of municipal and
statewide elections, placement on the ballot, amendment and withdrawal, submission of ballot
arguments, preparation of impartial analysis and rebuttal arguments.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE as follows:
Section 1. That pursuant to the requirements of Section 9215(B) of the Elections Code of the
State of California and other applicable law, there is called and ordered to be held in the City of
Dublin, California, on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, an election for the purpose of submitting to
voters a measure restricting development to the west of the City limits and authorizing
development to the east of the City limits under limited circumstances
Section 2. The ballot language for the proposed ordinance shall be as follows:
"Shall an ordinance be adopted that (a) specifies that Dublin should decide what
happens to approximately 1,650 acres east of the city limits; (b) that establishes an
urban limit line at the boundary of such area; (c) that limits development in the
area unless the City Council approves a comprehensive plan incorporating
significant development restrictions; and (d) extends existing restrictions on
development to the west of the city limits beyond their November 7, 2030
expiration ?"
Section 3. The measure to be considered by the voters pursuant to Section 2 of this
Resolution is as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.
Section 4. (a) An election on the measure set forth in Section 2 shall be held in conjunction
with the municipal election to be held in the City of Dublin on Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
(b) The election on the measure set forth in Section 2 shall be held and
conducted, the votes canvassed and the returns made, and the results ascertained and
determined as provided for herein and within the Elections Code.
(c) The election for the measure set forth Section 2 shall be held in Alameda
County in the City of Dublin on November 4, 2014, as required by law, and the Alameda
County Election Department is authorized to canvas the returns of that election with respect to
the votes cast in the City of Dublin.
(d) At the next regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Dublin
occurring after the returns of the election for the measure set forth in Section 2 have been
canvassed and the certification of the results provided to the City Council, the City Council shall
cause to be entered in its minutes a statement of the results of the election.
Section 5. (a) In accordance with Elections Code sections 9282 and 9283, arguments
submitted for or against the measure shall not exceed 300 words in length, and shall be printed
upon the same sheet of paper and mailed to each voter with the sample ballot for the election
and may be signed by not more than five persons.
(b) In accordance with Elections Code section 9282, the following headings,
as appropriate, shall precede the arguments' wording, but shall not be counted in the 300 word
maximum: "Argument In Favor Of Measure " or "Argument Against Measure "
(the blank spaces being filled only with the letter or number, if any, designating the measure).
(c) In accordance with Elections Code section 9283, printed arguments
submitted to voters in accordance with section 9282 of the Elections Code shall be filed with the
City Clerk, accompanied by the printed name(s) and signature(s) of the author(s) submitting it
or, if submitted on behalf of an organization, the name of the organization and the printed name
and signature of at least one of its principal officers. Arguments are due in the office of the City
Clerk prior to 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, August 14, 2014.
(d) The City Council may authorize, by motion, a member or members to
prepare a draft argument against the measure and to return the draft for consideration and
adoption by the City Council at a duly noticed meeting of the City Council. In accordance with
Elections Code section 9287, any council members authorized by the City Council to do so may
sign the argument against the measure.
(e) Alternatively, the City Council may authorize, by motion, a member or
members of the City Council to cooperate with members of the community and /or interested
parties and /or organizations to prepare a draft argument against the measure.
Section 6. (a) Pursuant to Elections Code section 9285, when the City Clerk has selected the
arguments for and against the measure, that will be printed and distributed to the voters, the
City Clerk shall send copies of the argument in favor of the measure to the authors of the
argument against, and copies of the argument against to the authors of the argument in favor.
Rebuttal arguments shall be printed in the same manner as the direct arguments. Each rebuttal
argument shall immediately follow the direct argument that it seeks to rebut.
(b) Rebuttal arguments shall not exceed 250 words and may be signed by more
than five persons. However, only the first five persons to sign will be printed with
the ballot measure. The persons that sign the rebuttal arguments may be different persons than
the persons that signed the direct arguments.
(c) The last day for submission of rebuttal arguments for or against the
measure shall be by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 21, 2014.
Section 7. In accordance with Elections Code section 9280, the City Attorney is directed to
file with the City Clerk an impartial analysis of the measure, not to exceed 500 words, showing
the effect of the measure on the existing law and the operation of the measure.
Section 8. The City of Dublin recognizes that additional costs may be incurred by the
County by reason of the measure and agrees to reimburse the County for such costs. The City
Manager is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate the necessary funds to pay for the
City's cost of placing the measure on the election ballot.
Section 9. (a) The City Clerk is directed to file a certified copy of this resolution with the
Board of Supervisors of Alameda County and the Alameda County Elections Department. The
City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to take all steps necessary to place the measure on
the ballot and to cause a synopsis of the measure attached as Exhibit A to be published once in
a newspaper of general circulation in accordance with California Elections Code section 12111
and California Government Code section 6061. A copy of the measure shall be made available
to any voter upon request. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to give further additional
notice of the measure in the time, form, and manner required by law.
(b) In all particulars not recited in this Resolution, the election shall be held
and conducted as provided by law for holding municipal elections.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of June 2014, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Mayor
LET DUBLIN DECIDE INITIATIVE PETITION
CITY OF DUBLIN
REQUEST THAT MEASURE BE PLACED ON BALLOT
We, the undersigned, registered qualified voters of the City of Dublin, County of Alameda,
propose an initiative measure that addresses land use in Dublin. This initiative lays out a clear
path for Dublin to establish control over the area immediately adjacent to Dublin's current city
boundaries through a combination of urban limit lines and specific planning regulations. We
intend that the severance clause set forth in the initiative measure be applied to this entire
petition. We petition that this initiative measure be submitted to the voters of Dublin. If this
petition contains sufficient signatures to qualify for a special election, we petition that this
measure be submitted to the voters at a special election, and we request that the special election
be scheduled so that it occurs as soon as possible.
FULL TEXT OF THE INITIATIVE MEASURE
The people of the City of Dublin do ordain as follows:
I. TITLE
This Initiative measure shall be known as the "Let Dublin Decide Initiative."
11. THE EASTERN STUDY AREA
This Initiative addresses the Eastern Study Area, an area that lies immediately adjacent to the
eastern City limits. The Eastern Study Area is approximately 1,650 acres and does not include
any prime agricultural land. It is depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2 to this Initiative.
The Eastern Study Area has been included in City planning efforts dating back to the early
1990s, when the City of Dublin and the Alameda County LAFCO first considered bringing the
area east of Dublin's original boundaries within Dublin's control. The area was included in
Dublin's General Plan until 2002, when it was removed as a neighborly gesture to the City of
Livermore, which claimed to support an open space buffer between Dublin and Livermore.
However, Livermore subsequently has approved large projects, including a gambling casino
(Casino 580) and the Livermore Outlet Mall, right near Dublin's borders. While these projects
may bring financial benefits to Livermore, they have caused and will continue to cause traffic
congestion and other adverse impacts on Dublin's citizens.
In 2011, the City of Livermore submitted an application to LAFCO to bring 2,278 acres of land
adjacent to Dublin city limits, including the Eastern Study Area, into Livermore's Sphere of
Influence. Bringing property within a city's Sphere of Influence is a first step toward annexation
into that city. If the Eastern Study Area is annexed into Livermore, Dublin and its citizens would
have no control over what additional development Livermore could approve in the future on
Dublin's borders.
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III. PURPOSES
Dublin's citizens and its Council need to have a say in what happens in the Eastern Study Area
immediately adjacent to Dublin. We need to dictate the open space protections that will apply in
this area, while also assuring that we have control over any proposed change in land uses.
Action is urgently needed to address these concerns and begin the process of bringing the
Eastern Study Area within Dublin's control before Livermore can seize control for itself. This
Initiative is enacted for these purposes.
This Initiative is adopted to address the subject of land use and to achieve the following goals
and purposes:
• To mandate that 60% of the Eastern Study Area remain in permanent open space or
agricultural uses.
• To ensure that ridgelines in the Eastern Study Area are protected
• To protect views from existing homes in Dublin of the Eastern Study Area
• To ensure that environmentally sensitive areas such as Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands in the Eastern Study Area are protected, and that all impacts are
properly mitigated in conformance with local, state and federal laws.
• To lay out a clear path leading to Dublin, and not Livermore, having control over the
Eastern Study Area.
• To establish a permanent Urban Limit Line, which defines the outer limits of any
potential future growth in Dublin and which can be changed only by a vote of the people
of Dublin, along the eastern edge of the Eastern Study Area.
• To require that any future development in the Eastern Study Area pays for its own
infrastructure and public services so that any costs of providing those services are borne
only by property owners within the Eastern Study Area.
• To ensure that a citizen's oversight committee will participate in the City's review of any
land use changes proposed in the Eastern Study Area.
• To require that any proposals to change land uses to allow more intense uses be denied,
unless and until a plan is adopted for the entire Eastern Study Area that ensures all of
these goals can and will be realized.
• To make permanent the Western Urban Limit Line, which is currently set to expire in
2030.
IV. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Initiative:
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"City" and "Dublin" mean the City of Dublin located in Alameda County, California.
"Council" and "City Council" mean the City Council of the City of Dublin.
"Eastern Study Area" means the area addressed by this Initiative, immediately east of Dublin's
existing eastern border. The Eastern Study Area is depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2.
"Effective Date" means the date this Initiative takes effect, which shall be on the earliest date
legally possible. If the four amendments of the mandatory elements of the General Plan
permitted by state law for any calendar year have already been enacted in the year in which this
Initiative would otherwise take effect, the General Plan amendments set forth in this Initiative
shall take effect on January 1 of the next year.
"Filing Date" means the date the Notice of Intent To Circulate Petition for this Initiative was
presented to Dublin,
"General Plan" means the General Plan of the City of Dublin, as it exists on the date this
Initiative takes effect (unless this Initiative makes specific reference to the General Plan in effect
on a different date).
"Initiative" means this Let Dublin Decide Initiative.
"Local Agency Formation Commission" or "LAFCO" means an agency as described in the
Cortese -Knox- Hertzberg Act, Government Code sections 56000 and following, that is
responsible for deciding issues related to spheres of influence and annexations.
"Measure M" is the initiative that created a Western Urban Limit Line, and is referenced in the
General Plan as City Council Resolution 209 -00, adopted by initiative on November 7, 2000.
"Sphere of Influence" or "SOI" has the meaning ascribed in Government Code section 56076,
i,e. "a Ulan for the mobable uhvsical boundaries and service area of a local auencv."
V. GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
The Eastern Study Area is added to the General Plan, as follows. The text and diagrams of
General Plan are amended as follows.
A. Diagram Amendments.
The Dublin General Plan Land Use Map, and all figures in the General Plan that depict the
planning area of the City, are amended to encompass the diagrams in Exhibits A -I and A -2
attached to this Initiative, which is incorporated by reference. Exhibit B attached to this
Initiative is the Dublin General Plan Land Use Map on the Filing Date, Exhibit C is from the
County's General Plan Land Use Map, and shows the County land use designations for the
Eastern Study Area as of the Filing Date. Exhibits B and C are included for comparison
purposes and are not enacted by this Initiative.
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B. Eastern Study Area in Chapter 2.
The following text is added to Chapter 2 (Land Use and Circulation: Land Use Element) of the
General Plan, at the end of the chapter:
2.7. Eastern Study Area.
This section 2.7 was enacted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
The Eastern Study Area is an area comprised of approximately
1,650 acres located immediately east of the Eastern Extended
Planning Area. It is generally depicted in the land use map (Figure
1 -1, which conforms to Exhibit A -1 of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative). The Eastern Study Area lies inside the Eastern Urban
Limit Line established by the 2014 initiative. The Eastern Study
Area comprises a "Planning Area" in the General Plan, separate
from the Primary, Western Extended and Eastern Extended
Planning Areas.
A. Guiding Policy for the Eastern Study Area.
Take all steps necessary to ensure that the Eastern Study Area is
brought under the control of the City of Dublin, so that Dublin will
decide what, if anything, should happen in this area. It is the
policy of Dublin that the Council should apply to LAFCO and
obtain an amendment of Dublin's Sphere of Influence to include
the Eastern Study Area, and pursue annexation of that area, as soon
as practicable in compliance with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
B. Eastern Urban Limit Line.
To facilitate Dublin's plan to obtain control over the Eastern Study
Area, to encourage LAFCO to approve an application to amend
Dublin's Sphere of Influence to include the Eastern Study Area,
and to ensure that urban services cannot be provided by Dublin
outside the Eastern Study Area without a vote of the people of
Dublin, an Eastern Urban Limit Line is established around the
Easter Study Area, The Eastern Urban Limit Line is shown on
the General Plan Land Use Map (Figure 1 -1).
The City shall not approve or recommend approval of the
permanent use or extension of City services or facilities, including
but not limited to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban
development beyond the Eastern Urban Limit Line. The location
of the Eastern Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin.
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C. Land Use Designations for the Eastern Study Area.
Land within the Eastern Study Area is designated Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture, as shown on the Land
Use Map (Figure 1 -1). These land use designations mimic the land
use designations adopted by the voters of the County for this area,
and are intended to maintain the land uses that were permitted in
the Eastern Study Area when the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative
became effective, Accordingly, they apply to legal parcels,
meaning any parcels created after annexation that meet the
minimum parcel size requirements as well as all parcels recognized
as legal parcels by the County prior to annexation. These land use
designations shall remain in place unless and until such time as the
City Council adopts an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan
consistent with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative.
Resource Management, This designation requires a minimum
parcel size of 100 acres and a maximum building intensity for non-
residential uses of .01 FAR (Floor Area Ratio) but not less than
20,000 square feet per legal parcel. One single family home per
legal parcel is allowed provided that adequate road access, sewer
and water facilities, and public services are provided. Residential
and residential accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor
space of 12,000 square feet. The population density for Resource
Management is 2.7 persons per residential unit. Apart from
Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource Management and
Large Parcel Agriculture (see below), all buildings shall be located
on a contiguous development envelope not to exceed 2 acres,
except they may be located outside the envelope if necessary for
security reasons or, if structures for agricultural use, necessary for
agricultural use. All development must comply with the Goals,
Guiding Policies, Policies, Implementing Policies and
Implementation Measures that apply throughout all three other
Planning Areas (the Primary and Extended Planning Areas), as
those policies exist at the time such development is approved.
Subject to the provisions of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative,
this designation permits agricultural uses, recreational uses, habitat
protection, watershed management, public and quasi - public uses,
areas typically unsuitable for human occupation due to public
health and safety hazards such as earthquake faults, floodways,
unstable soils, or areas containing wildlife habitat and other
environmentally sensitive features, secondary residential units,
active sand and gravel and other quarries, reclaimed quarry lakes,
and similar and compatible uses. Sand and gravel quarries allow a
range of uses including sand and gravel processing, associated
manufacturing and recycling uses requiring proximity to quarries,
reclamation pits, and public use areas. This designation is intended
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 5 -
mainly for land designated for long -term preservation as open
space but may include low intensity agriculture, grazing, and very
low density residential use. Development that would interfere with
the ability to adopt an effective Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan that complies with the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative is not allowed.
Large Parcel Agriculture. This designation requires a minimum
parcel size of 100 acres. The maximum building intensity for non-
residential buildings shall be .01 FAR but not less than 20,000
square feet per legal parcel. Where permitted, greenhouses shall
have a maximum intensity of .025 FAR. One single family home
per parcel is allowed provided that adequate road access, sewer
and water facilities, and public services are provided. Residential
and residential accessory buildings shall have a maximum floor
space of 12,000 square feet. Additional residential units may be
allowed if they are occupied by faun employees required to reside
on -site. All development must comply with the Goals, Guiding
Policies, Policies, Implementing Policies and Implementation
Measures that apply throughout all three other Planning Areas (the
Primary and Extended Planning Areas), as those policies exist at
the time such development is approved. The population density
for Large Parcel Agriculture is 2.7 persons per residential unit.
Apart from Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture (see below), all
buildings shall be located on a contiguous development envelope
not to exceed 2 acres except they may be located outside the
envelope if necessary for security reasons or, if structures for
agricultural use, necessary for agricultural use. Subject to the
provisions of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, this
designation permits agricultural uses, agricultural processing
facilities (for example wineries, olive presses), limited agricultural
support service uses (for example animal feed facilities, silos,
stables, and feed stores), secondary residential units, visitor -
serving commercial facilities ( by way of illustration, tasting
rooms, fruit stands, bed and breakfast inns), recreational uses,
public and quasi - public uses, solid waste landfills and related
waste management facilities, quarries, windfarms and related
facilities, utility corridors, and similar uses compatible with
agriculture. Development that would interfere with the ability to
adopt an effective Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan that
complies with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative is not
allowed.
Infrastructure Expressly Allowed In Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture. On lands designated either
Resource Management or Large Parcel Agriculture, the City shall
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neither provide nor authorize public facilities or other
infiastructure in excess of that needed for permissible development
consistent with the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. This policy
shall not bar 1) new, expanded or replacement infrastructure
necessary to create adequate service for areas other than the
Eastern Study Area, 2) maintenance, repair or improvements of
public facilities which do not increase capacity, and
3) infrastructure such as pipelines, canals, and power transmission
lines which have no excessive growth- inducing effect on the
Eastern Study Area and have permit conditions to ensure that no
service can be provided beyond that consistent with development
allowed by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. "Infrastructure"
for purposes of this paragraph shall include public facilities,
community facilities, and all structures and development necessary
to the provision of public services and utilities.
D. Land Use Designations May Be Changed Only If An
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan Is Adopted.
The Council shall not amend any land use designation for any
property in the Eastern Study Area to a designation that would
allow a greater intensity of development unless an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan has been adopted for land uses for the
entire Eastern Study Area, and the proposed amendment is
consistent with that Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan. The
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan must comply with and
include the following policies, which can be amended only by a
vote of the people of Dublin:
1. Sixty percent (60 %) of the land in the Eastern Study Area
shall be permanently protected such that it will remain in
open space or agricultural uses. Acceptable open space may
include but is not necessarily limited to parks or trails,
either public or private, or private property that is subject to
a recorded conservation easement limiting use of the
property to open space, agriculture, grazing, wetland or
habitat preservation or enhancement, or other similar uses.
2. Protect ridgelines in the Eastern Study Area by precluding
development on lands over 770 feet in elevation above the
mean sea level. As is the case with the Development
Elevation Cap for the Eastern Extended Planning Area, this
Eastern Study Area Development Elevation Cap requires
that on lands above 770 feet, residential, commercial and
industrial uses are not allowed; and only public, semi-
public, or open space uses; reservoirs, water lines, grading,
and infrastructure and construction activities necessary for
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 7 -
development on lands located at or below 770 feet in
elevation are allowed.
Protect views of existing Dublin residents by requiring that
no future residential structures, if any, in the Eastern Study
Area shall be visible from a residence in the City of Dublin
that existed on the date the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative took effect.
4. Protect local wetlands, streams and wildlife habitats in the
Easter Study Area, including Cottonwood Creek and other
seasonal wetlands, in conformance with local, state and
federal laws.
5. Any future development within the Eastern Study Area
shall pay for its own infrastructure and public services
(including police, fire, schools and roads), so that the
burdens imposed by development in the Eastern Study Area
are not borne by residents in other areas of the City.
6. Multi -use trails shall be included in the Eastern Study Area.
These trails shall be provided by dedication of land and
construction of improvements, or by the funding of
acquisition and construction costs. The trails shall provide
for connection points to the East Bay Regional Park
District lands located north of the Eastern Study Area.
E. Citizen Oversight Committee.
Following receipt of any application to change a land use
designation on any property within the Eastem Study Area to a
designation that would allow more development than is allowed
under the existing designation, the City Council shall appoint a
fifteen (15)- member Citizen Oversight Committee, as follows:
1. Each member of the Council shall appoint one resident of
Dublin, for a total of five (5) members. In addition, the
City Council shall appoint three (3) representatives of
landowners in the Eastern Study Area, two (2)
representatives of local environmental groups, two (2)
representatives of the Dublin Unified School District, two
(2) representatives of business interests and one (1) "at
large" representative.
2. Concurrent with the appointment of the Citizen Oversight
Committee, the City Council shall adopt guidelines and
polices that shall establish how the committee will
participate in the processing of any proposal to adopt an
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Easter Study Area Comprehensive Plan or change any
land use designation in the Eastern Study Area to a
designation that would allow more development. The
guidelines and policies shall address all of the following:
a. The addition or substitution of members.
b. Term of membership.
c. Methods of communication.
d. Access to and distribution of application materials
presented to the City.
e. Meetings among committee members, with City
staff, and with members or subcommittee of the
Council.
f. Presentation of committee discussions, conclusions
or consensus items to City decision makers.
g. The mechanism by which the City Council must
respond to committee conclusions, comments and
concerns prior to making any decision on an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan or land use
designation amendment,
C. Western Urban Limit Line.
City Council Resolution 209 -00, adopted by initiative on November 7, 2000 as "Measure M ",
created the Western Urban Limit Line. That initiative and the Western Urban Limit Line are
amended to make the Urban Limit Line permanent so that it can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin.
1. Amendments To Measure M
Measure M is amended. The following underlined text is added by this Initiative. The stricken
text is deleted. The plain text is included for comparison and context, and is not adopted by this
Initiative.
Section 2.B.2 of Measure M is amended as follows.:
2. Amend Section 1.8.1,Western Extended Planning Area, to add
the following after "Other land use categories" and before Table
1.1:
"Urban Limit Line. An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative
in for the Western Extended Planning Area. The Urban
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 9 -
Limit Line is located along the city limits line as of the effective
date of the initiative. Pursuant to the initiative, lands west of the
Urban Limit Line are designated as Rural Residential /Agriculture
on the Land Use Map. The initiative is effective until changed by
the voters, ; the location of the
Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of the people of
Dublin during the °rte etiye peri ^', and only following review and
approval of a General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any
request to change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a
request to amend the land use designation to an urban
designation. " -
Section 2.B.3 of Measure M is amended as follows:
3. Amend Section 2,Western Extended Planning Area, to add the
following at the end of the section, after Table 2.2:
"All lands in the Western Extended Planning Area located west of
the Urban Limit Line as defined in Section 2.B.2 above, shall be
designated Rural Residential /Agriculture r r a period of 30 yea
r the fro t d t F u t
auz?rirF�cricccivv�acc °�rzcc��vi'u'rivi� , adopted '
initiative and may be changed only a vote of the
people of Dublin. The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills and to restrict further
urban development in the western hills, instead guiding it to areas
of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban services can be
provided in a more efficient and cost- effective manner.
In addition to restricting urban development, the City will not
approve or recommend approval of the permanent use or extension
of city services or facilities, including but not limited to utilities or
roads, to support or facilitate urban development beyond the Urban
Limit Line."
Measure M as amended by this Initiative may be further amended only by a vote of the people.
2. Amendments to the General Plan To Reflect A Permanent Western
Urban Limit Line.
The following text amendments are made to the following Sections of the General Plan. The
following underlined text is added by this Initiative. The stricken text is deleted. The plain text
is included for comparison and context, and is not adopted by this Initiative.
The last paragraph of Section 1.4.2 is amended as follows:
An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on November 7,
2000 for a portion of the Western Extended Planning Area, and
that Urban Limit Line was made permanent by the 2014 Let
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 10 -
Dublin Decide Initiative. The Urban Limit Line is coterminous
with the City limit line as of the effective date of the 2000
Initiative. Pursuant to the 2000 Initiative, lands west of the Urban
Limit Line are required to be designated as Rural
Residential /Agriculture on the General Plan Land Use Map (Figure
1 -1) for n period of 30 years s fi-em the off etiye date of initiative
Resolution ''Inn nn The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills by guiding development
to areas of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban
services can be provided in a more efficient and cost effective
manner. The City will not approve or recommend approval of the
permanent use or extension of City services or facilities, including
but not limited to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban
development beyond the Urban Limit Line. The location of the
Urban Limit Line may only be changed by a vote of the people of
Dublin during the a ffeetive pe , and only following review and
approval of a General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any
request to change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a
request to amend the land use designation to an urban designation
The last paragraph of Section 1.8.1.73 is amended as follows:
Urban Limit Line.
An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on November 7,
2000 for the Western Extended Planning Area. The Urban Limit
Line is located along the City limit line as of the effective date of
this initiative. Pursuant to the initiative, lands west of the Urban
Limit Line are designated as Rural Residential /Agriculture on the
General Plan Land Use Map (Figure 1 -1). The Initiative, as
on ig nally enacted, was 4s effective for thirty (30) years from its
effective date. The 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative deleted the
provisions that made the 2000 Initiative effective for only 30 years
and made the Western Urban Limit Line permanent. The
location of the Urban Limit Line may be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin dur -inn the °r€ e ive per -i , and only
following review and approval of a General Plan Amendment by
the City Council. Any request to change the Urban Limit Line
must be accompanied by a request to amend the land use
designation to an urban designation.
The last paragraph of Section 2.1 is amended as follows:
The majority of the Primary Planning Area has been developed
since the 1960's; therefore, the Land Use Element focuses on the
remaining uncommitted sites and on the potential for more
intensive use of existing sites. Land use changes in the Eastern
Extended Planning Area have been more dramatic with the
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 11 -
implementation of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. With the
exception of Schaefer Ranch, development in the Western
Extended Planning Area was initially is restricted until 2030
pursuant to initiative Resolution 209 -00 adopted on November 7,
2000. The 2000 Initiative established a Western Urban Limit Line,
and the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative made that Urban Limit
Line permanent so that it can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin.
The first paragraph of Section 2.4 is amended as follows:
2.4 WESTERN EXTENDED PLANNING AREA
The Western Extended Planning Area is over 3,000 acres (see
Table 2.3 below) of which approximately 2,647 acres lie west of
the Urban Limit Line and have been designated Rural
Residential/Agriculture
date of C t y Catmoil nan„ t „tio 209 nn adopted by initiative o
November 7, 20 . The intent of the Urban Limit Line is to protect
the natural resources of the western hills and guide development to
areas of Dublin that are less constrained and where urban services
can be provided in a more efficient and cost - effective manner. The
Western Urban Limit Line was made permanent by the 2014 Let
Dublin Decide Initiative, and can be changed only by a vote of the
people of Dublin. In addition to restricting urban development, the
City will not approve or recommend approval of the permanent use
or extension of City services or facilities, including but not limited
to, utilities or roads, to support or facilitate urban development
beyond the Urban Limit Line.
Guiding Policy A.I.a. in Section 2.5.5, Western Extended Planning Area, is amended as follows:
a. An Urban Limit Line was adopted by initiative on
November 7, 2000 for the majority of the Western Extended
Planning Area. The Urban Limit Line is located along the City
limit line as of the effective date of the initiative. Pursuant to the
initiative, lands west of the Urban Limit Line are designated as
Rural Residential/Agriculture on the General Plan Land Use Map
(Figure 1 -1). The Initiative as originally enacted, was is effective
for thirty (30) years from its effective date. The 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative amended the General Plan to make the Western
Urban Limit Line permanent. The location of the Urban Limit
Line may be changed only by a vote of the people of Dublin-dw4*g
the off „tive period, and only following review and approval of a
General Plan Amendment by the City Council. Any request to
change the Urban Limit Line must be accompanied by a request to
amend the land use designation to an urban designation.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 12 -
VI. CONFORMING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS
The following amendments to the General Plan are made by this Initiative to ensure the General
Plan remains internally consistent and correlated. Underlined text is added and strikethrough
text is deleted. Plain text is included for comparison and context.
The amendments added by this Section VI of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative may be
amended or deleted by the Council pursuant to usual procedures without a vote of the people of
Dublin, so long as doing so effects no substantive change to or conflicts with any provisions in
any other Section of this Initiative.
Section numbers references within these conforming amendments are to sections of the General
Plan.
Conforming Amendment #I. The second paragraph of Section 1.1 is amended as follows:
The text and plan maps adopted by the City Council in this General
Plan constitute a guide for the day to day physical development
decisions that shape the social, economic, and environmental
character of the City and its dv� planning areas. In
accordance with Government Code Section 65300, the General
Plan includes policies for the Planning Area, including the City
limits proper and those areas outside the City limits that bear
relation to Dublin's planning. Consequently, the Dublin Planning
Area includes the Primary Planning Area, and two Extended
Planning Areas; (the Eastern Extended Planning Area and the
Western Extended Planning Area), and the Eastern Study Area.
The City and its Extended Planning Areas cover approximately
18.76 square miles of which 14.62 square miles are located within
the City limits. The remaining 4.14+ square miles is located within
the Western Extended Planning Area beyond an Urban Limit Line.
I_n addition, the Eastern Study Area covers approximately
acres or approximately 2.6 square miles.
Conforming Amendment #2. Section 1.4 is amended as follows:
1.4 PRIMARY AND E TT?A DED DUBLIN'S FOUR
PLANNING AREAS
The General Plan includes policies for all four three of the City's
Planning Areas: the Primary Planning Area, Eastern Extended
Planning Area an4-Western Extended Planning Area and the
Eastern Study Area. The Primary Planning Area consists of the
original 1982 City boundaries and those annexations occurring to
the west between 1985 and 1991 and is roughly 3,100 acres. The
Eastern Extended Planning Area is located east of the Primary
Planning Area while the Western Extended Planning Area is
located west of the Primary Planning Area. The Eastern and
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Western Extended Planning Areas are coterminous with the City's
Sphere of Influence and are described in further detail below.
The Eastern Study Area was created by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative which also established a policy that the Council
should apply to LAFCO and obtain an amendment of Dublin's
Sphere of Influence to include the Eastern Study Area, and pursue
annexation of that area. The Eastern Study Area lies cast of the
Eastern Extended Planning Area and inside the Eastern Urban
Limit Line established by that initiative. For more detailed
information about the Eastern Study Area and policies applicable
to that area, see Section 2.7.
Conforming Amendment #3. A new Section 1.4.3 is added immediately following Section
1.4.2, as follows:
1.4.3 EASTERN STUDY AREA,
The Eastern Study Area was added by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative, and is subject to the policies set forth in Section 2.7.
Conforming Amendment #4. Section 1.8.1.2 is amended as follows:
1.8.1.2 POPULATION DENSITY MEASUREMENTS
Assumed residential household size in all three four Planning
Areas is based on Dublin's average household size of 2.7 persons
per unit as reported in the 2010 US Census data.
Conforming Amendment #5. A new Section 1.8.1.7A is added, immediately following Section
1.8.1.7, as follows:
1.8.1.7A. EASTERN STUDY A
For the land use classifications applicable in the Eastern Study
Area, see Section 2.7 below.
Conforming Amendment #6. Section 2.1 is amended as follows:
2.1 INTRODUCTION
Government Code sec. 65302(a) identifies the required content for
land use elements. A land use element must 1) designate the
proposed distribution of specified uses and facilities; 2) identify
population density and building intensity standards for each land
use district; 3) identify areas subject to flooding and review those
areas annually; 4) create a timber production land use category
where appropriate; and, 5) consider the impact of new growth on
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 14 -
military readiness activities carried out on military bases,
installations, and operating and training areas.
Each of these required features is included in Dublin's adopted
General Plan, although not all are present in the Land Use
Element. Dublin's General Plan Map for all the Primary
Extend Planning Areas, Figure 1 -1, summarizes the proposed
distribution of residential, commercial, industrial, and open space
uses. The map also shows existing schools and other public
buildings and grounds. Policies further defining the location and
intensity of residential, commercial, and industrial uses appear in
this Land Use Element. Policies relating to open space and parks
appear in the Parks and Open Space Element (Chapter 3); policies
relating to schools, and solid and liquid waste disposal facilities
appear in the Schools, Public Lands and Utilities Element (Chapter
4). Background information supporting the adopted policies is
located in the corresponding Land Use, Open Space, and Schools,
Public Lands and Utilities sections of the Technical Supplement.
Population density and building intensity standards are presented
in sec. 1.8.1 Land Use Classifications of Chapter 1, and in sec. 2.7
pertaining to the Eastern Stud. Areas subject to flooding and
appropriate land use policies are presented in the Seismic Safety
and Safety Element (Chapter 8). Dublin's General Plan contains no
timber production land use category because no timberland as
described in Government Code sec. 65302(a)(1) occurs anywhere
in the City's planning area. Policies related to military readiness
activities at the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area can be found
in the Schools, Public Lands and Utilities Element (Chapter 4).
The majority of the Primary Planning Area has been developed
since the 1960's; therefore, the Land Use Element focuses on the
remaining uncommitted sites and on the potential for more
intensive use of existing sites. Land use changes in the Eastern
Extended Planning Area have been more dramatic with the
implementation of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. With the
exception of Schaefer Ranch, development in the Western
Extended Planning Area is restricted until 2030 pursuant to
initiative Resolution 209 -00 adopted on November 7, 2000. The
Eastern Study Area is subject to the policies described in sec. 2.7.
Conforming Amendment V. A new Section 3.5 is added at the end of Chapter 3 (Land Use
and Circulation: Parks and Open Space ) of the General Plan:
3.5 EASTERN STUDY AREA
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 15 -
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations which were
adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and will result in preservation of existing areas of
open s ace in the condition they. were in as of the effective date of
that initiative. These designations cannot be amended to allow
more development unless and until an Eastern Study Area
Comprehensive Plan is formulated for the area. If an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered, the
subjects of parks and permanent open space would be addressed in
the context of the Plan being proposed, and olicies specific to the
Eastern Study Area would be considered at that time. (See Section
Conforming Amendment #8. A new Section 4.8 is added at the end of Chapter 4 (Land Use
and Circulation: Schools, Public Lands, and Utilities Elements), as follows:
4.8 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses. Accordingly, the
Eastern Study Area is not expected to generate substantial needs or
have substantial impacts related to public schools, public lands,
solid waste, sewage treatment and disposal, water supply, or the
Alameda County Hazardous Waste Management Plan. Similarly,
the Eastern Study Area is not expected to have anyqppreciable
effect on military readiness._
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use
designations cannot be amended to allow more development unless
and until an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted
for the area. If an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were
being considered, the subjects of public schools, public lands, solid
waste, sewage treatment and disposal, water supply, the Alameda
County Hazardous Waste Management Plan and effect on militar
readiness would be addressed in the context of the Plan being
proposed, and .policies specific to the Eastern Study Area would be
considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment ##9. A new paragraph is added at the end of section 5.1 as follows;
The Eastern Study Area, which lies outside City limits as of the
effective date of the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative that added
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 16 -
the Eastern Study Area to the General Plan, is served primarily bX
the proposed extension of Dublin Boulevard from Fallon Road to
Airway Boulevard, (See Table 5.1 below). Streets in the Eastern
Study Area are shown on the Circulation Map as amended by the
2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management and
Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in this
Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative seek to preserve existing uses. Accordin 1 the Eastern
Study Area is not expected to impose substantial needs or have
substantial impacts related to circulation. The Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations
cannot be amended to allow more development unless and until an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If
an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being
considered, circulation issues would be addressed in the context of
the Plan being_ proposed, and policies specific to the Eastern Study
Area would be considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #10. The third and fourth paragraphs of Section 7.1 are amended as
follows:
Those statutorily required resources that do not occur in the
Primary ^" E to.-n- -°d- Planning Areas of Dublin are not discussed.
Specifically, Dublin is an inland city which contains no forests,
harbors, fisheries or mineral extraction areas.
Air quality and wastewater disposal have been the Tri- Valley's
most difficult conservation issues affecting urban growth, even
with construction of the Livermore Amador Valley Wastewater
Management Association (LAVWMA) pipeline, and significantly
improved air quality. The extent of development in eastern the
Eastern Extended Plannin Area of Dublin has drawn greater
attention to other conservation issues -- conversion of agricultural
land to urban uses; loss of open space; hazards posed by
development in steep and landslide prone areas; increased runoff;
and, erosion and stream siltation. Additionally, the prospect of
renewed or intensified air quality and sewage disposal problems
accompanies plans approved or under consideration that would
result in up to 200,000 jobs in the Tri- Valley.
Conforming Amendment #11. Section 7.1.2 is amended as follows:
7.1,2 EASTERN HILLS
The eastern hills are not as valuable as the western hills for habitat
resources. Productive agricultural soils are likewise limited; the
Eastern Extended Planning Area and the Eastern Study Area do
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 17 -
does not include prime agricultural land or farmlands of Statewide
importance. At best, the forage produced in the Planning Area is of
some local importance. Throughout the northern, central, and
eastern portions of the Eastern Extended Planning Area, much of
the land had been under Williamson Act contracts that prohibit
development for a minimum of ten years while providing tax
advantages to landowners. In recent years, a number of landowners
have not renewed their contracts, and the lands are no longer in
Williamson Act contracts.
Conforming Amendment #12. The first paragraph of Section 7.2 is amended as follows:
7.2 STREAM CORRIDORS AND RIPARIAN VEGETATION
Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning Areas, and the
Eastern Study Area are located within Livermore Drainage Unit
which is one of two major drainage basins in the Alameda Creek
Watershed. Of the many streams in the Livermore Drainage Unit,
two flow through Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning
Areas — Alamo Creek and Tassajara Creek, respectively. Alamo
Creek runs in a north -south direction just west of Dougherty Road;
Tassajara Creek also runs in a north -south direction and is located
just west of Tassajara Road. Portions of these creeks have been
channelized and remaining sections are being improved as a result
of subdivision developments. Cottonwood Creek flows through
the Easter Study Area, and is protected by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #13. A new Section 7.9 is added at the end of Chapter 7
(Environmental Resources Management: Conservation Element), as follows:
7.9 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Management
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses and will result in
preservation of existing areas of open space and agricultural uses
in the condition the were in as of the effective date of that
initiative.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture.. land use
designations are respectful of environmental resources and they
cannot be amended to allow more development unless and until an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If
an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 18 -
considered, the subjects of stream corridors and riparian
vegetation, erosion and siltation control, oak woodlands, oak
woodlands, air quality, agricultural lands, archeologic and historic
resources, and open space maintenance /management would be
addressed as applicable in the context of the Plan being proposed,
and policies for the Eastern Studv Area would be considered at that
time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #14. Section 8.1 is amended as follows:
Few potential building sites within the U,-;,.,ary or Ex4en „a
Planning Areas are without geologic impact or hazard. The hazard
may be actual, such as an active landslide or proximity to an active
fault, or potential, such as a proposed cut that might activate a
landslide. Mitigation of hazards may increase construction cost,
but will reduce long -term costs to both property owners and the
City.
Conforming Amendment #15. A new Section 8.4 is added at the end of Chapter 8
(Environmental Resources Management; Seismic Safety and Safety Element) as follows:
8.4 EASTERN STUDY AREA
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. The Resource Mana ement
and Large Parcel Agriculture land use designations that apply in
this Planning Area, which were adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin
Decide Initiative, seek to preserve existing uses. That Initiative
amended General Plan Diagrams to map seismic and geologic
hazard areas, and flood areas. Evacuation routes for this Planning
Area are along the existing roadway system, depicted in the
Circulation Map as amended by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide
Initiative.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture land use
designations restrict development and they cannot be amended to
allow more development unless and until an Eastern Stud
Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered, the risk of
ground shaking, rupture, and failure due to earthquakes, landslide,
subsidence and liquefaction hazards, flooding, and urban and
wildland fires would be addressed as applicable in the context of
the Plan being proposed, and policies for the Eastern Study Area
would be considered at that time. (See Section 2.7)
Conforming Amendment #16. Section 9.1 is amended as follows;
9.1 INTRODUCTION
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 19 -
Government Code sec. 65302(f) outlines the statutory requirements
for Noise Elements. Recognizing the State Office of Noise Control
(ONC) guidelines, Noise Elements must quantify current and
projected noise levels for local noise sources. Among the noise
sources to be evaluated are highways and freeways, arterials and
major streets, railroads and rapid transit systems, airports and
heliports, industrial plants, and other ground stationary sources
identified by local agencies as contributing to the community noise
environment.
Traffic noise is the major source of noise in Dublin's thme
Planning Areas. Therefore, the focus of this Noise Element is the
effect of traffic noise on locating categories of land use and
developing projects within those categories. Information
supporting the adopted noise policies is located in the
corresponding Noise Element section of the Technical Supplement,
and the Eastern Study Area is projected to experience the same
level of noise along the freeways and major roadways as is
described and projected within the Eastern Extended Planning
Area. The City's Planning Areas contain no railroads, airports,
heliports or industrial plants. However, the Parks Reserve Forces
Training Area (Parks RFTA) does contain a heliport and is located
between Dublin's Primary and Eastern Extended Planning Areas.
Noise impacts from the Parks RFTA were addressed in the Army's
2005 Environmental Noise Management Plan (ENMP).
Additionally, the southern portions of the Eastern Extended
Planning Area east of Tassajara Road fall within the Livermore
Municipal Airports Airport Influence Area (AIA). Noise impacts
from the Livermore Municipal Airport were addressed in Alameda
County's 2012 Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP).
Development within the AIA must be consistent with the ALUM
Traffic is the primary source of continuous noise in Dublin. Noise
exposure contours have been plotted for 2011 (based on current
traffic data) and projected to 2035 based on anticipated traffic
volume increases (see Figures 9 -1 and 9 -2). The Community Noise
Equivalent Level (CNEL) describes 24 -hour average noise levels
measured in decibels (dB) taking into account the increased
sensitivity of people to noise during evening and nighttime hours.
Sound levels between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. are penalized 5 dB
and those between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m, are penalized 10 dB.
The dB scale is logarithmic; a 3 dB difference normally is
discernable and a 10 dB increase is subjectively heard as a
doubling in loudness.
The Land Use Compatibility Table (Table 9.1) provides the basis
for decisions on the location of land uses in relation to noise
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 20 -
sources, and for determining noise mitigation needs. Noise impacts
resulting fiom development within the Eastern Extended Planning
Area were addressed in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan
Environmental Impact Report and subsequent environmental
analyses for projects within the Eastern Extended Planning Area.
The Resource Management and Large Parcel Agriculture.jand use
designations that apply in the Eastern Study Area, which were
adopted by the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and thus are not expected to alter noise. Existing and
projected noise contours in the Eastern Extended Planning Area
are extended into the Eastern Study Area. The Resource
Management and Large Parcel Agriculture designations cannot be
amended to allow more development unless and until an Eastern
Study Area Comprehensive Plan is adopted for the area. If an
Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were being considered,
noise issues would be addressed as applicable in the context of the
Plan being proposed, and policies for the Eastern Stud
would be considered at that time. (See Section 2,7).
Conforming Amendment ##17. Appendix A (General Plan Amendments) is amended as
follows, An additional row is added. In the "Amendment" column of that new row, "2014 Let
Dublin Decide Initiative" is added, In the "Approval" column of that new row, "Initiative" is
added. In the "Dated Adopted" column of that new row, "11 -4 -14" (or such other date as this
Initiative is adopted) is added. In the "GP Updated" column "TBD" is added.
Conforming Amendment #18. The second paragraph under the heading "Agricultural
Workers" on page Appendix C -16 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is amended
as follows:
Dublin is an urbanized community with no undeveloped parcels
zoned for agricultural use, though land in the Eastern Stud Area is
designated in the General Plan for agricultural uses. The
agricultural land use designation is intended to maintain existin
uses and is not expected to expand agricultural uses. Because a
negligible portion of community residents are employed in
farming, fishing, and forestry occupations and there is little
potential for this occupational category to expand within Dublin,
no housing programs or policies are needed to address the needs of
farm- workers.
Conforming Amendment #19. The text immediately following the heading `B. Governmental
Constraints" on page Appendix C -32 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is
amended as follows:
B. Governmental Constraints
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 21 -
City ordinances, policies, and other regulations can impact the
price and availability of housing in Dublin. Land use controls, site
improvement requirements, building codes, fees, and other local
programs to improve the overall quality of housing may serve as
constraints to housing development.
The following public policies can affect overall housing
availability, adequacy, and affordability.
Land Use Controls
The Dublin General Plan, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan,
Downtown Core Specific Plan, Village Parkway Specific Plan, and
West Dublin BART Specific Plan establish land use designations
for twee four areas of the City:
• Primary Planning Area;
• Eastern Extended Planning Area; and
• Western Extended Planning Area; and
• Eastern Study Area.
Conforming Amendment #20. A new section is added on page Appendix C -34 of the City of
Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element, after the section entitled "Western Extended Planning Area
and immediately before the section entitled "Livermore Airport Protection Area (APA)," as
follows:
Eastern Study Area
The Eastern Study Area was added to the City's General Plan by
the 2014 Let Dublin Decide Initiative. That initiative also
established a Eastern Urban Limit Line around the eastern edge of
the Easter Study Area, which can be changed only by a vote of
the people of Dublin. The Resource Management and Large
Parcel Agdculturc land use designations.. that apply in this Plannin
Area, which were adopted by that initiative, seek to preserve
existing uses and will result in preservation of existing areas of
open s ace and agdeultural uses in the condition the were in as of
the effective date of that initiative. These land use designations are
not residential designations and they restrict development.
Accordingly, no sites in the Eastern Study Area are considered to
be sites with residential development potential in Figure C -7.
Also, because these land use designations maintain the status quo,
they are not projected to affect substantially the need for housing.
Accordingly, the addition of the Eastern Study Area to the General
Plan is not intended to and does not affect the adequacy of this
Housing Element for all other areas encompassed within the
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 22 -
General Plan, or its conclusions regarding housing needs and the
City's ability to meet housing needs.
eeds.
The Resource Management and Lame Parcel Agriculture land use
designations cannot be amended to allow more development unless
and until an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan is ado ted
for the area. If an Eastern Study Area Comprehensive Plan were
being considered, the subject of housing needs would be addressed
as a licable in the context of the Plan bein ro osed and
policies for the Eastern Study Area would be considered at that
time. (See Section 2.7 of the General Plan) However, since the
Eastern Stud Area is no.t..presently designated with a residential
land use category, the possibility of adopting an Eastern Study
Area Comprehensive Plan is not a present, actual constraint on
housing.
Conforming Amendment #21. The text immediately following the heading "Biological
Resources" on page Appendix C -57 of the City of Dublin 2009 -2014 Housing Element is
amended as follows:
Biological Resources
The Primary Planning Area is in the Livermore drainage unit of the
Alameda Creek watershed. Of the many streams in this drainage
area, one flows through the City -- Alamo Creek. The creek runs
along the eastern side of Dublin near Dougherty Road. A major
portion of the creek is channelized, and remaining sections have
mostly been improved as a result of subdivision developments. The
Extended Planning Area lies within other watersheds. Several
significant streams traverse the Extended Planning Area and the
Eastern Study Area — Hollis Canyon and Martin Canyon Creeks in
the western hills and Tassajara and Cottonwood Creeks in eastern
Dublin. Extensive areas of riparian vegetation are located along
stream courses in the Western Extended Planning Area. This
riparian woodland has importance to wildlife in the area.
Considerable damage to riparian areas has resulted from intensive
animal grazing. New development is required to provide open
stream corridors of adequate width to protect riparian vegetation.
Where construction requires creekbank alteration, revegetation
with native riparian vegetation is required. Special consideration is
given to the protection or enhancement of riparian woodland areas
of the Western Extended Planning Area biological resources due to
the unique habitat value of these biological resources.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 23 -
VII. INCONSISTENCY WITH OTHER BALLOT MEASURES
This measure is intended to be comprehensive. It is the intent of the people that in the event this
measure or measures relating to the same subject shall appear on the same election ballot, the
provisions of the other measure or measures shall be deemed to be in conflict with this measure.
In the event that this measure receives a greater number of affirmative votes, the provisions of
this measure shall prevail in their entirety, and all provisions of the other measure or measures
shall be null and void. Conflicting measures include the Dublin Open Space Initiative Of 2014
and any measure that addresses land use in and near Dublin. Any measure that restricts,
supplements or affects, in whole or in part, General Plan policies, goals, action items, provisions
or language relating to all or any portion of the Eastern Study Area, whether such reference or
initiative measure does so by specific application to the Eastern Study Area or as a more general
enactment that could otherwise be applied in a manner that would affect the Eastern Study Area,
is a conflicting measure.
VIII. EXEMPTIONS
This Initiative shall not apply to any of the following: (1) any land that, under state or federal
law, is beyond the power of the local voters; and (2) any property that, as of the Effective Date,
has vested rights that preclude application of this Initiative.
IX. IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS INITIATIVE
Upon the Effective Date of this Initiative, City staff is directed to take promptly such
administrative and clerical steps as may be required to implement this Initiative, including,
without limitation, revising any General Plan figures to reflect the provisions adopted by this
Initiative.
This Initiative is intended to ensure that the General Plan remains an integrated, internally
consistent, and compatible statement of policies for the City as required by state law, and to
ensure that the actions of the voters or the City Council in enacting this Initiative are given
effect. Accordingly, to the extent permitted by law, any provision of the General Plan that is
adopted between the Filing Date and the Effective Date of this Initiative shall, to the extent that
such interim- enacted provision is inconsistent with the General Plan Amendment enacted by this
Initiative, be deemed void and unenforceable, and shall be amended as soon as possible and in
the manner and time required by state law to ensure consistency between the provisions adopted
by this Initiative and other elements of the General Plan.
To the extent permitted by law, the voters of the City authorize and direct the City staff and
decision makers to amend any elements or provisions of the General Plan, including all exhibits
and figures, and all other City ordinances, policies, and implementation programs, as soon as
possible, to implement this Initiative and to ensure consistency and cot-relation between this
Initiative and other elements of the General Plan. The preceding sentence shall be interpreted
broadly pursuant to Pala Band of Mission Indians v. Board of Supervisors, 54 Cal.AppAth 565
(1997) to promote the requirements that a general plan constitute an integrated and consistent
document.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 24 -
After the Effective Date, any provision of the Municipal Code that is inconsistent with the
General Plan Amendment shall be deemed null and void.
X. INTERPRETATION
To ensure that the voters' intent prevails, words in this Initiative shall be interpreted according to
the purposes described in this Initiative, and shall be applied according to their plain meaning. In
the event the plain meaning is not clear, we the voters declare our intent that this Initiative be
interpreted in light of those ballot materials and campaign materials that are offered in favor of
this Initiative. We also declare that we adopt our findings based upon our general knowledge of
Dublin geography, planning, development, community need and desires, and upon those ballot
and campaign materials that are offered to the public in favor of this Initiative.
Any titles of the sections or subsections of this Initiative are inserted for convenience of
reference only and shall be disregarded in interpreting, applying or implementing any part of the
provisions of this Initiative.
This Initiative shall be interpreted so as to be consistent with all applicable federal and state
constitutions, laws, rules, regulations and requirements.
XI. SEVERANCE
If any word of this Initiative, or its application to any situation, is held invalid or unenforceable,
in a final judgment that is no longer subject to rehearing, review or appeal by a court of
competent jurisdiction, then the invalid word is severed, and /or the invalid words are severed,
and the remaining parts of this Initiative, and the application of any part of this Initiative to other
situations, shall continue in full force and effect. We, the people of the City of Dublin, declare
that we would have adopted this Initiative, and each section, each paragraph, each phrase and
each word, irrespective of whether any other portion, or application to any situation, be held
invalid. It is our intent that any portion of this Initiative that can lawfully be implemented be
implemented, even if doing so would not permit implementation of the purposes of this
Initiative, even if doing so would otherwise appear trivial or inconsequential, and even if the
valid portion appears intertwined with the invalidated portion. As the body enacting this
Initiative, we state our intent that if severance is being considered, each section, each paragraph,
each phrase and each word of this Initiative be interpreted to be complete in itself, and
functionally and grammatically separate from each other word. Moreover, if the portion ruled
invalid can be the subject of a valid advisory measure, then we direct that such portion be
deemed an advisory measure and we urge the Council to follow our advice.
XII. AMENDMENT
Clerical changes to reproduce or relocate any text or diagram of this Initiative, or rename any
diagram of this Initiative, may be made, without a vote of the people, so long as doing so effects
no substantive change. The name of the Eastern Study Area enacted by this Initiative and the
name of the Eastern Area Comprehensive Plan addressed in this Initiative may be amended by
the Council without a vote of the people, so long as doing so effects no substantive change.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 25 -
The contents of Exhibits A -1 and A -2 may be displayed in any manner deemed appropriate by
City staff or decision - makers so long as displaying the contents in a manner other than as
depicted in Exhibits A -1 and A -2 effects no substantive change. For example, the circulation
aspects of Exhibit A -2 may be displayed in a General Plan circulation diagram that does not also
display geologic hazards, so long as the geologic hazard information is depicted in all General
Plan diagrams that address geologic hazards. The Urban Limit Line and the Eastern Study Area
Boundary shown in Exhibits A -I and A -2 may be amended only by a vote of the people of
Dublin. The land use designations shown in Exhibit A -1 may be amended only pursuant to
General Plan Sections 2.7,13 and 2.7.E as enacted by this Initiative. The city limits and Sphere of
Influence boundary, and proposed city limits and proposed Sphere of Influence boundary in
Exhibits A -1 and A -2 may be amended without a vote of the people only to reflect LAFCO
decisions. The aspects of Exhibit A -2 that pertain to transportation, geologic hazards and
potential flooding may be amended without a vote of the people, so long as the amendment does
not conflict with Section V.B (Eastern Study Area in Chapter 2) or V.C.I (Western Urban Limit
Line) of this Initiative.
Section V.C.2 of this Initiative sets forth text amendments to make Measure M and the Western
Urban Limit Line permanent. The exact wording used in these text amendments may be
amended without a vote of the people only if the following three requirements are met: (1) the
General Plan indicates that the Western Urban Limit Line and Measure M are permanent, (2) the
text of Measure M (as amended by this Initiative) is reflected in the General Plan, and (3) the
General Plan indicates that the provisions of Measure M (as amended by this Initiative) can be
amended only by a vote of the people.
Text and/or diagrams that are included within this Initiative for comparison or reference
purposes only, and which are not enacted by this Initiative, may be amended, supplemented or
repealed according to the same procedures that would apply if this Initiative had not been
enacted, provided that doing so effects no substantive change to any provision of this Initiative
that can be amended only by a vote of the people or in accordance with certain procedures.
Corrections may be made to fix any typographical or clerical errors in this Initiative, without a
vote of the people, provided that doing so effects no substantive change.
No other part of this Initiative may be altered, repealed or amended, except upon a subsequent
vote of the people of Dublin.
XIII. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Unless a shorter statute is enacted by the State Legislature, all provisions of this Initiative shall
be deemed subject to Government Code section 65009(c), and no action or proceeding
challenging all or any part of this Initiative shall be maintained unless commenced and service
made within ninety (90) days of the date of the legislative body's decision. We intend the date
of the legislative body's decision to be the date of the election at which the voters adopt this
Initiative. If such date cannot lawfully be deemed the date of the legislative body's decision,
then we intend the date of the legislative body's decision to be the earliest possible lawful date.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 26 -
XIV. EXHIBITS
The following is a list of exhibits, This list is provided for ease of reference only, and does not
constitute part of the matters adopted by this Initiative. However, the exhibits themselves which
are described as being enacted by this Initiative are so enacted.
Exhibits A -1 & A -2: General Plan diagrams showing the Eastern Study Area. These diagrams
are enacted as amendments to all General Plan diagrams by this Initiative.
Exhibit B. Dublin General Plan Land Use Map as of the Filing Date. This map is provided for
reference only and is not enacted by this Initiative.
Exhibit C. County's Land Use Map, showing County land use designations for Eastern Study
Area as of the Filing Date. This map is provided for reference only and is not enacted by this
Initiative.
- Let Dublin Decide Initiative Page 27 -
PROPOSED CITY OF DUBLIN LIMITS AND
PROPOSED SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
URBAN LIMIT LINE
,EASTERN STUDY AREA
} RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LAND USE
DESIGNATION
EASTERN STUDYAREA
LARGE PARCEL AGRICULTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION
EXHIBITA -1
1
( tir, i.I I n.rnnrr.
Public /Semi- Public /Open Space
Commerclal /Industrial
Regional park
General Commercial
Residential
F*' -.1 Parks) Public Recreation
RelallOflrce
Rural Residentat Agriculture (1 Unit per 100 Gross Residential Acres)
Open Space
- RelaAlOHice and Automotive
Estate Residential (0.01 - 0.8 dWac)
Stream Corridor
Neighborhood Commercial
LoN-Density Single Family (0.5. 3.8 du/ac)
Public Lands
General Commercial /Campus Office
Single Family Residential (0.9.6.0 dWac)
- Public / Semi-public
Medium-Density Residential (6.1 - 14.0 dWac)
- Semi-Pubi,.c
Campus Office
® Medium /High- Density Residential (14.1 - 25.0dulac)
Resource Management
Industrial Park
Nigh - Density Residential (25.1 r dulac)
Large Parcel Agriculture
Business PaWindustoal
co Communly Park
Business Paik/induslnal and Outdoor Storage
ns Neighborhood Square
Mixed Use
City of Dublin Limits
wr Neighborhood Park
QQ Regional Park
i Mixed Use 21Campus Office
Sphere of Influence
f.l cdiumrHigh Density Residential and Retail Office
Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of influence
City of Uvermore
Downtown Dublin
(� Urban Limit Une
0 City of Pleasanton
Dolhnlown Dublin - Village Parkway District
(.. �] Eastern Study Area Boundary
Q City of San Ramon
Do%nlown Dublin - Transit- Oriented District
Daantown Dublin - Retail District
EXHIBITA -1
TRANSPORTATION
AND
E
_IMIT LINE
EASTERN STUDY AREA BOUNDARY
Livetmorc
Arterial and Regional Private L -11 City of Dublin
Corridor Freeway and Existing M Sphere of Influence
Collector and Future Regional Corridor t:: J Eastern Study Area Boundary
Regional Corridor _ _ _ . Proposed Class II Bike Urban Limit Line
Local Residential Lane Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
~•• Iron Horse Trail
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS
0.2 %Annual Chance Flood Hazard (500 Year Flood Hazard)
M 1 %Annual Chance Flood Hazard (100 Year Flood Hazard)
POTENTIAL FLOODING
= Liquefaction Areas Fault Boundary Stream
AN Landslide Areas CDC Fault Traces
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Public /Seml- Public /Open Space Corn mercialfindustrial
Regional Park
0 Parksl Public Recreation
Open Space
Stream Corridor
Public Lands
Public l Semi - Public
- Semi - Public
Reswrce Management
Large Parcel Agriculture
0 Community Park
FN Is Neighborhood Square
na Neighborhood Park
ar Regional Park
{ City of Livermore
Q City of Pleasanton
City of San Ramon
PROPOSED CITY OF DUBLIN LIMITS AND
/ PROPOSED SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
URBAN LIMIT LINE
EASTERN STUDYAREA
I
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LAND USE
DESIGNATION
EASTERN STUDY AREA
i
7 LARGE PARCELAGRICULTURE LAND USE
DESIGNATION
Residential
General Commercial
.Rural
Reta l,Off ce
ResidenliaVAgricLlture (1 Umll per 100 Gross Residential Acres)
- Reta 110ffice and Automotive
Estate Residential (0.01 - 0.8 dulac)
Lo,v- Density Single Family (0.5 - 3 -8 dulac)
Neighborhood Commercial
Single Family Residential (0.9 - 6.0 dulac)
- General CommercialfCampus Office
Medium- Density Residenlial (6.1 - 14.0 dulac)
Campus Office
1. lediumlFligh- Density Residential (14.1 - 25.0 dulac)
Industrial Park
High- Density Residential (25.1+ dulac)
- Business Parkllndustnai
Busmess Parkllndustmal and Outdoor Storage
- Mixed Use
�, -,. City of Dublin Limits
?Z4 Mixed Use 21Campus Office
L� Sphere of Influence
Medium+High.Density Residential and Retail Office
Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
Downtown Dublin
Urban Limit Line
Downtown Dubl In - Village Parkway District
(; .j Eastern Study Area Boundary
} Downtown Dublin - Transit - Oriented District
Downtown Dublin - Retail District
EXHIBITA-1
PROPOSED CITY OF DUBLIN LIMITS AND
PROPOSED SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
URBAN LIMIT LINE
EASTERN STUDYAREA BOUNDARY
" + 97j,
t.�
City of Dublin t
City or 1'lea'antcuf
City of Livermore
TRANSPORTATION
Arterial and Regional Private C. I City of Dublin
Corridor 00 Freeway and Existing F-1 Sphere of Influence
I Collector and Future Regional Corridor l:: 7 Eastern Study Area Boundary
Regional Corridor Proposed Class II Bike 0 Urban Limit Line
Local Residential Lane M Proposed City of Dublin Limits and Proposed Sphere of Influence
°•••• Iron Horse Trail
GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS
1 0,2 %Annual Chance Flood Hazard (500 Year Flood Hazard)
1 % Annual Chance Flood Hazard (100 Year Flood Hazard)
POTENTIAL FLOODING
M Liquefaction Areas Fault Boundary Stream
Landslide Areas CDC Fault Traces
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