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The Pleasanton Planning Commission has approved construction of a high density, multi-story apartment complex along with 97 new homes on a 27-acre site along Valley Avenue just south of Bernal Avenue and the Pleasanton Gateway Center.
The project is planned by South Bay Development, which has owned the entire 37 acre site since 2000. At one time, South Bay had approval to build eight four- and five-story office buildings on the property, but that plan was shelved when the need for more office space collapsed 10 years ago.
South Bay sold part of its property to Safeway Corp., which built the new Safeway Lifestyle supermarket and developed the center that now houses retail and service stores, including a gas station, Starbucks, CVS pharmacy and two banks.
South Bay’s Scott Trobbe told Planning Commissioners that his new plan calls for construction of 210 apartment units in nine, 18-unit and 24-unit three story tall buildings just over 43 feet high.
They will include one, two and three-bedroom apartments, each with a one car garage. The buildings will be clustered around a core center with entrances off Valley Avenue, across from the 100-unit Kensington Apartments, and another from a roadway that runs alongside the south edge of the Gateway Center.
The project will include a leasing office building for the apartmenta, a recreation area that will include a building with a business center, conference facilities, gymnasium and a media center. Outdoor amenities will include a swimming pool and spa, barbecue and fire pit areas, a tot lot, cabanas, outdoor seating and a bocce ball court.
Of the 97 single-family homes planned for the site, 62 will be three-story tall homes with a maximum height of approximately 45 feet, and 35 will be two stories tall. The two-story homes will have four bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, two car garages and range in size from 3,541 to 3,654 square feet.
The three-story buildings will have three bedrooms, ranging in size from 2,830 to 3,054 square feet.
The Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of the Pleasanton Gateway project now sends the proposal to the City Council, which is expected to also review the plan at a meeting next month.
If also approved by the council, Pleasanton Gateway will cap a series of high density housing decisions over recent months stemming from an agreement between the city of Pleasanton and state housing authorities after a court order for the city to provide more affordable housing.
Earlier this month, the council approved construction of a 345-unit upscale apartment complex on Bernal Avenue at Stanley Boulevard that will include a three-building retail center with a drug store and drive-through pharmacy. The project, to be built and owned by E&S Ring Management Corp. of Los Angeles, will include two, three, and four-story apartment buildings on what is now a barren 16-acre site across Bernal from McDonald’s and an AM/PM gas station. Nevada Court, a cul de sac that serves Congregation Beth Emek, is at the southern edge of the site, and Stanley Boulevard is on the north.
Last year, BRE, a national affordable housing developer, won permits to build a total of 18 three- and four-story buildings on two separate sites in Hacienda Business Park that will have 500 rental units ranging in size from studio apartments to three-bedroom units. Work on the multi-million-dollar housing project is expected to start next year.
Last April, the council approved the construction of new multi-story, high density apartment buildings and an adjoining retail center on a portion of the office building site at Rosewood Drive and Owens drives, called California Center. That development will contain 305 apartments ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms.
In July, the council agreed to a plan by St. Anton Partners to build a 168-unit apartment complex at 5729 W. Las Positas Boulevard.
What about new schools? What will happen to traffic on Sunol Blvd and Bernal Ave, to access 680 in the mornings? All this development will conject the roads and schools. Why doesnt the articel adress these concerns?
Crime rates are going to be up in our once family, friendly, safe community of Pleasnton. Very sad for the future of this city. Too industrial and providing a lot of low income opportunities.
This seems like way to many apartments to me. What about traffic flows at rush hour? Do you know how busy Valley ave. is when trying to get on Stanley at rush hour. I really think this will make us loose our small town feeling. To many houses. Enough already. What are we gaining from all this building?
It’s the result of that “liberal organization” that sued the city of Pleasanton. It’s also Jerry Brown’s fault. When he was CA attorney general, he allowed this lawsuit to pass. Don’t vote for any liberal Democrats! Check their party affliations before you vote. Oh of course, without voter ID, anyone could have voted this in thier favor. Pleasanton residents, wake up! We need to also request voter ID verification.
I remember when Home Depot wanted to build a garden center at the Bernal site across from McDonald’s and was turned down citing too much traffic. What do you think all this reatail and apartments will do ??? Seems like someone had more money !
What do all you people think was going to happen with that vacant lot? Nothing ever was going to be built? I live in the Shadowcliff neighborhood and am happy that this plan was approved over the Home Depot. If this plan had failed, who knows what would have gone there? I’m sure it would have gone to a “Big Box” type store. At least now we get some shopping, some much needed restaurants and some apartments.
If we have to have this housing, so be it. More people to help pay taxes since the Hacienda Business park is 50% vacant. Pleasanton is not a small town. It has more than one stop light. If you want that, move to the middle of Iowa. You won’t see anyone else.
Diane, that is a very good point.
I have no strong feelings concerning this particular development. However, it seems to me that – for a number of years now – big business interests have unduly influenced many a decision made on behalf of Pleasanton. And that DOES concern me.
To “shadowbozo”,
Hi neighbor. I live in Shadow Cliff too, and I agree with you. I’m glad we’re getting luxury apartments and small shops rather than home depot.
I hope you’re right about taxes. It does seem to be working out okay for Dublin.
I live very near the proposed development and I think it will be a fine addition to the neighborhood. When we moved to the area, the plans for the property were for a large office complex. Instead, the new Safeway shopping center was built (I really love it)on a portion of the property, and this housing will complete the project. The owners of the property have been very good about answering our questions and have come up with a really nice concept. We are actually thinking about downsizing a bit and would like to check into, perhaps, buying on of the houses.
I don’t believe you for a second. Anyone that lives in this area does not want high end apartments that will generate over 3000 car trips per day going down our streets.
Don’t want it, ever.
By the way, do you work for the developer?
Isnt this what San Francisco wanted to do when they had the land? The City said no then.
Incredible amount of housing that has been approved just recently. Counting up the approved developments, including this one, is an additional 1,528 housing units so far. Where are we going to put the students for these approved units? Last I heard, our schools are already over-capacity at all levels (elementary, middle, high). In none of these discussion have I heard what the impacts will be to our schools.
I see another bond measure coming to the voters to pay for more school facilities at the same time we are still paying for the existing bond measure. Since the school district is not working like it used to with the city in planning new facilities and getting developers to pay for their impacts, the existing residents will now be asked to pay for the school facilities needed for the new development. The school district no longer has anybody who knows how to plan for this, or cares. We used to have forward-thinking people in our school district.
Well said “Local “- I couldn’t agree more.
Maybe now local families will be able to afford to own a home in Pton. Keep up the good work Governor.
Member, if they are local families, why do you think they have to be able to afford a home in Pleasanton as opposed to living in say Dublin or San Ramon?
The new homes will be subsidized by the existing residents. In previous years, development was required to pay its own way. Now the development is not being made to pay the true cost of providing the facilities needed (i.e., schools). The new development is going to require a school facility bond measure that the existing residents will have to pay to subsidize the new growth.
Too many outsiders jealous of the previous success of Pleasanton and want to mess it up. And no strong leadership like we used to have.
I am very pleased with the City considering not everyone owns millions and the lower to middle income would not be “stereotyped” People seem to think more people more crime? I think Pleasanton will keep its charm even with a little more affordable housing. Stop complaining and being so bitter.. Look on the bright side.. Things always work out.. And to those who are complaining about not knowing what would be going up when you decided to buy your homes.. You should always know that this could be a possibility.. Especially living so near to Silicon Valley or Let’s just say California period.. Everyone loves the Bay Area.. The Tri Valley has done a Great Job with crime.. So stop whining and wait to see how exciting having more resources could benefit your families. If not I’m sure your home has equity sell and move to the Southern States plenty of quiet there. #Excited to see what is ahead for Pleasanton.
It appears that the Developers do not care where and how crowded the schools will be and the roads being conjested, They only care about how many they can sell and making money. No Ca will be liek Southern CA
I am pretty sure the 97 new homes aren’t going to be low income types. New construction in that area is pretty pricey. I suspect the majority of new residents will be well to do families.
The apartments will likely be rented mostly to locals and those who are trying to get their kids into good schools.
I expect this to be an attractor of good people. Not sure where the fear and hate is coming from.
Y’all are so concerned about traffic and what not. But try to be more inclusive rather than exclusive. Living in Pleasanton is a privilege, not a right. So stop acting all stingy and aggressive. If other people want to live in this town, then let them, for heaven’s sake!!! I mean, seriously, when all of y’all moved into Pleasanton, it wasn’t like everyone was trying to push y’all out! And for God’s sake, stop bringing politics into this issue: “…it’s all the [stupid] liberals’ faults…let’s stop voting for Democrats and demand voter I.D….” Wow! How insulting! If America will just keep on snagging around with politics, she won’t get anything done!
Pleasanton is a great place to live, and others think so too. And just because you live in this town doesn’t mean you own it. If you are so concerned about the City’s decisions, why don’t you get your lazy bottom of your smelly couch into the city meetings yourself, and actually take part in some of the votes, for Pete’s sake! It’s not like we’re part of some tyrannical autocracy ruled by a “liberal” despot!