Planning Commission to discuss concept for new multi-story building in downtown Pleasanton

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The Pleasanton Planning Commission will be reviewing plans to demolish the building, located at 231 Old Bernal Ave., in order to construct a single-family, multi-story residence that aims to double as a commercial business. (Photo by Jeremy Walsh)

The Pleasanton Planning Commission is set to hold a workshop Wednesday evening to discuss an application that seeks to demolish an existing office building in downtown Pleasanton and replace it with a bigger building that, in some parts, would be three stories tall.

An image shows the location for the proposed mixed-use, single family residence project. (Image pulled from Aug. 27 Planning Commission staff report)

City associate planner Diego Mora wrote in Wednesday’s staff report that the building would double as a single-family residence as well as a ground-floor work space.

“The applicant has indicated their intent to use this space as offices for the family-owned business, and since it would be used by residents of the attached home, believes it can be characterized as ‘live-work’ space,” Mora stated in the Aug. 27 staff report.

The applicant and property owner, according to the report, is Gautam Patel.

The approximately 21,384-square-foot project site is located on Old Bernal Avenue, between Augustine Street and Peters Avenue.

The project proposal includes the demolition of a roughly 6,000-square-foot commercial office building that had housed a handful of businesses. In its place, the applicant seeks to construct a new, approximately 38-foot-tall building that includes a roughly 15,000-square-foot, single-family residence.

The building would be a mix of two and three stories and would also include a 725-square-foot, ground-floor, live-work space along with other site improvements.

A rendering shows what the project aims to look like once completed. (Image pulled from Aug. 27 Planning Commission staff report)

According to Mora, one of the main discussion points for the commission on Wednesday will be whether the subject lot is appropriate for a one-dwelling unit development.

Per the city’s General Plan Land Use Element, the allowable density for a mixed use residential development such as the proposed project is 20 or more dwelling units per acre. As proposed, the project is considered a one residential unit, which means to conform to the General Plan, the project would need to propose a minimum of 10 units, Mora stated in his report.

However, the city has allowed projects at densities below 20 units per acre — in conjunction with a Planned Unit Development — and while Mora said given the size and location of the site, along with policies encouraging multi-unit development in downtown, “a single unit would be preferable,” the decision at the end of the day lies with the Planning Commission.

Another discussion point for the commission will be whether or not it supports an exception to Downtown Specific Plan policies that require a “no net loss of commercial space and minimum commercial space depth, and/or to allow for the proposed ground-floor ‘live-work’ space.”

According to Mora, as proposed the project is inconsistent with the Downtown Specific Plan goals and policies and should be modified to conform to those policies.

Staff will also be recommending design modifications be made to the front facade in order to “emphasize the commercial street frontage/character and entrance while minimizing the prominence of the residential use.”

After receiving comments and informal direction from the commission, staff will return at a later date so the commission members can make a final recommendation to the City Council regarding the project.

The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 27). The full agenda can be accessed here.