Livermore Planning Commission to review Goodness Village communal building proposal

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The Livermore Planning Commission is set to discuss a proposed community center project at Goodness Village at a regular meeting, Feb. 18. (Image courtesy of city of Livermore)

A long-awaited community center for Goodness Village in Livermore may advance towards construction, pending a vote by the Livermore Planning Commission at a meeting this week.

As part of the discussion, commissioners will also decide whether to grant Goodness Village — a nonprofit with a 28-unit tiny home program that provides safe and supportive housing for formerly unhoused residents of the Tri-Valley — permission to permanently operate on the Crosswinds Church campus.

If the project is approved, an approximately 7,145-square-foot, two-story community center would serve as the neighborhood hub including staff offices, wraparound services as well as facilities for laundry, fitness, dining and meetings, according to a staff report prepared by Livermore special projects coordinator Steve Stewart.

“These enhancements will empower Goodness Village to continue its mission of providing supportive housing and fostering community integration for our formerly unsheltered neighbors,” Goodness Village representatives wrote to the commission.

After opening the neighborhood in 2021, Goodness Village intended to begin construction of the community center in spring 2024.

Nearly one year later, the Planning Commission is now set to determine the future of the project, barring an appeal to the Livermore City Council within 15 days, according to the report.

“Goodness Village thus far has shown a good track record of service and support, which is invaluable to the City’s goal of providing housing opportunities for all people,” Stewart wrote.

The meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Feb. 18). The full agenda is available here.

If approved by the Livermore Planning Commission, the community center at Goodness Village would be located near the back of the tiny homes neighborhood. (Photo by Jude Strzemp)

In other business

The commission will also consider a request to subdivide an approximately 2-acre parcel into four new single-family residential lots, located at the southeast corner of the Central Avenue and Lobelia Way intersection.

Currently, one single-family home exists on the parcel. That residence would remain through the division of land. Also, three protected trees on the property are proposed and conditioned to remain on the site.

Prior to construction of homes on the new lots, the developments would require staff-level approval and issuance of a building permit.