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The Pleasanton Planning Commission is set Wednesday to discuss a 111-lot residential subdivision application that would transform a large chunk of land near Foothill High School into a new gated community for seniors.
According to the staff report for the meeting, staff will be recommending that the commission approve the large development project so that it can go before the City Council for a final vote.
“The project is consistent with the density and land uses allowed for and pre-zoned for the project site,” Eric Luchini, senior city planner and main author of the report, said in the document. “Staff believes the proposed project would be consistent and compatible with the site development standards imposed on the surrounding residential uses to the north and south.”
Applicant Foothill Boulevard Holding Company, LLC is looking to construct a 111-lot residential subdivision across 46 acres located on the east side of Foothill Road, blocks south of Foothill High School.Â
The site is mostly vacant except for two existing single-family residences, two to three outbuildings that were previously used for agricultural purposes and the remnants of a former orchard.
Luchini wrote in his report that the project would be an “age-qualified community with 92 single-family detached homes, 18 affordable senior court-yard detached and duet homes, one existing single-family residence,” and would also include site improvements.
While one of the existing single family residences will be retained, the other will not.
Part of the staff recommendation would have the developer enter into an affordable housing agreement with the city for the proposed project. The project would also include a density bonus, if approved.
“The project provides 110 new residential units, including 18 affordable residential units, which assists the city in meeting its housing goals,” Luchini stated in his report.
The proposed project would be surrounded on all sides by residential neighborhoods and primary access to the new community would continue to be a single driveway off Foothill Road. According to the staff report, the gated entrance to the new community would be at a location south of the existing Merritt home located at the northwest corner of the proposed project site.
“This entry would be a public street … from Foothill Road to the split lane entry at the proposed project gate,” Luchini stated in his report.
Among other improvements, the proposed project would also add bicycle lanes along the property frontage of Foothill Road consistent with the city’s Bicycle Master Plan.
As for parking, the project proposes a total of 597 parking spaces, which is approximately just over five parking spaces per unit including individual garages.
“Each new residential unit would include a two-car to three-car garage, and most would also include a driveway that would accommodate two additional vehicles,” according to Luchini. “A total of 177 on-street parking spaces are proposed for guest parking, equating to approximately 1.6 guest parking spaces per unit.”
The units themselves would be sold at market rate and would be production homes, which are homes that are built to sell. Only three of the lots at the project site would remain vacant and will be reserved for future custom homes.
The applicant is proposing seven styles of homes with 17 distinct elevations for the production homes. According to Luchini, all of the plans range between 25 to 32 feet and are primarily single-story homes — other units would have a second story as an option in order to provide an additional room.
“The architecture provides an eclectic mix of elevation styles including French, Modern Farmhouse, Sonoma, Spanish and Traditional Farmhouse,” Luchini wrote in his staff report. “The designs also incorporate a mixture of side entry garages as well as front loaded garages which further enhances the street scene.”
If the Planning Commission approves the project, along with the environmental review documentation, consideration for annexation, the planned unit development plan, vesting tentative map, development agreement to vest entitlements, and the affordable housing agreement, the council will then have its final vote at a later date.
However, as far as how these units will help the city’s overall Regional Housing Needs Assessment of over 5,000 housing units that served as a blueprint for the city’s sixth Housing Element cycle, the applicant would have to annex the project into the city in order to begin construction.
That annexation would be dependent on the Alameda County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which would initiate the process after the council makes its decision and the city submits an application.
“As part of the annexation process, the City would need to negotiate an agreement with Alameda County to determine what, if any, county Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) units would be credited to the city’s ‘fair share’ RHNA contribution unit count should the project site be annexed into the City, as well as elements such as how tax-sharing will occur between the county and city,” Luchini stated.
He said those discussions with the county and LAFCO staff have been initiated.
The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday (June 26). The full agenda can be accessed here.
I received a printed note on my doorstep partially tucked under the doormat. The note approximately 450 -500 words is opposed to this development. The note is signed off on by Erie Luchini – senior planner, Melinda Denis – planning and permit center manager, Ellen Clark – director of community development, and Kim Cilley – assistant city attorney, with email addresses for all. The way it is written and signed off indicates the people signing off on it are (city staff) and are opposed to the development.