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The Livermore Planning Commission recently offered high praise and unanimous support for a 253-unit housing project called Cornerstone, proposed for construction in northeast Livermore.
Pending a final decision by the City Council, the project is set to feature 21 three-story residential buildings and one five-story apartment building at the northwest corner of the intersection of Collier Canyon Road and Constitution Drive.
Of the units, 143 units would be for-sale condominiums with six being affordable to moderate-income households. 108 units would be for-rent units, affordable to low-, lower-, very low- and extremely low-income households. An additional two rentals are intended for on-site managers and offered at market rate.
Additionally, the project includes construction of a 2.53-acre park, 0.4-acre public pocket park, trail extension and easement for the future development of a bridge across Collier Canyon Creek. The large park is set to include a play area, fitness area, large lawn for sports practices and seating. The pocket park would feature a community garden, bike parking and small grass area.
Overall this development would contribute to the Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan goal of offering 820 affordable units in the neighborhood, according to Commissioner Daniel Leary.
“I will wholeheartedly commend the applicant and the developer for this project,” Commissioner Tracy Kronzak said at the Dec. 17 hearing. “If this gets built and goes through, you are providing an incredible service to our community.”
The project was inspired through observation of a community struggling to afford housing in the Tri-Valley, according Chris Stockhaus, landowner representative and lead pastor at Cornerstone Fellowship.
“We felt like the best thing that we could do as an organization for the community was to build housing and maximize the number of affordable units that are designed for the people that we’re interacting with on a daily basis who are in need,” Stockhaus said.
Since the project offers over 40% of units at affordable rates, it far exceeds the 20% required by the INSP, said Michael Keeney, director of forward planning for project developer Trumark Homes.
“It’s really great to see our local church is using property to really serve the community,” Planning Commission Chair Jacob Anderson said. “Crosswinds with Goodness Village, now Cornerstone with this project. This is really awesome to see.”
As part of the proposal, applicant Pacific Companies sought two concessions to allow concentrated affordable rental units, four waivers related to building design and view protection and another seven waivers related to comparability of the affordable for-rent and for-sale units with the for-sale market rate units, according to the staff report.
“Since the concessions and waivers do not compromise health and safety or violate state or federal law, the concessions and waivers must be granted,” according to the staff report.
Bridge construction was not included in the project proposal because building the bridge would require an agreement be made with the land owner on the other side of Collier Canyon Creek. The applicant agreed to contribute $200,000 toward the future construction cost of the bridge.
In lieu of building the bridge, the developer will construct a 1,490-foot-long, lighted, multi-use trail that connects Constitution Drive with Collier Canyon Road and extends off-site to North Canyon Parkway.
Any grading required for this trail was found to not cause a detriment to public safety or biological resources in the area.
As for transit, there will be first-level podium parking – on its deck there will be a courtyard with planters, furniture and eating area. Additional parking will be provided on the street level.
Also, the developer intends to add street parking and bike lanes to Collier Canyon Road. Though the commissioners gave staff the authority to prioritize either improvement, as they may not be able to create both.
In addition to those improvements, Anderson directed staff to work with the applicant to create a shorter crosswalk at the intersection of Gateway Avenue and Collier Canyon Road.
The Cornerstone project is exempt from analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, as the project is consistent with the Isabel Neighborhood Specific Plan and its certified supplemental environmental impact review, according to staff.
In the end, commissioners recommended the project to Livermore City Council for its approval.
“This is a very needed project and I really appreciate everyone who’s been working on this,” Vice Chair Yolanda Fintschenko said.
