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The Pleasanton Planning Commission recently gave its endorsement to a pair of small-scale development projects that are due to head to the City Council for consideration in the coming weeks.
The first was a homeowner’s proposal to tear down their single-story house and subdivide the parcel with three new houses on Stanley Boulevard, and the second was another property owner’s plan to replace the 7-Eleven store and Shell service station on Hopyard Road with a brand-new 7-Eleven, gas station and drive-thru car wash.
Each project’s planned-unit development (PUD) application, which requires final council approval, was advanced with a positive recommendation from the commissioners during their four-hour meeting Aug. 28.
The residential subdivision on the outer edge of the downtown is scheduled to go before the council first — on Oct. 1 — while the 7-Eleven/Shell project is due for a public hearing two weeks later, according to city planning manager Ellen Clark.
3987 Stanley Blvd.
Applicant Saravana Chilla seeks permission to demolish the 940-square-foot house and associated outbuildings at 3987 Stanley Blvd. (aka “Old” Stanley Boulevard), a rectangular parcel in the downtown neighborhood not far from where First Street turns into Stanley Boulevard.
The proposal then calls for subdividing the parcel into three lots, each with a detached, two-story house, along with onsite improvements such as tree plantings, new infrastructure and a shared private driveway to connect the residential lots. The property is zoned and designated for high-density residential
City staff supports the project, saying the architectural design, proposed density, lot configuration and other elements are in line with General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan policies and objectives, as well as fits with the surrounding neighborhood.
The city did hear neighbor concerns about adding two-story houses where a single-story home currently stands, mainly for privacy reasons.
The commission voted 4-0 to advance the project to the council with a modified condition of approval to require larger initial tree plantings to improve initial screening, according to Clark. Commissioner Jack Balch recused from the discussion; Commissioner Herb Ritter was absent, so alternate Brandon Pace was elevated to a full voting position that night.
7-Eleven/Shell
Applicant Brad Hirst, on behalf of property owner Anabi Real Estate Development LLC, proposes to tear down the existing 7-Eleven convenience store, smog check building and Shell service station at 3760 and 3790 Hopyard Road, at southwest corner of the Hopyard Road intersection with West Las Positas Boulevard.
The two adjoining lots, which total 0.91 acres, would then be combined into a single, reconfigured parcel with a new 7-Eleven convenience store, drive-thru car wash and a new Shell gas station canopy.
The proposal calls for the convenience store to be open 24 hours a day and the ability to sell alcohol — it would become the sixth gas station store in Pleasanton to sell beer and wine, according to city staff. The car wash would operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The new operations would require the site to be rezoned from neighborhood commercial to PUD-commercial.
Among the site improvements proposed is removing the current driving aisle between the 7-Eleven site and the neighboring Church in Pleasanton parcel. Church representatives had raised concerns to city officials about loitering, 7-Eleven patron parking and delivery trucks in the church lot.
City staff said they think the proposals to remove the shared driving lane, along with adding a new fence between the properties, will alleviate those problems.
The commission voted 5-0 to recommend the project to the council, with modified permit conditions of allowing a 40 foot-wide driveway, requiring higher-quality concrete roofing material, and requiring a five-foot fence on top of the 18-inch retaining wall and improved landscaping on north side of property to minimize foot traffic between sites, according to Clark.
A good project like a Pleasanton Costco! Must go out of town to Costco for the best gas prices! Why the delay?
They do good work,
and at a good price.
Smog requirements were supposed to end when the car was 25, but they changed the rules.
Mine always has passed, so this is just another government added cost.
Maybe they could allow those who passed a couple of times in a row to be exemp?.
Taking out a perfectly good home to replace it with three two story homes on an already busy street isn’t a good idea. The street has become to busy already.
How will the intersection be redesigned to accomadate all the extra traffic entering the Shell/7-11 property and then onto Hopyard from the site? It is already a dangerous merge. There are two car washes at Hopyard near 580. Is that too far to drive?
The existing 7-11 and that whole area could definitely use an update! The rendering looks nice.
The combination of 7-11 and Shell is long overdue. That corner property has needed a redesign for years. That 7-11 is ageing and the parking lot is cramped. The Shell station has far too much property dedicated to parking and a tiny store. This merger will serve Pleasanton much better. Now the carwash will need to meet state recycled water guidelines I hope – that was left out of the article.
And the approval of the additional housing is a step in the correct direction. Pleasanton has long been afraid of residential growth and must change that. The state of California is 4 million homes behind demand and Pleasanton must do its part to increase housing supply. Too long has Pleasanton limited growth and that limit is negatively impacting everyone – higher rents – higher property taxes and pushed out many of the people that work in Pleasanton but have to live elsewhere. Now the city needs to fast track the permitting of more high density housing projects and actually grow.
Another construction project neighboring Val Vista? The project at Johnson and Stoneridge has been going on for six months and the Costco construction will start soon I’ Sure. The dirt in the air is awful. We have to keep our windows closed 24/7. I believe the residents of Val Vista are getting no consideration regarding their suffering.
I agree with Doug. This is a very busy intersection. The added services at this location will increase the traffic and cause safety concerns for our kids going to Donlon and Hart Middle School. Are the schools aware of this proposal and has the community had the opportunity to give the planning committee any feedback?
Want to see Costco put on the fast track build — put a Shell gas station on the new Costco property! Who’s running this town, surely nothing being done in the best interests of the citizens, how many overpriced shell gas stations do we need in this town along with another car wash plus a larger 24 hour 7/11 selling alcohol!
Maybe with the Shell Station/7-11 revival they will change the configuration of that intersection and take out the southbound merge lane from W. Las to Hopyard and make it a normal corner. That would alleviate the near constant rear end and merging accidents from happening.
Good thing it was already a Shell gas station…if it was a Costco gas station it would have never made it without a vote.
Russell…you forgot about the the construction at the sewage treatment plant and the the soon to be started Donlon School expansion. And Mike, I disagree that we need more “high density housing projects”…that’s just more traffic in an already overburdened area and more students with nowhere to put them.
I just bought gas at Costco for $3.27 and this Shell station had it for $3.77…that’s a big difference. Who are they kidding, I haven’t bought gas there since Costco opened their station. I don’t know how many people will want to get their cars washed after paying that extra $10 to $20 a fill-up. But maybe the developers know something we don’t…another carwash on Hopyard is just what we need to boost the local economy ;>)
I have lived in Valley Trails for 6 years. I haven’t bought gas at that Shell station in that time. I have to buy ice at that 7/11 several times a month for business. Half the time they are out. Further, the store looks tired and not well kept. They have a support petition for the upcoming proposed changes for customers to sign on the counter but i feel why give the operators more to manage when it looks like they have their hands full now. I also agree that more traffic on that corner when it’s already a traffic issue is not well thought out. I buy my gas at costco and am patiently waiting for the pleasanton one to be built but i still wont buy gas at that Shell station.