3A Public Hearing 2009 0302 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes January 22, 2009 Agenda No. 09-02 Page 3 of 19 With the mitigation measures included, none of the impacts would rise to the level of being significant. Thus, the project, as revised, will not have a significant environmental effect. Commissioners' packets include both revised conditions of approval and a revised mitigation monitoring plan. In conclusion, Mr. Millenbah said that staff supports the proposed design as the diversity of building heights and materials give the project visual interest while referencing local architectural themes, and recommends approval of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, the Site Plan subject to the conditions of approval provided, and the Vesting Tentative Map. Chair Dlugosh invited Commissioner comments and questions. There being none, he requested the Applicant's presentation. Lydia Tan, Executive Vice President of BRIDGE Housing Corporation and its sister company, BUILD LLC, began by thanking City staff (including Planning, Engineering & Transportation, Housing, Building, Fire and Environmental Departments) for involvement in ensuring that the proposal meets San Leandro's standards and high-quality requirements, willingness to provide input about features that will make the project a great one in terms of the TOD Strategy as well as future residents of the development, and the late nights and weekends staff has invested in the proposal. Indicating that architect David Baker would talk about how the design has progressed since the Planning Commission's Work Session (October 23) and that landscape architect Chris Pattillo would address landscape improvements, she then discussed the project's process to date and its programmatic elements. She alluded to the TOD Strategy; the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) to pursue development of the BART and Westlake sites (entered into February 4, 2008); and the California Department of Housing and Community Development Proposition 1C (Housing Bond) grants - an Infill Incentives Grant (IIG) Program award of nearly $12.5 million awarded to the City and a TOD Program grant of $12 million mole approved for the City and BRIDGE. She mentioned outreach efforts, including two tours of other BRIDGE projects and I S public sessions so far (with more to come). These included: o Five workshops, including one for interested homeowners' associations, one specifically for the Pacific Plaza HOA and another for businesses. o Meetings with Pacific Plaza residents, Congregations Organizing for Renewal (COR) and labor group representatives. o Presentations at St. Leander's, the Chamber of Commerce, OSI Software and the Asian Business Council. There also have been two City Council study sessions and the Planning Commission Work Session. Meetings and/or presentations are also scheduled with the Downtown Business Association, Kiwanis and Rotary clubs and members of the Sentinels. Ms. Tan expressed appreciation to people in the community who have taken the time to hear about the proposal and ask good questions that have resulted in proposal improvements. She reiterated the fact that tonight's presentation involves only the affordable housing portion of the project, noting that the proposal for the BART parking garage awaits resolution of some land acquisition issues. The parking garage will provide 100% replacement of the existing east BART parking lot, an expandable facility that will initially contain 329 parking spaces on three levels. Phase I of the San Leandro Crossings project includes two pieces on the western side of the BART station, the parking garage and the 100 units of affordable rental housing with some 5,000 square feet of community space and 106 parking stalls. The affordable housing component has been named "The Alameda at San Leandro Crossings," partly because aameda means "tree shaded promenade or public park" and partly because it is in Alameda County. (Previously, the affordable housing development had been dubbed "Cannery Court." Phase II will include "The Cornerstone at San Leandro Crossings" on the western part of the site, which will be 200 market- rate condominiums with 290 parking stalls and up to 5,000 square feet of retail space.).