Laserfiche WebLink
Housing Resources <br /> <br />Draft Housing Element 4-19 <br />The current uses of the identified sites are listed in Table 4.8.Two of the sites in the inventory are <br />currently vacant. Nine of these sites have large parking lots. Additional uses include shopping <br />centers; auto-oriented uses such as auto repair shops, auto storage, and used car dealerships; <br />restaurants; and warehouses. Most nonvacant sites are considered underutilized because the <br />zoning of each site allows for higher density development than the current uses, potentially <br />indicating that the property owner could convert to a higher value use. Additionally, of the sites <br />with a known date of development, the age of structure ranged from 34 to 77 years old. Older <br />developments are more likely to be redeveloped than new developments because the building size <br />and/or features no longer serve current or desired uses. Of the 19 developments, developers and/or <br />property owners expressed interest in nine sites as of April 2022. <br />4.3.1 Priority Development Areas <br />About 80 percent of new housing envisioned in San Leandro during the next 20 years is expected to <br />be built within the Downtown Mixed Use, Corridor Mixed Use, Transit-Oriented Mixed Use, and Bay <br />Fair Transit-Oriented Development land use designations. These areas, shown in Figure 4.3, are <br />generally referred to as Downtown, the Bay Fair TOD, and the East 14th Street corridor. These areas <br />are “Priority Development Areas,” a term used by regional agencies to identify locations approved <br />for future higher density growth that are typically accessible by one or more transit services in close <br />proximity to services, and targeted for more focused public funding (e.g., infrastructure, affordable <br />housing, economic development). These areas are locations for transit-oriented development, <br />generally within walking distance of high-quality public transit and commercial centers. The City of <br />San Leandro made significant efforts during the 4th and 5th cycle housing element planning periods <br />to mitigate constraints to the development of housing, particularly in these areas. These three areas <br />are primarily covered by the following long-range plans: <br /> Bay Fair TOD Specific Plan (adopted 2018) <br /> East 14th Street South Area Development Strategy (adopted 2004) <br /> Downtown Transit Oriented Development Strategy (adopted 2007) <br />To further support development in the Priority Development Areas, the City utilized State SB2 <br />Planning Grants Program funding to develop objective design and development standards for multi- <br />family residential and mixed-use development in order to provide greater predictability to <br />developers and community members. The Multifamily Development Standards amendments were <br />adopted in January 2022 and they included standardizing and streamlining the development review <br />process in accordance with recent changes in state law. Concurrent with the Housing Element <br />Update adoption, the City will amend the Zoning Code to further align development standards in <br />the Priority Development Areas with intended development types through increase allowable <br />density, floor area ratio, and building height, where appropriate. <br />The City continues to encourage growth in the Priority Development Areas. In 2021, construction <br />was completed on the AC Transit Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension along East 14th Street, which <br />increased transit connectivity in the downtown and northern portion of the city. Economic <br />Development staff continue to promote available development sites through an updated Housing <br />Opportunity Site list. City staff also work with private owners to assist with the development of key <br />sites in the Priority Development Areas and continue to support the site assembly of both City- <br />owned and private parcels to gain an economy of scale for a mixed-use development and to activate <br />these important locations.