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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-27-1997 PC MinutesA regular meeting of the City of Dublin Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, May 27, 1997, in the Dublin Civic Center City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Jennings. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Jennings, Jolmson, Hughes, and Oravetz; Eddie Peabody, Community Development Director; Jeri Ram, Associate Planner; Tasha Huston, Associate Planner and Gaylene Burkett, Recording Secretary. Absent: Commissioner Fasulkey PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG t *:n. Jennings led the Colnmission, Staff, and those present in the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE AGENDA The minutes of the May 13, 1997, meeting were approved as submitted. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS N one WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS None 72~ ,BLIC HEARING 8.1 PA 97-007, Villas at Santa Rita Planned Development Rezone - A Planned Develop~nent Rezone for a 324 unit Multi-Family Project on approximately 11.89 net acres at the northeast corner of Dublin Boulevard and Hacienda Drive in the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area. Cm. Jennings asked Cm. Johnson to act as Chairperson for PA 97-007 due to a conflict of interest. Cm. Johnson asked for the staff report. Jeri Ram, Associate Planner, gave a brief description of the project. She stated r[~ it the project was a 324 unit apartment complex. She indicated that there would be approximately 224 parking spaces below ground level which was how the applicant got so much open space in the project. She stated parking was looked at closely', and staff reviewed two different traffic studies. Staff felt 1.9 parking spaces per dwelling unit was adequate if only one space per unit was reserved parking. The Developer has included as part of the project, a corner Rcgular Meeting 61 May 27, 1997 [5-27 pcmi] treatment at Dublin and Hacienda that will tnake a statement into Eastern Dublin. The total project will include a Planned Development Rezone and a Development Agreement. She stated that Staff recommends the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council an ordinance establishing a Planned Development Rezone and a resolution adopting specific development standards for the project. Cm. Oravetz asked why 1.9 parking per ratio and not two spaces per unit. Ms. Ram stated staff wanted an appropriate balance. The standard in the parking studies was 1.5 for projects this size, and 1.9 was more than the standard. As the project gets larger, adding more parking to move the percentage up to 2 would sacrifice open space. Each unit would be looking out windows at trees. There woul: be some parking in carports, garages, or garports, which is one enclosed parking area with 4 parking spaces. Cm. Hughes asked about security problems. Ms. Ram stated Staff was working with the Police Department and the whole project would be gated and secured. The pedestrian accesses will be locked. A code would be required to get into the complex. The Police Department has attended all the meetings and was taking an active look at this. Cm. Hughes asked if lighting was being looked at. He said San Ramon had a similar project that was getting hit several times per week by car theft. Ms. Ram stated this project location was very visible from many of the nearby roads. The perimeter fencing would be wrought iron, and the surrounding streets were heavily traveled and would be patrolled by the Police Department. Cm. Johnson asked how guests would get in the property. Ms. Ram stated that many complexes have a phone that can connect you to the tenant. Cm. Hughes asked if the below ground parking spaces were visible from other units. Peabody stated that the Applicant will address that question during his presentation. Cm. Oravetz asked what the Police Department has expressed about the project. Ms. Ram stated their concerns were the fencing along Dublin Blvd., good security, and lighting. She stated that the Police Department has been involved with the project from the beginning. Cm. Oravetz asked if 1.9 parking spaces would be enough for guest parking. Ms. Rmn stated there were one bedroom apartments, this size complex was not always filled, and people come and go at different times. They ~vould only assign one space per unit and the .9 would be for guest parking. Cm. Johnson asked what the standards were for other complexes in Dublin. Ms. Ram stated many of those complexes were built under an old standard and it depended on the project. Cm. Johnson opened the public hearing and asked for the Applicant's presentation. Shayam Taggarsi, Security Capital Pacific Trust, Applicant, stated that when meeting with the County, they knew this site was unique in location and timing. He stated this project was an up-scale apartment complex catered to the high end rental market. He stated a lot of time and effort has been spent on the corner of Dublin Blvd. and Hacienda, to be a gateway to the project. He stated there would be a lot of landscaping; numerous ;x~.enities, pool, spa, kids area, barbecue area, workout room, and recreation room There would be managem on site 24 hours, and during the evening hours there would be a roving security guard on site. He concluded presentation. Regular Meeting 62 May 2T 1997 [5-27 pcmi] Cm. Oravetz asked how much the rent would be for these apartments. Mr. Taggarsi. stated $1,100 for a one bedroom to $1,650 for three bedroom, three bath. He stated the three bedroom, three bath were as close to condominium in terms of features. Cm. Oravetz asked what was the expected occupancy rate for these units. Mr. Taggarsi stated occupancy would be approximately 93%. Cm. Oravetz asked how effective were the roving security guards. Mr. Taggarsi stated very effective. It was a patrol car that comes into the area. Several of their projects were similar in design, and their history has been very good throughout all their projects. Cm. Hughes asked how often the roving security car patrolled the area. Mr. Taggarsi stated they would appear every two to three hours and check the complex along with other complexes in the area. Cm. Hughes asked if there were any plans to convert these apartments to condominiums. Mr. Taggarsi stated no, they did not plan on converting them to condos. Cm. Oravetz asked how high the fountain would be. Mr. Taggarsi stated it would be approximately six to eight feet tall and similar to the one at Koll Center Park at Bernal in Pleasanton. Cm. Hughes asked if the external material of the buildings was wood siding. Mr. Taggarsi stated yes; the wood siding was similar to inasonite with full fire rating. Cm. Hughes asked if there was any dra~vings on the underground parking. Mr. Taggarsi stated that the parking layout was on page 13 in their packet. He stated that they want to know if gates on the underground garages were going to be needed. Ms. Ram stated that was something that the Police Department was requesting. She stated that she would set up a meeting to discuss a security plan for the site. Cm. Hughes asked if there was a common hallway on each floor. M~'. Taggarsi stated yes. Cm. Hughes asked if there was any concern about transient activity. Mr. Taggarsi stated there would be at least 3 maintenance people checking the property and working all day. The property will be completely secured. He stated the pedestrian access would be secured with locks and the stairways well lit. Cm. Oravetz asked if there were any complexes like this one down in Southern California. Mr. Taggarsi stated that they were a new company and just recently started building in California. Cm. Oravetz was concerned about the underground parking during an earthquake. Regular Meeting 63 May 27, 1997 [5-27 pcmi] Mr. Peabody stated they would be built to the most current California Building Code and will meet the seismic code requirements. Cm. Hughes asked if they had sprinklers in each unit and in the garages. Mr. Taggarsi stated yes to both. Cm. Oravetz was concerned about flooding in the underground parking area. Mr. Taggarsi said the grading plan takes care of that. He stated that he has built similar apartments with a different company and there has been no history of flooding in the underground parking. Cm. Johnson asked what a garport was. Mr. Taggarsi explained that the garports were a combination of a carport and a garage. A garport could store four vehicles without the walls in between each vehicle. Cm. Oravetz asked if they considered a security guard house at the entrance. Mr. Taggarsi stated the security guard shacks were basically for the high end for sale units. Pat Cashman, Alameda County Surplus Property Authority, underscored that the County was very supportive of this project. He felt Security Capital was going to build a first class product and he urged for the Planning Commission's support. Cm. Oravetz asked if the company has dealt with Alameda County before. Mr. Cashman responded no; this was a new company to California. They have built in other states and are bringiug new ideas to California. Cm. Johnson closed the public hearing. (m motion by Cm. Oravetz, seconded by Cm. Hughes with a vote of 3-0, with I absent and 1 abstained, the Planning Commission adopted, RESOLUTION NO. 97- 11 RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AND ESTABLISH FINDINGS, GENERAL PROVISIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT REZONING FOR PA 97-007 THE VILLAS AT SANTA RITA 8.2 PA 96-052, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan Amendment and Dublin General Plan Amendment Circulation Element Changes - The City is proposing an amendment to the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and to the Dublin General Plan to reflect proposed modifications to the circulation element. Cm. Jennings asked for the staff report. Mehran Sepheri, Senior Civil Engineer, presented the staff report. He stated that the road system needed to be revised based on the current Tri-Valley Traffic Model which the City was now using. There would be no changes to the land use. He stated Staff recommended approval. Regular Meeting 64 May 27, 1997 [5-27 pcmi] Cm. Jennings opened the public hearing. There were no questions from the Planning Commission or Staff. Cm. Jennings closed public hearing and deliberated. Cm. Johnson asked what will happen to the specific plan right of way. Will that be turned into a road or a bike trail. Mr. Sepehri stated the Specific Plan Right-of-Way plan shows one change to part of it. He stated that currently, the right-of-way shows from BART to San Ramon Road there will be a road and a bicycle path. There will be mass transit from BART along Dougherty Road. The City has received a federal grant for the bike trail called the Iron Horse Trail, but due to rain there was some erosion, and the project was put on hold. Cm. Jennings asked if anyone had any questions. Hearing none she closed the public hearing. On motion by Cm. Hughes, seconded by Cm. Oravetz with a vote of 4-0 with 1 absent the Planning Commission adopted RESOLUTION NO. 97 - 12 RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE NEGATIVE DECLARATION, MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM, AND APPROVE THE EASTERN DUBLIN SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT Mr. Peabody stated the next lneeting will be canceled. He went into detail on the upcoming agenda and explained what projects would be craning before the Planning Commission in the next couple months. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. ATTEST: Community Development Director Respectfully submitted, 161anfiiag (Jommission Chairperson- Regular Meeting 65 May' 27, 1997 [5-27 pcmi]