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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.1 Sustainable Neighborhood Design~~~~ Off' nU~~~ /ii ~ 111 L~~ - ~ ~~~ DATE: TO: FROM: STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL CITY CLERK File #420-30 February 21, 2012 Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers ~~ Joni Pattillo, City Manager ° ~' SUBJECT: Amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan (Chapter 10) to incorporate a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Prepared by Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City of Dublin has taken an active role in promoting environmental sustainability with various initiatives such as the Green Building Ordinance and the Climate Action Plan. Earlier this year, Staff presented the City Council with various options for implementing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy," which would promote sustainable site design and planning for the street, land use, and open space patterns for neighborhoods in Dublin. The City Council provided feedback on the draft Strategy and directed Staff to incorporate the Strategy into the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan for implementation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing, deliberate and adopt a Resolution amending the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan to incorporate strategies on Sustainable Neighborhood Design. ~' ~ r~. i Submitted By Director of Community Development ~, Reviewed By Assistant City Manager Page 1 of 4 ITEM NO. 6.1 Background Sustainability, green design, and improving public health are some of the key topics being discussed by cities and developers today. A City's land use, street, and neighborhood design patterns create a particular physical reality and compel behaviors that have a significant effect on the environmental performance of any given place. When a neighborhood has a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods and communities, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. Vehicles are driven less, air quality improves, human health improves, and the overall sustainability of a community improves too. On December 21, 2010 City Staff presented a report to the City Council on developing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy." Staff described the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy (SNDS) as a policy document that would outline the desired components of a sustainable neighborhood, such as a connected street pattern and land use plan, green infrastructure and buildings, and a linked open space network. The City Council directed Staff to proceed with the development of a Draft Strategy. On March 1, 2011, City Staff presented a report to the City Council with recommendations on the content of a Draft Strategy, the applicability of the Draft Strategy to various properties, and the implementation and adoption of the Strategy (Attachment 1). The City Council provided the following direction to Staff at the meeting on March 1, 2011 (Attachment 2): 1. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategv. The City Council agreed that the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy should contain the goals, policies, and standards that were outlined in the draft document. 2. Applicability of a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategv based on project type. The City Council agreed that the Draft Strategy should apply to: • New General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments and new Specific Plans; • Annexations; • New Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Planned Development Rezones; • Rezoning applications; and • Any subdivision of property or other new development that creates new streets without changing the applicable land use designation would need to comply with all policies and standards contained in Policy Section One (Street Patterns and Design) of the Strategy. 3. Applicability of a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategv to actual projects. The City Council agreed that the Draft Strategy should apply to: • Projects that have Pre-Applications on file with the City, but where there is no current activity on the application (e.g. Righetti Property and Dublin Land Company); and • Projects that have existing applications for General Plan Amendment studies that do not have land plans on file and are at the beginning of the entitlement process (e.g. Dublin Crossings and The Preserve). 4. Implementation. The City Council agreed that the Draft Strategy should apply in its entirety, not partial compliance. Page 2 of 4 5. Adopting a Draft Strategy. The City Council agreed that the Draft Strategy should be adopted as an amendment to the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan. After the March 1, 2011 City Council meeting, the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy was sent to 40 developers, property owners, and builders that are actively doing business in, or own developable property in the City of Dublin. The Draft Strategy was also provided to the Dublin Unified School District. In the cover letter that accompanied the Draft Strategy, Staff noted the scope of City Council review and discussion to date, and asked for feedback on the content of the Draft Strategy. Staff received written comments from Argent Management (master developer for the future Dublin Crossings at the Camp Parks project site) and MacKay and Somps Civil Engineers. Staff also had discussions with developers Braddock and Logan, Pacific Union Holdings, property owner Pat Croak, and the Dublin Unified School District. Comments from the school district suggested clarification on a few of the policies and standards. Comments received from the developers and property owners focused on ensuring flexibility in the implementation of the Draft Strategy. As the language of the Draft Strategy was incorporated into the policies of the Community Design and Sustainability Element, the Strategy text has become more flexible with terminology such as "encourage" and "support." Some of the policies also allow for multiple methods to achieve compliance. The proposed General Plan policy language addresses the comments received from the developers and property owners, and have been drafted to ensure the overarching goals of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy can be met. Those overarching goals include: • Creating neighborhoods with a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods where pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. • Promoting walking and cycling by providing safe, appealing, and comfortable street environments that support public health by reducing pedestrian injuries and encouraging daily physical activity. • Improving physical and mental health and social capital by providing a variety of open spaces (public and private) close to work and home to facilitate neighborhood connectivity, social networking, civic engagement, physical activity, and time spent outdoors. The Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy is divided into three policy sections: • Policy Section 1: Street Patterns and Design. The policies contained in this section are intended to produce a dedicated pedestrian and bike network, streets with ample room for sidewalks and parkway strips, dedicated bike lanes, streets with multiple intersections that provide increased opportunities for circulation, and safe and easy travel between key destinations: residential, civic/public, and commercial spaces. • Policy Section 2: Land Use. Patterns and Design. The policies contained in this section are intended to create generous open spaces (both public and private) located close to the places people live and work and higher residential densities near BART stations. Page 3 of 4 • Policy Section 3: Access to Schools. The policies contained in this section are intended to result in well-located and easily-accessible school sites that are near the maximum number of likely students (e.g. adjacent to attached and detached single family homes). The Community Design and Sustainability Element amendments, showing the additions (underline) and deletions (strikethrough) to the text to include the goals, policies, and programs of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy, are included as Attachment 3. Planning Commission Action The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed General Plan Amendment at a meeting on December 13, 2011. After discussion, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted Resolution 11-37, recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution amending the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan (Attachment 4). The draft minutes of the Planning Commission meeting are included as Attachment 5 to this Staff Report. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: In accordance with State law, a Public Notice was published in the Valley Times and posted at several locations throughout the City. A notice was also sent to all developers, property owners, and builders that originally received a copy of the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to review. To date, the City has not received any comments on the proposed amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), together with the State Guidelines and City Environmental Regulations require that certain projects be reviewed for environmental impacts and, when applicable, environmental documents prepared. Staff is recommending that the Project be found Statutorily Exempt from CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity can be found Statutorily Exempt from CEQA. ATTACHMENTS: 1. March 1, 2011 City Council Staff Report (without attachments) 2. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy 3. Proposed Community Design and Sustainability Element amendments shown in strikethrough and underline format 4. Planning Commission Resolution 11-37 5. December 13, 2011 Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes 6. Resolution amending the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan to incorporate strategies on Sustainable Neighborhood Design Page 4 of 4 G~~.~ Off' Dp~l fy i9\~;~~~ STAFF REPORT CITY C L E R K DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL File # ^®®®-~® O~LIFOR~l~ DATE: March 1, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJ Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Prepared By: Kristi Bascom, Principal Planne~h EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City of Dublin ,has taken an active role in promoting environmental sustainability with initiatives such as the Green Building Ordinance and the City's recent adoption of a Climate Action Plan. In this report, Staff is presenting: the City Council with various options for implementing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy," which would enable and promote sustainable site design and planning for the street, land use, and open space patterns for neighborhoods in Dublin. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Confirm Staff's recommendations on the elements of the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy, the applicability of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; the methods of implementing, and adopting the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; or 2) Provide other direction. S bmitted By: Community Development Director Revi By: Assistant City Manager Page 1 of 10 ITEM NO. ~ ~ 2 DESCRIPTION: Background sustainability, green design, and improving public health are some of the key topics being discussed by cities and developers today. A City's land use, street, and neighborhood design patterns create a particular physical reality and compel behaviors that have a significant effect on the environmental performance of any given place. When a neighborhood has a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods and communities, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. Vehicles are driven less, air quality improves, human health improves, and the overall sustainability of a community improves too. On December 21, 2010 City Staff presented a report to the City Council on developing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy" (Attachment 1). Staff described the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy (SNDS) as a policy document that would outline the desired components of a sustainable neighborhood, such as a connected street pattern and land use plan, green infrastructure and buildings, and a linked open space network. A SNDS could also include a set of performance standards designed to measure the sustainability of a proposed. neighborhood, much like the City currently uses the GreenPoint Rated Checklist for measuring ' the environmental efficiency of new residential buildings. Staff also presented the City Council with information on one of the predominant rating systems to measure the sustainability level of new neighborhoods: the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND). The City Council directed Staff to further develop a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy and to return to a future meeting with a report on policy alternatives to consider (Attachment 2)... The City Council directed Staff to return with a report that includes the following information: 1. Recommendation on how a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy could work and how LEED-ND standards, or other sustainable neighborhood programs, could be integrated into the policy; 2. Recommendation on how a policy could be implemented; 3. Recommendations on which types of development could be subject to compliance with a policy; 4. Recommendations for public outreach to review the concepts being considered; 5: Provide examples of Sustainable Neighborhood/LEED-ND projects in other communities and showcase best practices; and 6. Provide options for incentivizing compliance with a policy. ANALYSIS: "Sustainable Neighborhood" Programs Several certification programs have emerged to rate the sustainability of mixed-use, neighborhood and community-scale developments-addressing a wider range of issues than previous rating systems for individual buildings. These broader-scale certification programs include LEED-ND, One Planet Communities, and the Living Building Challenge. Both One Planet Communities and the Living Building Challenge are international programs that focus heavily on reducing the ecological footprint of new development and minimizing carbon output. LEED-ND is specific to development in the U.S. and is the most relevant standardized rating system for our purposes because it covers the five topic areas noted below. Page 2 of 10 LEED for Neighborhood Development ' The LEED-ND framework identifies those components of a sustainable neighborhood that are most critical and awards points to those project components that meet the standards. The LEED-ND rating system awards points in five main categories: 1. Smart Location and Linkage encourages communities to consider location, transportation alternatives, and preservation of sensitive lands. 2. Neighborhood Pattern and Design emphasizes vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable, and contain a mixture of land uses. 3. Green Infrastructure and Buildings promotes the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure that reduce energy and water use, while promoting more sustainable use of materials, reuse of existing and historic structures, and other sustainable best practices. 4. Innovation and Design Process recognizes exemplary and innovative performance reaching beyond the existing credits in the rating system, as well as the value of including an,accredited professional on the design team. 5. Regional Priority encourages projects to focus on earning credits of significance to the project's local. environment. The. LEED .for. Neighborhood Development rating system was introduced as-. a pilot project in t 2009. There are several projects in the Bay Area that are in one of the three stages of certification for LEED-ND. A sampling of these projects include the 14 acre high=density ".Emeryville Marketplace" mixed-use community with 674 multi-family residential units, 180,000 sq. ft.. of retail, 120;000 sq.. ft. of office, parking garages, and open space .in Emeryville, California and the 42-acre "Hercules Bayfront", which will transform a former dynamite manufacturing site into a transit-oriented, mixed-use waterfront community with. 1,400 residential units, 115,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 224,000 square feet of office/commercial flex space. Another example of a LEED-ND certified neighborhood is' the 200-acre Sonoma Mountain Village, which is a mixed-use residential and commercial,. solar- powered, zero-waste community under development in Rohnert Park. Applicability to Dublin The LEED-ND framework encompasses a wide range of subject areas. Several of the sustainable neighborhood concepts outlined in the LEED-ND rating system are already in place in the City of Dublin: 'Concepts such as prioritizing higher density development near transit (LEED-ND's Smart Location and Linkage category) and promoting the design of buildings and infrastructure that reduce energy and water use (LEED-ND's Green Infrastructure and Buildings category) are already priorities in Dublin. The one LEED-ND category where the City does not currently have specific standards is Neighborhood Pattern and Design, which focuses on the physical layout of development sites. There are other cities and counties throughout the country that have developed their own sustainable rating systems and policies through which they can assess new development in lieu of using a standardized system such as LEED-ND. These programs were developed to be specific to the geographic region as well as the community's specific concerns and interests. A sample of these programs include: • The City and County of San Francisco instituted a set of sustainability standards and a "Healthy Development Measurement Tool" to gauge new development; Page 3 of 10 • The City of Greensburg, Kansas has developed a full set of Sustainable Development Code Standards that implement the policies contained in their Sustainable Comprehensive Plan; and • The City of Richmond, California adopted a set of 15 Community Principles related to development in their community that focus on how to plan neighborhoods that will more successfully serve the needs of.those who live and work within them. Instead of adopting the full LEED-ND rating system and standards in Dublin, Staff recommends that the City focus on developing a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy that is specific to this City. Dublin's Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy would contain only those policy categories where we do not already have existing guidance. Staff is proposing a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy specifically to guide the development of neighborhood street patterns, land use patterns, and use of open spaces to create opportunities for residents and_ workers to walk, cycle, and use alternative modes of transportation in the community. Best Practices in Sustainable Neighborhood Design Dublin already has examples of residential and commercial neighborhoods that have good neighborhood street patterns, land use patterns, and good use of open spaces, including: 1. Emerald Glen Park/Dougherty Elementary neighborhood ~:`~ . ~ . This roughly 275- ~ a~ .~;~ ~ ~. L r ~ ~ w- .f~~ , < ~ <, ~, ~ - r +~ ~ ~ .~ ~ ;;. ,, ~~ ,~ ~~ ' ~ ' ~-' ' ' acre neighborhood " ~ ~ . ~ ~ ,. .:. ~ a s ~ ~ ~ - is well-served with ~od ~ ~.~~r E ~=, -~ _ ___,~ ~ ~ ,_~ ~ ~' ^f~ Gleason f ~=;-~L ~D-~'~~ ~ ~, , . ~ :~ ~ ~"" ' ` an interconnected ~ rt ~ ~ r ~ ~ ,-.~.,~"iT'~-r ,~ ~<r,ti j~`p 1~/`f~=` r~ ~ „~ y ; r r i ~ 7 ~ -Q ~ ~ street pattern and a ~ ~~~ ,~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~.~ ~~..~, ~ ys , ~~ ~ ~ =~~ ~~ ` ~~ ' ~, t~ ~ , ~ ,,; ~.-, f a .,y . , ~ ~ ~ ` ~ combination of land r _ t ~ ` _.r _ `.~~ ~ ~-~ ~ ~ ~ , ~ _. ~ - ~'; °` c ti ~....~. r~ ,°;,~ x~~„?a°i ~ EmEralt~Glen ~'' ` ~ uses that are well- ~ ~ ~ ~ j ~,,~; .~ ,.~ * n ~.r ~,"'~ ' hr ' •~ Paek f l t d Th ~_ - ~ ~ ~ , : ~ . oca e e ~ ~, ~.~ ; , :; , Y r~ streets serving the M E ` ~ ', 4 ~'',`~ ~ou nerty _~ ~ ~",~ a "~- ``r ~~; ~ area are sufficiently g F, ~ ~. ,F`.,. , Ele~nentar~ ~--` -"~ ~~ _ .° ~ , _ ~~ +~ sized for vehicular 3 _ t ~.. - .jam J 1". ~ '~ . ""~ ~'` L ~ ~ ~ ° ~ ~ + ''l traffic yet also safe ~ = I ~`,~ -~._"' z ~~ ~ r'"'"i_'~ '~ ~~~ H~~'~ ~ ~ ~ < r ~ ~.t=~- ;, ~~ . . ~ h ` Y~ ~ ~ ~ ~" ~ ~ ~ ` ~ and comfortable for ~.~rr. _ 1 7 _ ..c-f.~c ~ ~'R. ,~.k~-~'f..6 +f.r.~ ~ ~ i Fp-<~ i j ~r ~ ~ ` ~ ~~y~F W i 1 "_" ~ ~ ~ 1 t~ pedestrians and ^ . '" ~ rr g tin, R.. ,~Y 6 "' ,-'~' ~ `----- _-.{ ~~ ~,,~~ ~ = ~.~.~.~ ;-"~ ..~.~ y~ ~;' ~ ,~ , ~ ~~ ~ -.; r= ~ ~ There are: cyclists , ~ ~, ~ . ~. ~ ' '~ .n ~ G ~ rN.. 't-+ a--. ~ ~~ 4K'~'.-i ~ ~ si, r ~a-^ N!2 ; ~ a E ' \t-6'.~a 1.~,..'- . . f ~, ~ ~ < ' ; ~ h " 4~ . ,.T ~ "., „- ~ ~ -._~. ~, ~~ «~ ~ , : ~ ' ~-, ~ ° ~ ` ~ ~ ~ °~~ ' ~ ==~ wide, separated .... ~ ~ .~, 1- ,~ ~ ~= ~ ~ , -~ ~=; {~ ~- , ~ ;~_ " ' sidewalks and off- ~.r~ ,•~;-~~. Qunt,n.aly~ f" ~,. ~`~ ~ .~;~ ~ ; ~ ~ :Y ~~,~ x-~-~ `,`~ `"_, ~ , street trails Many y ^~."+w '~`~=- - _ `~ '" '~y '~"'' :•~-- i~-'`~` '~` ' ~~ ~ *1 k. . of the cul-de-sacs rjet - .-'~°`i tl i'iF -,.Y A~-~-. "r ~ r -"-4- a • _ ? -~ °E. -~°~ , _ , . ,.._~ _._ _-. ~, , ~, ~ _ _ ~_ 5 in the" area are open and passable for kids walking to school or to the park. Waterford Shopping Center is accessible to pedestrians from all sides and has wide sidewalks and pathways for strolling and dining. Page 4 of 10 connectivity, social networking, civic engagem_ ent, physical activity, and time spent outdoors. Staff has prepared a Draft Strategy, which is included as Attachment 3 to this Staff Report. The Draft Strategy includes a menu of goals, policies, and standards to address sustainability in neighborhood pattern and design. The Draft SNDS includes policies that provide a baseline standard for future neighborhood development in Dublin. By setting expectations, standards, and a means by which to achieve these goals and assess sustainable site design, the City will encourage early cooperation and involvement .between the City and the property owner/developer in the site planning process. Identifying sustainable standards outlines the City's expectations and also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable neighborhoods that could open up opportunities for future grant funding to implement plans as well as the potential for local, regional, or national recognition of the proposed project. Staff is seeking feedback from the City Council on the goals, policies, and standards included in the Draft Strategy (Attachment 3). Applicability of a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Staff recommends that a Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy be applied to the. following types of projects: ,;F _ ~ ~ 1. General Plan and Specific PIan.Amendments, new Specific Plans; . 2. Annexations; 3. New Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Planned Development Rezones. Minor amendments to an existing Stage 2 Development Plan would be exempt from compliance with the Draft Strategy; 4. Rezoning applications; and 5. Any subdivision of property or other new development that creates new streets without changing the applicable land use designation would need to comply with-all policies and standards contained in Policy Section One (Street Patterns and Design) of the Strategy. Developers typically spend large sums of money, to obtain entitlements to develop their property. For example, a Stage 1 Development Plan outlines the basic development parameters including maximum densities-.and. permitted. uses., but does not contain .detailed land use plans. A Stage 2 Development Plan requires design work, detailed land plans with street networks, and drawings that illustrate the proposed development. A developer invests a considerable amount of time and money to obtain this level of entitlements. Therefore, projects with this level of entitlements and projects which are close to achieving this level of entitlement are not recommended to be subject to compliance with the Draft Strategy. Projects that would be subject to compliance with the Draft Strategy include those project types listed above for properties that do not have a current Planning Application on file. These future projects include Area B in Dublin Ranch, several properties in Fallon Village (Croak, Chen, and Anderson -commercial portion) and properties near Dublin's northern border along Tassajara Road (Tipper, Fredrich, and Vargas). In addition, as noted above, the approved projects that request a General Plan Amendment or rezone, would be subject to compliance with the SNDS. Page 6 of 10 J There are several other properties in Dublin that are in different stages of project review, organized into three categories below: First, there are two projects that have Pre-Applications on file with the City, but where there is no current activity on the application, as described below: Pro'ect Name Current Entitlements Ap lication Status Righetti Approved Planned Pre-Application on file since 2006 for a Tentative Development Zoning Parcel Map and Planned Development Rezoning with with a Stage 1 a Stage 2 Development Plan. Tentative Parcel Map Development Plan. approved in 2007. No plans have been submitted for the Sta e 2 Develo meet Plan. Dublin Land Approved Planned General Plan Amendment Study initiated in 2004. Company Development Zoning Various Pre-Applications have been submitted and with a Stage 1 withdrawn over the years for different project Develo ment Plan. conce ts. No current tans on file. Staff recommends that both of the above projects be subject to compliance with the Draft Strategy. Second, there., are two projects that have existing applications for General Plan Amendment studies that are at the very beginning. of the entitlement. process. Both The Preserve (Doolan Canyon) and Dublin Crossings (Camp Parks) have initiated General Plan Amendment studies, but the environmental analysis for the projects have not yet begun, detailed land plans have not been submitted, and therefore the detailed analysis of potential land plans, street networks, and open space networks are not yet underway: Neither of these projects has vested entitlements and is in the very early stages of the City process, as described below: Pro'ect Name Current Entitlements A lication Status Dublin Crossing None General Plan Amendment Study initiated in 2003. A (Camp Parks) Planning Application has been received, but no detailed plans for evaluation. Future applications will include a General Plan land use plan, New Specific Plan, Proposed Rezoning plans, Tentative Subdivision Map(s), Development Agreement(s), and applications for annexation to local utility/service roviders. The Preserve None General Plan Amendment Study initiated in 2010. (Doolan Canyon) The current application includes a General Plan Amendment-fora Sphere of Influence adjustment. Future applications could include an annexation, a Specific Plan Amendment or New Specific Plan, Zoning, Tentative Subdivision Map(s), and Develo ment A reement s . Staff recommends that both of the above projects be subject to compliance with the Draft Strategy. Third, there are two other projects that have existing applications for General Plan Amendment studies and/or Planned Development Rezones, and are much further along in the entitlement Page 7 of 10 process. Jordan Ranch (Phase 2) and Positano have current development applications underway for General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments and Stage 1 and Stage 2 Planned Development Rezonings. Both of the current applications include modifications to a previously- approved project, as described below: Pro'ect Name Current Entitlements A lication Status Jordan Ranch Approved Planned General Plan Amendment Study initiated in 2011 (Phase 2) Development Zoning to change the land use designations for a portion with a Stage 2 of the project site. Future approvals include a Development Plan, General Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Tentative Subdivision Amendment, Planned Development Rezoning, Map, and Development Site Development Review, and possible Tentative Agreement that vests Subdivision Map amendments. the existin entitlements. Positano Approved Planned General Plan Amendment Study initiated in 2011 Development Zoning to change the land use designations fora 2.5- with aStage 2 acre portion of the project site. Future approvals Development Plan, include aGeneral-Plan Amendment, Specific Plan Tentative Subdivision Amendment, Planned Development Rezoning, ;- Map, and Development Site Development Review, and possible Tentative Agreement that~.vests Subdivision Map amendments the. existin entitlements. Compliance with the Draft Strategy for these two projects, and any others at a similar stage of planning approval, is not proposed. Options for Implementation and Incentives For those projects to which the Strategy is applicable, the City could require compliance with the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy in its entirety or in part. The City Council could consider using a "scorecard" method that would require compliance with a minimum percentage of the Strategy, which would allow a greater degree of developer discretion, and could offer incentives for full compliance. If the City Council directs Staff to pursue a "scorecard" method of implementation, Staff will examine if there are feasible incentives that can be offered to achieve full compliance with the Strategy. However, because the Sustainable Neighborhood Desigri `'Strategy, as proposed, contains the basic requirements to create a sustainable neighborhood, it is Staff's recommendation to require compliance with the Strategy in its entirety for those projects to which the Strategy is applicable. Options for Adopting the Strategy The following are three possible methods in which a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy could be adopted by the City Council. Each of these options would require follow-up General Plan Amendments to the Circulation and Scenic Highways Element (for changes to the adopted standards for roadway configurations). 1. Adopt as a stand-alone policy document (similar to the Public/Semi-Public Policy adopted in 2004}; 2. Adopt as a new Ordinance/Municipal Code chapter (similar to the Green Building Ordinance); or Page 8 of 10 3. Amend the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan to include the additional goals and policies. A stand-alone policy document is easier to adopt and modify if the City Council so desires. However, astand-alone policy does not have the same strength as an ordinance or a General Plan-level policy. This policy-level approach provides the City Council with the most flexibility in implementing the policy as well as making exceptions to the policy as desired. An ordinance would become part of the Municipal Code, and any deviation from compliance with the ordinance would require official action by the City to grant exceptions from the ordinance on a case-by-case basis. If changes were proposed to the Strategy, a Zoning Ordinance Amendment would be required. The Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan includes policy-level guidance for new development in Dublin, and all projects are subject to consistency with the General Plan. The Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan already contains Section 10.7, Design of the Built Form, and. the specific standards of the Draft Strategy naturally fit as an extension to this section. If changes were proposed to the Strategy, a General Plan Amendment would be required. :1 Staff .recommends that the ,Sustainable Neighborhood; Design Strategy. be adopted as an amendment to the Community Design and. Sustainability.Element of the General Plan. Public Outreach Once the City Council provides direction on the goals, policies, and standards proposed in the Strategy, Staff proposes to meet with the development community ,to present the Draft SNDS and, receive their feedback. Feedback from the development community will be presented to the City Council along with Staff's recommendation on the final Strategy language at a future. City Council meeting. RECOMMENDATION: Staff is making the following recommendations on the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy, as discussed in this Staff Report. 1. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy.' Staff recommends that the Draft . Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy contain the goals, policies, and standards as outlined in Attachment 3. 2. Applicability of a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy based on project type. Staff recommends that the Draft Strategy apply to: • New General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments, new Specific Plans; • Annexations; • New Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Planned Development Rezones; • Rezoning applications; and • Any subdivision of property or other new development that creates new streets without changing the applicable land use designation would need to comply with all policies and standards contained in Policy Section One (Street Patterns and Design) of the Strategy Page 9 of 10 3. Applicability of a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to actual projects. Staff recommends that the Draft Strategy apply to: • Projects that have Pre-Applications on file with the City, but where there is no current activity on the application (e.g. Righetti, Dublin Land Company); and • Projects that have existing applications for General Plan Amendment studies that do not have land plans on file and are at the very beginning of the entitlement process (e.g. Dublin Crossing, The Preserve). 4. Implementation and Incentives. Staff recommends that the Draft Strategy apply in its entirety, not partial compliance. 5. Adopting a Draft Strategy. Staff recommends that the Draft Strategy is adopted as an amendment to the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan. NEXT STEPS: Once direction is provided by the City Council on the recommendations above, Staff will: 1. Refine the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to incorporate direction from the City Council; ~ . ~. - 2. Meet with the development community to present Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy and receive their feedback; ~ . 3. Prepare amendments to existing Planning Documents as necessary; and 4. Conduct.the appropriate level of environmental review; 5: Present the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to the Planning Commission for recommendation to the City Council and then to' the City Council adoption/approval NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: A public notice is not required to seek direction from the City Council on proposed policy direction. Future reports that request the City Council to take action on policy recommendations will be noticed as required by law and sent to members of Dublin's development community. ATTACHMENTS: 1. City Council Staff Report dated December 21, 2010 2. City Council meeting minutes dated December 21, 2010 3. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy G:\PA#\2010\Sustainable Neighborhoods Strategy\CC 3.1.2011\CCSR 03.01.2011.doc Page 10 of 10 G`~.~ or' o~e~~2 ~ ly~ ~9'~~~'8z STAFF REPORT CITY C L E R K ~``~L~~f~ DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL File # ^©®~-~~ DATE: December 21, 2010 J TO: ~ Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJEC Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy Prepared By: Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City of Dublin has taken an active role in promoting sustainability in the public realm. On the private side, initiatives such as the Green Building Ordinance are resulting in the construction of more sustainable buildings. However, Staff believes that the City could benefit from developing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy;" which would enable and promote sustainable site design and' planning for the streets, homes, workplaces, and businesses we build in our neighborhoods. This Staff Report contains an overview of why the City Council should consider developing a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time. RECOMMENDATION: Staff is requesting that the City Council provide feedback an directi n on developing a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy. Submitted By: R viewe By: Community Development Director Assistan Manager Page 1 of 5 - ~ - ~~~"7~L-~I i'~~ J~ ATTACHMENT l DESCRIPTION: a~~~ Background Sustainability, green design, and improving public health are some of the key topics being discussed by cities and developers today. Our land use, street, and neighborhood design patterns create a particular physical reality and compel behaviors that have a significant effect on the environmental performance of any given place. When a neighborhood has .a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods and communities, pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. Vehicles are driven less, air quality improves, human health improves, and the overall sustainability of a community improves too. Over the past several years, the City of Dublin has made several commitments to move the community toward a more sustainable future. The City's Ten Year Strategic Plan consists of a mission, vision, and various statements. and strategies to achieve implementation of the Plan. The Ten Year Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 lists the community's values in a variety of areas, and one of the three "Values in Guiding Development" is to "Support pedestrian- friendly development, transit-oriented development, green building, and environmental responsiveness." The City of Dublin has taken a number of.concrete actions to support this value, which is described below. . In 2004, the City Council adopted a Green Building Practices Ordinance that requires public buildings of a certain value to follow a "whole-systems" approach to the design, construction, and operation. This Ordinance requires that all new civic buildings that cost ever $3 million be built to achieve silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The aim of enacting this Ordinance was to demonstrate civic leadership in applying green building practices to the construction of buildings and structures that helps mitigate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of construction, demolition, and renovation. The Shannon Community Center, which was completed in February 2009, includes numerous energy efficient and water conserving measures. The Shannon Community Center is awaiting LEED certification. In 2009, the City Council adopted the Green Building Ordinance, which aims to improve public health and welfare by encouraging green building measures in the design, construction, and maintenance of both public and private buildings. This Ordinance requires residential projects over 20 units in size to reach 50 points on the GreenPoint rating system. In November 2010, the City adopted the California Green Building Code, which requires further enhancements in the design and construction of buildings and sustainable construction practices. In February 2010, the City Council appointed residents to the Green Initiatives Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force was to provide recommendations on environmental initiatives that the City Council could consider for future implementation. In June 2010, ,the City Council adopted several recommendations of the City's Green Initiatives Task Force. The City Council also authorized the creation of a Green Strategic Plan document. This document will provide guidance to Staff about which environmental activities should be given ..priority over the next five years. The- Task Force provided recommendations on energy and water conservation, air quality, solid waste and recycling, green building, and transportation and land use. In addition to the above actions, the City has also developed several policy documents that support sustainable development, including the Community Design and Sustainability Element Page 2 of 5 3~ 4 of the General Plan, which contains policies intended to enhance the livability of Dublin through high-quality design. The City's Bikeways Master Plan aims to continue the development of successful bicycle and pedestrian corridors, provide improved access to parks and open space areas, and provide and promote a convenient and safe bicycle infrastructure to reduce trips by motor vehicles. Most recently, the City Council adopted Dublin's Climate Action Plan, which sets forth the City's plan to reduce its Greenhouse Gas Emissions 20% below abusiness-as- usual scenario by 2020. Many of the City initiatives already underway are promoting sustainability in the public realm. On the private side, initiatives such as the Green Building Ordinance are resulting in the construction of more sustainable buildings. However, planning for sustainability should also include looking at the physical layout of the development sites to see what sustainability measures can. be included in the site design. Staff is requesting that the City Council provide feedback and direction on developing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy" to enable and promote designs where the streets, homes, workplaces, and businesses built in our neighborhoods contribute positively to residents' .quality of life and the community as a whole. ANALYSIS: Promoting sustainable neighborhood design Recent research by the Kaiser Foundation shows that people's environments -where they live and work, how they travel around, what they eat and.where and when they are physically active - have a major impact on their health and well-being. The design of neighborhoods can vastly impact public health, which is a chronic sustainability issue. The sustainable benefits of a neighborhood increase when it offers proximity to transit, schools, and parks, and when residents and workers can travel safely by foot or bicycle to jobs, services, and amenities.. This can create a neighborhood with a high quality of life and healthy inhabitants. Additionally, green buildings can reduce energy and water use, and green infrastructure such as landscaping and best practices designed to reduce stormwater runoff can protect natural resources. All of these features combine to create a sustainable neighborhood. Well-located and well-designed sustainable neighborhood development can play an integral role in improving quality of life. In addition to the City policies noted above, state legislation such as Assembly Bill 32 (mandating greenhouse gas reduction measures) and Senate Bill 375 (requiring the examination of sustainable practices throughout a region) will require local :consideration of issues such as reducing vehicle miles travelled and improving air quality. Other state efforts that.will impact local planning efforts are new air quality/greenhouse gas emissions thresholds that will affect land use planning and site design. These state regulations, when combined with the enforcement of the City's existing policies, could eventually lead to the creation ~ of more environmentally sustainable neighborhoods over time. However, the City could go further by creating specific standards to compel sustainable site design to occur. By setting expectations, standards; and a means by which to assess sustainable site design, the City can take a more active approach. Creating sustainability standards will compel early cooperation and involvement between the City and the property owner/developer in the site planning process. Identifying sustainable standards outlines the City's expectations and also demonstrates a commitment to sustainable neighborhoods that could open up opportunities for future grant funding to implement plans as well as the potential for local, regional, or national recognition. Page 3 of 5 4~-y~ A Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy could be a policy document that outlines the desired components of a sustainable neighborhood such as connected street pattern and land use plan, green infrastructure and buildings, and open space preservation and utilization. A Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy could also include a set of performance standards designed to measure the sustainability of a planned neighborhood, much like the City currently uses the GreenPoint Rated Checklist for measuring the environmental efficiency of new residential buildings. An example would be LEED-ND, as described below. Developing Sustainable Neighborhood Design Standards: The LEED-ND approach One of the predominant rating systems to measure the sustainability level of .new neighborhoods is the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND). In the late 1990s, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed a system for measuring green building metrics, which led to the first LEED building rating system. The LEED systems have evolved, and today there are LEED rating systems for new construction, existing buildings, retail, schools, homes, and healthcare facilities. .Unlike the other LEED rating systems that focus primarily on green building practices, the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED- ND) rating system places emphasis on site design and construction elements that bring buildings and infrastructure together. Like the other LEED rating .systems, -LEED-ND certifications are awarded according to how many points are earned. Projects can.be certified for one of four levels: LEED certified, silver, gold, or platinum. A brief fact sheet describing LEED-ND is included with this Staff Report as Attachment 1. Projects that qualify for LEED-ND certification are compact, walkable, vibrant mixed=use neighborhoods with good connections to nearby communities and neighborhoods. These. are the types of neighborhoods that the City Council has expressed interest in developing, so preparing a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy could help better the City's ability to achieve them. Options to consider Staff is seeking feedback and direction from the City Council on whether policy alternatives should be drafted for the City Council's consideration that further develops this concept of sustainable neighborhoods. Staff requests that the City Council provide direction on which of the following options to pursue: 1. Direct Staff to return to the City Council with a report on Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy policy alternatives to consider. Staff. will propose several alternatives to consider and will seek direction at that time on which policy alternative(s) should be developed into a policy recommendation. The report will, outline the following: • How a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy policy could work; ' How LEED-ND standards, or other sustainable neighborhood concepts, could be integrated into a policy; • How the .policy could be implemented; • Recommendations on which types of development could be subject to compliance with a future policy; and • Recommendations for public outreach .to review the concepts being considered. Page 4 of 5 5 1~ 2. Direct Staff to continue to utilize existing policy documents, processes, and state mandates to compel green initiatives at the neighborhood level. No new policy direction at this time. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: A public notice is not required to seek direction from the City Council on whether or not to prepare sustainable neighborhood policy alternatives. Future reports would address public outreach on policy alternatives being considered. ATTACHMENTS: 1. LEED for Neighborhood Development Fact Sheet Page5of5 ~~ ~ FACT SHEET LEED® for Neighborhood Development LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) integrates the principles of smart growth, New Urbanism and green building into the first national rating system for neighborhood design and was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Significance of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification LEED for Neighborhood Development recognizes development projects that successfully protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in our communities. The rating system encourages smart growth and New Urbanist best practices by promoting the location and design of neighborhoods that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and creating developments where jobs and services are accessible by foot or public transit. It also promotes an array of green building and green infrastructure practices, particularly more efficient energy and water use-especially important in urban areas where infrastructure is often overtaxed. Project types LEED for Neighborhood Development is designed to certify exemplary development projects that perform well in terms of smart growth, urbanism, and green building. Projects may constitute whole neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods, or multiple neighborhoods. Projects are often mixed-use, though small single-use projects that complement existing neighborhood uses may also use the rating system. Local jurisdictions should not use LEED-ND as a replacement for comprehensive planning, however, many local jurisdictions may find that LEED for Neighborhood Development is a meaningful tool to help promote sustainable land development if incentivized or used as a guideline when revising local codes and regulations. Credit Categories The following credit categories are included in the rating system: • Smart Location and Linkage encourages communities to. consider location, transportation alternatives, and preservation of sensitive lands while also discouraging sprawl. • Neighborhood Pattern and Design emphasizes vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable, and mixed-use. • Green Infrastructure and Buildings promotes the design and construction of buildings and infrastructure that reduce energy and water use, while promoting more sustainable use of materials, reuse of existing and historic structures, and other sustainable best practices. • . Innovation and Design Process recognizes exemplary and innovative performance reaching beyond the existing credits in the rating system, as well as the value of including an accredited professional on the design team. • Regional Priority encourages projects to focus on earning credits of significance to the project's local environment. U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL ZI01 L St pW, Suite 500. Washington, OC 20+)31 . Phone 202 828-1d2T. - USGEC.org s v ~~,y. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and Annual Audit for the Fiscal 8:37:43 PM 8.4 (310-30) Administrative Services Director Paul Rankin presented th taff Report and advised that the City of Dublin had compiled 'and published its Comprehe ive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. This repo eluded financial statements prepared by City Staff along with the audit prepared by Capori ~ and Larson (C&L), a subsidiary of Marcum, LLP, the independent auditors selected by City Council. The CAFR is a report which encompassed information beyond minim financial reporting requirements. The Auditors have provided a "clean opinion" based their review.- The report had also been reviewed by the City Council ad-hoc Audit Sub mmittee. The report also included a discussion of the allocation of General Fund Rese s. The City Council comment, on the positive features of the report. On motion of Vm. art, seconded by Cm. Swalwell and by unanimous vote, the City Council received the re rts and confirmed the establishment of the fund balances as stated for the year ending ne 30, 2010; and directed Staff to proceed with the development of specific policies r ted to the designation of reserves in accordance with accounting standards. ~~. Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy 8:45:26 PM 8.5 (530-10) Principal Planner Kristi Bascom presented the Staff Report and advised that the City of Dublin had taken an active role in promoting sustainability. in the public realm. On the private side, initiatives such as the Green Building Ordinance were resulting in the construction of more sustainable buildings. However, Staff believed that the City could benefit from developing a "Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy," which would enable and promote sustainable site design and planning for the streets, homes, workplaces, and businesses we build in our neighborhoods. This Staff Report contained an overview of why- the City Council could consider developing a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy. Cm. Swalwell asked if there was a way to balance requirements with incentives. Would these requirements make costs so high that applicants could not afford to build, or.no one can afford to purchase it? Ms. Bascom stated there were many alternatives that could be brought forward. for City Council consideration. When looking at LEED, there were some prerequisites that were required to be DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 13 VOLUME 29 ` OF Dt~i,. REGULAR MEETING rri ~ December 21, 2010 ``~~~ ~~c, ATTACHMENT 2 g ~,y LEED certified but there were many variations. Some components were items the City was already doing or encouraging, or developers were already implementing. Cm. Hildenbrand asked when the report came back, could it include other cities that had these types of programs. This was cutting edge and made for some great neighborhoods. There was a cost associated with these kinds of homes, but residents wanted these kinds of homes. Vm. Hart stated he was willing to look at incentives and programs to find a balance relative to associated costs. Cm. Hildenbrand stated these were recommendations and sustainable homes options were upgrades when purchasing a new home. Mayor Sbranti stated the nexus now for the developers to provide some of the sustainable elements were not as costly as they were three.or four years ago. By consensus, the City Council directed Staff to proceed with developing a Sustainable Neighborhood Development Strategy. ~:~. OTHER BUSINESS Brief INFORMATION ONLY reports from ouncil and/or Staff, including Committee Reports and Reports by Council relate to meetings attended at City expense (AB 1234) 9:00:00 PM Cm. Swalwell stated he attended the Deputy Cm. Hildenbrand stated the City of Dub Dinner meeting on St. Patrick's Day. Tree Lighting ceremony. uld be hosting the East Bay Division. League Cm. Biddle stated he also attende he Deputy Monego Tree Lighting ceremony. He attended the City's Breakfast with Santa vent, the TV30 Open House, a Stopwaste Planning meeting, and a Community Developm t Block Grant and Community Development Support meeting. Vm. Hart had no comrp~nts on meetings attended. Mayor Sbranti ted he attended a Dublin Chamber Mixer, a TV30 Board meeting, and an Alameda Co Transit Authority retreat. .~i DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 14 VOLUME 29 0 0~ REGULAR MEETING n-~ ~ ~~~ December 21, 2010 I~~~~~/ Gc,~ R~i~ Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Proposed Goals, Policies, and Standards The overarching goals of the proposed Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy are to: • Create neighborhoods with a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods where pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. • Promote walking and cycling by providing safe, appealing, and comfortable street environments that support public health by reducing pedestrian injuries and encouraging daily physical activity. • Improve physical and mental health and social capital by providing a variety of open spaces (public and private) close to work and home to. facilitate neighborhood connectivity, social networking, civic engagement, physical activity, and time spent, outdoors. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 1 of 6 ATTACHMENT 3 ~0~ 14 Policy Section One: Street Patterns and Design Intended Results: • A dedicated pedestrian and bike network • Streets with ample room for sidewalks, parkway strips, dedicated bike lanes • Multiple intersections providing increased opportunities for circulation • Safe and easy travel between key destinations: residential, civic/public, and commercial spaces Goals: • Promote transportation efficiency, including reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) • Enable easier non-vehicular circulation • Promote walking and cycling Policies and Standards: ~ ` ~~ Policy 1: Provide safe and comfortable pedestrian and bicycle connections between destinations within a project area by providing wide multi-use paths, generous sidewalks, and dedicated bicycle lanes on all collector and arterial streets. New streets shall conform to-the following street standards: Standard 1a: No closed cul-de-sacs. New residential cul-de-sacs shall have cut-throughs at the end that are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The cul-de-sac can open to another cu/-de-sac, another street, or a park, trail, or open space area. All cut-throughs shall ensure compliance with CPTED principles and accessibility for public safety vehicles. Standard 1b: New residential collector streets shall have a minimum 6' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, and a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes. Standard 1 c: New non-residential collector streets shall have a minimum 8' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. Standard 1 d: New arterial streets shall have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. Standard 1 e:. All streets at the perimeter of a school site shall have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 2 of 6 i~- ~r~ exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, regardless of the street type. Policy.2: ~ Provide connectivity and options for access within a neighborhood. Standard 2a: Design new intersections every 600' on average and at 800' maximum. This standard applies to non-vehicular intersections (e.g. separated pedestrian/ bicycle paths or trails) as well. Policy 3: Provide a continuous network of pedestrian and bicycle routes within a project area and logical connections to the exterior of the project area. Standard 3a: Provide a pedestrian and bicycle accessibility plan for each neighborhood that illustrates the continuous connections throughout the project site, highlighting the connections to school sites, public spaces, and semi-public uses in particular. ' Policy 4: All projects within'/Z mile of a regional transit~station (e.g: BART) shall provide increased connectivity to the station for pedestrians and cyclists. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 3 of 6 ~Z~14 Policy Section Two: Land Use Patterns and Design Intended Results: • Generous open spaces (both public and private) located close to the places people live and work . • A minimum standard of residential densities in close proximity to BART Goals • Provide a variety of open spaces close to residences and businesses • Improve access to transit Policies and Standards: . Policy 5: Locate open spaces in close proximity to residents and businesses. Standard 5a: 'Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly- accessible passive-use space, at least % acre in size lies within a '4 mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. The space can be either a public park (in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master plan) orprivately-owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. Standard 5b: Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly- accessible recreational facility at least one acre in size with either indoor or outdoor recreational amenities, lies within a %-mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. Recreational facilities must include some physical improvements and may include `dot lots," swimming pools, sports fields, community buildings or recreation centers, or can be any public park. The recreational facility can be either a public park (if it is in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master plan) or privately- . owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. It can be a facility that charges a fee for use. Policy 6: Residential development in the vicinity of a regional transit station (e.g. BART) shall have minimum development density requirements. Standard 6a: For all residential uses within % mile of a regional transit station, 25 units per net acre is the minimum density requirement, and for all residential land within mile of a regional transit station, 10 units per net acre is the minimum density requirement. Higher, densities within % mile of a regional transit station are encouraged. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 4 of 6 ... «~~`~ Policy 7: Support facilities for a regional transit station (e.g. BART) shall be provided in large residential neighborhoods to facilitate pedestrian and cyclist. access to transit. Standard 7a: Include a `Transit Hub" in any new project that has 500+ residential units and is located more than one mile from a regional transit station. A Transit Hub would be a central location in the project where pedestrian trails, bike lanes, and streets converge at a central transit stop. If bus service is to be provided to the project area, the Transit Hub would be the location to put the bus stop, bicycle parking, and bus shelter. There is no minimum size fora Transit Hub and it shall be located adjacent to an open space, park, or publiclcivic facility a: Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 5 of 6 I~a~C4 Policy Section Three: Access to Schools Intended Results: • Well-located and easily-accessible school sites • Minimize the distance from school sites for the maximum number of likely students (e.g. adjacent to attached and detached single family homes) Goal: • Integrate schools into the neighborhood street and land use pattern Policies and Standards: Policy 8: School sites in neighborhoods shall be chosen for maximum safety and accessibility for students. Standard 8a: School sites shall be located and designed for accessibility to the maximum number of likely students. School sites are ideally not located at the intersection of collector streets, and the site must be designed and located so that pedestrians and cyclists can easily reach the site via safe bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks. Standard 8b: Design a neighborhood such that at least 50% of any attached and detached single-family residential units are within a % mile walking distance of any new elementary or middle school site. Standard 8c: For projects that do not involve the creation of a new school site, locate attached and detached single-family residential units in areas within the project that facilitates the most direct walking route to existing school site(s). Streets within and/or bordering the project area that lead from new dwelling units to an existing school site (or dedicated future school site) shall be designed to have a complete network of multi-use paths or sidewalks on at least two sides and either bicycle lanes or traffic control and/or calming measures. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 6 of 6 ~~~`8~ City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin, California 94568 DRAFT Sustainable Neighborhood Proposed Goals, Policies, and Website: http://www.dublin.ca.gov Design Strategy Standards The overarching goals of the proposed Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy are to: • Create neighborhoods with a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods where pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. • Promote walking and cycling by providing safe, appealing, and comfortable street environments that support public health by reducing pedestrian injuries and encouraging daily physical activity. • Improve physical and mental health and social capital by providing a variety of open spaces (public and private) close to work and home to facilitate neighborhood connectivity, social networking, civic engagement, physical activity, and time spent outdoors. Updated June 3, 2011 Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 1 of 6 Policy Section One: Street Patterns and Design Intended Results: • A dedicated pedestrian and bike network • Streets with ample room for sidewalks, parkway strips, dedicated bike lanes • Multiple intersections providing increased opportunities for circulation • Safe and easy travel between key destinations: residential, civic/public, and commercial spaces Goals: Promote transportation efficiency, including reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT) Enable easier non-vehicular circulation • Promote walking and cycling Policies and Standards: Policy 1: Provide safe and comfortable pedestrian and bicycle connections between destinations within a project area by providing wide multi-use paths, generous sidewalks, and dedicated bicycle lanes on all collector and arterial streets. New streets shall conform to the following street standards: Standard 1a: No closed cul-de-sacs. New residential cul-de-sacs shall have cut-throughs at the end that are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The cul-de-sac can open to another cul-de-sac, another street, or a park, trail, or open space area. All cut-throughs shall ensure compliance with CPTED principles and accessibility for public safety vehicles. Standard 1b: New residential collector streets shall have a minimum 6' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, and a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes. Standard 1 c: New non-residential collector streets shall have a minimum 8' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. Standard 1d: New arterial streets shall have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. Standard 1e: All streets at the perimeter of a school site shall have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 5' parkway strip with street trees at intervals not to Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 2 of 6 exceed 40 feet, a dedicated bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, regardless of the street type. Policy 2: Provide connectivity and options for access within a neighborhood. Standard 2a: Design new intersections every 600' on average and at 800' maximum. This standard applies to non-vehicular intersections (e.g. separated pedestrian/ bicycle paths or trails) as well. Policy 3: Provide a continuous network of pedestrian and bicycle routes within a project area and logical connections to the exterior of the project area. Standard 3a: Provide a pedestrian and bicycle accessibility plan for each neighborhood that illustrates the continuous connections throughout the project site, highlighting the connections to school sites, public spaces, and semi-public uses in particular. Standard 3b: Allow for bus turnout lanes at new school sites to encourage the use of public transit. Policy 4: All projects within'/2 mile of a regional transit station (e.g. BART) shall provide increased connectivity to the station for pedestrians and cyclists. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 3 of 6 Policy Section Two: Land Use Patterns and Design Intended Results: Generous open spaces (both public and private) located close to the places people live and work • A minimum standard of residential densities in close proximity to BART Goals Provide a variety of open spaces close to residences and businesses Improve access to transit Policies and Standards: Policy 5: Locate open spaces in close proximity to residents and businesses. Standard 5a: Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly- accessible passive-use space, at least % acre in size lies within a % mile walk distance of 75 % of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. The space can be either a public park (in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master plan) orprivately-owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. Standard 5b: Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly- accessible recreational facility at least one acre in size with either indoor or outdoor recreational amenities, lies within a %-mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. Recreational facilities must include some physical improvements and may include "tot lots," swimming pools, sports fields, community buildings or recreation centers, or can be any public park. The recreational facility can be either a public park (if it is in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master plan) or privately- owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. It can be a facility that charges a fee for use. Policy 6: Residential development in the vicinity of a regional transit station (e.g. BART) shall have minimum development density requirements. Standard 6a: For all residential uses within % mile of a regional transit station, 25 units per net acre is the minimum density requirement, and for all residential land within mile of a regional transit station, 10 units per net acre is the minimum density requirement. Higher densities within % mile of a regional transit station are encouraged. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 4 of 6 Policy 7: Support facilities for a regional transit station (e.g. BART) shall be provided in large residential neighborhoods to facilitate pedestrian and cyclist access to transit. Standard 7a: Include a "Transit Hub" in any new project that has 500+ residential units and is located more than one mile from a regional transit station. A Transit Hub would be a central location in the project where pedestrian trails, bike lanes, and streets converge at a central transit stop. If bus service is to be provided to the project area, the Transit Hub would be the location to put the bus stop, bicycle parking, and bus shelter. There is no minimum size fora Transit Hub and it shall be located adjacent to an open space, park, or public%ivic facility Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 5 of 6 Policy Section Three: Access to Schools Intended Results: • Well-located and easily-accessible school sites • Minimize the distance from school sites for the maximum number of likely students (e.g. adjacent to attached and detached single family homes) Goal: • Integrate schools into the neighborhood street and land use pattern Policies and Standards: Policy 8: School sites in neighborhoods shall be chosen for maximum safety and accessibility for students. Standard 8a: School sites shall be located and designed for accessibility to the maximum number of likely students. Although frontage on two streets is needed, school sites are ideally not located at the intersection of two higher-volume collector streets, and the site must be designed and located so that pedestrians and cyclists can easily reach the site via safe bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks. Standard 8b: Design a neighborhood such that at least 50% of any attached and detached single-family residential units are within a % mile walking distance of any new elementary or middle school site on the project site. Standard 8c: For projects that do not involve the creation of a new school site, locate attached and detached single-family residential units in areas within the project that facilitates the most direct walking route to existing school site(s). Streets within and/or bordering the project area that lead from new dwelling units to an existing school site (or dedicated future school site) shall be designed to have a complete network of multi-use paths or sidewalks on at least two sides and either bicycle lanes or traffic control and/or calming measures. Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Page 6 of 6 PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format ~ . ~ V~IrVII~YN The Community Design and Sustainability Element guides public and private development to create a city that is diverse, functional, and aesthetically appealing. The Community Design and Sustainability Element contains goals and policies that provide a framework for community development and guidelines for new construction and improvements while protecting the City's positive characteristics. These goals and policies apply to three-dimensional aspects of the built environment in Dublin: buildings, streets, sidewalks, neighborhoods, plazas, etc. Community design combines aspects of architecture, landscape architecture, public works, public art, and transportation systems. Implementation of these community design policies will create an inviting and attractive city that will help to unify the City visually and create a distinct sense of place in special areas of the City. ~0.~.~ Ciity~riide Ii:lesii~im Viisiiaim The following design vision provides the basis for the goals and policies contained in this Community Design and Sustainability Element: Dublin is a vibrant, well-designed city with a positive regional identity. Regional corridors promote this positive regional identity through attractive development, unique landscaping, and preservation of views to rolling hillsides and other prominent features. Gateways welcome residents and visitors alike through signage, distinctive landscaping, and buildings oriented toward gateway intersections. Dublin is a city of villages that enhance its suburban character with attractive and integrated residential neighborhoods, retail centers, and office and industrial areas. Regional transit hubs are developed with compact development that incorporates a mixture of commercial, office, and residential uses. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists are provided with a variety of connections that link various activity centers of the City. Dublin is a leader in sustainable design and continues to thrive as an attractive and livable city for generations to come. ~.~ II~~II~vIrr~~N IPlllrr~s Itm IPr~llli~s Dublin has adopted a number of plans and policies to guide development. Some of these pertain to the entire City, while others have a specific area of focus. As part of the City of Dublin General Plan, this Community Design and Sustainability Element provides goals, policies, and implementation measures that address the entire City. Where goals, policies, and implementation measures of other policy documents and plans conflict, those in the Community PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format Design and Sustainability Element shall supercede. The following includes the existing plans and policies that guide development in Dublin. A. City of Dublin General Plan The General Plan is the highest-level policy document for the entire City, and acts like an "umbrella" over other documents. State law requires general plans to include the following elements: land use, circulation, open space, conservation, safety, noise, and housing. These elements may be combined and additional (optional) elements may be included. All elements of a General Plan are considered equal and all other plans and policies are required by state law to be consistent with the General Plan. The Community Design and Sustainability Element is an optional element of the Dublin General Plan. B. Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (In Process) The Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (DDSP) is currently undergoing development and will provide policy guidance, development standards and design guidelines for downtown Dublin. Once complete, the DDSP will replace the existing Dublin Downtown Specific Plan, Downtown Core Specific Plan, San Ramon Road Specific Plan, Village Parkway Specific Plan, and West Dublin BART Specific Plan. C. Eastern Dublin Specific Plan The Eastern Dublin Specific Plan provides policy guidance for existing and future development generally east of the Iron Horse Trail and Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. New development in this area requires adoption of Planned Development (PD) zoning, which includes development regulations, architectural standards, and preliminary landscape plans. D. Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan The Dublin Village Historic Area Specific Plan applies to future development and redevelopment in the Dublin Village Historic Area. This plan includes design guidelines, historic resource preservation measures, and implementation actions. E. Scarlett Court Design Guidelines The Scarlett Court Design Guidelines apply to the industrial area in and around Scarlett Court. Design guidelines address site planning, architecture, signage, landscaping, and lighting. F. Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards The Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policy establishes a set of scenic corridor polices for designated corridors including Interstate 580, Tassajara Road, and Fallon Road, and defines a review process within these scenic corridors. G. Streetscape Master Plan The Streetscape Master Plan addresses landscape planting and street furnishings throughout Dublin. This document identifies tree species and planting requirements, as well as streetscape amenities such as streetlights, trash receptacles, benches, bus shelters, monuments, and signage. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format H. Bikeways Master Plan The Bikeways Master Plan provides goals and policies for the bicycle network, supporting facilities, educational and enforcement programs, and implementation measures that support bicycle mobility in and through Dublin. I. Public Art Master Plan The Public Art Master Plan provides guidelines, policies, and implementation measures for public art in City projects and private developments. J. Zoning Ordinance The Zoning Ordinance provides policies and regulations for the entire City. Topics addressed include permitted, conditionally permitted, and temporarily permitted uses, development standards, parking and landscaping regulations, permit procedures, and sign regulations. K. Heritage Tree Ordinance The Heritage Tree Ordinance provides regulations controlling the removal of and the preservation of heritage trees within the City. In establishing these regulations, it is the City's intent to preserve as many heritage trees as possible. L. Parks and Recreation Master Plan The Parks and Recreation Master Plan establishes goals, long-term policies, and standards to guide the City in the acquisition, development, and management of Dublin's Park and Recreation facilities for the next 20 years. ~ ~Uniiiing IPiriin~iilp~ll~s ~fi C:r~ir~ir~~unii~N Il~~siign Because of the varied scales at which a community functions, city planners and designers often utilize a variety of analytical techniques and methodologies to describe and communicate various community design principles. 10.3.1 ~Ih~e Ilinmage crf~ tlh~e Ciity A commonly used model of urban design comes from theorist and author Kevin Lynch (The Image of the City, 1960). His overriding idea was for cities to create a more memorable identity by enhancing the image of their major elements. He divided the city into the following functional areas, each of which contributes distinct design potential: Paths -Paths connect activity areas and can have an important identity of their own. Landmarks -Visually prominent buildings, important cultural centers, or special natural features serve to give a city a distinct image and are important amenities. Edges -Boundaries signal one's arrival at a new land use, area, or feature. If edges are clearly marked, such as in the use of entry signs or monuments, a city's identity is strengthened. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format Nodes -Focal points, intersections, and gathering places create activity centers that draw people into them and stimulate adjacent development. Districts -Special areas of the city have their own visual and functional identity and help differentiate the visual monotony seen in many cities today. Lynch's five functional areas have been refined into the following five goals for Dublin. 1. Promote a Positive Regional Identity of the City. 2. Create a Sense of Arrival at gateways to the City. 3. Ensure quality and compatible Design of the Built Form. 4. Establish Sustainable Neighborhood Design patterns with Connections and Linkages throughout the City. 5. Encourage Sustainability to provide a high quality of life and to preserve resources and opportunities for future generations. ~0.3.~ '~Ih~e Ilinmlpairtairnce crf 8tireetscalpes Streetscapes refer to the visual image created by the buildings, signs, street furniture, landscaping, spaces and other features along a street. By unifying the treatment of one or more of these elements, a streetscape can have a coherent image and one that makes a strong statement within a city. ~.~ (irgirr~ii~~Niir~irr~ r~fi~Nlf~~ C:r~ir~ir~~uirr~ii~N IC~~siigirr~ end ~us~Niiirr~If~iillii~N IFII~ir~~irr~~N This Community Design and Sustainability Element is organized according to the following three hierarchal elements: Goals Goals are general and serve as a vision for components of community design Policies Policies divide these goals into more specific categories. Implementation Measures Implementation measures are specific tasks needed to achieve the policies and goals. ~ IPr~sii~Niiv~ IC~~giir~irr~ll Ild~irr~~Nii~N' Historically Dublin has been at the crossroads of major regional routes since early settlement of the area. These routes have evolved over time from trails to the current alignment of Dublin Boulevard, San Ramon Road, Interstate 580, and Interstate 680. Regional corridors are routes of regional significance and are generally defined as routes that connect Dublin to surrounding communities. Dublin has 12 features (including roadways, trails, PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format and public transportation) that are considered regional corridors (see Figure 10-1 ). These include: 1. Interstate 680 2. Interstate 580 /BART Corridor 3. Dublin Boulevard 4. San Ramon Road 5. Village Parkway 6. Dougherty Road 7. Hacienda Drive 8. Tassajara Road 9. Fallon Road 10. Iron Horse Trail 10. a.1 Ilimteimt To those traveling through the City, these regional corridors create their overall image of Dublin. Due to the high number of people who pass through the City each day and because of their importance, these regional corridors should be emphasized to create a positive identity and image for Dublin. 10. a.~ t~oall Promote a Positive Regional Identity of the City. 10. a.3 Ii'crlliiciies A. Incorporate distinctive design features along regional corridors that reinforce a positive image of Dublin. Both within the right-of-way and on adjacent private development, utilize features such as gateway elements, street trees, median planting, special lighting, separated and ample sidewalks, crosswalks, seating, special signs, street names, landscape, decorative paving patterns, and public art. Consider undergrounding utilities along these roadways (reference: Streetscape Master Pian). B. Maintain views through development to distant vistas (i.e. foothills) and view corridors along regional corridors, wherever feasible (reference: East Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards). C. Incorporate visual screening techniques such as berms, dense and/orfast-growing landscaping, and appropriately designed fencing where feasible, to ensure that visually challenging features, such as parking lots, loading docks, storage areas, etc. are visually attractive as seen from regional corridors. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format D. Provide landscaping and articulated design to soften the visual appearance of existing and new walls and fences that are adjacent to regional corridors, wherever feasible (reference: Streetscape Master Plan). E. Encourage attractive and high-quality landscaping along the edge of the freeways and development surrounding on- and off-ramps to provide softer and more attractive views both to and from the freeways. Landscaping on private property should compliment the buildings and overall site design. 10. a.4 Ilinmlplleinmeirntatiiairn I(Vleas~uires A. Work with Caltrans to encourage high-quality design on new freeway projects, with special consideration for both views of and from the freeways. B. Implement the Streetscape Master Plan, Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards, and applicable Specific Plans. C. Review development through the Planned Development Regulations and/or the Site Development Review Permit process. D. Work with BART to encourage high-quality design on new and redeveloped projects near BART stations. E. Work with the East Bay Regional Park District to encourage high-quality design and strong connections on new and redeveloped projects adjacent to the Iron Horse Trail and trail- heads. ~ .6 ~itms~ ~fi ~iririivll Dublin has several entrances into the City along regional corridors at or near the City limit. These entrances have been classified as gateways. Gateways may include special signage and landscaping to highlight transitions into the City, and in some instances are envisioned to function as nodes at major intersections with special architectural features on adjacent buildings and/or with public spaces incorporated into the design. As shown in Figure 10-2, the Community Design and Sustainability Element identifies the following 14 Dublin gateways: 1. Schaefer Ranch Road at Dublin Boulevard 2. San Ramon Road at Dublin Boulevard 3. West Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station 4. I-680 Southbound off ramp 5. San Ramon Road at northern entry to City 6. Village Parkway at northern entry to City PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format 7. Dougherty Road at northern entry to City 8. Dougherty Road at Dublin Boulevard 9. East Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station 10. Hacienda Drive at Dublin Boulevard 11. Tassajara Road at Dublin Boulevard 12. Tassajara Road at northern entry to City 13. Fallon Road at Dublin Boulevard 14. Dublin Boulevard at eastern entry to City Just as regional corridors have an impact on creating a positive regional identity for Dublin, gateways and entries have an impact on creating inviting entrances and a sense of arrival into the City. 10.ES.1 Ilirnteirnt The City wants to create inviting entrances at gateways that reflect the character of Dublin and welcome residents and visitors. These gateways help define the edge of Dublin and will further create nodes near the City's edge. 10.ES.~ t~oall Create a Sense of Arrival at gateways to the City. 10. ES. 3 If' cr II ii c ii e s A. Mark gateways with City identification (i.e. signage) and include enhanced landscaping and street improvements to highlight Dublin's identity, consistent with the City's Streetscape Master Plan, where feasible (reference: Streetscape Master Pian). B. Incorporate dramatic and imaginative landscaping, public art, water features, or other design features when reconstructing streets and/or sidewalks at key gateways into the City, where feasible (reference: Public Art Master Pian). C. Encourage signature building architecture at gateways that are oriented toward the gateway to create a sense of place. 10.ES.4 Ilinmlplleinmeirntatiioirn I(Vleas~uires A. Implement the Streetscape Master Plan. B. Review development adjacent to gateways through the Planned Development Regulations and the Site Development Review Permit process. ~.'I IC~~siiirr~ r~fi~Nlf~~ I~~uiill~N IFr~irir~ Dublin is made up of a variety of villages, residential neighborhoods, and other commercial and industrial areas, each with their own unique features and development patterns. Each area functions differently from other areas -largely based on location (i.e. proximity to freeways or PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format hillsides) and use (i.e. residential or commercial) -but all have common elements that make them distinct to the City. The design of the built form has a variety of categories (including Site and Building Design, Landscaping and Natural Features, Gathering and Open Space Areas, Signage, Lighting, and Art, Parking and Circulation, and Villages) which apply to the following land uses: Residential Dublin has a variety of single and multi-family residential neighborhoods with unique design features and building types. These neighborhoods are generally developed around a central feature such as a school or park. Residential neighborhoods in the Primary and Western Extended Planning Areas consist predominately of established neighborhoods with single-family homes. The residential neighborhoods in the Eastern Extended Planning Area generally contain higher density development near Dublin Boulevard and lower density (single-family) development along the hillsides to the north and east. Commercial Commercial developments (i.e. General Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Retail/Office Mixed-Use, etc.) range from a single building with a single tenant to multiple buildings often with multiple tenants (shopping centers) and also consider mixed use developments. Commercial development in the City generally occurs along arterial roadways and adjacent to office developments. Shopping centers generally consist of multiple buildings that share common architecture, landscaping, and/or other design features. Shopping centers generally are developed with a central parking lot providing shared parking. Office Office developments (i.e. Office, Campus Office, etc.) range from a single building with a single tenant to multiple buildings often with multiple tenants. Office development in the City generally occurs along arterial roadways and adjacent to commercial developments. Campus Office developments consist of multiple buildings that share common architecture, landscaping, and/or other design features. Industrial Industrial uses (i.e. Industrial Park, Business Park/Industrial, etc.) provide vital resources and services and are an integral part of the City. Industrial uses are often buffered from more sensitive uses, such as residential, schools, and parks, to minimize their impacts associated with traffic, noise, and aesthetics. The following policies apply to the land uses described above: ~0.'1.~ Ilimteimt The City wants to design high-quality and compatible areas that reflect the overall character of Dublin. These areas should also be distinct from one another to avoid monotonous development patterns. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format 10.'1. t~aall Ensure quality and compatible Design of the Built Form. 10.'1.3 If'cr II ii c ii e s 10.7.3.1 Site and Building Design A. Encourage diverse, high quality, attractive, and architecturally appealing buildings that create distinctive visual reference points, enrich the appearance of functional gathering spaces, and convey an excellence in architecture, workmanship, quality, and durability in building materials. B. Encourage buildings with varied massing, heights, articulation techniques, and architectural and signage treatments to create visual interest and ensure compatibility with adjacent uses, in commercial, office, industrial, and mixed use areas. C. Ensure that building height, scale and design are compatible with the character of the surrounding natural and built environment, and are varied in their massing, scale and articulation. D. Encourage a variety of site and building designs that are compatible and consistent with surrounding development, especially where larger scale development is adjacent to smaller scale and/or more sensitive land uses (i.e. residential, schools, and churches) to the greatest extent feasible. E. Avoid the use of long, continuous, straight (building) walls along roadways by designing appropriate articulation, massing, and architectural features. F. Create distinctive neighborhoods that exemplify high-quality and varied design while reinforcing Dublin as one integrated community, in residential areas. G. Encourage the diversity of garage orientation and setbacks, architectural styles, building materials, color and rooflines, and other design features, on all sides of all buildings, in residential areas. H. Orient buildings toward major thoroughfares, sidewalks, pedestrian pathways, and gathering spaces, and incorporate clear and identifiable entries where feasible, in campus office areas. I. Cluster and connect buildings through a series of pedestrian pathways designed to work with each other to form a unified design character and create larger functional spaces, in campus office and commercial areas. J. Design inviting and attractive office buildings that incorporate modern and contemporary architectural elements and design features that enrich the appearance of the gathering places, encourage people to use them, and have attractive appearances from the public right-of-way, in office areas. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format K. Minimize the visual impacts of service/loading areas, storage areas, trash enclosures, and ground mounted mechanical equipment. When feasible, these elements should be located behind or to the sides of buildings and screened from views through a combination of walls/fencing, and/or landscaping. L. Minimize the visual impacts of roof mounted mechanical equipment. When feasible, such elements should be consolidated and housed in architecturally articulated enclosures. 10.7.3.2 Landscaping and Natural Features A. Utilize more formal landscaping treatments in more densely developed (urban) areas and utilize more natural landscaping treatments in less dense (suburban) areas, as appropriate. B. Achieve neighborhood identities by applying streetscape and landscape design, entry treatments, signage, and architectural detailing standards, in residential areas (reference: streetscape Master Plan). C. Incorporate setbacks and landscaped buffers for development along collector and arterial roadways to minimize the impacts from roadway noise, where appropriate. D. Ensure that landscaping along and adjacent to the public realm is well maintained and retains a natural appearance. E. Encourage distinctive landscaping and signage that is aesthetically appealing from the public realm (reference: streetscape Master Plan). F. Encourage the use of landscaping on walls to soften and screen their visual appearance (reference: streetscape Master Plan). G. Increase the width of existing narrow parkway strips when the opportunity arises and encourage all new development and redevelopment projects to provide appropriately sized landscaped parkway strips (reference: streetscape Master Plan). H. Preserve mature trees and vegetation, with special consideration given to the protection of groups of trees and associated undergrowth and specimen trees (reference: Heritage Tree Ordinance). I. Preserve views of creeks, hillsides, skylines, or other natural or man-made landmarks during site planning of new developments, whenever feasible. J. Integrate development with natural features and land forms. 10.7.3.3 Gathering and Open Space Areas A. Encourage gathering spaces and amenities such as mini plazas, courtyards, benches, seating, shade, trash receptacles, and water fountains, in commercial and office areas. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format B. Design attractive gathering spaces with pedestrian amenities such as landscaping, benches, shade structures, fountains, public art, and attractive lighting. C. Encourage design treatments that enhance the attractiveness of the streetscape, public spaces, landscaped areas, and open space. 10.7.3.4 Signage, Lighting, and Art A. Ensure that perimeter areas incorporate appropriate planting, lighting, and signage. B. Ensure that signs are constructed of high quality materials, are compatible with their surroundings, and make a positive visual contribution to the character of the community. (For freeway signs, see also Policy F in Section 10.5.3.) C. Provide signs that are oriented towards pedestrians, bicyclists and other alternative modes of transportation, where appropriate. D. Incorporate public art where feasible (reference: Public Art Master Pian). E. Design and locate outdoor lighting around buildings, in parking lots, and along streets that minimize the effects of glare on adjacent properties, particularly in residential areas. 10.7.3.5 Parking and Circulation A. Provide convenient but not visually dominating parking that incorporates extensive landscaping to provide shade, promote wayfinding, visually soften views from the street and surrounding properties, and reduce the heat island effect (generally characterized with large expanses of paved and under-landscaped surfaces). B. Buffer and screen large expanses of parking areas from the street, where practical. C. Encourage the use of integrated circulation and parking facilities that are shared among surrounding properties. D. Provide attractive and convenient bicycle parking (reference: Bikeways Master Pian). 10.7.3.6 Villages Villages are unique areas in Dublin that have distinct identities, include a mix of land uses, encourage pedestrian activity and can serve as major transit hubs. Figure 10-5 identifies the locations of each Village. The following policies apply to Villages. A. Encourage compact development that integrates a variety of housing types and densities, commercial and industrial uses, community facilities, civic, and educational uses with an emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format B. Design Village locations to be compatible with the local environment including surrounding land uses and topography. Village designs should respect constraints, such as roadways, and environmental considerations. C. Provide a mixture of housing types, densities, and affordability in Villages that support a range of age and income groups. D. Construct easily accessible activity nodes (commercial areas, community facilities, gathering areas, and public/private facilities). E. Incorporate trails, pedestrian pathways, and street linkages to better unify the parts and elements of each Village. F. Design streets and pedestrian pathways that are linked to transportation routes including buses and regional transit services. G. Design Villages with strong edges to define their boundaries, such as major streets, signage, architecture, or landscaping. H. Encourage Village size and development that promotes pedestrian mobility, permits a sufficient mixture of residential and public/private uses, and convenient commercial areas. I. Foster a specific identity for each Village by applying special signage, unique design elements, public spaces, etc. ~0.'1.~ Ilinmlplleinmeirntatiiairn I(Vleas~uires Design of the built form includes all of the following subcategories as discussed above (Site and Building Design, Landscaping and Natural Features, Gathering and Open Space Areas, signage, Lighting, and Art, Parking and Circulation, and Villages). The following implementation measures apply to these subcategories: A. Update the City's Sign Ordinance. B. Institute a Design Awards Program to recognize new and remodeled projects of special quality. C. Work with development applicants to create projects that more closely relate to and reinforce the unique character of Dublin consistent with the intent of this Community Design and Sustainability Element. D. Work with PG&E or other appropriate organizations to underground new and existing utility cabinets, overhead wiring, and other related equipment, whenever feasible. E. Develop design guidelines for light industrial areas that are not within a Specific Plan or planned development zoning district and that do not have existing design guidelines. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format F. Periodically update the Streetscape Master Plan. G. Schedule the maintenance and replacement of public improvements, such as pavement and streetlights, commensurate in quality and appearance to those in more recently constructed neighborhoods, when redevelopment occurs and where feasible. H. Create a comprehensive Specific Plan with design guidelines for the downtown. I. Implement the Streetscape Master Plan, the Public Art Ordinance, Heritage Tree Ordinance, the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Policies and Standards, and all Specific Plans. J. Review development using Planned Development Regulations and/or Site Development Review. K. Support and maintain the City's industrial land uses as an important aspect of the community, in industrial areas. L. Create a Specific Plan to guide development of the Camp Parks Exchange areas consistent with the Village policies. ~ En~~~arc~inc~ ~asc~inc~l~l ic~l~~r~~r! C~sic~n c~nc~ ~rc~inc~ C:r~itmitm~~~Niir~itms itm Il..iiitmllc~s Connections and linkages are what unify the villages, residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas, and various developments within each neighborhood. Dublin includes a variety of connections and linkages for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. These provide connections within and between properties and the public right-of-way including streets, sidewalks, trails, etc. Some connections and linkages have design and landscaping patterns unique to that corridor, while others have a design and landscaping pattern unique to the type of connection (i.e. sidewalk or freeway). How a village district, or neighborhood is laid out can have a biq impact on whether the area is comfortable for edestrians and c clists, and it can be a determinant of how much time eo le spend outdoors and how they choose to circulate around the area. New development in Dublin: PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format facilitate neighborhood connectivity. social networking, civic engagement, physical activity and time spent outdoors. Compliance with Section 10.8 (Encouraging Sustainable Neighborhood Design and Creating Connections and Linkages) is required only for the following ty ep s of pro el cts: ® New General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments and new Specific Plans; ® Annexations; ® New Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Planned Development Pezones; ® Pezoninq applications; and ® Anv subdivision of property or other new development that creates new streets (without changing the applicable land use deli ng ation) must comply only with those goals, policies, and implementation measures contained in Sections 10.8.1 through 10.8.4 (Street Patterns and Desian). inclusive. 10.5.1 lmtelmt: Street Patterns and Design Create connections and linkages throughout the various areas of Dublin and within and between properties and the public right-of-way. These connections and linkages should be provided for a variety of users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists and should ensure safe and easy travel between key destinations. includina residential. civic/public. and commercial spaces. 10.5.E t~aall: Street Patterns and Design Establish Connections and Linkages throughout the City~promotin tq ransportation efficiency reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT enabling easier non-vehicular circulation and promoting welkin ag nd cycling, 10.5.3 II'crlliiciies: Street Patterns and Design /~. ,~rOVlde Safe, Visually pleasing, and COmfOrtable pedestrian and bICVCIe COnneCtl0n8 - Deleted: Design roads and pedestrian and bicycle pathways to be safe and visually between destlnatl0n8 within a J~rOject area b~prOVlding wide multi-U8e paths gener0U8 appealing connections (reference: sidewalks, and dedicated bicycle lanes on Class I and I I Collector and Arterial streets. streetscape Master Ptan, 6ike~vays Master Plan). B. Provide clear, identifiable, and ample pedestrian and bicycle pathways that connect sidewalks, parking areas, building entrances, trails, and other site features by using wayfinding techniques such as signage, landscaping, hardscape, and prominent building entrances, where feasible (reference: Bikeways MasterPian). C. Provide a continuous and ample network of pedestrian and bicycle routes within a project area and logical connections to the exterior of the project area and thereby create safe - ~ Deietea° En°ourage developments to ° ' ~ provide pedestrian and bicycle pathways that inter-connect with adjacent land uses PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format routes of travel to transit facilities, public gathering spaces, trails, parks, community centers, schools, City villages, gateways, and entries (reference: Bikeways Master Pian). D. Provide connections through closed streets (e.g. cul-de-sacs) within a neighborhood for pedestrian and bicycle access`E. Ensure that sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle -- -- pathways, and trails are furnished with pedestrian amenities such as lighting signage, trash receptacles, etc., where appropriate (reference: Streetscape MasterPian, Bikeways Master Plan). 1=. Provide increased connectivity to the nearest BART station for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to the station from development projects located within one-half mile of the station. 10.5.E Illnmlpllelnmelrntatiialrn I(Vleas~ulres: Street Patterns arrd Design A. Implement the Streetscape Master Plan and the Bikeways Master Plan. B. Review development through the Planned Development Regulations and/or the Site Development Review process for measures that achieve the above goals and olip cies. C. Review new street design and layout for conformance with the following street standards junless alternative design methods are r~oposed that will achieve the above "Street Patterns and Design" goals and policies): 1. No closed cul-de-sacs. New residential cul-de-sacs should have cut-throughs at the end that are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The cul-de-sac can o ep n to another cul-de-sac, another street, or a park trail or open space area. All cut-throughs should ensure compliance with "Community Policing Through Environmental Design f CPTED)" rp inciples and accessibility for public safety vehicles. 2. New residential collector streets should have a minimum 5' wide sidewalk or multi-use path 4' arkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet, and a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes. New non-residential Class I and Class II collector streets should have a minimum 8' wide sidewalk or multi-use path 4' parkway strip with street trees at intervals averagirrq no more than 40 feet a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. 4. New arterial streets should have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path generous parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes and a raised median. Deleted: Ensure continuous and ample sidewalks along all roadways (reference Streetscape Master Plan). Deleted: ¶ Deleted: appropriate 5. All streets at the perimeter of a school site should have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 4' parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format more than 40 feet, and a kaike lane that is se crate from on-street arkin and travel lanes, regardless of the street tyg_e In areas of residential development. intersections should occur every 600' on average and at 800' maximum. Non-vehicular intersections (e.g. separated pedestrian/ kaicycle paths or trails) may count towards fulfilling these average and maximum requirements. D. A pedestrian and kaicycle accessikaility plan shall kae created for new neighkaorhoods. The plan should illustrate the continuous pedestrian and kaicycle connections throughout the project site, highlighting the connections to school sites, pukalic spaces, and civic/semi- pukalic uses in particular. E. Allow for kaus turnout lanes at new school sites to encourage the use of pukalic transit. ~. Create a transportation network map. _ _ - ~eietea: c 10.8.5 Irrterrt: Land Use Patterns arrd Des Create neighkaorhoods with generous open spaces kaoth pukalic and private) located close to the places people live and work. Create opportunities for residents to live near transit kay estakalishing a minimum standard of residential density for sites in close proximity to RAPT 10.8.6 goal: Land Use Patterns arrd Design Provide a variety of open spaces close to residences and kausinesses and improve access to transit 10.x.7 Policies: Land Use Patterns arrd Design A. Locate open spaces in close Droximity to residents and kausinesses. B. Estakalish a minimum density requirement for residential development in the vicinity of a regional transit station (e. g. BAPTZ C. Estakalish supportive facilities for a regional transit station (e. g. RAPT) in large residential neighkaorhoods to facilitate pedestrian and cyclist access to transit. 10.x.9 Irnplernerrtatiorr INeasures: Land Use Patterns arrd Design A. Peview new neighkaorhood design and layout for conformance with the following standards junless alternative design methods are r~oposed that will achieve the akaove "Land Use Patterns and Design" goals and policies): PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format 1. Design neighkaorhoods so that a park, civic, semi-pukalic, or pukalicly-accessikale passive-use space at least'/z acre in size lies within a'/4 mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial kausinesses. The space can kae either a pukalic park (in compliance with the Parks and Pecreation Master Plan) or privately-owned, as long as it is accessikale to the general pukalic 2. Design neighkaorhoods so that a park, civic, semi-pukalic, or pukalicly-accessikale recreational facility at least one acre in size with either indoor or outdoor recreational amenities lies within a'/z-mile walk distance of 75"/0 of planned and existing residences and commercial kausinesses. Pecreational facilities must include some physical improvements and may include "tot lots," swimming pools, sports fields community kauildings or recreation centers, or can kae any pukalic park. The recreational facility can kae either a pukalic park (if it is in compliance with the Parks and Pecreation Master Plan) or Drivately-owned. as Iona as it is accessikale to the aeneral oukalic. It can kae a facility that charges a fee for use. B. For all residential uses within'/4 mile of a RAPT station, 25 units per net acre is the minimum density goal, and for all residential uses within'/z mile of a RAPT station, 10 units per net acre is the minimum density goal. Higher densities within'/z mile of a regional transit station are encouraged. C. Identify a "Transit Huka" in any new neiahkaorhood that has 500+ residential units and is or pukalic/civic facilit 10.x.10 Irrterrt: Access to Schools Create neighkaorhoods that kaenefit from well-located and easily-accessikale school sites by locating schools on safe, yet connected thoroughfares and kay minimizing the distance from school sites for the maximum numkaer of likely students (e.g. adjacent to attached and detached single family homes) 10.5.11 goal: Access to Schools Integrate schools safely and effectively into the neighkaorhood street and land use pattern. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format 10.x.12 Policies: Access to Schools A. New school sites shall be chosen for maximum safety and accessibility for students. 10.5.13 Irnplernerrtatiorr INeasures: Access to Schools A. School sites shall be located and designed for accessibility to the maximum number of likely students. Although frontage on two streets is needed school sites are ideally not located at the intersection of two Class I collector streets, and the site must be designed and located so that pedestrians and cyclists can easily reach the site via safe bike lanes, multi-use paths and sidewalks. B. Desi ng a neighborhood such that at least 50% of any attached and detached single-family residential units are within a'/z mile walking distance of any new elementary or middle school site on the project site. C. For projects that do not involve the creation of a new school site locate attached and detached single-family residential units in areas within the project that facilitates the most direct walking route to existing school site(sj. Streets within and/or bordering the project area that lead from new dwelling units to an existing school site (or dedicated future school situ should be designed to have a complete network of multi-use paths or sidewalks on at least one side and either bicycle lanes or traffic control and/or calmina measures. ~.9 ~us~Niiirr~If~iillii~N' As the global population continues to grow and natural resources continue to diminish, cities are implementing a variety of sustainability measures to preserve resources and maintain a healthy quality of life for future generations. Sustainable development is generally defined as development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Dublin has already taken measures to encourage sustainable development and as time moves on, the City will continue to raise the standards for quality and sustainable development. Sustainable development and good community design are key components that can work together and complement each other to create livable cities. Sustainable design measures should play an integral role in all future development and redevelopment efforts within the City. 10.5.1 Ilimteimt The City wants to promote community design that incorporates principles of sustainability and create a livable community that future generations will be able to enjoy. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format ~0.~.~ t~aall Encourage Sustainability to provide a high quality of life and to preserve resources and opportunities for future generations. ~ 0.x.3 If'cr Iliiciies A. Design sustainable measures to be an integrated and attractive element of community design. B. Promote sustainable communities as good places to live that offer social, environmental, and economic opportunities for the people of Dublin. C. Consider environmentally sensitive and energy-efficient building siting, which minimize impacts from wind, provides shade, reduces stormwater runoff, and maximizes opportunities for passive solar design, where feasible. D. Encourage transit-oriented development adjacent to BART stations and major arterials. E. Promote walking and bicycling through site and building design. F. Encourage alternative modes of transportation by providing priority parking for carpool and alternative energy vehicles, bicycle racks/lockers, showers for employees, and easy access to adjacent regional trails and transit stops. G. Protect the biodiversity of the natural environment. H. Encourage the use of native and/or drought tolerant plant species, hydrozoning (locating species according to water needs), xeriscaping (landscaping that does not require supplemental irrigation), drip irrigation systems that use recycled water and moisture sensors, and pesticide free landscaping. I. Design water features to minimize water loss. J. Incorporate measures to minimize the effects of night sky lighting by encouraging the use of downward facing light fixtures. K. Encourage development features that minimize the use of non-renewable energy consumption (i.e. material reuse, natural lighting and ventilation, etc.). L. Encourage public art projects that utilize a variety of materials including sustainable and/or renewable products (Reference: Public Art Master Pian). M. Encourage the renovation and reuse of existing buildings. N. Design and construct buildings and development for longevity and potential reuse. O. Incorporate recycling and green waste containers into the design of sites and integrate into buildings where feasible. PROPOSED CHAPTER 10 - strikethrough and underline format P. Encourage the use of roof gardens to collect storm water and reduce heat island effect. O. Design prominent buildings to demonstrate environmental awareness. R. Design landscaping to create comfortable microclimates, provide shade to buildings, and reduce the heat island effect (generally caused by large expanses of paved and unlandscaped areas). S. Incorporate features to reduce the impact of development such as bioretention, permeable pavement, etc. that use natural and engineered infiltration and storage techniques to control storm water runoff, where feasible. T. Encourage development of underutilized lots. ~0.~.~ Ilinmlplleinmeirntatiiairn I(Vleas~uires A. Facilitate environmental and energy-efficient design guidelines that promote good design for new construction. B. Consider adopting an ordinance to minimize the adverse impacts of nighttime lighting and glare, and meet security standards. C. Encourage development that incorporates measures from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or other similar sustainable design programs. D. Develop and implement a mandatory green building self-certification program as part of the Building Permit process. E. Develop a program to encourage the installation of attractive solar panels. F. Develop a program to add trees to existing surface parking lots. G. Review the existing Landscape and Fencing Regulations to determine if appropriate to include additional sustainable landscape standards and parking lot shade requirements. H. Investigate modifications to the Building Code to require integrated, comprehensive, and well-designed sustainable building practices (i.e. water and energy efficiency, resource allocations, and site planning). J. Implement the Bikeways Master Plan and the Public Art Ordinance. K. Review development through the Planned Development Regulations and/or Site Development Review process. RESOLUTION NO. 11 - 37 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE COMMUNITY DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN TO INCORPORATE STRATEGIES ON SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN (PLPA-2011-00052) WHEREAS, the City of Dublin's Ten Year Strategic Plan consists of a mission, vision, and various statements and strategies to achieve implementation of the Plan. The Ten Year Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 lists the community's values in a variety of areas, and one of the three "Values in Guiding Development" is to "Support pedestrian-friendly development, transit-oriented development, green building, and environmental responsiveness"; and WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed a recommendation from Staff at a meeting on December 21, 2010 to develop a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to directly support these values, and directed Staff to proceed with the development of a strategy; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2011, the City Council reviewed and confirmed Staff's recommendations on the key elements of the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy, the applicability of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; and the methods of implementing and adopting the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed Staff to incorporate the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy into the goals, policies, and programs of the General Plan; and WHEREAS, consistent with Government Code section 65352.3, the City obtained a contact list of local Native American tribes from the Native American Heritage Commission and notified the tribes of the opportunity to consult with the City on the proposed General Plan and Specific Plan amendments. None of the contacted tribes requested a consultation within the 90- day statutory consultation period and no further action is required under section 65352.3; and WHEREAS, the Dublin General Plan was originally adopted on February 11, 1985, and has been amended a number of times since that date; and WHEREAS, jurisdictions may adopt additional elements as they see fit; and WHEREAS, the Community Design and Sustainability Element is an optional element that was added to the Dublin General Plan as Chapter 10 on September 16, 2008 (Resolution 177-08); and WHEREAS, the Community Design and Sustainability Element provides a guiding vision for the character of future public and private improvements throughout the City while preserving energy, water and other natural features; and WHEREAS, amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element have been prepared that incorporate the goals, policies, and programs of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy as reviewed and considered by the City Council; and WHEREAS, amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element are exempt from the environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin Planning Commission ("Planning Commission") held a public hearing on the amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element on December 13, 2011; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did hear and consider all said reports, recommendations and testimony describe herein, and used its independent judgment to evaluate the Project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council adopt the Resolution attached as Exhibit A, which amends the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan to incorporate strategies on Sustainable Neighborhood Design. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 13t" day of December 2011 by the following vote: AYES: Brown, Wehrenberg, O'Keefe, Schaub, Bhuthimethee NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: Jeff Baker, Planning Manager Chair Bill Schaub G:\PA#\2007\07-038 Community Design Element\Planning Commission\PC 8.26.08\PC Reso CDE GPA.DOC 2 DRAFT DRAFT Planning Commission Minutes Tuesday, December 13, 2011 CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL A regular meeting of the City of Dublin Planning Commission was held on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, in the City Council Chambers located at 100 Civic Plaza. Chair Brown called the meeting to order at ~...~.~...~:...II~.I. Present: Chair Brown; Vice Chair Wehrenberg; Commissioners Schaub and O'Keefe; Jeff Baker, Planning Manager; Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner; Mike Porto, Consulting Planner; and Debra LeClair, Recording Secretary. Absent: Cm. Bhuthimethee ADDITIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE AGENDA -NONE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS - On a motion by Cm. O'Keefe, seconded by Cm. Schaub the minutes of the November 8, 2011 meeting were approved with Cm. O'Keefe's changes. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS -NONE CONSENT CALENDAR -NONE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS -NONE PUBLIC HEARINGS - 8.1 PLPA-2011-00037 Jordan Ranch/Brookfield Homes, Site Development Review for the neighborhoods of Windwood (81 homes) and Mariposa (85 homes) totaling 166 units on approximately 31 acres (portions of Tracts 8024, 8073, and 8074) within Neighborhood 1, and a Conditional Use permit to amend the Planned Development Zoning Stage 2 Development Plan Mike Porto, Consulting Planner, presented the project as outlined in the Staff Report. .~.::.~.::......Il~.l~i. Cm. Bhuthimethee joined the meeting. Cm. Schaub asked if Mr. Porto had discussed the garage door on the farmhouse architectural style with the Applicant. He was concerned that the garage door would be too overwhelming. Mr. Porto answered no. Cm. O'Keefe stated he was not present during a previous discussion regarding concrete the roofing and stated in the Staff Report it mentions "concrete the roofing is not appropriate to this style and is not allowed." He asked for an explanation of the origin of that statement. Mr. Porto asked Cm. Schaub to answer the question and give some of the history behind it. 158 DRAFT DRAFT Cm. Schaub answered the architect felt because of the pitch of the roofs it would not be appropriate to use concrete the roofing and that composite roofing would be better suited. He continued the Planning Commission allowed the composite roofing material which was an exception to the general idea that the Commission prefers more substantial roofing because of the pitch of the roofs. Mr. Porto continued those houses were more "barn-like" but this developer created these houses a bit more conventional giving the roofs more validity in this type of architectural setting. Chair Brown asked Mr. Porto to explain the affordable/inclusionary housing for Jordan Ranch. Mr. Porto answered there are no inclusionary housing units on the Jordan property. The developer negotiated with the City Council for the ability to pay an in-lieu fee which would be used in other areas of the community to create inclusionary housing. Chair Brown opened the public hearing. Kevin Pohlson, Brookfield Homes, spoke in favor of the project. He thanked the Commission and Staff for their work. Cm. Wehrenberg asked why they did not include photovoltaic panels as an option for the homeowner. Mr. Pohlson answered there had been a lot of discussion regarding the pros and cons of the panels. He stated some people feel the efficiency and cost are still too substantial therefore they felt it was more appropriate to offer insulation and other Green Point measures and then consider providing options for buyers to add the panels at some point. Cm. Wehrenberg asked if it is an option for the buyers. Mr. Pohlson answered they are still deciding whether to promote photovoltaic panels as an option. Chair Brown closed the public hearing. Cm. Schaub stated he liked the project and felt using the premium materials will make a difference for the better. Cm. Wehrenberg had no concerns with the project and agreed the project replicates what the Commission had wanted before. She stated she liked the design of the project. Chair Brown reopened the public hearing. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked the Applicant how the driveways are being scored. Mr. Pohlson answered they will use a standard scoring technique (quarter sections) and natural concrete which they found is much stronger and the look lasts longer. 159 DRAFT DRAFT A discussion followed regarding scoring of concrete, how the other developments in the area scored the driveways and the wearability of the different methods. Chair Brown closed the public hearing. Cm. Schaub stated he had no problem with the project. Cm. Bhuthimethee stated she liked the color pallet, the home designs and the diversity of the homes. Chair Brown stated he could make the findings for both the Site Development Review and the Conditional Use Permit. Cm. Wehrenberg stated she could make the findings. Cm. O'Keefe stated he could make the findings. On a motion by Cm. Schaub and seconded by Cm. Wehrenberg, on a vote of 5-0, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 11 - 35 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING A SITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR 166 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR THE WINDWOOD AND MARIPOSA NEIGHBORHOODS ON APPROXIMATELY 31 ACRES (PORTIONS OF TRACTS 8024, 8073, AND 8074) WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD 1 OF JORDAN RANCH IN FALCON VILLAGE AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO AMEND THE STAGE 2 DEVELOPENT PLAN REGARDING APPROVED ROOF MATERIALS PLPA-2011-00037 8.2 PLPA-2011-00041 The Summit at Schaefer Ranch Site Development Review for 66 single-family residential dwelling units within a portion of Neighborhood C of Schaefer Ranch (PA 06-031) and Neighborhood C on approximately 14 acres of Tract 6765 Mike Porto, Consulting Planner, presented the project as outlined in the Staff Report. Cm. Schaub asked about the enhanced rear elevations on Page A1.3ER and why it shows only a partial view of the left and right part of the house. Mr. Porto answered the architectural feature turns the corner and then bring the siding around to work with the roof detail and complete it as an architectural element. Cm. Wehrenberg noticed there were no sliding doors on the back of the houses and asked if sliding doors are an option. 160 DRAFT DRAFT Mr. Porto responded that in the packet are the different architectural elements that are available. What is shown is the basic house and the elements are calculated into the square footage coverage of the individual lot. He continued that, according to the fit list, certain houses cannot be built with those options. He felt that the reason there were no sliding doors was to create furnishing walls where the homeowner can place furniture. Cm. Wehrenberg asked if the Green Building Guidelines include LED lighting for street lights. Jeff Baker, Planning Manager answered that is not a requirement. He mentioned there is a test case coming up in the next few months to see if the City wants to move forward with that. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked why there is a mulch path that leads from the fence to the driveway instead of a concrete path to make it easier for the homeowner to move trash cans, etc. Mr. Porto suggested Cm. Bhuthimethee ask the developer. Chair Brown opened the public hearing. Aaron Ross-Swain, Standard Pacific Homes spoke in favor of the project. He stated this is the fourth active community in Dublin. He thanked Mr. Porto, Staff and the architect for their hard work on the project. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked why there is a mulch path instead of a concrete path. Mr. Ross-Swain answered that is a common practice in their other communities on the landscape plan. Cm. Wehrenberg asked if the mulch was decomposed concrete. Mr. Ross-Swain answered it was small pieces of mulch. Cm. Schaub felt that was a problem for moving garbage cans and the homeowner would have to go through the garage. He stated he has a mulch path at his home and never uses it but instead goes through the garage with the bins. Mr. Ross-Swain responded that the developer does not put hardscape on the side of the homes but allows the homeowner to choose what to put there and if they chose some type of concrete that didn't match what the homeowner chose it would have to be removed. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked if that area is considered part of the front yard. Mr. Ross-Swain answered yes. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked if the City typically allows mulch in the front yard. Cm. Schaub answered yes. He stated that typically the developers allow the homeowners do what they want with the area. 161 DRAFT DRAFT Cm. Bhuthimethee was concerned about the height of the good neighbor fences with lattice on top. Mr. Ross-Swain answered they are part of the originally approved fences and are only allowed on corner lots to soften the exposure of the fence. Mr. Porto stated the fences are part of what was originally approved for the development standards and guidelines for Discovery Builders, Schaefer Ranch project in 2006. The fences are consistent with the other fences in the Schaefer Ranch development. Cm. Wehrenberg asked if there will be a sign announcing the development at Schaefer Ranch Road and Rowell Ranch Road. Mr. Ross-Swain answered his marketing department is working with Discovery Homes on sign locations. Mr. Baker stated the neighborhood sign would be outside the city limits and within the Alameda County. Cm. Wehrenberg asked if the Commission could make a requirement for lighting in that area because she felt it is unsafe. Mr. Baker suggested talking to the Traffic and Safety Committee regarding roadway improvements planned for the area. Mr. Porto introduced Dana Owyoung, Discovery Builders the developer that was conditioned to install the improvements in the area. Dana Owyoung, Discovery Builders stated the intersection will be approved with signalization and is located within Alameda County. Cm. Wehrenberg asked how soon the intersection would have a signal. Mr. Oyoung answered it will be scheduled as part of the development but was unsure when. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked why the fence changes to tubular fencing when it turns the corner to the front of the house. Mr. Ross-Swain stated that is part of the Wildfire Management Plan so if a fire occurred there would be a noncombustible break between the wood fencing and the house. He stated it is a Condition of Approval. Chair Brown closed the public hearing. Cm. Wehrenberg stated she is in support of the project and felt the parking on this project is fabulous. She also liked the design of the homes. Cm. O'Keefe agreed and stated he could make all the findings. He acknowledged Cm. Bhuthimethee's point regarding the mulch pathway and felt it might be something the Commission should consider for a recommendation to builders in the future. 162 DRAFT DRAFT Cm. Schaub did not agree and felt the homeowner should have the option of what is on the side of the house. Cm. Bhuthimethee was concerned about the colors on the homes and hoped there would be more variations in color choices. Cm. Schaub stated he could make the findings. Chair Brown stated he could make the findings and likes the project architecture. On a motion by Cm. Wehrenberg and seconded by Cm. Schaub, on a vote of 5-0, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 11 - 36 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING A SITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR 66 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR THE SUMMIT AT SCHAEFER RANCH ON APPROXIMATELY 14 ACRES WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD "C" OF TRACT 6765 (LOTS 191 THROUGH 256) PLPA-2011-00041 8.3 PLPA-2011-00052 Amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan (Chapter 10) to incorporate a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy Kristi Bascom, Principal Planner, presented the project as outlined in the Staff Report. Cm. Schaub was concerned about blocking off cul-de-sacs so that no one could get through to the next street. He stated the Police said it must be blocked off to prevent thieves from leaving the area which he felt was not a good enough reason. He felt that people should be able to walk from their house to the next street without going over a fence. Ms. Bascom responded that one of the challenges is topography and grade differential between streets. She felt that one of the things the Police Department was concerned about is if there is pedestrian and bicycle access there must also be emergency vehicle access. She stated that will have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. She stated the policies are set up to encourage sustainability to the greatest degree possible but there are topographic challenges that may prohibit opening up the cul-de-sacs. Cm. Schaub felt that stopping a thief is not a good enough reason to keep the cul-de-sacs closed. 163 DRAFT DRAFT Cm. Schaub asked what document would take precedence: the General Plan, EDSP, DDSP, or the Guidelines for Sustainability. He asked if the Sustainability guidelines overlay on top of the EDSP for anything built in that area in the future. Ms. Bascom answered yes it does because it is an element of the General Plan which is the overarching policy document under which all the City's specific plans are written. She stated it applies to new development throughout the City and there is language that speaks about the policy being applicable to General Plan Amendments, new specific plans and new planned development zoning. She continued it would not apply to projects that are in process, but it would apply to new development. Cm. Schaub asked if the Wallis project is resubmitted it will be substantially different than what was approved approximately 8 years ago, and asked if this policy will apply to the new project. Ms. Bascom answered yes because at that point it could be a General Plan Amendment. Chair Brown asked how the policy is implemented. Ms. Bascom answered the policy would be an amendment to the General Plan, Community Design and Sustainability Element, therefore as project applications come in for new General Plan Amendments or Planned Development Rezoning, Staff would review those applications for compliance with policies as well as other elements of the General Plan, etc. to ensure that new developments fit within the policies that have been developed. Chair Brown asked if there is a check list that the Planners will use. Ms. Bascom answered the Planners go through the General Plan and make sure that any project that is being proposed is in compliance with the General Plan. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked how the City would implement a policy when the language says "encourage" rather than something stronger. Ms. Bascom responded that General Plans are policy documents that don't normally state that a project "has to" or "shall" they usually say "should" or "encourage." The Planning Commission makes findings that the proposed project is in compliance with the General Plan. She continued that there are trade-offs and multiple ways to comply with the intent of the policies. Chair Brown noted that most of the findings are bullet statements that can be used from project to project. He asked if there will be an addition to the findings statement. Ms. Bascom answered there would be no need for an additional finding because this is an amendment to the General Plan and there is already a finding for compliance with the General Plan. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked what type of response was received from the developers. Ms. Bascom responded when she originally sent out the program language in April she received comments from 5 different groups. She stated at that point the language was written with "need this" and "have to" and developers typically wanted more flexibility in implementation. When the language was put into the General Plan Amendment text it became a bit softer with "encourage" 164 DRAFT DRAFT instead of "require." The language also stated the need to achieve the program goals as stated unless the developer has another was of achieving them and then the City would be willing to review their suggestion. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked what the general tone of their responses was. Ms. Bascom stated they were overall supportive of the concept but most interested in flexibility. She stated they felt their current projects were in compliance or going in the general direction, but did not want to see language that says they had to do it a certain way every time. She mentioned Cm. Schaub brought up the issue of the closed cul-de-sac, which doesn't always work, they wanted to make sure the language is clear what the goals of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy are and what the City is trying to achieve, but also looking for options for different ways to get there. Cm. Wehrenberg asked how many projects are left that this strategy would apply to and felt there were not too many opportunities left. Ms. Bascom responded there are not a lot and mentioned some that the Planning Commission identified (Wallis, undeveloped Camp Parks, The Preserve or projects in eastern Dublin that would require a General Plan Amendment) a lot of Dublin is already developed, and this policy is not intended to require retrofitting of existing developments or stop projects already in process. She continued this policy is intended to capture new development, new land plans, anything new that is being submitted. Cm. Wehrenberg asked about comments from the school district. Ms. Bascom answered they had minimal comments suggesting additional text in a few of the policies, they were generally supportive and had no concerns but wanted to add to the policy. Chair Brown opened the public hearing and closed the public hearing due to no public in the audience. Cm. Wehrenberg felt it was great and not a hardship because it's just good practice and stated she fully supports the policy and would like to see it implemented for existing homes. Cm. O'Keefe complemented Ms. Bascom and Staff for their good work and getting it completed. He felt the new policy will help take what is already in the Streetscape and Bikeways Master Plan and put it in the General Plan and hold the developers to the policy. Cm. Schaub was in support of the policy. Cm. Bhuthimethee felt the policy addresses the connectivity issues that she had brought up in past meeting regarding connecting bicycle paths and getting people out on the street and allow connections for people to get from their homes to wherever it is they need to go. She asked if this policy is focused on the one part of the Chapter. Ms. Bascom answered yes all the language that is being proposed to change is in section 10.8 and everything else already exists in the Community Design and Sustainability Element. 165 DRAFT DRAFT Ms. Bhuthimethee stated there is language that mentions a 4 foot parkway strip asked to have the language state there should be a minimum 4 foot parkway strip. Ms. Bascom responded that the Commission could recommend that change but felt that if a developer came in and wanted to do a larger parkway strip that would be preferable. Mr. Baker stated the way the policy is written it would allow that. Ms. Bhuthimethee asked about "raised median" and if that is a planted or decoratively paved raised median. Ms. Bascom answered this would be an assumed standard, and there would be no reason to raise a median unless there would be something in it. Ms. Bhuthimethee asked about a part of the policy that mentions "develop and implement a green building, self-certification program." Ms. Bascom answered that is existing language in the element and is not proposed to change. Cm. Bhuthimethee asked if there was an existing Green Building Self-Certification program. Mr. Baker explained the City recently adopted the Green Building Ordinance and those requirements must be met. Cm. Bhuthimethee was in support of the policy. Chair Brown felt the strategy requirements are important and whoever reads the documents for each project, which are available for the public as well as developers, they will get the sense the City is taking this seriously and in that light he felt it is reasonable that if the 3 goals that relate to a sustainable neighborhood are in the project then it should be stated in the findings. Mr. Baker agreed and felt it could be worked into the findings of conformance with the General Plan. He continued that is one of the reasons why the City Council is adopting the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy as a portion of the General Plan Element is to reinforce that commitment by the City. He stated many of the items in the document are already being done but this will capture them all in one place and make a statement to the development community and by having it in the highest ranking document it sets that tone. Cm. O'Keefe asked Chair Brown if when the findings are listed on the sheet that any specific plans or any type of plans that are associated with that particular project should be listed instead of being summarized. Chair Brown answered for example the projects that were reviewed tonight if it meets the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy goals then it should be stated. Cm. Schaub felt that was too specific and it would be better to include a paragraph in the findings. He felt it would be important for the Commission to know if a development doesn't meet the goals and if they are asking for an exception. 166 DRAFT DRAFT Cm. Bhuthimethee agreed with Chair Brown and felt it was positive reinforcement, if the project meets the goals it would be nice to mention that in the findings. Mr. Baker understood what the Planning Commission wanted and felt they were not asking to list every goal but they could capture idea of conformance with the Element. Cm. O'Keefe referred to the findings for the projects reviewed at this meeting and stated if the findings are applicable to any specific plans he felt Chair Brown would like those plans to be listed and maybe listed along with the goals of the specific plans. There was a discussion regarding the Commission's wishes for the findings in general and how they are mentioned. Mr. Baker felt he understood the Commission's wishes and would work with Staff to include them in the findings. On a motion by Cm. Wehrenberg and seconded by Cm. Bhuthimethee, on a vote of 5-0, the Planning Commission unanimously adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 11 - 37 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE COMMUNITY DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN TO INCORPORATE STRATEGIES ON SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN (PLPA-2011-00052) NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS -NONE OTHER BUSINESS -NONE 10.1 Mr. Baker let the Planning Commission know that the Hyundai MSP Amendment Appeal was withdrawn. 10.2 Mr. Baker let the Planning Commission know there will be no meeting for December 27, 2011, because we don't have any agenda items, but both meetings in January will be held. 10.3 Mr. Baker reminded the Planning Commission that they must elect a new Chair and Vice Chair in January. 10.4 Cm. O'Keefe asked for an update on the REI Sign project. Mr. Baker answered they are still working with the developer to submit a design. 10.5 Chair Brown asked about the Sahara Market project and mentioned the property owner had put a sign up that the property owner has no knowledge of any work being done. Mr. Baker was unaware of the sign but mentioned that Sahara Market has applied for a building permit but it has not been issued yet and will follow-up on the sign. 167 DRAFT DRAFT ADJOURNMENT -The meeting was adjourned at ,,;,,,,;,,,,'9,,,,,,,,,II~~,,I„ Respectfully submitted, Alan Brown Chair Planning Commission ATTEST: Jeff Baker Planning Manager G:IMINUTESI20111PLANNING COMMISS/ONI12.13.11 DRAFT PC Minutes.docx 16g RESOLUTION NO. XX-11 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN ********** AMENDING THE COMMUNITY DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN TO INCORPORATE STRATEGIES ON SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN (PLPA-2011-00052) WHEREAS, the City of Dublin's Ten Year Strategic Plan consists of a mission, vision, and various statements and strategies to achieve implementation of the Plan. The Ten Year Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 lists the community's values in a variety of areas, and one of the three "Values in Guiding Development" is to "Support pedestrian-friendly development, transit-oriented development, green building, and environmental responsiveness"; and WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed a recommendation from Staff at a meeting on December 21, 2010 to develop a Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy to directly support these values, and directed Staff to proceed with the development of a strategy; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2011, the City Council reviewed and confirmed Staff's recommendations on the key elements of the Draft Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy, the applicability of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; and the methods of implementing and adopting the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed Staff to incorporate the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy into the goals, policies, and programs of the General Plan; and WHEREAS, the Dublin General Plan was originally adopted on February 11, 1985, and has been amended a number of times since that date; and WHEREAS, jurisdictions may adopt additional elements as they see fit; and WHEREAS, the Community Design and Sustainability Element is an optional element that was added to the Dublin General Plan as Chapter 10 on September 16, 2008 (Resolution 177-08); and WHEREAS, the Community Design and Sustainability Element provides a guiding vision for the character of future public and private improvements throughout the City while preserving energy, water and other natural features; and WHEREAS, amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element have been prepared that incorporate the goals, policies, and programs of the Sustainable Neighborhood Design Strategy as reviewed and considered by the City Council; and WHEREAS, amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element are exempt from the environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA; and WHEREAS, the City of Dublin Planning Commission ("Planning Commission") held a public hearing on the amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element on December 13, 2011; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did hear and consider all said reports, recommendations and testimony describe herein, and used its independent judgment to evaluate the Project, and adopted Resolution 11-37, incorporated herein by reference, recommending that the City Council adopt a resolution amending the Community Design and Sustainability Element of the General Plan to incorporate strategies on Sustainable Neighborhood Design; and WHEREAS, a City Council Staff Report dated February 21, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference, described and analyzed the amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element; and WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed the Project at a noticed Public Hearing on February 21, 2012, at which time all interested parties had the opportunity to be heard; and WHEREAS, the City Council did hear and consider all said reports, recommendations and testimony described herein and used its independent judgment to evaluate the Project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this Resolution. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby approves the following amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element (Chapter 10) of the General Plan. 1. Section 10.3.1 of Chapter 10 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10.3.1 The Image of the City A commonly used model of urban design comes from theorist and author Kevin Lynch (The Image of the City, 1960). His overriding idea was for cities to create a more memorable identity by enhancing the image of their major elements. He divided the city into the following functional areas, each of which contributes distinct design potential: Paths -Paths connect activity areas and can have an important identity of their own. Landmarks -Visually prominent buildings, important cultural centers, or special natural features serve to give a city a distinct image and are important amenities. Edges -Boundaries signal one's arrival at a new land use, area, or feature. If edges are clearly marked, such as in the use of entry signs or monuments, a city's identity is strengthened. Nodes -Focal points, intersections, and gathering places create activity centers that draw people into them and stimulate adjacent development. Districts -Special areas of the city have their own visual and functional identity and help differentiate the visual monotony seen in many cities today. 2 Lynch's five functional areas have been refined into the following five goals for Dublin. 1. Promote a Positive Regional Identity of the City. 2. Create a Sense of Arrival at gateways to the City. 3. Ensure quality and compatible Design of the Built Form. 4. Establish Sustainable Neighborhood Design patterns with Connections and Linkages throughout the City. 5. Encourage Sustainability to provide a high quality of life and to preserve resources and opportunities for future generations. 2. Section 10.8 of Chapter 10 is hereby amended to read as follows: 10.8 Encouraging Sustainable Neighborhood Design and Creating Connections and Linkages Connections and linkages are what unify the villages, residential neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas, and various developments within each neighborhood. Dublin includes a variety of connections and linkages for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. These provide connections within and between properties and the public right-of-way including streets, sidewalks, trails, etc. Some connections and linkages have design and landscaping patterns unique to that corridor, while others have a design and landscaping pattern unique to the type of connection (i.e. sidewalk or freeway). How a village, district, or neighborhood is laid out can have a big impact on whether the area is comfortable for pedestrians and cyclists, and it can be a determinant of how much time people spend outdoors and how they choose to circulate around the area. New development in Dublin: Includes neighborhoods with a robust network of internal streets and good connections to surrounding neighborhoods where pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers can move efficiently and safely. Promotes walking and cycling by providing safe, appealing, and comfortable street environments that support public health by reducing pedestrian injuries and encouraging daily physical activity. Aids in the improvement of resident's physical and mental health and social capital by providing a variety of open spaces (public and private) close to work and home to facilitate neighborhood connectivity, social networking, civic engagement, physical activity, and time spent outdoors. Compliance with Section 10.8 (Encouraging Sustainable Neighborhood Design and Creating Connections and Linkages) is required for the following types of projects: • New General Plan and Specific Plan Amendments and new Specific Plans; • Annexations; • New Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 Planned Development Rezones; • Rezoning applications; and • Any subdivision of property or other new development that creates new streets (without changing the applicable land use designation) must comply only with those goals, policies, and implementation measures contained in Sections 10.8.1 through 10.8.4 (Street Patterns and Design), inclusive. 10.8.1 Intent: Street Patterns and Design Create connections and linkages throughout the various areas of Dublin and within and between properties and the public right-of-way. These connections and linkages should be provided for a variety of users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and motorists and should ensure safe and easy travel between key destinations, including residential, civic/public, and commercial spaces. 10.8.2 Goal: Street Patterns and Design Establish Connections and Linkages throughout the City by promoting transportation efficiency, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), enabling easier non-vehicular circulation, and promoting walking and cycling. 10.8.3 Policies: Street Patterns and Design A. Provide safe, visually pleasing, and comfortable pedestrian and bicycle connections between destinations within a project area by providing wide multi-use paths, generous sidewalks, and dedicated bicycle lanes on Class I and II Collector and Arterial streets. B. Provide clear, identifiable, and ample pedestrian and bicycle pathways that connect sidewalks, parking areas, building entrances, trails, and other site features by using wayfinding techniques such as signage, landscaping, hardscape, and prominent building entrances, where feasible (reference: Bikeways MasterP/an). C. Provide a continuous and ample network of pedestrian and bicycle routes within a project area and logical connections to the exterior of the project area and thereby create safe routes of travel to transit facilities, public gathering spaces, trails, parks, community centers, schools, City villages, gateways, and entries (reference: Bikeways Master Plan). D. Provide connections through closed streets (e.g. cul-de-sacs) within a neighborhood for pedestrian and bicycle access. E. Ensure that sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle pathways, and trails are furnished with pedestrian amenities such as lighting, signage, trash receptacles, etc., where appropriate (reference: Streetscape Master Plan, Bikeways Master Plan). F. Provide increased connectivity to the nearest BART station for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to the station from development projects located within one-half mile of the station. 10.8.4 Implementation Measures: Street Patterns and Design A. Implement the Streetscape Master Plan and the Bikeways Master Plan. B. Review development through the Planned Development Regulations and/or the Site Development Review process for measures that achieve the above goals and policies. C. Review new street design and layout for conformance with the following street standards (unless alternative design methods are proposed that will achieve the above "Street Patterns and Design" goals and policies): 1 No closed cul-de-sacs. New residential cul-de-sacs should have cut-throughs at the end that are accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The cul-de-sac can open to another cul- de-sac, another street, or a park, trail, or open space area. All cut-throughs should ensure compliance with "Community Policing Through Environmental Design (OPTED)" principles and accessibility for public safety vehicles. 2 New residential collector streets should have a minimum 5' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 4' parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet, and a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes. 4 3 New non-residential Class I and Class II collector streets should have a minimum 8' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 4' parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet, a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. 4 New arterial streets should have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, generous parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet, a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, and a raised median. 5 All streets at the perimeter of a school site should have a minimum 10' wide sidewalk or multi-use path, 4' parkway strip with street trees at intervals averaging no more than 40 feet, and a bike lane that is separate from on-street parking and travel lanes, regardless of the street type. 6. In areas of residential development, intersections should occur every 600' on average and at 800' maximum. Non-vehicular intersections (e.g. separated pedestrian/ bicycle paths or trails) may count towards fulfilling these average and maximum requirements. D. A pedestrian and bicycle accessibility plan shall be created [maybe "drafted"?]for new neighborhoods. The plan should illustrate the continuous pedestrian and bicycle connections throughout the project site, highlighting the connections to school sites, public spaces, and civic/semi-public uses in particular. E. Allow for bus turnout lanes at new school sites to encourage the use of public transit. F. Create a transportation network map. 10.8.5 Intent: Land Use Patterns and Design Create neighborhoods with generous open spaces (both public and private) located close to the places people live and work. Create opportunities for residents to live near transit by establishing a minimum standard of residential density for sites in close proximity to BART 10.8.6 Goal: Land Use Patterns and Design Provide a variety of open spaces close to residences and businesses and improve access to transit 10.8.7 Policies: Land Use Patterns and Design A. Locate open spaces in close proximity to residents and businesses. B. Establish a minimum density requirement for residential development in the vicinity of a regional transit station (e.g. BART). C. Establish supportive facilities for a regional transit station (e.g. BART) in large residential neighborhoods to facilitate pedestrian and cyclist access to transit. 10.8.9 Implementation Measures: Land Use Patterns and Design A. Review new neighborhood design and layout for conformance with the following standards (unless alternative design methods are proposed that will achieve the above "Land Use Patterns and Design" goals and policies): 1. Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly-accessible passive- use space, at least'/2 acre in size, lies within a'/4 mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. The space can be either a public park (in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan) or privately-owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. 2. Design neighborhoods so that a park, civic, semi-public, or publicly-accessible recreational facility at least one acre in size with either indoor or outdoor recreational amenities, lies within a '/2-mile walk distance of 75% of planned and existing residences and commercial businesses. Recreational facilities must include some physical improvements and may include "tot lots," swimming pools, sports fields, community buildings or recreation centers, or can be any public park. The recreational facility can be either a public park (if it is in compliance with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan) or privately-owned, as long as it is accessible to the general public. It can be a facility that charges a fee for use. B. For all residential uses within '/4 mile of a BART station, 25 units per net acre is the minimum density goal, and for all residential uses within '/2 mile of a BART station, 10 units per net acre is the minimum density goal. Higher densities within '/2 mile of a regional transit station are encouraged. C. Identify a "Transit Hub" in any new neighborhood that has 500+ residential units and is located more than one mile from a regional transit station. A Transit Hub would be a central location in the project where pedestrian trails, bike lanes, and streets converge at a central transit stop. If bus service is to be provided to the project area, the Transit Hub would be the location to put the bus stop, bicycle parking, and bus shelter. There is no minimum size for a Transit Hub and its ideal location is adjacent to an open space, park, or public/civic facility. 10.8.10 Intent: Access to Schools Create neighborhoods that benefit from well-located and easily-accessible school sites by locating schools on safe, yet connected thoroughfares and by minimizing the distance from school sites for the maximum number of likely students (e.g. adjacent to attached and detached single family homes) 10.8.11 Goal: Access to Schools Integrate schools safely and effectively into the neighborhood street and land use pattern. 10.8.12 Policies: Access to Schools A. New school sites shall be chosen for maximum safety and accessibility for students. 10.8.13 Implementation Measures: Access to Schools A. School sites shall be located and designed for accessibility to the maximum number of likely students. Although frontage on two streets is needed, school sites are ideally not located at the intersection of two Class I collector streets, and the site must be designed and located so that pedestrians and cyclists can easily reach the site via safe bike lanes, multi-use paths, and sidewalks. B. Design a neighborhood such that at least 50% of any attached and detached single-family residential units are within a '/2 mile walking distance of any new elementary or middle school site on the project site. C. For projects that do not involve the creation of a new school site, locate attached and detached single-family residential units in areas within the project that facilitates the most direct walking route to existing school site(s). Streets within and/or bordering the project area that lead from new dwelling units to an existing school site (or dedicated future school site) should be designed to have a complete network of multi-use paths or sidewalks on at least one side and either bicycle lanes or traffic control and/or calming measures. 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council finds that these amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element are consistent with all other goals, policies and implementing programs set forth in the General Plan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council finds that it is in the public interest to approve these amendments to the Community Design and Sustainability Element. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall be effective 30 days after the date of adoption. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 21St day of February 2012 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor C:\Users\kristiBWppData\Local\PROVOX\.AgendaTempWtt 6 Gen Plan Amend Sustain CC Reso CDSE GPA.doc 7