CCMIN041712 - Laserfiche WebLink

• Trail Improvements — The site plan includes trails that would ultimately connect to the future Bart site, in part through a dedication of land and an agreement to perform certain improvements by BRE. An approximately 400 foot gap still remains along the Kaiser side of the site. Staff and the applicant have had discussions with both adjacent property owners to secure an easement for the dedication and, while staff remains very optimistic, none is forthcoming at present. • Completion of Owens Drive — At the joint workshop, questions were raised as to whether it was wise to move forward with completing only the southern side of Owens Drive at this time. Staff gave the matter considerable thought and spoke with Bart to see if there was an interest in completing the northern side in advance of any development on their project. Not surprisingly, Bart declined. Bart is very straightforward in that they intend to make the improvements and have gone so far as to develop guidelines that are very complimentary to the City's. Staff disagrees with comments that improving only one side would look odd and cautions that, while City funds are available to complete the road at this time, doing so in advance of final site plans for the Bart project is risky. • Design — Based on several concerns that the proposed design is less residential looking in its materials than some might like, staff conducted a second round of review with urban design consultants. The consultants provided several suggestions to which the applicant was very responsive, including internal circulation improvements, enhanced paving, lower windowsills in live/work spaces, and enhanced parapet caps around building entrances, alternative materials, and enhanced landscape treatments. Mr. Dolan reviewed several graphics of the proposed design and materials. • Climate Action Plan - The City only recently adopted a Climate Action Plan that includes a rather ambitious work program. This project, by virtue of its location, density, and essential components, complies with 80% of the plan. Staff prepared a checklist against which to evaluate the project and identified the need for several conditions of approval in order to safely state the project is in compliance with the plan. These relate to separating fee based parking from rent, electric vehicle charging stations, light colored paving material, solar tube skylights and other day lighting systems, development of a gray water program, and rainwater discharge into landscape planter areas. Site 2 consists of 247 units, spread throughout 10 buildings, as well as project facilities located at the corner of Hacienda Drive and Gibraltar. This site is similar in context to Site 1, with the exception of an existing residential development across Hacienda Drive. In keeping with the more residential environment, building heights along the Hacienda frontage are limited to 3 stories and the overall design uses slightly richer architectural treatments. He provided the following overview of issues and project amendments: • Live/work depth—The applicant has agreed to extend the depth of live/work units to 40 feet. • Trail Improvements— Identical to Site 1. • Potential for additional park space — Mayor Hosterman sent the CEO of Shacklee a letter to introduce the topic. Due to a recent loss of some lab space, Shacklee may be utilizing the vacant land for their own purposes. They do, however, remain open to a dialogue about how to work together. • Design— Similar changes as those to Site 1, with less concern over architectural components. • Climate Action Plan - Sites 1 and 2 were evaluated together and therefore consultants identified similar conditions and conclusions. Councilmember McGovern said she submitted the majority of her questions to staff and thanked them for the resulting changes. She referred to the environmental consultant's report, noting that it focused primarily on air quality as it relates to cancerous elements. She clarified that her concern deals more with respiratory issues in children. She asked and the environmental consultant confirmed that, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, he felt City Council Minutes Page 5 of 13 April 17, 2012