15 ATTACHMENT 5 AND 6 - Laserfiche WebLink

DRAFT Commission last week, with the Chair commending staff and the applicant as well. He noted that the project has a 20- percent AMI at 50 percent, which is the most seen anywhere in the region. He further noted that the project is truly a mixed - income community with units dispersed throughout the entire project. Mr. Zahedani displayed some slides, including one of the Verona Townhouses across the street, which is what the applicants wanted its project to look like so it could fit in and be compatible with the surrounding area. He then presented project elevations fronting West Las Positas Boulevard, showing the pitched roof and classic components, as well as the bars on the windows, which he believes looks better and which staff likes, but on which the owners had indicated they would defer to the Planning Commission's wishes. Mr. Zahedani then presented what he deemed to be the heart of the project. He stated that although the project is defined as a 5.68 -acre site, it really is only 4.9 acres net developable, with two major easements, on which they were able to have 168 units with three -story buildings, two "U "- shaped buildings in the front, four stories in the back, and one story for the clubhouse and amenities. He noted that this is key because going into the project, one drives by the trees that were saved in the front easement area so that one barely sees the three -story building with its 38 -foot tall elevation and with most of the massing in the back in the large "L "- shaped building. He added that the project was able to meet the standards for parking, open space, and circulation, which is very difficult to accomplish in a triangular- shaped site. He noted that it took three architects and is a true achievement for their entire team and City staff. He added that they ensured there is an arrival zone that provides a sense of being as one enters the community through the main town center where residents can have a barbecue and throw a football around, and which includes the child center with the tot lot, a full pool area, a large -scale indoor gym for the tenants and their guests, and a yoga room. Mr. Zahedani stated that they worked very diligently to create a second park on the west side of the project which includes a dog run as requested by the neighbors at the Planning Commission Work Session, noting that these apartments will have long -term tenants who will need a place their pets can use. He added that there is a gathering area with seating, a vegetable garden, bike racks both in the private garages and around the community space area, and two gates that connect to the trail north of the site. He pointed out that private garages have been included, which would provide ease in pulling into the units with kids and groceries, particular when it is raining. Mr. Zahedani stated that another big accomplishment for the project is the addition of new individual entries into 12 more units, bringing the total ground -floor units with entries to 28 of the 30, with direct access from both the back and front side of the units. Mr. Zahedani then touched on the issue of the access with ValleyCare, noting that in the spirit of being good neighbors, both parties came together at about 5:30 this evening, and they have an agreement in place. He indicated that the agreement has not yet been signed, but the mechanism necessary to build the driveway has been created, and DRAFT EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 5/8/13 Page 4 of 9