CCMIN091905 - Laserfiche WebLink

Bob Russell, representing Ampelon Development Group, LLC, provided an overview, which included the brief project history, project design concepts including proposed Site Plans and Building Elevations, and West Dublin and Pleasanton Station Parking Structures. VBN Architects presented the architectural design of the Bart Station. Council member McCormick noted that one of the proposed site plans showed the stairs coming down from one level to the next within the Station and it looked to her as if the stairs went outside. Mr. Russell said two escalators as well as stairs are located inside the Station to the ground level. Ms. McCormick asked if there were a budget for public art and if so, how much is allocated? Mr. Russell said there is no budget for public art. He noted that funding is being conducted under a public/private venture and there is a limited amount of funding based upon ridership figures and proceeds from cities and other agencies. A location to display public art would be made available; however, the funds to provide public art is not included in the budget to build the West Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station. Council member Matt Sullivan asked how the uses were selected for the two sites. Mr. Russell said Ampelon conducted a market study in 1999 and at that time the uses were similar but slightly different. At that time a 170,000 square foot office building was included on the site near the Stoneridge Mall. On the Dublin side, 160 apartment units were included and a 240-room hotel. At that time the office and hotel market was great and residential market was marginal but not as dynamic as it is today. As time has progressed, Ampelon has maintained that a similar use be continued on the Pleasanton side but not on the Dublin side. Ampelon has increased the density on the apartments to 210 units, created a smaller hotel to match the market and created a retail element so that it would be complimentary to the hotel and allow for some retail uses in the area. As to whether Ampelon would be considering alternative uses on the Pleasanton side is up for discussion. The only constraint is that BART is scheduled to close on the land in November 2005 and although an alternative use would be an open idea, it could not be conditioned upon the close of the land because the developer would wait to rezone which would entail a lengthy process. Mr. Sullivan believed the Pleasanton side was mostly parking, including a parking garage and lot with an office building, which was not very imaginative to him. Mr. Russell said the Pleasanton side area is primarily a service park area. A ''village green" is proposed between the office building and Stone ridge Mall and left intentionally open in front of the office building in order to create an amenity for a large Joint PleasantonlDublin City Council 2 09/19/05 Minutes