HACIENDA REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

This PUD and associated rezoning from commercial to residential designations will certainly assist the City in complying with Housing Element requirements. Second, as stated in Policy 43, City policy is to disperse affordable housing units throughout each new residential development, whereas the proposed residential development would concentrate all of the low and very low income units on one part of the site. The developers state that this is the best way of achieving the greatest amount of affordable housing in that they would provide the land to an affordable housing developer, who would build the project and take advantage of tax credits and financing programs that would enable more affordable units at deeper levels of affordability with less reliance on City funding. However, this approach would be inconsistent with the City's practice of blending affordable units with market rate units for each project. The developers and staff request direction on this matter. In addition, the Housing Element encourages mixed use development constructed over commercial uses and adjacent to transit stations, and it encourages the use of the PUD process to address development standards where appropriate to facilitate such development. The mixed use question is discussed above. Some of the development standards mentioned previously, such as parking, would represent reductions to existing requirements in order to achieve a new development concept, such as TOD, for the area around the BART station. Funding Potential: Staff notes that a mixed use development near BART would create the potential for regional funding. The Council has authorized that the area in Hacienda near the BART station be designated as a Primary Development Area (PDA) under ABAG's FOCUS program, and ABAG did select the park as a PDA. This program could make funding available for capital projects within Hacienda. Furthermore, Hacienda has received an MTC Station Area Planning Grant for the Hacienda planning process, which could lead to a TLC grant for capital projects. Such funding would augment the improvements that Hacienda would make to the park, and could be used for such features as trail improvements and other public amenities. CONCLUSION Given the request to address the planning process for Hacienda and the review of the individual development proposals, it would be feasible to modify the Hacienda PUD Development Plan instead of creating a Specific Plan if the substance of the alternative process is the same and if it allows for sufficient public input and participation. Furthermore, the City could consider the proposed individual site development plans concurrently with a new Development Plan for Hacienda if the Council believes that the proposed plans are consistent with its vision for Hacienda and/or if the developers agree to make modifications to their plans to conform to the objectives of the new Hacienda plan. Conversely, the Council may be more comfortable with a Specific Plan process and deferring review of individual project applications until after its completion. Staff and Hacienda representatives request direction on these and other issues listed below. Page 11 of 13