HACIENDA REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

Although Hacienda did studies and other initial background work in preparation of a Specific Plan, actual development of the Specific Plan has not been finalized. One of the issues that has complicated the completion of this exercise has been the number of residential units available for Hacienda and the ability of that number of units (333) to support mixed use development. Another issue is the readiness of the three new projects to proceed -the applicants would like to go through the review process for their projects in a shorter time frame than would occur following a Specific Plan process. They are proposing that an update to the existing PUD Development Plan could be substituted for the Specific Plan, which would accomplish the same results as a Specific Plan and is generally consistent with the process used historically by the City and Hacienda to initiate land-use modifications within the park. Furthermore, they note that much of the groundwork has been laid for the Hacienda planning process in the General Plan Update, avoiding the need for a Specific Plan. As a result, staff and Hacienda representatives would like to bring these issues back to the Planning Commission and City Council for discussion. Direction on the type of planning process to be used moving fonrvard and feedback on the proposed development applications is requested. DISCUSSION Specific Plan Process: Specific plans may be considered as general plans for a limited area of the city, typically covering a range of planning and development issues. A Specific Plan for Hacienda likely would focus on land use, circulation/traffic, affordable housing, design, fiscal/economic considerations, open space/public amenities, schools/public facilities, and environment/sustainability. In creating a Specific Plan for Hacienda, the City and Hacienda stakeholders would identify a new vision and new planning objectives for the park as a whole and ways to create changes to the park and to certain sites that would implement these objectives. During the workshops, a consensus was not achieved as to the direction that Hacienda should take and the scope of the changes that should be allowed. For example, should the area around the BART station be transformed into a true transit-oriented, mixed use development? If so, what is the density required for such a plan to be successful, and what would the traffic impacts/benefits be? Or should a more conventional approach be taken through the development of high density housing only on those sites, recognizing that the park already contains a mix of uses? These questions were to be addressed with the Specific Plan, but the stakeholders note that these issues can be addressed through a PUD process, as well. Creating a Specific Plan is a comprehensive, public process that normally takes at least two years (or more) to complete and would set the parameters and direction of projects on individual sites as well as in public areas. Specific Plan participants would include Hacienda representatives and stakeholders and interested members of the community, Page 3 of 13