The San Ramon Planning Commission is set to move one step closer Tuesday toward approving a new four-story apartment and commercial complex proposed for San Ramon Valley Boulevard near the northern city limits.
A proposal revamped several times since its original concept in 2014, the San Ramon Valley Apartments project by Santa Clara-based ROEM Development now calls for 169 apartment units, 6,146 square feet of ground-level commercial space and a two-tier parking garage at 2251 San Ramon Valley Blvd., along the west side of the thoroughfare at the intersection with Deerwood Road.
The Planning Commission last month indicated its intent to move toward approving the current project concept, and Tuesday night's meeting would see the commissioners continue that process, city associate planner Shinei Tsukamoto wrote in an updated staff report ahead of the public meeting.
The San Ramon Valley Apartments proposal features six apartment types: traditional studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as one- and two-bedroom options with dens.
The mixed-use development would include 20 affordable units (13 very-low income, seven moderate income), representing 15.7% of the project, with remaining 9.3% to be paid as in-lieu fee to fulfill the affordable-housing obligation, Tsukamoto said.
The 2.55-acre site currently houses Outpost Sports Bar and Grill and is next to Windmill Farms produce market.
The initial environmental study concludes the project would not have a significant effect on the environment in light of recommended mitigation measures in areas such as air quality, biological and cultural resources, geology, hazardous materials, water quality, noise and traffic.
"The (initial study/mitigated negative declaration) with the comprehensive responses appropriately evaluated potential environmental impacts from the proposed project and provided sufficient mitigation measures to reduce potential impacts to less than significant," Tsukamoto said.
City staff recommends the commission hear the latest staff report Tuesday evening before opening the public hearing, receiving citizen comments and then directing staff to prepare final approval resolutions for consideration during the Dec. 6 commission meeting.
The meeting Tuesday night is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. inside the council chamber at San Ramon City Hall at 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.
Comments
San Ramon
on Oct 31, 2016 at 3:26 pm
on Oct 31, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Just a bunch of ugly boxes clustered side by side, but wait, the apartments have a wonderful view of the In-N-Out burger across the street, after all, this is San Ramon after all.
Blackhawk
on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:06 pm
on Oct 31, 2016 at 7:06 pm
Great news, bodes well for the recent announcement by GE to expand their presence in the area. New employees will need housing and this is a start!
San Ramon
on Nov 1, 2016 at 7:33 am
on Nov 1, 2016 at 7:33 am
Where's everyone going to park for windmill farms or is it going to be closed?
San Ramon
on Nov 1, 2016 at 11:15 am
on Nov 1, 2016 at 11:15 am
ddmom has a great comment! For 169 apartments plus retail units, AT LEAST 400 parking places are needed. How many are planned for the new 2-story parking structure? Take a look at the apartments along Dublin Blvd to see what San Ramon Valley Blvd will look like!!
John Baldwin Elementary School
on Nov 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm
on Nov 1, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Why do people who already have their homes/rentals try to deny that joy to others? As we all know it is because they are selfish and only care about themselves
Registered user
Danville
on Nov 1, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Registered user
on Nov 1, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Windmill Farms isn’t closing. It has its own off-street parking lot located in back.
The Outpost Sports Bar and Grill will be demolished. That place is a dump anyway.
19 trees would be removed, 5 of which are protected coast live oak trees. They will plant 29 live oak trees.
The parking garage will have 272 spaces.
The development will include “13 very-low income” units.
Oh joy.
I don’t like apartments because in general, apartments attract undesirables.
Everyone must live somewhere, of course. I get it. I just don’t want those kind of people living around me.
San Ramon
on Nov 1, 2016 at 2:54 pm
on Nov 1, 2016 at 2:54 pm
Now, let's add to this the proposed 5 story hotel diagonally across this proposed apartment building on Deerwood. Both will add parking issues and traffic to the area. I hope the Planning Commission and City Council are looking at the ENTIRE proposals for this area (including the 650+ homes that will be build just north of Deerwood). What will the "view" look like when all of these project are completed? Can the Planning Commission and City Council present to the residents a sketch of the view from San Ramon Valley Blvd to the proposed apartment building, 5 story hotel and homes building along the hillside? At least for me, I don't want San Ramon to look like Dublin looks like now along Hwy 580 with homes and commercial businesses on top of each other.
San Ramon
on Nov 2, 2016 at 10:07 am
on Nov 2, 2016 at 10:07 am
David Barlow is the only truly sane person here.
FYI - 30+ Year Resident - 400 parking spaces for 169 units... I suppose in your 30 years of living in the area you never took advantage of basic math class? Even with 7,000 sf of retail = 4 per 1,000 sf (industry standard) = 28 spaces. You are, for lack of a better word, completely inept at your understanding.
Herman Glates - Do you realize what these apartments will cost? Do you understand affordable housing pricing? You realize these apartments will be occupied by teachers, nurses, those who cannot afford the homes you have obviously taken for granted? You let these "undesirables" teach your kids, tend your emergency wounds, serve your food, but OH GOODNESS MY THEY CANT LIVE NEAR ME!
San Ramon Resident - I love how the only actual use which will generate tax and dollars for the SR General Fund is being called into question here... Of all the proposed developments, that one should be green-lit with no roadblocks. Cities are dying to increase general fund for additional police, school, infrastructure repair, and you guys want to look at traffic?! Those wonderful parks you have... are created and kept by these taxes!
You want the city to be beautiful for your kids when they get older? Grow responsibly, which is what these developments are doing. Non-growth and stagnation are recipes for disaster, and THEN you get the undesirables. Go ask any car-producing city.
San Ramon
on Nov 2, 2016 at 4:47 pm
on Nov 2, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Ridiculous, that you are. With high density developments like this, far more police will be required, & yes the added traffic will be horrendous. But then people like you want everyone to submit to your "green" solutions including riding their bikes everywhere & riding on diesel busses.
Registered user
Danville
on Nov 3, 2016 at 9:51 am
Registered user
on Nov 3, 2016 at 9:51 am
You want to live in San Ramon? Earn it. Save your money.
Don’t expect San Ramon to create ghetto housing for you.
Go live in Dublin or Concord until you can afford it.
Danville
on Nov 3, 2016 at 10:49 am
on Nov 3, 2016 at 10:49 am
It's gonna suck guys! That's a lot of new residents to dump at one time into such a small area. It's been my experience throughout the years that residents supporting projects as dense as this project are-
A. Making money on the construction level. or B. Will make money after the new residents move in. Follow the money.
RIDICULOUS obviously has no idea what the average salary of a nurse or teacher in this area. They DON'T qualify for one bedroom "Very Low Income" apartment.
Oh my gosh! That whole area is going to be a big mess!!! In many ways traffic, parking, crime, school overcrowding, etc.
It's a quality of life issue -NOT- a not in my back yard.
Check out the crime statistics at the other low income apartments RIDICULOUS!!!
The developer doesn't care about quality of life issues on his San Ramon low income apartments because he lives in the South Bay.....
Danville
on Nov 3, 2016 at 8:33 pm
on Nov 3, 2016 at 8:33 pm
C'mon Man.....Dublin is beating us. Why not 7 stories? Imagine the increased developers fees! I know the residents in the apartments and the new homes in Faria "Preserve" will be in gridlock most of the day but that congestion and activity will create a "vibrant" municipality which you all want in San Ramon....right?
San Ramon
on Nov 4, 2016 at 7:44 am
on Nov 4, 2016 at 7:44 am
Have any of you that are complaining gone to even ONE of the Planning Commission meetings? This online forum is not part of the public input that the Planning Commission considers in their comments to the land owners/developers.
If this project is SO BAD, you have an obligation to let the Planning Commission know your opinion and how to make this project better.
Don't just sit at home and type your comments here, where no one on the Planning Commission will see it. Go to the meetings and speak up.
San Ramon
on Nov 4, 2016 at 8:25 am
on Nov 4, 2016 at 8:25 am
To John: Yes, I went to the meetings for the Faria Project and spoke to several city council members one-on-one. It was a total waste of time. The city council members (Scott Perkins & Bill Clarkson) both said that, for example, the Faria project was decided years ago and whatever a builder wants to do, they can do. The Planning Commission and City Council can provide input on how many homes are being built, but the land is there to be developed. We, as San Ramon residents, just have to suck it up.
When you have the mayor and a city council member BOTH in the real estate business, why would they support slower growth? It's in their best personal interest to have more homes in the area because then the inventory of homes for sale increases. This results in more business for them.
Want an example of ugly? Just look at the KB townhomes on Norris Canyon Rd near Alcosta Blvd. Do you want that kind of view of San Ramon from the main thoroughfares of San Ramon? There isn't room for a single tree!
Danville
on Nov 4, 2016 at 8:30 am
on Nov 4, 2016 at 8:30 am
John has a good point about attending the planning meetings and voicing concerns.
One other point to consider besides traffic and congestion is water. We have all been required to conserve water and pay higher water rates. where is the water coming from to supply all these new developments. I realize apartments dwellers don't require as much water as those of us fortunate to have yards, but I feel like every gallon I save will be sold to a new household. That's not conservation nor a reduction in overall consumption. It is simply a redistribution of the water. Do the planners take water consumption and conservation into account when they approve these types of projects??
San Ramon
on Nov 5, 2016 at 8:49 am
on Nov 5, 2016 at 8:49 am
State law prohibits cities from considering water and schools in making decisions regarding building within their city limits. That job belongs to the water district (EBMUB or DSRSD in San Ramon) and to the school district (SRVUSD). If the water district can't or won't provide water that could stop a project. The school district charges impact fees to deal with school population.
Faria Preserve was approved BY THE VOTERS in 2002 when the General Plan 2020 was put on the ballot. It passed by 77%. To stop that development you would have to buy the land from the owner/developer.
Danville
on Nov 6, 2016 at 8:22 am
on Nov 6, 2016 at 8:22 am
John: Thanks for the clarification. If what you say is true, then that is a big underlying problem with our legal system. I'm not certain why it should be illegal to take infrastructure, water supply, schools, and other factors into consideration before approving a project. I believe many (most?) need to perform and environmental impact report, why should water supply or other issues be treat any differently? There is also a conflict of interest built into the existing system if it is the way you describe. EBMUD has shortfalls in revenues because we are all conserving water. They raise rates to try and compensate for that. At the same time, they probably favor new development to increase demand and revenue again. Likewise, the school districts probably salivate at the added property tax revenue to increase funds. Neither of them are inclined Ned to put the brakes on growth in that type of scenario.
San Ramon
on Nov 7, 2016 at 8:24 am
on Nov 7, 2016 at 8:24 am
Herman Glates who are the "undesirables" you don't want living in the city? The people that cook your food, check you out at the grocery store, clean your teeth, and teach your children?
San Ramon
on Nov 7, 2016 at 1:00 pm
on Nov 7, 2016 at 1:00 pm
John: when I attended one of the Faria Project meetings, it was made clear that the current builder is at least the 3rd party in the last couple of years that owns the land. The other companies/owners went defunct or were bought out. The current builder has only had the property since Spring 2016. If I recall correctly, a full environmental impact report was NOT done for this project. There was some loop hole that the then owner squeezed through.
How would we know if there is an environmental impact report for the next two projects in the same area: 1) apartment/retail complex on San Ramon Valley Blvd; and 2) 5 story hotel on Deerwood? And, when an EIR is done, does it look at the proposed uses around the area via the General Plan or what is in existence at the time?
It would be also interesting to note the crime statistics for the high density apartments/housing and local hotels vs. regular residential housing or commercial businesses like that in Bishop Ranch.
Danville
on Jul 23, 2017 at 9:29 am
on Jul 23, 2017 at 9:29 am
It makes me shutter to think what our city planners would do if they could "have their way" with the Fostoria property across from Costco.
Mel
San Ramon
on Aug 1, 2017 at 3:57 pm
on Aug 1, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Lived in San Ramon over 40 years and I remember when it was a small blue collar town..I have no problem with growth but I do have a problem with the in flux of snobby a**holes who have taken over this city like the a**hole above who doesn't want undesirables moving in..What a clown..Stay in Danville bud..San Ramon never has been and never will be Danville..Where I live in South San Ramon the amount of rich bastards moving into what were blue collar neighborhoods is driving me nuts..Calling the city on anyone with a boat or trailer..Calling police for so called illegal pipes or starting a dirt bike in your garage..If your looking to be a posh A** like Walter above please got to Danville or East San Ramon and stay away from South San Ramon neighborhoods where the "undesirables" like policeman ,teachers and blue collar workers are welcomed
Danville
on Aug 3, 2017 at 4:58 pm
on Aug 3, 2017 at 4:58 pm
You are so right Mike, San Ramon will never be like Danville, at least for the time being. In that light, and in the spirit of Abram Wilson and Herb Moniz let's make it 15 stories...It gives the San Ramon movers and shakers the urban congestion they so crave...and more power....