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The Planning Commission is set Tuesday to discuss strategies the city could consider implementing to help revitalize retail in San Ramon.
At the study session, staff will present a series of alternatives they have prepared as means of spurring retail development in San Ramon.
No action will be taken, but city officials are looking for Planning Commission input on the feasibility of the ideas presented.
In early 2017, consultants BAE Urban Economics evaluated the city’s retail centers, to better look for growth opportunities in a shifting retail landscape.
“Retail is a key quality of life amenity for both residents and employees in San Ramon, and as such its importance for successful economic development cannot be underestimated,” the consultants wrote in their findings report. “The retail sector, however, has changed significantly over the past few years and the City now faces competitive pressures to retain and attract retailers, particularly specialty or region-serving retailers.”
Their analysis found that despite San Ramon’s overall affluence and retail-friendly demographics, many residents shop elsewhere. Some of the reasons for this “retail leakage” are due to the lack of sites along the highly trafficked roadways, existing retail centers are occupied but with “many nonretail tax generating tenants,” the popularity of e-commerce and the city’s location between downtown Walnut Creek and Dublin/Pleasanton.
However, the analysis also stated that City Center and its particular situation at Bishop Ranch offers a prime opportunity to fill retail gaps.
The consultants identified four overarching objectives for the city retail-wise: 1) Capture retail square feet and increase the tax base, 2) Encourage specialty retail at the upcoming City Center, 3) Expand the retail and restaurant offerings for residents and employees, and 4) Support housing in City Center while still spurring on retail.
Their alternatives to be presented Tuesday are based off other retail centers across the country, from nearby jurisdictions like Palo Alto and Walnut Creek, but also from more distant states and counties like Montgomery County, Maryland.
The strategies take a variety of approaches to retail vitalization, including adjusting parking standards, improving signage and implementing retail quotas.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the emergency operations center (EOC) meeting room at City Hall, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.
In other business
* During a special meeting before the study session, the commission will review the applications for, interview, and consider recommending applicants for both the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Transportation Demand Management Advisory Committee (TDMAC).
Each committee currently has four vacancies.
Applicants for the TAC include Joy Bhattacharya, Luz Gomez, Shantharam Gummaraju and Al Pacheco; applicants for the TDMAC include Chris Weeks (Bishop Ranch Transportation Center, previously served), Sheri Glaser (San Ramon Valley Unified School District, previously served), Patricia Hennigan (Salon X, previously served) and Mike Holtzclaw (DVC San Ramon Campus).
If recommended, the applications will then go to the City Council for approval.
The special meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in the large conference room at City Hall.