Sorrento East Update
As mentioned in previous entries, Toll Brothers sold the Sorrento East project to Regent Properties. With the transition from Toll Brothers to Regent Properties (and the presence of earth-moving equipment close to Gleason Drive), there has been a great deal of interest in what Sorrento East will look like. The elevations and other details of the new development are still being worked out. However, there are a few items that we know for sure:
- The ongoing grading and street improvements are being conducted to prepare the site for the construction of Kolb Elementary school.
- Sorrento East will be built on 71 acres.
- Kolb Elementary will be built on the eastern portion of the parcel across from Fallon Sports Park. Kolb Elementary is expected to open in 2010.
- Dublin is planning to have the 5-acre Passatempo Park in Sorrento East right next to Kolb Elementary school.
- Regent Properties has increased the planned number of units at Sorrento East from 694 to 900. Although this is a sizable increase in the number of units, it is within the approved density guidelines and Regent has indicated that they are planning to have more detached homes than Sorrento West will have at build-out.
- The break-down between condos, townhouses, and single family residences is still being determined.
- The architecture and amenities of Sorrento East will be very similar to Sorrento West except that Sorrento East will have more of a Tuscan feel.
The Sorrento East project is still in the planning stages and will require approval by the Dublin Planning Commission and City Council before Regent Properties can begin construction. Around Dublin will provide additional details as soon as they become available.
11:10 PM on July 27th, 2008
Hi John,
Didn’t the city refine its density definitions recently, given the hard lessons we as a city learned from the parking crisis that is Dublin Ranch Villages? If Dublin defines medium density to be 7 units to 14 units within a given area, the developers will of course build 14 units to maximize profit. We need to put an end to this “Smart Growth” initiative now — it is anything but smart. The extra 200 units will mean that there will be at least 400 additional cars on top of the 1388 cars already expected, if we assume each unit will have only 2 cars. Parking will only get worse for everyone in the Dublin Ranch Villages as a result. People park where it’s convenient, not what’s stated in the CC&R. Unless Dublin is willing to invest in around-the-clock monitoring, the city council and the planning commission should go forward with more realistic assumptions in mind this time around.
12:16 AM on July 28th, 2008
I don’t think “Smart Growth” as a general concept is to blame for “the crisis that is Dublin Ranch Villages.” If Dublin is serious about preserving our beautiful open space, we have to adopt “Smart Growth” principles as we grow. As a resident in the Firenze townhomes at Sorrento, I do understand the source of your frustration. I see my neighbors across the street in the Cottages and the Villas who would rather park on my side of Central Parkway than to park in their own garages. As you pointed out, people will do whatever is convenient, not what is recommended in the CC&R. Of course, nothing in the Cottages CC&R or the Villas CC&R forbids them from parking on the Sorrento side of Central Parkway or anywhere within Sorrento.
I do echo your sentiment that Dublin needs to put more weight on basic human behavior as we move forward with the East Dublin Specific Plan. There is nothing wrong with “Smart Growth” if it’s done properly and responsibly, and Responsible Smart Growth is what we should demand from the city.
Horrendous designs like tandem garages should, for example, be banned, because they will eventually force home owners to park on the streets. In a two-car household, the first person to leave the home is usually
the first person to come home. Unless both drivers leave at the same time, the first person to leave will end up parking on the street, as many Villas and Cottages neighbors do.
12:37 AM on July 28th, 2008
I heard somewhere that the home owners from Sorrento East will share the same clubhouse as the home owners from Sorrento West. Did they agree to such an arrangement knowing that there will be 200 more units? Somehow that doesn’t seem right to me.
4:31 AM on July 28th, 2008
Hi Anonymous – the potential for the Sorrento East residents sharing the existing clubhouse at Sorrento West is still being discussed.
Thx, John Z.
6:59 PM on July 28th, 2008
My concern is alot of things mentioned above.. no way should we let 900 units be approved.. people from the villages and cottages now park in the streets in the Sorrento side of Central. I’ve seen them park there and walk all the way back to thier homes on the other side of Central Ave.. The parking of for these units need to be addressed.. There will be cars all over the place like there is now on Central going toward Tassajara…. with the promenade and bussiness going in and all the cars on the street your going to have to think of a garage like Bart soon.. just to accomadate the cars not in the garages…forget how nice the cottages look and villages and Sorrento .. all people will notice is the amount of cars on the street…
7:07 PM on July 28th, 2008
Less is more
10:21 PM on July 28th, 2008
We need to have them build as many condos as possible, hopefully most of them set aside for Section 8 Residents, who bring great neighborhood values and usually only have one small family in their homes, with one car (usually the other adult uses mass transit to go volunteer, as a way to pay back the community (the same community that helped them get into their home at a discount)…
These Section 8 homes also help to alleviate the resources for police and schools, since most don't have children and very rarely need police interaction..
Also, the section 8 residents are such great additions to a community, that many homes raise in values as the Section 8 residents do such a great job to make sure they are completely in accordance with all CC &Rs of most HOAs… If the leaders in Dublin want to really make Dublin shine and be a great example of growth, they'll look at our neighbors to the north, beautiful Antioch, as a gleaming example of how great we can grow..
I also think parking spaces are completely over-rated, especially in the low-density area of Dublin known as Dublin Ranch.. Most everyone knows, when people come to shop in our new businesses, they'll most likely take BART, then walk or ride a bike to the stores.. I don't think any new parking spaces are needed…
Oh wait, I meant to say the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of ALL of that..
4:23 AM on July 29th, 2008
Great comment Gordon.. if Dublin doesnt want to become Antioch they better get there heads out of there butts. Look at Antioch and see you can buy a house for 50 to 75 thousand dollars.. if you want to live a drug infested areas for the rest of your life.. If Dublin is going to be a leader, it better get its s*** together and look at how many people are going to be moving here and what types you want in your neighborhood.. 200 more condo’s or townhouses .. I cant believe they would let this s*** happen.. its because they dont live here and dont have to see how many cars and people are moving in.. as long as they get more money for Taxes.. If you want a Black hawk area, you dont bring in alot of people.. you bring in hard working people who will see thier home prices increase because its the place to live.. good ol city goverment at work.. take what you can and get as much as you can into a little area.. out of sight, out of mind…. Thanks for reading…
4:28 AM on July 29th, 2008
The comment about the villages parking in the Sorrento side.. People can park in publin streets and its find.. but how sad is it when they come over to Sorrento because the street is filled with cars and they park along where the Model homes are and people live there.. it redicoulous.. parking over here because you cant find parking in your own dam area.. so people who live in Sorrento have a billion cars in thier neigborhood and cant even park in front of thier own homes or have guest over to find parking.. build a freaking parking garage for everyone.. make money that way Dublin.. good job.. charge a buck a day.. make money .. do it.. you dont seem to care how many units and spaces are needed for families and the cars they need in one household…
6:42 AM on July 29th, 2008
Everything starts with the Planning Commission, and those of us in the Dublin Ranch Villages area can thank Chairman Bill Schaub for our daily parking challenges. Not surprisingly, Schaub also approved hundreds of residential units at Grafton Plaza and spoke in favor of the 21-story tower concept last summer at City Council. It’s clear that we will live with his legacy for years to come. We need people from our neighborhood to fill those spots, so we may apply the lessons learned from our daily parking challenges to future projects. It is not too late. If Schaub is reappointed, Dublin may very well end like Antioch.
http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/DepartmentSubLevel2.cfm?PL=gov&SL=comm&dsplyID=399
12:01 PM on July 29th, 2008
John, now that we are talking about Sorrento East, is there a time table for the fallon sports park on the other side of this development?
4:36 PM on July 29th, 2008
I agree that the city should limit the amount of housing going up. There are way too many units being built. Parking is already an issue. As someone pointed out, the goal is to attract hard working folks and not make it accessible to Section 8 renters. I understand that some units must be designated for low income people, but building hundreds of units is going to invite the WRONG people here. I want our town to remain small, safe, and exclusive. The less housing, the more desirable this town will be because there will be less homes to choose from, which will drive up the demand. The emphasis should be on COMMERCIAL space; on bringing jobs here and not on building more residential units. We have enough housing as it is. The current housing market is in bad shape. There are a glut of homes on the market for a lot less than what they sold in 2004.
John, isn’t there something you can do to voice our opinion collectively that we don’t want any more units being built here???
Thank you!
7:40 PM on July 29th, 2008
Hi Toshi – I know that on 1/15/08 the City Council voted to have a joint workshop between the City Council and Planning Commission to discuss the proposed Medium-Low and Medium-Mid density designations (to replace the Medium density designation). However, I need to get more info on whether or not that workshop has taken place and if the segmentation of the Medium density definition was passed.
Thx, John Z.
7:45 PM on July 29th, 2008
Hi Anonymous – the last I heard, phase 1 of the Fallon Sports Park was/is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2010.
Thx, John Z.
7:53 PM on July 29th, 2008
Hi Kat – the clarion call from residents is that we need to balance out our residential projects with commercial development. With more commercial development, we’ll attract more jobs, tax revenue, and raise residential property values.
One of the main reasons that I’m running for City Council is to ensure that Dublin focuses its efforts on attracting distinctive retail and campus office projects to balance out our residential development.
Thx, John Z.
9:42 PM on July 29th, 2008
John.. your a voice I think we can all count on. I hope that some how you can convince the developements to look over how many home sites will be built. There is already a parking crisis going on around all the communities .. we are all hoping for what is actually best for Dublin, not the developers.. they could care less as long as they make alot of money…Please John help all of us… Thank you for being here for us and the community…
10:06 AM on July 30th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
I just read the article Tri-Valley Herald wrote about John. Please check it out when you get the chance:
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_10039097
As frustrated as I have been about the challenges confronting our corner of Dublin and Dublin at large, I do realize we have a lot to be thankful for, and I know someone who is as passionate about our city as John will get us back on track. Thank you, John, for stepping up.
11:36 AM on August 5th, 2008
Hi Everyone,
The City of Dublin confirmed that Toll Brothers is moving ahead with the construction of the bridge that will connect Sorrento West and Sorrento East. Construction documents are being reviewed as I type this comment!
4:38 PM on August 20th, 2008
The City Council of Dublin better watch out what they are doing ..because you sound like your creating another Antioch. You want another Danville, then talk to thier City Coucil and ask how they avoid Section 8. Dublin is very nice and getting better. Dont let this happen City Council.. Make Dubin the next Danville or San Ramon.. Have some heart for the hard working people who live in this area and the families.. Youll bring in gangs and criminals for sure with Section 8. We work out butts off to live in a great area.. so should they…
3:53 PM on October 6th, 2008
Whatever the plans are please no more HIGH DENSITY, the more units the larger the 12% is for BMR. No matter how well we screen, we will have the unwanted elements. Antioch, Hayward!! Yikes!!
The strip of land along Tassajara should be strictly commercial and campus office. No more high density residential.
We need to focus on Executive Single Family Residences with sizable yards, Campus Offices and Upscale Retail.
Any chance we can put the BMR ordinance back up for a public vote? Continue with it or not, my vote is repeal it as we’ve done enough compared to our immediate neighbors. Look at Pleasanton’s cap on housing units, this caps their exposure to BMR regardless of the percentage compared to Dublin’s exposure.
Please save our community from becoming Hayward, Antioch.
2:00 PM on December 7th, 2008
I really don’t want this area to become a high density neighborhood. It would be nice to have an opportunity to look better the details of this program and see how are this plans going to affect our community.