Weekly Poll: Medium Density Definition
As posted in this article, the Dublin City Council recently voted against splitting the definition of medium density into medium-low (6.1-10 units/acre) and medium-mid (10.1-14 units/acre) and requiring specific rear yard setbacks for the Croak and Jordan properties within Fallon Village. The City Council felt that they would be placing too much of a restriction on property owners/developers by establishing rear yard setback requirements and more stringent density ranges.
On the one hand, this decision will most likely allow for development on the Croak and Jordan properties to move forward more quickly – which will generate more property tax revenues and permit fees for Dublin. On the other hand, this decision will likely allow for further development at the high end of the medium density range (up to 14 units/acre) with common areas instead of private yards.
This week’s poll question is – Should Dublin Tighten the Definition of Medium Density to Medium-Low (6.1-10 units/acre) and Medium-Mid (10.1-14 units/acre) For New Projects?
9:07 AM on October 15th, 2008
We should not only tighten the definition but also apply the new definition to projects that have not been built.
10:19 AM on October 15th, 2008
I’d have to agree.
This would have been a small step in the right direction for Dublin. Although what we would like to see is an overhaul of our entire General Plan in regards to housing density. No Medium High or High Density North of Central Parkway. High Density should only be at the two BART Stations, Downtown and Grafton Plaza since it is close to I580 and Retail.
Our Mayor, City Council and Planning Commission had the opportunity last week to back up their words with action, even if it was just a small step in the right direction. They FAILED ROYALLY!. Once again proving to their Constituents that they do not have the guts to stand up to deep pocket developers and landowners, even with this small step they couldn’t do it, stand up for their Constituents.
How can we Trust these same individuals to fight for us on harder issues if we were to re-elect them in November? They’ve proven that they can’t get the job done. Bowing to pressure from Landowners and Developers. How can they even start the process of revising the entire housing general plan as mentioned above when they couldn’t even take this small step.
The fear I guess is pissing off developers and none will come to Dublin, leaving us with empty, dry fields to stare at. Well Pleasanton, San Ramon, Danville all have stricter guidelines and requirements than Dublin for their housing, larger yards, less density. I don’t think they are having any problems getting thousands of home built, developers have not walked away have they? Instead they have accepted and worked within those guidelines. Development still happens and the Citizens win too. Why can’t that happen here? Do business our way or you can go elsewhere, there will be others to replace you when the economy picks back up. Here in Dublin we have a clear understanding that Developers/Landowners are held in higher regards then the Citizens. Actions of the three entities mentioned above have proven it over and over again in the past 8 years and again very loudly last week.
My families here in Dublin have voted many of these officials into office since we moved here in 2000. We won’t do it again as we feel they have not represented us.
1:21 PM on October 15th, 2008
If they have not moved dirt (grading) then they should be included into any revision of density.
We don’t have an abundance of developable land left to keep saying we want more SFR and less High Density and still continue to approve the latter. Saying well we’ll implement it in future projects, there won’t be any land left for future projects if we keep deferring our desire to lower the housing Density in Dublin. It needs to be addressed now, with the economy down especially in housing, no developer will be turning any dirt soon. No better time then now to halt all new housing projects not yet in constrution until a revised housing density guideline can be established that is best for Dublin and its’ residents, not for the developers and landowners.
Two of our incumbents running for re-election has stated they want more SFR and less High Density, what are they waiting for then? They both voted against this last little attempt to change some of the density requirements. How are you going to promote more SFR when there isn’t any land left to build them on? You can always do High Density later with infill projects even if a City is built out, but with SFR there is no such thing as infill projects as they require more acreage. The large developable parcels still available on the Northern Dublin side needs to be put aside for SFR Executive homes with yards. Where else can these be built if we continue to build condos in places like Wallis Ranch, Mission Peak and Sorrento East?
1:30 PM on October 15th, 2008
Mayor Lockhart once said that we can’t impose lower density on developers where they’ve already spent time and money putting together a concept (The Groves, Wallis Ranch, Sorrento East etc… Why NOT? Regent Homes had no problem revising a plan at Sorrento East to yet Higher Density after all the time and money was already spent on the original design. If they didn’t mind spending money to design up in density than they can also do the opposite and spend money to design down in density. So saying that it is unfair to a home builders to impose last minute changes to our density requirement is just the chicken way out of not getting into a spat with these powerful companies than can push weak local government around, they can smell blood in the water.
Who are we protecting and representing again? I thought it was suppose to be the Citizens, the ones who voted you in to serve us.
1:40 PM on October 15th, 2008
Ditto the last comment with Schaefer Ranch where Discovery Homes had no problem scrapping their original plan for 12 estate lots and a commercial center and replacing it with 140 tighly packed Single Family Residences. The City could stand firm for a change and say, hey build these 12 estate lots or leave them empty. We’d rather see this parcel preserved for a product that we don’t have any of and wait 5-10 years instead of approving your request to change and build 140 of something we have an abundance of just for the sake of building something now.
If we were the size of San Jose with an eternal supply of land than yeah approve whatever comes to head, there will be plenty of land left to eventually get the desired product. Dublin does not have this luxury of waiting for the next project to fix things.
We are getting ticky tack to death here by developers who knows they can get what they want one way or another. A revision here and a revision there, suddenly they have exactly what their shareholders wanted and what the City really didn’t want at the beginning but now unknowingly accepts.
1:49 PM on October 15th, 2008
Dublin should not be so desperate to have something built now for the sake of obtaining fees instead of waiting it out until the right project is brought to the City. We should not short change ourselves and expect to build out our City overnight. If it takes decades then it takes decades, as long as we get the project we want and not what these developers and property owners want. The idea of building now just for the sake of fees although the product is not what we want is shortsighted, it is based on selfish politicians who wants there name tag or signature on major developments before leaving office. They desire to leave a legacy of destruction I guess.
4:33 PM on October 15th, 2008
We need to mobilize and get our voices heard beyond this blog. First action is at the ballot box…although I’m still not sure which candidate represents the overwhelming viewpoint of folks on this topic. Then we need to get BMR and density definition either up for vote again by the city or to the ballot box for us to have our say. It’s not too late to make some changes but we certainly can’t be complacent.
Also, has the city council already rolled over for Regent’s proposal of apartments in Sorrento East? I can’t imagine that Regent ‘needs’ to do this as they got a sweet deal when Toll Brothers unloaded this property…I’m sure it was for a fraction of what Toll originally paid so do they really need to build high-density to make a profit?
Any sort of high density at Wallis Ranch is beyond me…has the city council offered any rational for this?
4:47 PM on October 15th, 2008
Hi Anonymous,
According to the City of Dublin, proposed amendments to the Sorrento East project has not even been scheduled for any hearing yet, so it is definitely not approved at this time. What we can be sure is that they are seeking approval for 900+ units. It is not too late for the community to voice our opinion on this matter.
If you have not already, please check out the Around Dublin FaceBook Group that I created for those of us who would like to take a more active role in our community. FaceBook provides the infrastructure for members to submit content to the group and to contact each other more directly, so neighbors may more easily band together and organize on the issues we care about. Thank you again for your question, and we look forward to seeing you on FaceBook.
Sincerely,
Jimmy
9:46 PM on October 21st, 2008
We have 5 people on the Council and 5 people on the Planning Commission. Throw in Kevin Fryer, the developer’s representative, and you have the 11 votes against refining the definition. I suppose the silver lining here is that they do read the blog.