Promenade Study Session and Wallis Ranch Development Agreement
There will be two Planning Commission meetings on Wednesday night in the City Council Chambers at City Hall (100 Civic Plaza). Please note that while the meeting agendas refer to a Tuesday night meeting, Tuesday night actually falls on Veterans Day so the meetings will be held on Wednesday night.
The first meeting will be a Promenade Phase I study session at 6pm to review the:
- Updated Club Sport Dublin Boulevard elevation design proposal; and
- Adequacy of the proposed number and mix of parking spaces.
The second meeting will be a regular meeting at 7pm to discuss numerous items, most notably the Wallis Ranch Master Development Agreement. Residents will be allowed to provide comments after the presentation of the Staff report.
Here are some of the items to be discussed:
- Land use and zoning for 935 units (58 units will be low density and 877 units will be medium and medium-high density).
- $1,000,000 Community Benefit Payment for Dublin.
- 15-year term for the development agreement vs. the standard 5-year term (contingent upon receipt of the Community Benefit Payment).
- The developer will not be required to build affordable housing units at Wallis Ranch because they will be able to use credits accumulated from building affordable units at The Groves.
Residents are encouraged to attend both meetings.
8:14 PM on November 9th, 2008
So for the low price of $1,000,000, which goes to the general fund, Charter will be able to lock in a prime parcel in Dublin for 15 years? Given our proximity to 580 and 680, the amount of money seems way too low. I know Dublin maybe strapped for cash, but I don’t think we should allow the developers to lowball us like this.
8:32 PM on November 9th, 2008
I so agree. One million dollars isnt anything in this area.. This is prime real estate.. I bought a home here for 800,000 and I only own a little parcel… omg Dublin.. make them beg for our land.. its prime and 680/580 and Bart.. Id rather have people beggin to get in here in two years than undersell this city..
10:48 AM on November 10th, 2008
John, I know this is not related to this post, but can you tell us what they are building at the location for “the Green” Is this a construction office, or a model?
11:23 AM on November 10th, 2008
Hi Anonymous – that building structure is a construction office.
On a related note, did you see this article about the CEO of the company that is building The Green on Park Place?
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/ci_10942601
He sounds like a great guy.
2:45 PM on November 10th, 2008
QUOTE: “Always strive for excellence and do what you say you are going to do.”
Yes, he does sound like a great guy and we’re all hoping he comes through with a stellar, head-turning (for good reasons) development here in Dublin….
6:30 AM on November 14th, 2008
John, what was the outcome of the meeting? Did the developers get what they want – like usual? Did the city get their $1MM? Why would they collect a community benefit payment instead of an impact fee? What will they use it for? Let me guess… they will use it for improvements on the west side of town while sticking the east side with all the density and BMR section 8 housing without a high school. Great! Can’t the residents overturn a decision by the city? Can’t we at least stand up and demand that the $1MM be used in the east – where it was collected? How many other times has the city takes payments or other donations from the developers of the east and used them on the west? Please keep us informed. Hear their words but watch their actions!
10:21 PM on November 14th, 2008
Hi Anonymous 11/14 – the $1M Community Benefit Payment for Wallis Ranch has been received by the City of Dublin.
The Development Agreement that is expected to be signed by the City of Dublin and the developer does not specify how the $1M Community Benefit Payment should be used. In the absence of a specified purpose, the $1M will roll into Dublin’s General Fund and can be used for any purpose specified by the City Council.
We’ll be posting an article within the next day or two regarding Community Benefit Payments.
8:03 AM on November 17th, 2008
John Z.
If the city will not committ to spend the community benefit plan in east Dublin where the impact is generated then we should repeal their decision to sign the developer agreement! How can we do this?
9:12 AM on November 17th, 2008
Hi Anonymous – the Development Agreement was approved for City Council recommendation by the Planning Commission. However, it has not been signed by the City Council.
If residents are concerned about how the $1M Wallis Ranch Community Benefit Payment will be spent, then the best thing to do would be to provide our Mayor and Council members with feedback. Here is their contact information:
http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/DepartmentSub.cfm?PL=gov&SL=maycc
7:51 PM on November 20th, 2008
Everyone in east Dublin should write and demand that fees collected like this which are from projects in the east are spent in the east. A community Benefit payment sounds like code for loophole so the council can spend the money in west Dublin.
10:52 AM on November 21st, 2008
To Anonymous who wrote about fees collected in East should stay in east:
I don’t disagree that there are concerns here. However, your request merely fosters the rift betwen east and west. Someone could counter that all the fees and resources spent to open up the east originally be returned to the west. An unreasonable request. Lets offer doable suggestions if we are looking to improve things.