Weekly Poll: Swap Estate Homes at Schaefer Ranch for Single-Family Residential?
Discovery Homes recently made an offer to donate a 14,000 sq. ft. facility for the School of Imagination at Schaefer Ranch. The proposed pre-school and educational facility would be built on a 1.21 acre parcel.
As part of the offer to build the new facility, Discovery Homes is proposing to scrap the plans to build 12 Estate homes spread out over 57 acres and instead build 104 additional Single-Family Residential homes on 13 acres (with the remaining 44 acres going towards open space). With the additional 104 residential units, Schaefer Ranch would have a total of 406 homes – well below the 474 home cap.
On the one hand, this proposed change has many benefits:
- Discovery Homes’ donation of the 14,000 sq. ft. facility for the School of Imagination.
- Additional Single-Family Residential home buying opportunities for families in Dublin.
- Dedication of 50 acres of open space.
On the other hand, Dublin will not have the 12 Estate homes that had been planned to be built on 57 acres at Schaefer Ranch.
The Dublin City Council will be discussing Discovery Homes’ proposed change at the November 4th meeting (agenda item 6.1).
This week’s poll question is – Are You in Favor of the Proposal to Swap Estate Homes at Schaefer Ranch for Single-Family Residential?
2:15 PM on November 1st, 2008
We need to slow development down. The west end of Dublin blvd is not designed for all of the extra traffic that these added homes will bring. Not including any of the added cut through traffic once people realize that there is another option around 580. The city is not interested in solving the traffic issues and is only interested in getting money from the developer.
5:28 PM on November 1st, 2008
I guess until we have a huge accident on Dublin Blvd. and death toll willl the city put a stop signal at the EVA road at Califrnia Highlands. More interested in the money from the contactor.
6:43 PM on November 1st, 2008
Sounds like the developer is trying to play Mr. Nice guy and use their hidden agenda to change things in their favor.
On the other hand my wife has worked for happy talkers so she has seen the other side. To sum it up: Disorganized… Would be nice for them to consolodate the buisness since they were running it out of a house in Pleasanton a couple yrs back and got the boot from the city council.
chris k
8:18 AM on November 2nd, 2008
for now, it’s single-family homes on the drawing board, once given approval for the change, it’ll become patio homes, then townhouses…. all with not enough parking— See, that’s what the city council and developers here deserve, paranoia from the residents. When has a recent development NOT turned more negative (adding more dense housing which lowers all our housing values….
9:51 AM on November 2nd, 2008
Ditto! Dublin does not have a single Estate Home in within its borders, none in the pipeline. At the same time our neighbors to North, South and East have hundreds if not thousands. Why are we continuing to be the weak link, bottom feeder of the Tri-Valley and even beyond north on 680? Why are we continuing to be the Exclusive big box supplier, low income work force supplier, correctional facility supplier, condo and apartment supplier of the Tri Valley? While at the same time our neighbors are building top end homes, class A office complexes, upscale shopping centers, performing Arts Theater, flashy downtowns.
I thought we’ve finally turned the corner when the original proposal had 18 estate lots, then it shrunk to 12 and now ZERO. What a let down, the developer just nickled dimed our leaders and got what they wanted afterall, this scenario is repeated over and over again in Dublin with regards to housing developers. Like one reader above said, it could be condos or even apartments by the time this is over. A 14,000 SF building is not enough to allow a change this significant. Regardless it is a done deal with the usual backdoor handshake by our Planning and Council with the Developers. Tuesday’s Council hearing is just for show, it will get approved as will Sorrento East when it does get on the Agenda as we are hell bent on pleasing developers. We are too easy of a negotiator, we lost our shirts again to a developer.
Remember that 12.5% Inclusionary on 140 is much higher then 12.5% of 12 Estate and 24 SFR as originally planned. Not only did we lose 12 Estate Lots which would have been a first in Dublin, we gained 13 (104 @ 12.5%) inclusionary/low income units, whether built on site or dumped somewhere else in the East as another High Density project.
Our so called leaders tout the need to attract high paying class A office users. But where are their Executives, CEO, CFO, COO and top Senior Management going to live with their families? They aren’t going to live in these Condos and Cluster Single Families Residences that is for sure. This could explain why from 2002-2008 our neighbors have attracted Class A Office user after Class A Office user while Dublin has maybe attracted a couple while most of our Class A spaces is sitting vacant. Look at the Dublin Corporate Center for an example, over 2/3 is vacant, if you want proof check the Colliers Parrish website for Dublin and see for yourself.
We’ve lost confidence in our City Hall and Planning Commission has the know how to protect the interest of its Citizens, correction we have NO confidence.
10:18 AM on November 2nd, 2008
Converting 13 acres to SFR in my estimation will be 104 homes of approximately 4000 to 4300 sq ft. lot homes with 20% of the 13 acres going to streets and courts. Believe you me 4300 sq. ft homes almost looks like a townhome. These homes will be a far cry from 10,000 to 13,000 sq. ft. homes originally designated. I don’t favor this 4300 sq. ft. lot homes. As we know builders will build homes close to one another with less back and front setbacks. We need to stop developers from building SFR with less than 6500 sq ft. lot. Back yard and front yard set back should be at least 20 ft. Side setbacks should be at least 7 ft. With a 6500 sq. ft. lot, this should be the standard for SFR residential development in our city. Defining homes within low density as homes per acre provides developers a way out to build more homes. Streets should be at least 40 ft. wide for main thoroughfares and 35 ft. wide for courts. Wide streets provides a development a certain ambience and prestige. Low, and medium density designation need to have setback requirements. Open space of 44 acres if redesignated cannot be SFR in the future. But rather be for estate homes designation. I am sure the developer will ask for a redesignation after they finish the development of 13 acres.
Jing Firmeza rfirmeza@willowcreekdublin.com
6:52 PM on November 2nd, 2008
End the War in Iraq. Come out and Vote! for Barack Obama on Tuesday, November 4th and have the economy back on its feet.
7:44 PM on November 2nd, 2008
End the War in Iraq. Have the economy back on its feet. But most of all, definitely “don’t spread the wealth”. Come out and Vote for John McCain on Tuesday.
9:54 PM on November 2nd, 2008
If Dublin City Council chooses to relocate the School of Imagination to Far West Dublin, they will effectively be saying that:
1. Autistic children in East Dublin are less worthy than autistic children in West Dublin. Perhaps they have some demographic studies that show there has never been and never will be enough autistic children on the East side of town for them to consider the impact of this relocation;
2. Autistic children from low-income families do not matter, since the new location will not be as centrally located as the current location;
A far better location for the school is the Camp Parks location, the new center of Dublin. Relocating to Camp Parks would also put the school within walking distance to BART and next to the future Valley Children’s Museum. Is Mayor Lockhart that desperate to have a building named after her? Wasn’t a street in the Dublin Ranch Villages enough?
I agree with the previous poster who said that our leadership lacks imagination. I hope they will explain to all of us on Tuesday why the Camp Parks location would not work and what hard data they have to justify this backroom deal they have already ratified behind the voters’ backs.
10:24 PM on November 2nd, 2008
Our excellent City Staff is not an impartial party in this particular deal. The new Assistant City Manager Chris Foss is part of some autism non-profit, so I am sure he is more than eager to see this deal go through as well. When there is a will on the part of City Council and City Staff, things will happen even if the community is against it. That’s how government works.
10:42 PM on November 2nd, 2008
End the War in Iraq. Help the economy back on track. But most of all, protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights by ending the tyranny of the two-party system. Vote for Ralph Nader on Tuesday.
11:31 PM on November 2nd, 2008
Eight years later, Dublin is still Dublin. Picking up whatever scraps developers throw upon us as if they were the last developer on earth to ever want to invest in Dublin.
Believe me, when the economy picks back up, there will be developers lined up and knocking on our doors again even if we piss off a few by just simply saying NO and being strict as hell, isn’t that the slogan we teach school kids, Just say NO?
11:32 PM on November 2nd, 2008
It is a done deal, but do show up anyways on Tuesday to see the lovefest for yourself. Developers and Friends at City Hall.
7:25 PM on November 3rd, 2008
Hello All – please note that tomorrow night’s City Council open meeting will start at 5:30pm instead of 7pm (contrary to the agenda header) – http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/DepartmentSubLevel2.cfm?PL=gov&SL=maycc&dsplyID=1143
Thx, John Z.
10:51 PM on November 3rd, 2008
Thanks for the reminder on time, go VOTE early so you can make it to the meeting.
5:26 PM on November 4th, 2008
I second the vote for Nader. We need to have a working democracy in the US before we can preach to others about how great democracy is. A duopoly is not a healthy democracy: Imagine having only two car companies and having them collude on a regular basis to keep any other car companies out. The politicians would break that up fast, but won't break up their own duopoly. Don't like the lefties? Fine, vote for Bob Barr instead, show the republican party that ppl still like the idea of small government & low taxes.
5:32 PM on November 4th, 2008
I’m slightly confused – your post implies that Discovery homes will only make the land donation to the School of the Imagination IF they get their swap? I thought it was a done deal?
5:43 PM on November 4th, 2008
Hi Anonymous – Discovery announced that they would be building the new facility for the School of Imagination. However, I believe that Discovery Homes’ position is that the School of Imagination donation would not pencil-out unless the proposed land use designations are made.
Thx, John Z.
12:08 PM on November 5th, 2008
Where was everyone last night? There was only one person who spoke up with FACTS against the revision! We should never let West Dublin be sold out to developers.
3:25 PM on November 5th, 2008
Sorry friends, I was stuck waiting in line to vote. So was it a lovefest between Council, Developers and Planning Commission as expected?
4:08 PM on November 5th, 2008
Does anyone have the scoop on this meeting? What did you see and hear? I missed it as my daughter was ill.
Did they blow kisses at each other for a job well done? Bowing to developers once again?
5:38 PM on November 5th, 2008
Lockhart commended the developer for the school. She also commended the developer for coming through building homes where the state of the housing market is real depressed. The school brought supporting cast to back up the city council move. Typical scenarios played out to get her wishes done. This blog opposing issue like this is not enough. We all need to build grassroots organization represented by all Dubliners. Obama got elected for President through a solid base of grassroots organization with a vision of someday leading this country. Change can come by replacing the council with people that knows and support our issues. Otherwise, we can all cry and pout in this blog. Not one of our issues will be heard. But continue to be active by attending council meetings.
5:59 PM on November 5th, 2008
You are right! It was a total love fest. While waiting for the session to begin, a whole row of Discovery Homes cronies had their notes open, and as the city clerks were entering they assured the Disco Homes it will be approved quickly and smiled with a wink at Doug Chen. It was sad day for our City.
12:21 AM on November 6th, 2008
I guess we know who runs the City, not our elected officials as we thought when we elected them. City Hall smells of developer scent.
8:42 AM on November 6th, 2008
Yep.. Take a look at this article..
According to Oakland Tribune
Discovery Builders.. by far the biggest donors to Sbrantis and Schaubs campaigns + Lockhart
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20061104/ai_n16829500
Oakland Tribune, Nov 4, 2006 by Sophia Kazmi
10:40 AM on February 19th, 2010
Have the chickens come home to roost at Schaefer Ranch?
Did you see yesterdays’ CC Times article on Seeno/Discovery builder’s huge Fed bust below?
Janet Lockheart are you worried about your friend Albert Seeno? Everyone deserves their due process, right.
Janet I have a question for you.. What did Dublin gain from the Schaefer Ranch? Here is my opinion, it seems you supported a development that many residents did not want, put lives at risk + more traffic by extending Dublin Blvd, you received campaign donations from Seeno/Discovery and supported a development in an environmentally hazardous area. Nice work, indeed.
***
FBI, IRS, Secret Service raid Seeno family development offices
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_14426353?source=most_viewed
CONCORD — Federal agents raided the headquarters of the Seeno family development empire Thursday, hauling out stacks of documents from two office buildings at the heart of a 70-year-old home-building dynasty that has shaped much of East Bay suburbia.
About 30 agents from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service criminal investigation division and the U.S. Secret Service served search warrants about 8 a.m. at the offices of Discovery Builders and the Albert D. Seeno Construction Co., both in the 4000 block of Port Chicago Highway (see link above for more)…..
8:16 PM on February 23rd, 2010
Hi Anonymous,
With respect to former Dublin mayor Janet Lockhart’s ties with the Seeno family, we have this classic article by Sophia Kazmi from November 4, 2006. Perhaps you were referring to the campaign contribution from this particular election?
Sbranti leads Dublin Council race in campaign donations
Oakland Tribune, Nov 4, 2006 | by Sophia Kazmi
DUBLIN — Former City Councilman Tim Sbranti is ahead in fundraising for next weeks City Council election.
Through Oct. 26, the Dublin High School teacher collected nearly $16,000 in cash donations in the campaign season. He took in $8,000 in October.
Planning Commissioner Bill Schaub has raised second most, with about $5,000 in donations.
Discovery Builders, in charge of Schaefer Ranch, the citys most western development, was by far the biggest donors to Sbranti’s and Schaub’s campaigns. Five employees, acting as private individuals, donated $1,500 to each of those campaigns.
Contributions to his campaign would not sway any of his future decision, Schaub said.
I didn’t solicit money from anybody, he said. I didn’t ask anybody for money.
Schaub said he sees the campaign donations as a vote of confidence from various businesses and residents.
Retired educator Kate Ann Scholz has collected $386.91 during the campaign with a $200 donation from the National Womens Political Caucus. The remaining three candidates — Ginger Ripplinger, Robert Boboc and Ron Boggs — are not expecting to raise money, mainly using word of mouth for their campaigns.
The six candidates are vying for two council seats. Councilmembers George Zika and Claudia McCormick termed out.
Seven employees from Discovery Builders donated $2,100 to the re-election campaign of Mayor Janet Lockhart. Lockhart was unopposed in her run for what will be her final two-year term. Lockhart said Discovery Builders donations honor the working relationship they have with the city. Lockhart has spent her campaign money making donations to various city nonprofit causes, but she is not actively campaigning nor seeking donations.
I honestly dont know whats in (the account), Lockhart said.
9:25 AM on February 24th, 2010
Yep that is the article;
Here are the key highlights:
* Discovery Builders donated $2,100 to the re-election campaign of Mayor Janet Lockhart.
* Lockhart was unopposed in her run for what will be her final two-year term. — I.E. Unopposed!
* Lockhart said Discovery Builders donations honor the working relationship they have with the city.
I cannot wait to see how this all plays out. Especially the connection (if any) between the happy talkers school, Lockheart and Albert Seeno who donated the land and $$ to build the school.
5:29 PM on November 6th, 2008
This saids it all!! thanks for the confirmation.
Welcome to the City of Dublin, Brought to you by the Home Builders of America should be our slogan.
It is a shame though as none and I say none of these builders have even planted their flag here in terms of leasing office space.
KB, Pulte, Signature (Pleasanton), Greenbriar, Mission Peak (Fremont), Lennar (San Ramon), Toll Brothers(Concord?), Discovery Homes (Brentwood?) to name a few that have class A offices leased elsewhere for their design center and back offices etc..
11:23 AM on February 24th, 2010
Hi,
This is something unrelated to this article. I didn’t know where else to post. John or Jimmy, how come we can’t comment on the real estate articles posted by Eric and Tyler???
I was wondering if there is a way to allow readers to comment on these articles??
Thank you.
12:18 PM on February 24th, 2010
Hi Kat,
On certain promotional articles we made a decision not to allow comments once we switched to WordPress. At the same time, we also disabled comments for articles from our community contributors by default. We leave it to our contributors to decide whether or not they want to open up the discussion forum on an article-by-article basis. Readers can still comment on Facebook or via Twitter, and they do.