Archive for January, 2010
by John M. Zukoski on January 30, 2010 | 
3 Comments | Topics: City Hall
Mayor Tim Sbranti recently shared his vision for Dublin, CA, during the annual State of the City address. The focus of the Mayor’s speech was the “Changing Landscape in Dublin.” In his speech, Mayor Sbranti noted that everyone is feeling the financial pinch, including the City of Dublin. Although the City is in better financial shape than most other cities, Dublin still needed to make some difficult cost reductions. The City is nevertheless moving forward with numerous park and public works projects such as Fallon Sports Park, the Historic Park, and the Dublin Sports Grounds renovations.
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by Around Dublin Team on January 29, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Announcements
California Red-legged Frog
The City of Dublin, CA, will be the Lead Agency and prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan (PA 07-036). The City has circulated a formal Notice of Preparation (NOP) to public agencies as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Through the NOP, the City will solicit from these public agencies their views on the scope and content of the environmental information germane to their statutory responsibilities in connection with the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan. To increase public awareness of and participation in the environmental review process, this notice is being circulated to property owners and interested parties in the project area, so their views on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report may also be collected.
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by John M. Zukoski on January 28, 2010 | 10 Comments | Topics: Development
After nearly nine month of silence, the Grafton Plaza project in Dublin, CA, is heating up again. The City Council had previously approved plans proposed by Pleasanton-based Charter Properties to build four 150-foot buildings at Grafton Plaza stretching up to ten stories high. The project was to include campus office, residential, retail, a hotel, and a day spa. In a stunning turn of events, Charter Properties is rebooting the project and requesting to have two development options for Grafton Plaza instead. One option will allow Grafton Plaza to be Mixed Use with 50.1% commercial and 49.9% residential. The other option will turn Grafton Plaza into 100% campus office. Both options will have a new maximum footprint of 496,519 square feet.
The most surprising element in Charter Properties’ request is, perhaps, the maximum footprint of 496,519 square feet. This maximum footprint is less than one-half of the square footage requested and approved by the City Council in 2008. The reduced square footage means that the buildings at Grafton Plaza will not exceed six stories, while the original square footage approved in 2008 would have allowed buildings up to ten stories.
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by Around Dublin Team on January 27, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Announcements
Wheels is a service of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA) and provides public transportation for the Tri-Valley communities of Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton, California. With easy connections to San Francisco via BART, Wheels is a convenient way to travel and an excellent way to build a cleaner, healthier, and less congested community.
Revised Route 202 and Newly Created Route 201
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by Around Dublin Team on January 26, 2010 | 7 Comments | Topics: Announcements
Mayor Tim Sbranti will be delivering the State of the City address on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, at the Shannon Community Center in Dublin, CA. The event will start at 12:00 noon and is sponsored by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
The main theme for Mayor Sbranti’s speech will focus on the “changing landscape in Dublin.” He will address the current economic conditions that have impacted Dublin in terms of its fiscal situation and development-related activities. While delivering the realities of today’s economy, Mayor Sbranti will also look towards the future and discuss a number of programs the City is pursuing to assist local businesses as well as attract new business. Additionally, the Mayor will update the community on the progress being made at Fallon Sports Park and the Historic Park.
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by John M. Zukoski on January 25, 2010 | 36 Comments | Topics: Development
When will the Promenade be built? Many residents in Dublin, CA, have asked this question after Toll Brothers withdrew their appeal last September. The Promenade is planned to be a 230,000-square-foot commercial center featuring a Club Sport, upscale retail and restaurants, and premium office space. While Club Sport has committed to become the first phase anchor, tight credit markets and a glut of vacant commercial space in the Tri-Valley have made financing difficult for Pleasanton-based Charter Properties to go forward with the Promenade.
After a thorough review of the building and parking garage plans, the City of Dublin has sent its comments back to Charter Properties. These comments most likely include suggestions on refining select design elements and bringing certain architectural features into compliance with Dublin’s municipal code and guidelines. If Charter Properties can address the City’s concerns without making substantive changes to the project, the Promenade will be able to break ground.
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by Around Dublin Team on January 24, 2010 | 1 Comment | Topics: Schools
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
The California Department of Education has awarded the Livermore Valley Charter Preparatory, a newly approved charter high school in Livermore, CA, a Public Charter School Grant for the maximum eligible amount of $450,000. The total project period for the grant is January 1, 2010, through August 15, 2012. “I am very happy to have achieved this meaningful milestone in the development of our new, cutting edge program to benefit the high school students of Livermore and the Tri-Valley. While we had anticipated the receipt of the grant, it is always exciting to find points of affirmation in the building of our program,” said Bill Batchelor, Chief Operating Officer of the Tri-Valley Learning Corporation.
The federal Public Charter School Grant Program supports the planning, development, and initial implementation of charter schools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, “Charter schools provide enhanced parental choice and are exempt from many statutory and regulatory requirements. In exchange for increased flexibility, charter schools are held accountable for improving student academic achievement. The objective is to replace rules-based governance with performance-based accountability, thereby stimulating the creativity and commitment of teachers, parents, and citizens.”
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by Around Dublin Team on January 23, 2010 | 2 Comments | Topics: Announcements
The City of Dublin, CA, is taking the growing epidemic of underage drinking very seriously. On May 19, 2009, the Dublin City Council adopted new regulations and fines designed to curb underage drinking. The new “Social Host” Ordinance went into effect immediately and holds persons “hosting” parties that serve alcohol responsible for making sure that guests drinking alcohol are 21 or older. The ordinance gives law enforcement an additional tool to combat underage drinking in Dublin. Violation of the ordinance is an infraction. Infractions are punishable by a fine of $100 for the first violation, a fine of $200 for the second violation, and a fine of $500 for each additional violation within one year of the first violation. The responsible persons need not be present at the gathering in order to be deemed in violation of its provisions.
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by Around Dublin Team on January 22, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements
The Bay Area has been battered by a continuing onslaught of heavy rain and wind this past week. While the City of Dublin, CA, has sustained the worst of this recent storm with minimal damage, City Staff is nevertheless taking the threat of the winter storm season seriously.
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