On February 10, 2010, Regent Properties unveiled the new site plan for Phase II of Sorrento at Dublin Ranch to current residents at the Sorrento Clubhouse in Dublin, CA. Commonly known as Sorrento East, the second phase of the Sorrento project is approved for 694 homes similar to the 432 homes in the first phase currently being built and sold by Toll Brothers. Regent Properties is processing an Amendment to the approvals that will reduce the overall unit count by 113 to 581 homes, increase the number of neighborhoods from five to six, and provide better parking. The parking ratio for all the detached homes in Sorrento East will be at least 3 spaces per unit. Certain elevations in select neighborhoods will even offer private driveways. Three of the six communities will feature “lifestyle yard spaces” that range in size from 200 square feet up to 730 square feet. All homes will be either two stories or three stories, but no master bedroom will be on the third floor.

Neighborhoods 6, 7, and 8 will be the three Sorrento East communities with “lifestyle yard spaces.” The 102 detached homes in Neighborhood 6 are located in the Northwestern corner of Sorrento East. Ranging from 2,275 square feet to 2,920 square feet in size, these homes will offer yard spaces from 200 square feet up to 730 square feet. Neighborhood 7 will be to the East of Neighborhood 6 and to the North of the future Kolb Elementary School. The 95 detached homes in Neighborhood 7 range from 1,695 square feet to 2,860 square feet in size, and they offer yard spaces from 300 square feet up to 500 square feet. Bisected by the pedestrian corridor that includes the bridge connecting Sorrento East and Sorrento West over Grafton Street, Neighborhood 8 will be to the South of Neighborhood 6 and to the West of the park. Neighborhood 8 will have 138 detached homes ranging from 1,610 square feet to 2,105 square feet in size. These homes will also feature yard spaces from 240 square feet up to 340 square feet.

To the South of Neighborhood 8 will be the 66 detached homes of Neighborhood 11. These homes range from 2,078 square feet to 2,855 square feet in size, but they do not offer any yard space. The 68 townhomes in Neighborhood 9 will be off Central Parkway and to the South of Neighborhood 11. These townhomes will range from 1,856 square feet to 2,858 square feet in size. According to Pat Costanzo, Division President of Regent Properties in the Northern California Region, the City of Dublin “insisted” on the inclusion of these townhomes, so the transition between the Siena community in Sorrento West and Neighborhood 9 of Sorrento East along Central Parkway may appear more seamless. The remaining 112 detached homes will comprise Neighborhood 10, which will be to the East of Neighborhoods 9 and 11. Sandwiched between the future Kolb Elementary School and Central Parkway, Neighborhood 10 will feature homes ranging from 2,330 square feet to 3,104 square feet in size and be the only gated community in Sorrento East.

Under the original proposal, the residential density would have been 9.7 units per acre. Once the overall unit count is reduced from 694 units to 581 units on the 71.2-acre parcel, the new residential density will be 8.2 units per acre. According to Pat Costanzo, Regent Properties had wanted to include an apartment complex in its redesign and increase the number of units from 694 units up to 936 units on the 71.2-acre it acquired from Toll Brothers. Such increase would have resulted in a residential density of 13.1 units per acre. The reduction in the number of units from 694 to 581 was motivated primarily by the changing market demands and competition from the single-family detached products in Positano.

The architectural style of Sorrento East will continue the picturesque Italian village theme established in Sorrento West. Sorrento East will have a recreation center between Neighborhood 8 and the park. The amenities at the new recreation center will include a great room, a kitchen, a gym, and a pool area. According to Pat Constanzo, the design of the Sorrento East recreation center is very similar to the one from the Turtle Ridge community in Irvine, CA.

During the special meeting on February 10, 2010, Regent Properties was extremely forthcoming with the current residents of Sorrento at Dublin Ranch. In fact, at the end of his formal presentation, Division President Pat Constanzo immediately addressed all the questions raised in our earlier article announcing the special meeting. Just like Sorrento West, Sorrento East will be using the affordable units accumulated at the Groves Apartments to satisfy its 12.5% BMR requirement. As a result, all the units in Sorrento East, including the 68 townhomes in Neighborhood 9, will be market rate. On the subject of whether or not Sorrento West should annex Sorrento East, Regent Properties said that it should be a decision left to the home owners of the two communities. Since Regent Properties is only a developer, Sorrento East will most likely be finished by multiple builders. Toll Brothers is expected to bid on the project and is the current favorite.

A public hearing for the Sorrento redesign will be held before the Planning Commision on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 7PM in the City Council Chambers. Please contact the City of Dublin Community Development Department at (925)833-6610 for more details.