Parks
by John M. Zukoski on August 31, 2008 | 
No Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
A few quick updates on the Shannon Community Center and Medium Density Designations in Dublin:
- Shannon Community Center – The Dublin City Council will be authorizing the City to name the Shannon Community Center Banquet Hall in honor of our outgoing City Manager Richard Ambrose on Tuesday night. The banquet hall will be aptly named Ambrose Hall. Also of note, the contractor has experienced some delays at the Shannon Community Center. In light of these delays, the Center will likely not be completed until Dec-08 or Jan-09.
- Medium Density Designation – The Dublin City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session on August 19th to evaluate many of of the critical new residential development issues related to medium density definitions, setbacks, density calculations (net vs. gross), etc. The highlight of the session was the discussion related to the proposed change to the medium density (e.g., townhouses) calculation applied to a few parcels in the Fallon Village development (i.e., the Jordan and Croak properties). While the Planning Commission disagreed, the City Council reaffirmed their desire to see the medium density designation split out on the Jordan and Croak properties between Medium-Low and Medium-Mid to ensure that the future developers don’t simply build to the highest density possible on the land. Please click here for background information on change that is expected to soon be ratified by City Council. This is good news for residents that would like to see homes with larger lot sizes (e.g., small backyard setbacks). It’s important to note that these new medium-low and medium-mid designations only apply to the Jordan and Croak properties and not properties like Sorrento East.
by John M. Zukoski on August 3, 2008 | 2 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses · Parks
Here are a few quick updates for Dubliners:
- National Night Out – there will be a National Night Out event held at the Bray Commons park in Dublin on Tuesday August 5th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet neighbors, local business owners, and neighborhood police officers. I’ll be hanging out in the Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt booth. I hope to see everybody there.
- Parcel Tax – the Dublin Unified School District (DUSD) will be meeting on Tuesday August 5th at 6:30pm to discuss the proposal to place the parcel tax measure on the November ballot. The meeting will be held at the DUSD facility at 7471 Larkdale Avenue.
- Fallon Sports Park – the final design process for this monumental park (located adjacent to Sorrento East) has started. The City of Dublin will send out a request for bids in 2009 with completion of Phase I anticipated for the summer of 2010. Phase I will be built on 28 acres and will include two artificial turf soccer fields, two little league diamonds, and two softball fields. In addition there will be four basketball courts, four tennis courts, walking trails, and support facilities such as restrooms and a concession building.
by John M. Zukoski on July 28, 2008 | 3 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues · Parks
Here are a few quick updates for residents of Dublin:
- Tri-Valley Views – the Pleasanton Weekly will be starting a new bi-monthly publication called Tri-Valley Views. The first issue will be published in Sep-08 with advertisements and editorial content. Every issue of Tri-Valley Views will have stories and columns specifically about our great hometown of Dublin. This is terrific news given that most of our area newspapers have very few stories about Dublin.
- Starbucks – the Seattle-based coffee giant recently announced that they will be closing 600 stores throughout the United States. The good news is that none of the three Dublin locations will be closed. Please click here for a complete list of the U.S. Starbucks locations being closed this summer.
- Passatempo Park – as mentioned in yesterday’s entry, the 5-acre Passatempo Park will be constructed next to Kolb Elementary school as part of the Sorrento East community. The City of Dublin will most likely start the design for Passatempo Park once the models at Sorrento East are open so that prospective buyers will have the opportunity to provide input into the process.
Please check back for more details regarding Tri-Valley Views and Passatempo Park.
by John M. Zukoski on July 27, 2008 | 21 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
As mentioned in previous entries, Toll Brothers sold the Sorrento East project to Regent Properties. With the transition from Toll Brothers to Regent Properties (and the presence of earth-moving equipment close to Gleason Drive), there has been a great deal of interest in what Sorrento East will look like. The elevations and other details of the new development are still being worked out. However, there are a few items that we know for sure:
- The ongoing grading and street improvements are being conducted to prepare the site for the construction of Kolb Elementary school.
- Sorrento East will be built on 71 acres.
- Kolb Elementary will be built on the eastern portion of the parcel across from Fallon Sports Park. Kolb Elementary is expected to open in 2010.
- Dublin is planning to have the 5-acre Passatempo Park in Sorrento East right next to Kolb Elementary school.
- Regent Properties has increased the planned number of units at Sorrento East from 694 to 900. Although this is a sizable increase in the number of units, it is within the approved density guidelines and Regent has indicated that they are planning to have more detached homes than Sorrento West will have at build-out.
- The break-down between condos, townhouses, and single family residences is still being determined.
- The architecture and amenities of Sorrento East will be very similar to Sorrento West except that Sorrento East will have more of a Tuscan feel.
The Sorrento East project is still in the planning stages and will require approval by the Dublin Planning Commission and City Council before Regent Properties can begin construction. Around Dublin will provide additional details as soon as they become available.
by John M. Zukoski on July 17, 2008 | 11 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks · Things To Do
Here are a few quick updates for Dubliners:
Sorrento East by Regent Properties – While Toll Brothers has already sold the Sorrento East land and development rights to Regent Properties, there is a possibility that current residents of Sorrento may be sharing their clubhouse with future home owners from the east side. Much of the plan remains under active review by the developer and the City of Dublin. It’s also important to note that Toll Brothers continues to communicate to home owners that the bridge connecting Sorrento West and Sorrento East will still be built.
Devany Square – this neighborhood park is scheduled to be opened at the very end of July. The City is putting the finishing touches on this 2-acre gem located on the corner of Chancery Lane and Finnian Way.
Parcel Tax – the Dublin Unified School District met this past Tuesday (July 15th) and voted to place the 5-year $99/year parcel tax measure on the November ballot. Their next meeting is scheduled for August 5th.
Day on the Glen – this year’s Day on the Glen will be held on September 21st and 22nd at Emerald Glen Park. Around Dublin will have more info on this fantastic event within the next month or so. In the mean time, here is a list of the Dublin-based businesses and clubs that have already signed up to have booths for Day on the Glen 2008:
- A Creative Preschool
- Active Spine & Rehab Center
- American Swim Academy
- Cachet Salon
- Dental Wonderland
- East Bay Estates
- Olympic Orthodontics
- Pay It Forward Financial
- Sky Martial Arts
- Leslie Wolf / State Farm Insurance
- United Studios of Self Defense
- Dublin Rotary
- Knights of Columbus
This is a great opportunity to support Dublin’s businesses and clubs by checking out their booths at this year’s event. Please send an email to Lorri.Polon@ci.dublin.ca.us if your company or organization would like to reserve a booth for this year’s event.
by John M. Zukoski on June 26, 2008 | 3 Comments | Topics: Parks · Things To Do
The City of Dublin has designated three parks where it will be okay to use safe and sane fireworks from 10am to 10pm on the 4th of July. Here are the three parks:
- Alamo Creek Park
- Dublin Sports Grounds
- Emerald Glen Park
Please click here for a link to more information about where fireworks cannot be bought or used.
by John M. Zukoski on June 15, 2008 | 5 Comments | Topics: Parks
Dublin is inching closer to realizing its vision for a Historic Park in West Dublin (located at Dublin Blvd. and Donlon Way). As you may have read last week, Dublin will begin demolition on the Dublin Square Shopping Center within the next few months to make way for the new park. Here are just a few of the features that the initial plan for the Dublin Historic Park was designed to include:
- Informal performance stage
- Walking trail
- Outdoor classroom
- Orchard garden
- An interactive water fountain for kids
A few months ago, the City Council voted to expand the scope of the Dublin Historic Park to also include five historic turn-of-the-century Kolb Family ranch buildings. These buildings will be relocated from their current location in Pleasanton (an area that was initially a part of Dublin, on the other side of I-580) to the Dublin Historic Park site by December of 2008:
- Hay Barn – this will be a shelter for the Orchard Garden play area.
- Sunday School Barn – this will have a multi-use classroom space, reception & event area, a potential Black Box Theater, and an optional dressing room addition. This replaces the Pavilion that was included in the initial plan.
- Old House and Pump House – this will have a restroom.
- Main House – this will have an office, museum, and garden area.
Please click on the image above to see the many features that the Dublin Historic Park will include at build-out.
Phase I of the Dublin Historic Park will include the demolition of the Dublin Square Shopping Center, the relocation and rehabilitation of the Kolb Family buildings, and various landscaping improvements. These activities are expected to cost $5.4M and should be completed by the Fall of 2009. The rest of the features noted in the Dublin Historic Park plan design will be built in subsequent phases (which are currently unfunded).
The signature Dublin Historic Park is an example of Dublin balancing its history with its future, traditional park features with inventive new features, and function with form.
by John M. Zukoski on June 14, 2008 | 9 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
Here are a few Dublin updates:
Sorrento East – Toll Brothers is currently developing the western portion of the Sorrento project (bordered by Central and Gleason to the south and north and Brannigan and Lockhart to the west and east) in the Dublin Ranch Villages. However, Toll sold the eastern portion of the Sorrento development to the Regent Properties. Rumor has it that “Sorrento East” will have similar design elements to that of “Sorrento West”, but there will be different architectural features. The plans are still being worked out.
Dublin Crossing – the Army is still working to select a master developer for Dublin Crossing (located across from the East Dublin BART station, currently occupied by Camp Parks) within the next 3 months or so. There is a very strong probability that the City of Dublin could see a development application by the end of this year.
Devany Square – this 2-acre neighborhood park is scheduled to be opened by July of this year. It’s currently fenced off to allow the verdant grass field, plants, and flowers a chance to establish roots, etc.
BART to Livermore Extension – BART is considering extending BART to Livermore. As Dublin residents, this could be a positive development for many reasons – not the least of which is the relief the East Dublin BART station parking garage will see since the Livermore station will be at the beginning/end of the line and the folks commuting from the Central Valley will be more likely to park at the Livermore station. At present there are three potential BART station locations. BART will be hosting a Environmental Impact Report (EIR) scoping meeting to gather input from the community. The scoping meeting will be held on June 18th from 6-9pm at the Robert Livermore Community Center (4444 East Avenue in Livermore).
Please check back tomorrow for an update on the Dublin Historic Park in West Dublin.
by John M. Zukoski on June 11, 2008 | No Comments | Topics: Parks · Things To Do
Dublin will be hosting a Father’s Day event at Emerald Glen Park on June 15th from 10am to 2pm. There will be hippity-hop horse races, tug-of-war contests, and carnival games. The group Rock Explosion will be cranking out the hits during the lunchtime hours (you can bring your own lunch or buy your lunch at the park). This exciting event only costs $2-per-person and your contribution guarantees a family-reserved seating in the Group Picnic Area. There will also be ice-cold lemonade and water to quench your thirst.
Games and craft activities will be held from 10am to 12pm and lunch and music will be held from 12pm – 2pm.
Please register online at http://www.blogger.com/www.dublinrecguide.com or at the Dublin Library, Parks and Community Services Department Annex. You can also call (925) 833-6645 for more information.
A few quick updates on the Shannon Community Center and Medium Density Designations in Dublin:
