San Lorenzo Express

Master Plan for the Village Square

A private developer, Civic Partners, was hired by the Bohannon Organization (owner of several commercial parcels along Hesperian Blvd.) to prepare a master plan for new construction in the area of the San Lorenzo Specific Plan (see "Past Issues" below). No plan has been officially submitted to the county. The county signed an agreement with Civic Partners that it will deal exclusively with that developer (for six months, until September 2004). The Redevelopment Agency says it received a "detailed development pro forma" in September 2004.

The agency, Civic Partners, and the property owner continued to negotiate both the plan and the business terms of implementation. In August 2005 and again in May 2006 the agency released descriptions of revised master plans (see below). On Nov. 1, 2006 the Alameda County Redevelopment Agency terminated its commitment to fund the Civic Partners plan in light of ongoing uncertainty whether Albertson's Stores would be interested in building a new store in San Lorenzo.

Subsequently, Albertson's sold its stores in northern California to Save Mart, which renamed the stores "Lucky". In August 2007 Save Mart signed a letter of intent to build a new market in San Lorenzo. The terms of the letter required significant changes in the master plan for the Civic Partners development (see below).

The county board of supervisors on July 31 required the Redevelopment Agency to negotiate with Civic Partners on a development agreement, to be completed by the end of October.

On January 30, 2008 the Redevelopment Agency terminated its "exclusive right to negotiate" agreement with Civic Partners because of a lack of progress in four years.

• First master plan proposed by Civic Partners (January 2002)
• Second master plan proposed by Civic Partners (January 2003)
• Third master plan proposed by Civic Partners (June 2003), included in the environmental impact report for the San Lorenzo Specific Plan.
• Fourth master plan proposed by Civic Partners (August 2005)
• Fifth master plan proposed by Civic Partners (May 2006)
• Sixth master plan proposed by Civic Partners (October 2007)

Eden Area General Plan Revision

Alameda County has embarked on a revision of the General Plan for the unincorporated area of Eden Township ("Eden Area"), excluding Castro Valley, which is the subject of a separate area general plan. The plan controls development for several years (the last revision was 15 years ago). The first community meeting was Oct. 29, 2002.

The draft plan was released Oct. 14, 2005, and is available in the San Lorenzo and Castro Valley libraries and on the Web at Eden Area Plan. Copies of the plan are also available from the county planning department, Cindy Horvath (tel. 670-5400, cindy.horvath@acgov.org). The deadline for written comments was mid March 2006. A series of public meetings on the plan were held in 2006.

The draft final plan and draft final environmental impact report (EIR) were released at the beginning of April 2007. The plan was reviewed by the county planning commission on April 16 and in a special community meeting April 25. Adoption of the plan was stalled because of a controversy over inclusion of hillside neighborhoods in the "El Portal Ridge" area. The county board of supervisors voted to remove the neighborhoods from the plan, and the plan must now be revised to reflect that change.

After a year's delay, the county planning staff will describe new ideas and proposed changes in the general plan at a community meeting on July 22, 2008.

See Express Community Calendar for announcements of meetings.

See Eden Area Plan for timely information on the progress of the Eden Area Plan as well as reports, drawings, maps, etc.

Future of San Lorenzo Bayshore Industrial Area

At the request of the San Lorenzo Village community, the county undertook a study of alternative future uses of the industrial area west of the Village (around lower Grant Ave.). The future of this area is being considered as part of revision of the Eden Area General Plan (see above).

San Lorenzo Industrial Area Could Change
Aerial Photograph of San Lorenzo Industrial Area
Map and Description of Existing Uses in the Industrial Area

Potential Revision of County Zoning Ordinances

In a series of public meetings (generally monthly, beginning Dec. 16, 2003) local residents meet with county planners to discuss various issues in zoning with an eye toward possibly revising the ordinances. Issues have included garage conversion, fence height, implementation of required low-cost housing, etc. As of 2007 a major focus of the group will be development of guidelines for design of housing. See Express Community Calendar for announcements of meetings.

New San Lorenzo Library

Planning for a new and bigger library for the Eden Area (San Lorenzo, Ashland, and Cherryland) officially began in September 2002. An advisory committee, appointed by the county board of supervisors, meets regularly to discuss issues concerning a new library. Until December 2003 the planning for the new library was focused on an application to the state Office of Library Construction for an award of state bond funds. However, the board of supervisors did not submit the application because it could not come up with the necessary matching funds.

The county hired a private firm to gather community views on a new library in a series of meetings in 2004. These meetings were very poorly attended; the effort ended with a report in the fall of 2004. The advisory committee continues to meet, but infrequently and irregularly.

In 2008 the county library administration proposed using funds from the Eden Redevelopment District for "renovation" of the library interior on the grounds that a new library is more than five years away. In addition, there has been talk of investing six to eight million dollars in remodeling of the existing facility in lieu of a new library.

For current information see the websites of the San Lorenzo Library and Friends of San Lorenzo Library.

Redevelopment District Investment

The Eden Area Redevelopment District was formed by the county board of supervisors in June 2001. The district is divided into several subareas, including a San Lorenzo subarea (PDF file) and Cherryland subarea (PDF file).) A local citizens advisory panel from each area recommends capital investment priorities. See Express Community Calendar for information on meetings of these advisory groups.

For information about the Eden Area Redevelopment District see Alameda County Redevelopment. The Redevelopment Director is Eileen Dalton (tel. 670-6509, e-mail edalton@co.alameda.ca.us). See also:

Eden Area Redevelopment District Money Is Growing April 23, 2005 (Part I of a series)
Local Communities Spend Redevelopment Money in Different Ways June 14, 2005 (Part II of a series)
How Does Redevelopment Work? March 17, 2006 (Part III of a series)
California Redevelopment Association (for general information on redevelopment financing in California)
Redevelopment Abuse (Municipal Officials for Redevelopment Reform, MORR)
"Redevelopment: The Unknown Government" (1998 MORR report)

Russell City Electric Power Plant

Calpine has designed a 600 megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant in the former Russell City area, at the boundary of Hayward's "industrial corridor" with the natural shoreline. The large size of the plant at the edge of preserved wetlands will make it visible from all points along the shoreline park. The plant will also have adverse impacts on air quality in the immediate area. The California Energy Commission held formal hearings on the project on June 20 and 21, 2002, in Hayward and subsequently approved construction.

In 2006 Calpine applied for an amendment to its original facility plan. New concerns were raised about the possibility that the plant's pipestack emissions may disturb the stability of airplanes flying over the plant to land at Hayward and Oakland airports. Nevertheless, the plant was approved October 3, 2007 by the state Energy Commission. Alameda County and several citizens petitioned the commission to reopen the proceedings on the grounds that people outside the City of Hayward had not been adequately notified of the proceedings. The petitions were denied.

For information on the project and official notices, visit the California Energy Commission website for the Russell City Power Plant (Amendment Proceeding).

Replacement of Bockman Retail Center with Homes

The Olson Company proposed replacing the shopping center on both sides of Bockman below via Chiquita in San Lorenzo Village with "town homes". Issues included loss of commercial space in the unincorporated area, especially San Lorenzo Village. The Olson Co. has built several housing projects in the state, including housing at the Hayward BART station. Contact Allison Dobbins at The Olson Company, 925.244.6208.

The company presented its first public conceptual plan, for 104 homes, at a public meeting April 19, 2005. About 400 people attended the meeting. The company's second conceptual plan was presented on July 13 at an "open house" (no formal meeting). The only change was a reduction in homes to 99 and addition of single retail building of 4,500 sq. ft. The plan was changed again in a presentation to the planning commission on Feb. 21. The commission reviewed a plan for 82 houses and recommended approval if the amount of commercial space was increased to 7,000 square feet.

The draft environmental impact report (EIR) on the project was released in October 2005. Copies are available from the county planning department (670-5400). The final EIR was released Feb. 3, 2006. The planning commission conducted a hearing on the EIR at its Feb. 21 meeting and recommended certification.

The county board of supervisors certified the EIR and approved the subdivision on April 6, 2006.

Bayside Groundwater Project

EBMUD proposed storing water in underground aquifers in San Lorenzo -- see November 2001 story. An environmental impact report for this project was released to the public in 2001 and then withdrawn because of controversy (see, for example, Heron Bay Task Force). A Community Liaison Group was then formed (for information call Greg Chan, 287-0135). The project was redefined and a revised EIR was released March 14, 2005. (The EIR is available in public libraries or at the EBMUD website -- see below.) A public hearing on the project was held April 20, and the project was approved by the EBMUD board.

• Environmental Impact Report, March 14, 2005 (EBMUD website), or call Angela Knight, 287-1213, for a free CD-ROM copy.

Lewelling Boulevard Improvements

Alameda County has an approved plan to widen Lewelling Blvd. from East 14th St. to Hesperian Blvd. and improve walkability. The county's goal is to facilitate automobile traffic by increasing lanes, putting utility lines underground, improving the appearance of the street, and putting in sidewalks. See the Public Works Agency website for a copy of the proposed plan released Dec. 16, 2004 (look under "Community Update"). For more information contact Marita Hawryluk (tel. 670-6112), Alameda County Redevelopment Agency.

I-238 Widening

CalTrans is widening Route 238 from four to six lanes between the Route 238/580 and 238/880 interchanges. The project will be paid for by "Measure B" funds (authorized by Alameda County voters). A related proposal is restriping to create an auxiliary lane on southbound I-880 between the A Street Undercrossing and the Route 238/880 Interchange. An assessment of environmental impacts of this proposal was released October 28, 2003, along with a proposed "negative declaration," meaning that in the view of CalTrans the proposed project would have no significant impacts on the environment. The work proposed by CalTrans was scaled back from an earlier proposal to effectively rebuild I-238, including a new "flyover" connecting I-238 and I-880 southbound.

The environmental analysis is available in Braille, large print, on audiocassette, or computer disk. A copy is available in the San Lorenzo Library. For more information contact Dennis Radel (tel. 286-6214, TTY 800.735.2929).

The widening project was formally approved by CalTrans on June 25, 2004.

Housing Element of the County's General Plan

The county has revised the part of its General Plan dealing with housing (the "Housing Element"). The revision was approved by the county board of supervisors October 2, 2003. The state requires that the county set aside developable land for construction of housing that will sell for below market rate, i.e., housing that can be purchased by low- and moderate-income persons. Because a proposal to rebuild the Village Square in San Lorenzo (see below) includes a large number of housing units, the county could require that a disproportionate amount of below-market-rate housing be built in San Lorenzo in order to meet state requirements. The county planning department prepared an inventory of parcels designated as possible sites for construction of "affordable" and low- to moderate-income housing; that inventory should be available from the website below (or call the planning department, 670-5400, for a copy).

Final draft Housing Element

San Lorenzo Specific Plan

The plan, adopted by the county board of supervisors in 2004, covers the commercial area in the Village Square and nearby parcels along Hesperian Boulevard, most of which are owned by a single owner, the Bohannon family. The plan will guide future public and private actions within the area. It describes the county's policies and regulations regarding development, including land use, circulation, design, and infrastructure within the plan area. The plan also identifies issues and community concerns and preferences. See introduction to the plan, a good summary of how the plan came about. A copy of the plan is available at the San Lorenzo Homes Association office or from the Alameda County Planning Department.

The environmental impact report (EIR) on the Specific Plan was made public in late June 2003 and subsequently certified by the county board of supervisors at the same time the board approved the Specific Plan. Copies of the EIR are available at the San Lorenzo Library. The EIR was intended to cover any master development plan conforming with the Specific Plan.

A Bay Bridge in San Lorenzo?

One alternative for a new crossing is a bridge connecting San Lorenzo and San Bruno. No, this is not pie in the sky -- it's a serious proposal, selected from among several initial ideas. For details on the proposal see Bay Crossing Project at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission website. On Aug. 2, 2002 the Bay Crossing Policy Committee voted by a narrow margin to "remove the proposed bridge from further consideration," and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission adopted this position. Nevertheless, proponents of the bridge will be back in the near future -- remain vigilant!

Defending Place

Impact of Chain Stores on Community

How Big Will That Proposed Store Be?

Littering the Landscape with Dead Malls

The Shils Report: Measuring the Economic and Sociological Impact of the Mega-Retail Discount Chains on Small Enterprise in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities.

Local Stores Create Triple the Economic Activity of Chain Stores

Arcata, Calif.
Coronado, Calif.
Ocean Beach, Calif.
San Francisco, Calif.

Santa Cruz, Calif.

See the archive of model public policies at Home Town Advantage.

BAY AREA

Association of Bay Area Governments: Planning Projects and Topics

Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition -- The coalition is composed of over 60 organizations that encourage public agencies, private developers, and groups of concerned citizens to promote policies and take actions leading to a Bay Area with intelligent, sustainable land use patterns and an efficient and equitable transportation system.

Urban Ecology -- Assists diverse constituencies engaged in changing their land use and building patterns. "We connect individuals to their neighborhoods, neighborhoods to cities, and cities to the entire Bay Area region."

Urban Habitat Program -- Dedicated to building multicultural urban environmental leadership for socially just, ecologically sustainable communities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

STATE AND NATIONAL

American Planning Association

California Futures Network -- Affiliates are united in the belief that California should steer public and private investments toward existing developed areas; provide for increased social justice, economic, and housing opportunities; and conserve the state's agricultural and natural lands.

Congress for the New Urbanism -- Advocates the restructuring of public policy and development practices to support the restoration of existing urban centers and towns within coherent metropolitan regions. CNU stands for the reconfiguration of sprawling suburbs into communities of real neighborhoods and diverse districts.

Institute for Local Self Reliance -- Information on environmentally sound economic development strategies.

National Neighborhood Coalition

Resources for Urban Design Information -- A worldwide perspective on good urban design.

Smart Growth America -- A nationwide coalition promoting a better way to grow; one that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, and makes communities more livable.

Sprawl Busters -- Information on communities fighting construction of mega-stores, the giant WalMarts, Home Depots, etc.