Chapter 3 Project Description 3.1 Project Overview This environmental impact report (EIR) evaluates the potential environmental impacts anticipated to result from construction and operation of the mixed-use development project proposed by Integral Communities (project applicant). It is intended that this EIR will be used for the appropriate discretionary decisions and approvals necessary to implement the proposed Station East Residential/Mixed Use Project (project). The City of Union City (City) is the Lead Agency for environmental review. The project is an infill project involving redevelopment of an approximately 26.5-acre site (project site) between 7th Street and the Niles subdivision Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks in the City of Union City, Alameda County, California. The project site (assessor’s parcel numbers [APNs] 87-21-5-2, 87-21-13-1, 87-21-13-2, 87-23-12, 87-23-10, and 87-23-13-2) is currently occupied by existing and vacant industrial uses (totaling 86,500 square feet [sf], or 2.0 acres); surface parking lots, asphalt or concrete storage lots, a roadway, and railroad spur improvements (6.4 acres); and vacant unpaved areas, including agricultural, annual grassland, landscaped, and ruderal areas (18.1 acres). The project proposes demolition of the buildings and surface parking lots and development of up to approximately 1.8 million sf, including up to 974 new residential units (apartments, condominiums, and townhome-style condominiums, referred to in this report as townhomes) and approximately 30,800 sf of commercial space. The project site would include 11 planning areas (PAs) with 33 residential buildings and one community building. Most of the 34 proposed buildings would be between three and five stories tall. Vehicular access to the project site would be via Decoto Road on the north side of the project site, 7th Street on the east side of the project site, and Bradford Way and Zwissig Way on the south side of the project site. One linear paseo (Paseo C) would extend through the southern portion of the project site in the east–west direction. Three community parks, one tot lot, and one outdoor amphitheater would be located throughout the project site. In addition, urban plazas would be located near the proposed commercial uses in PA 1. Pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular access would be provided throughout the project site. The proposed project would include approximately 1,791 parking spaces for vehicles (including 190 on-street surface stalls) and 458 parking spaces for bicycles, both long term (i.e., bike storage facilities) and short term (i.e., bicycle racks). Construction of the proposed project would begin in mid-2021 and occur in two phases over approximately 4.5 years, with anticipated completion in late 2025. The project site is part of the Decoto Industrial Park Study Area Specific Plan (DIPSA Specific Plan) area. The DIPSA Specific Plan is currently undergoing an update, referred to as the Station District Specific Plan. The project site is identified in the City of Union City 2040 General Plan (General Plan) as part of the Station East subarea of the Greater Station District and is designated on the General Plan Land Use Diagram as Station East Mixed Use (SEMU). The project proposes a General Plan amendment to update land use targets for the Station East area, reduce the minimum density to 25 units per acre, provided a certain average density is maintained, and other minor updates for consistency with the related Specific Plan Amendment for consistency with the related Specific Plan Amendment. The project includes a Specific Plan Amendment to the DIPSA Specific Plan for Station East Residential/Mixed Use Project November 2020 3-1 Draft Environmental Impact Report ICF 00011.19 City of Union City Project Description consistency with the 2040 General Plan. The amendment includes the addition of goals and policies that support the development of Station East as a high-density, transit-oriented area for jobs and housing that reflects new land uses, circulation patterns, design attributes, etc. for the area. The project site is zoned Research and Development Campus (RDC). The project also includes creation of a new zoning designation, Station East Mixed Use (SEMU), for consistency with the General Plan designation of SEMU and related General Plan and Specific Plan existing and proposed policies for the Station East subarea. A zoning map amendment is also proposed to create a new zoning district for the project site. This chapter includes a discussion of the proposed project’s location and existing site characteristics, followed by details regarding the project and a summary of required approvals and entitlements. 3.2 Project Objectives Section 15124(B) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines requires the EIR project description to include a statement of the project objectives. The project applicant has identified the following objectives for the project: • Provide a mix of land uses, generally encompassing residential and commercial activities, while featuring ground-floor uses that maintain street vitality along Decoto Road. • Provide strong connections to the Union City Intermodal Station, which includes the Union City Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station while creating active, multi-modal streets that benefit cyclists and pedestrians within the neighborhood. • Locate high-intensity development close to the Union City Intermodal Station including the Union City BART station. • Provide a range of residential unit types for sale and for rent that will attract a wider demographic and promote greater diversity, safety, and activity. • Provide ground-floor retail and locally focused commercial space to meet residents’ needs and activate the street network. • Offer an attractive and diverse network of public active and passive open spaces for the community. • Develop a street grid that accommodates vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. • Develop a design that focuses on high-quality buildings and landscapes while considering conservation of resources. • Minimize traffic impacts on area roads by increasing housing density in an area well served by regional public transportation (including BART). • Provide much-needed affordable housing through the delivery of affordable units. • Create a community consisting of high-quality architecture that encourages walkability within the neighborhood. • Encourage infill redevelopment of underused sites in areas served by adequate infrastructure and services that are near public transportation, freeways, and urban centers to encourage multi-family housing in proximity to transit corridors. Station East Residential/Mixed Use Project November 2020 3-2 Draft Environmental Impact Report ICF 00011.19 City of Union City Project Description 3.3 Existing Setting The following discussion describes the geographic context of the project site and provides a brief overview of the existing land uses in the vicinity of the site. 3.3.1 Location The project site is in the southeast corner of the developed portion of the City. The six-parcel, approximately 26.5-acre project site is bound by Decoto Road to the north, 7th Street to the east, and Bradford Way and several industrial uses to the south, as shown in Figure 3-1. The project site is adjacent to the Niles subdivision UPRR tracks along the western perimeter. Just beyond the railroad tracks are several residential developments and the Union City BART station. The project site is part of the 105-acre Station East subarea of the DIPSA Specific Plan. The original DIPSA Specific Plan was approved in 1994 and comprehensively updated in 2006 to reflect cleanup of several hundred acres of contaminated lands and development of new residential areas. The DIPSA Specific Plan is currently being updated (referred to as the Station District Specific Plan) to be consistent with future growth and development in the area, as well as the recently approved 2040 General Plan. See Section 4.9, Land Use and Planning, for an in-depth description of the proposed General Plan and Specific Plan updates. The project site is also located in a Priority Development Area (PDA). PDAs are existing neighborhoods within the vicinity of frequent transit and in an area planned for future housing and job growth; they are a key regional strategy for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Association of Bay Area Government’s (ABAG) Plan Bay Area to develop the region in a sustainable manner. 3.3.2 Surrounding Land Uses As shown in Figure 3-2, the project site is surrounded by a variety of land uses, including industrial uses to the east and south, agricultural uses to the south, mixed-use commercial areas to the southwest, and residential areas on all sides of the site. Immediately north of the project site, across Decoto Road, are single-family residences. Single-family residences are also east of the project site, as is Alameda County Fire Station 33, across 7th Street. In addition, the western portion of the project site is bordered by the Niles subdivision UPRR tracks; just beyond the tracks are the Union City BART station and several multi-family housing developments, including the Station Center Apartments, approximately five stories tall, and the Union Flats Apartments, approximately four stories tall. Multiple parks and recreational areas are in the vicinity of the project site. Shorty Garcia Park is directly east of the project site. It includes two artificial-turf soccer fields, a playground, and basketball courts. Charles F. Kennedy Community Center and Park is a large park and playground located approximately 0.2 mile west of the project site. Several smaller parks, such as Willow Park (0.1 mile east of the project site), Decoto Plaza Park (0.4 mile north), and Fred Castro Park (0.3 mile north), are scattered throughout the surrounding area. Quarry Lakes Regional Recreational Area, located 1.2 miles south of the project site, is managed by the East Bay Regional Parks District.