2 Project Description
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Project Description 2 Project Description The proposed project involves the adoption of the Bay Fair Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan (“proposed Specific Plan”). The proposed Specific Plan includes policies and development standards to guide future development in Specific Plan Area within the City of San Leandro. The proposed Specific Plan is intended to implement the guidance provided in the City’s 2035 General Plan. The 2035 General Plan envisions Bay Fair as a dynamic, walkable, transit- oriented area with a mix of uses – including retail, office, higher density housing, and open space – that leverage their prime location near BART. A reasonable and conservative estimate of buildout associated with the General Plan through 2035 would include development of 2,540 housing units and 300,000 square feet of office space, as well as the removal of an estimated 161,000 square feet of retail space. Information about how the buildout numbers were calculated is provided in subsection 2.3.7. This section describes the proposed Specific Plan location, characteristics of the Specific Plan Area and potential buildout under the proposed Specific Plan, Specific Plan objectives, and the approvals needed to adopt the proposed Specific Plan. Actual development under the provisions of the Specific Plan would require subsequent approvals and permits including consideration of whether the environmental impacts of the project are addressed in this EIR or whether further environmental review is required under CEQA standards. 2.1 Lead Agency/Project Applicant City of San Leandro 835 East 14th Street San Leandro, California 94577 Contact: Tom Liao, (510) 577-6003 2.2 Location and Setting 2.2.1 Specific Plan Area Setting The Bay Fair TOD Specific Plan Area (“Specific Plan Area”) is at the southeastern edge of the San Leandro, adjacent to unincorporated Alameda County. It includes the Bay Fair BART Station, Bayfair Center, East 14th street and Hesperian Boulevard corridors, and a small number of residential uses. The Specific Plan Area is surrounded in most directions by single-family neighborhoods. Further beyond, the area is near three Interstate freeways (I-580, I-238, and I-880). Figure 2 shows the regional location and Figure 3 shows the Specific Plan Area location. The Bay Fair TOD Specific Plan Area has a total acreage of 154 acres, with a majority of its land designated towards retail and commercial uses. The remaining portion contains a mix of uses including office, light industrial, and residential. The study area has different sub areas (such as Bay Fair BART Station, Bayfair Center, Fashion Faire Place, and Fairmont Square Shopping Center), which are divided by two intersecting corridors (East 14th Street and Hesperian Boulevard). Figure 4 shows the location of the main subareas and they are further described below. Draft Environmental Impact Report 37 City of San Leandro Bay Fair Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan Figure 2 Regional Location 38 Project Description Figure 3 Specific Plan Area Location Draft Environmental Impact Report 39 City of San Leandro Bay Fair Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan Figure 4 Main Subareas within the Specific Plan Area 40 Project Description 1. Bayfair Center. Built in 1956, Bayfair Center is one of the oldest malls in the Bay Area. It is the largest parcel in the Specific Plan Area and includes an enclosed mall structure surrounded by surface parking. The mall is accessible from all existing streets including Hesperian Boulevard, East 14th Street, and Fairmont Drive. 2. Bay Fair Bart Station. The Bay Fair BART Station was built in 1972 and is one of the primary transfer stations in the BART system connecting the East Bay to cities in the Tri-Valley such as Dublin and Pleasanton. The land surrounding the station is currently used for parking and an Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) bus station. In the past few years, BART has been developing on nearby properties (San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, and Dublin) to include additional housing and office. The portion of the BART parking lot southwest of the BART tracks is in Alameda County and is not subject to this Specific Plan. 3. Target Property. Target is a large a large department store located north of the Bay Fair BART station. 4. King Property. The King property is composed of four privately owned parcels adjacent to the southeast corner of the Bayfair Center with frontage on East 14th Street. The land is currently vacant and for sale. The parcel is 3.6 acres in size. 5. Century Theatres. Century Theatres is on a 1.79 acre parcel just east of the Bayfair Center. The building was constructed in 2001. 6. Fashion Faire Place. Fashion Faire Place is a 2.2 acre shopping center northwest of Bayfair Center. 7. Fairmont Square. Many tenants in this shopping center are financial businesses including US Bank, Patelco Credit Union, Chase Bank, and OneMain Financial. Other tenants include TOGO’s Sandwiches, the UPS Store, Round Table Pizza, and Vacuum City. Buildings on these parcels are either free standing or small strip mall developments. 8. Lucky Supermarket Site. The Lucky Supermarket is the only grocery store in the Specific Plan Area and is located in the Fairmont Square shopping center. 9. East 14th and Hesperian North Parcels. Parcels in the northern edge of Fairmont Square consist of a range of uses including a gas station/car wash, medical center, and small strip mall. Ricky’s Sports Theatre and Grill is located in this area. 10. East 14th and 150th Ave. Parcels on the west side of Hesperian Boulevard range in size and are a combination of office, commercial, and residential uses, including a storage facility and mobile home park. 11. Hesperian Boulevard (West). Parcels located on the west side of Hesperian Boulevard range in size and are a combination of office, commercial, and residential uses, including a storage facility and mobile home park in the southwestern area. 12. Hesperian Boulevard (Southeast). Parcels located on the southeast side of Hesperian Boulevard range in size and consist mostly of duplex and multi-family residential types, along with some small commercial properties. 13. Olive Court. Olive Court is located off of Hesperian Boulevard and consists of six single family homes, a law office, and an insurance office. The single family homes were built in 1950 and are the only single-family residential units in the Specific Plan Area. Draft Environmental Impact Report 41 City of San Leandro Bay Fair Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Specific Plan 2.2.2 Regulatory Setting 2035 General Plan The City’s 2035 General Plan was adopted in September 2016 and is the over-arching policy document guiding the City’s future development. The 2035 General Plan Elements include: Land Use (Chapter 3); Transportation (Chapter 4); Economic Development (Chapter 5); Open Space, Conservation, and Parks (Chapter 6); Environmental Hazards (Chapter 7); Historic Preservation and Community Design (Chapter 8); Community Services and Facilities (Chapter 9); and Housing (Chapter 10). These elements contain goals, policies, and actions that apply to all land within the City limits. The 2035 General Plan establishes a land use designation of Bay Fair Transit-Oriented Development (B-TOD) for the entirety of the Bay Fair TOD Specific Plan Area, deferring to the Specific Plan process to establish the details of land use, design, and development for the area. According to the Land Use Element of the 2035 General Plan, the intent for the B-TOD designation is “to create a new vision for this area, including retail, office, higher density housing, open space, and public land uses. A more urban development form is envisioned, with pedestrian-scaled streets and an orientation toward BART access and transit use.” Policy LU-8.10 (Bay Fair Area) and Actions LU-8.10.A though LU-8.10.C in the Land Use Element provide guidance for the B-TOD area: Policy LU-8.10: Bay Fair Area. Transform the area around the Bay Fair BART station, including Bayfair Center, other shopping centers, and properties along Hesperian, East 14th, and other major arterials, into a dynamic new transit oriented development area. Future development in this area should reposition Bayfair Center to reflect current trends in retailing; add a mix of higher-density residential, office, and other commercial uses; maximize the potential for BART use; and minimize dependence on autos for daily trips. Action LU-8.10.A: Bay Fair Station Transit Village. Complete the Bay Fair BART Transit Village Specific Plan now underway. The Plan should outline a vision for the area's future development, include standards and guidelines for future development, and present a strategy for achieving desired end results. Following its adoption, undertake rezoning and capital improvements to facilitate implementation. Action LU-8.10.B: East 14th Street Streetscape Improvements. Work collaboratively with Alameda County to improve East 14th Street in the Bay Fair area to make the area more attractive, distinctive, and friendly to pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. Action LU-8.10.C: Bay Fair BART Connections. Improve the pedestrian and bicycle connection between the Bay Fair BART Station, adjacent transit waiting areas, Bayfair Center, and nearby neighborhoods and shopping districts. The 2035 General Plan set a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 3.0 for the B-TOD designation. Under Government Code Section 65450 et seq., a specific plan implements and must be consistent with the governing general plan. However, a specific plan is a separate document from the general plan and contains a greater degree of detail, including functions of zoning, land use regulations, design standards, and capital improvement plans. San Leandro Zoning Code The City’s Zoning Code identifies specific zoning districts within the city and development standards that apply to each district.