Title
General Plan Conformity Finding Regarding the Sale of Properties Located at the Town Hall Square Site, at the northeast intersection of East 14th Street and Davis Street.
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
The City, as Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, proposes to sell the following properties for mixed use development to include multi-family residential and commercial uses:
Town Hall Square Site
Parcel 1: Address: 290 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-010-02)
Parcel 2: Address: 262 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-009-02)
Parcel 3: Address: 250 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-008-02)
Parcel 4: Address: 222 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-006-00)
Parcel 5: Address: 212 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-005-00)
Parcel 6: Address: 1199 E 14th St. (APN: 075-0001-004-00)
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission find that the proposed sale and development of the above parcels located at the Town Hall Square Site are consistent with the City’s 2035 General Plan.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The above properties within the Town Hall Square Site include properties owned by the City of San Leandro (Parcel 2) and the Successor Agency (Parcels 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6). The City’s former Redevelopment Agency (“RDA”) acquired five of the parcels as part of an effort to assemble the entirety of the triangular block bounded by East 14th Street, Davis Street and Hays Street (now known as Dan Niemi Way). The six parcels for sale comprise just over half an acre (0.68 acre). The Town Hall Square site was identified as a strategic development opportunity site in the City’s 2007 Transit Oriented Development Strategy. Additionally, the Redevelopment Agency’s 2010-2014 Implementation Plan includes a goal to “continue assisting with land assembly and design to redevelop Town Hall Square, the underutilized block bound by Hayes, Davis, and East 14th Streets in the downtown core.”
The properties at the Town Hall Square Site are among 22 properties that were owned by the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro (“RDA”) at the time of its dissolution in February 2012. Pursuant to the redevelopment dissolution statutes, ownership of these properties transferred to the Successor Agency of the City of San Leandro (“City”). The City is now responsible for disposition of properties owned by the former Redevelopment Agency.
The City released a Request for Proposals for purchase and development of the properties at the Town Hall Square Site in early 2017. Responses received in February contained proposals for mixed use developments, to include multi-family residential and commercial uses for the site. City staff have reviewed the responses and have made a recommendation to the City Council and Successor Agency Oversight Board regarding the developer whose vision most clearly meets the City’s goals as outlined in the 2035 General Plan, as well as applicable special area plans. Based upon their direction, City staff will negotiate with the recommended developer and present a Purchase and Sale Agreement for approval by the City Council and Oversight Board.
LOCATION & LAND USE DESIGNATIONS
The subject sites have a Downtown Mixed Use (MUD) Land Use designation, with a Zoning classification of Downtown Area 1 (DA-1). Under the General Plan, the Downtown Mixed Use land use “corresponds to the area that has historically been the central business district of San Leandro. It allows a range of uses which together create a pedestrian-oriented street environment. These uses include retail shops, services, offices, cultural activities, public and civic buildings, and similar and compatible uses, including upper story residential uses.”
Under the General Plan, land use is correlated with the Downtown San Leandro Transit-Oriented Development Strategy. In the Downtown Area 1 (DA-1) zoning district where the properties are located, ground floor retail is required on parcels fronting East 14th Street and Washington Avenue and encouraged on all other parcels in this District. Residential mixed use development is allowed and single use residential development is permitted on parcels not fronting on the East 14th Street or Washington Avenue corridors.
The properties at the Town Hall Square Site are surrounded to the immediate south, east and west by properties with the Downtown Mixed Use (MUD) land use designation, and to the north by the San Leandro Creek and single family residences, with the Resource Conservation (RC) and Low Density Residential (RL) land use designations.
The properties are located along the north end of Downtown San Leandro, which includes a wide variety of retail, office, and mixed-use residential developments. Retail developments include the San Leandro Plaza, Pelton Plaza, and recently constructed Village shopping center. An additional mixed use residential and commercial development is proposed for the former CVS site, located directly across the street at East 14th St. and Callan Ave. The recently constructed Downtown Parking Garage is also located across the street, providing 400 spaces of public parking.
REQUIRED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
Under Government Code Section 65402, the Planning Commission must find that the proposed disposition of property, in this instance, sale of the Successor Agency Sites, for a mixed use development to include multi-family residential and commercial uses, in conformance with the General Plan. The sale of these properties is consistent with the following policies of the 2035 General Plan:
• Policy LU (Land Use) - 6.1 - Downtown Plans
In accordance with the adopted Downtown Plan and Urban Design Guidelines and the Downtown San Leandro Transit Oriented Development Strategy, ensure that new downtown development is attractive and creates an image conducive to revitalization.
• Policy LU (Land Use)-6.6 - Downtown Housing Diversity
Facilitate the transformation of East 14th Street from an unbroken commercial “strip” into a series of distinct mixed use neighborhood centers, each with a unique design identity and mix of uses. The land use pattern should emphasize a more attractive and human scale of development throughout the corridor, with pedestrian-oriented buildings, streetscape and transit improvements, and a lively mix of higher density residential, commercial, and civic uses.
• Policy LU (Land Use)-3.4 - Promotion of Infill
Encourage infill development on vacant or underused sites within residential and commercial areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The General Plan Conformity Finding is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, in that it is not a project as defined by CEQA.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This item was noticed by posting of the Planning Commission meeting agenda.
ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment A- Aerial Photographs of Town Hall Square Properties, including:
290 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-010-02)
262 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-009-02)
250 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-008-02)
222 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-006-00)
212 Davis St. (APN: 075-0001-005-00)
1199 E 14th St. (APN: 075-0001-004-00)
• Attachment B- General Plan Land Use Map of Town Hall Square Properties
PREPARED BY: Mariana Garcia, Economic Development Specialist, Community Development Department