Title
General Plan Conformity Finding Regarding the Sale of properties located at 1595 Washington Avenue (APN: 075-0005-011-01) and 268 Parrott Street (APN: 075-0005-012-00).
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION
The City, as Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, proposes to sell the properties located at 1595 Washington Avenue and 268 Parrott Street, for a mixed use development to include multi-family residential and commercial uses.
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission find that the proposed sale and development of the parcels, located at 1595 Washington Ave. (APN: 075-0005-011-01) and 268 Parrott St. (APN: 075-0005-012-00), are consistent with the City’s 2035 General Plan.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The properties at 1595 Washington Avenue and 268 Parrott Street (“Properties”) jointly comprise a 0.42 acre development site. The Properties were identified as a strategic development opportunity site in the City’s 2007 Transit Development Strategy. Additionally, the Redevelopment Agency’s 2010-2014 Implementation Plan includes a goal to redevelop the Properties to “provide mixed-use retail and multi-family residential consistent with the TOD Strategy.” Such a project has the potential to build upon additional new development in Downtown to positively impact the greater area.
The properties at 1595 Washington Avenue and 268 Parrott Street 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 Redevelopment 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 1595 Washington Avenue and 268 Parrott Street in early 2017. Responses received in February contained proposals for various 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.”
The Downtown Mixed Use district is jointly 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 sites are surrounded on the north, south, east and west by properties with the Downtown Mixed Use land use designation. The sites are within walking distance of a number of retail stores, personal services, restaurants, and offices in Downtown San Leandro. They are also near to a handful of newly constructed or proposed retail and residential developments, including the San Leandro Tech Campus (500,000 square feet office, with additional residential proposed) and the Marea Alta housing development (200 units family and senior affordable housing). Additional housing developments are also proposed in the area, including the recently approved 60-unit market rate housing development a block to the south at Washington Ave. and Thornton St.
REQUIRED PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION
Under Government Code Section 65402, the Planning Commission must find that the proposed disposition of property, in this instance, the sale of the Successor Agency sites for mixed use development to include multi-family residential and commercial uses, is in conformance with the General Plan. The sale of the sites 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)-2.7 - Location of Future Multi-Family Development
Concentrate new multi-family development in the areas near the BART Stations and along major transit corridors such as East 14th Street. Ensure that such development enhances rather than detracts from the character of surrounding neighborhoods.
• 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 1595 Washington Ave. (APN: 075-0005-011-01) and 268 Parrott St. (APN: 075-0005-012-00)
• Attachment B- General Plan Land Use Map of 1595 Washington Ave. and 268 Parrott St.
PREPARED BY: Mariana Garcia, Economic Development Specialist, Community Development Department