Estudillo/Bancroft Avenues Re-Zoning Update

-
Here is an update on the re-zoning issue along Estudillo and Bancroft Avenues that I have mentioned in earlier posts.

As background, City staff originally proposed to re-zone about 20 properties from their current designation of P or Professional office space (limited to 30 feet in height) to DA-2 or Downtown Area 2 (which includes mixed-use housing of up to 50 feet in height) in conjunction with the City's General Plan Update.
Many of us objected to the re-zoning as inappropriate in height, use and density for properties in or close to a residential neighborhood. Mayor Pauline Cutter heard our concerns and took action. As a result, staff modified their recommendation. 

In a memo to the City Council that was shared with the public last week, Cynthia Battenberg, the City's Community Development Director, stated, "Following community input, staff is recommending that the P Professional zoning for the Downtown East area (the approximately 20 parcels on Estudillo Avenue and Bancroft Avenue) not be changed to DA-2 Downtown Area 2. The proposed changes to the Professional Use Regulations would allow multi-family and mixed use residential at a density of 24 units per acre as a Conditionally Permitted Use (CUP) and the existing 30 foot height limit would remain. The staff report and tonight’s presentation has been updated accordingly."

I wanted to better understand the process that would unfold should a developer wish to demolish an office building on one of these 20 parcel and replace it with a multi-family, mixed-use residential building.  I sent an email message to Ms. Battenberg asking if a developer would have to take his/her plans to the Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) - with notice provided to the community - for a hearing at which the BZA would approve, deny or modify the plan? Such a review process is critical to ensuring the neighbors are aware of and their views are taken into account before any project is approved.

Ms. Battenberg's answer to my question is "yes." This is specifically what she stated:

"Multi-family development in the P Professional District is a conditionally permitted use ["CPU"]. Projects that require CUPs are presented to the Board of Zoning Adjustments for approval/denial. The BZA would also approve Conditions of Approval for a project. Project notification is sent to all properties within 500 feet of the site and interested parties. 

In the case of 1300-1380 Bancroft Avenue, notification would also be sent to the interested parties list that we have established that includes individuals who have provided input on the proposed Zoning Code revisions. Prior to the Public Hearing to approve/deny, a BZA work session would be held in order for the developer to present the project and hear feedback from the BZA and community. Notification would also be provided for the work session."

Thank you again to Mayor Cutter and everyone that stepped forward and spoke up concerning this matter. 

I recognize that some may continue to object to the revised staff recommendation. You have the right to speak out and let the City Council hear your views at upcoming meetings. I am supportive of the revised recommendation, though ideally I wish the property would be developed as for sale townhouses. 

You can learn more about the General Plan Update and review key documents at http://www.sanleandro2035.org 

The City Council will be reviewing the General Plan and Zoning Code changes at two meetings in July, starting on July 5th. The vote on whether to adopt the General Plan and Zoning Code changes will occur in the Fall.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Looking Back: Measure B Transformed San Leandro Public Schools

-
Image
Our tax dollars can make a real difference in the lives of our children and prosperity of a community. Twelve years ago San Leandro High School was grossly overcrowded leading to discipline problems and undermining academic performance, no theater in the school district existed for student performances, and many restrooms at schools were in such poor condition that the students would not use them. That all changed in August 2006 when the School Board voted to place Measure  B on the ballot. The largest school construction bond in San Leandro’s history, Measure B received overwhelming support and led to the physical transformation of San Leandro public school (combined with the passage of two subsequent bond measures and one earlier measure). With better public schools, San Leandro has become a more desirable city to live, helping attract and retain families who previously would have never moved to San Leandro or moved away when the children were in middle school. Here is a
Read more

How Juan Gonzalez won the San Leandro Mayor's office at the end of the counting of votes

-
Image
On November 18, 2022, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters released the vote count for nearly all votes cast in the November 2022 general election. After being behind for the entire vote count, Juan Gonzalez effectively won the race.  How did this happen? First, from election night through 11/17, the Registrar had reported a total of 13,746 first choice ballots in the Mayor's race. On 11/18, the number of votes reported increased by 6,436 to 20,185 total votes. That was a nearly 47% jump in the reported votes. Another way of looking at the data is that prior to 11/18, all previous vote counts released by the Registrar did not include roughly one-third of the votes that were cast in the race. Second, Gonzalez  decisively took the lead in the the first choice ballots that were released by the Registrar on 11/18. Gonzalez took these votes by 39% to 33% margin. With the exception of the first vote count released by the Registrar on election night right after the polls closed when Br
Read more

San Leandro's Unsustainable City Budget

-
Yesterday, I attended a meeting of the San Leandro City Council Finance Committee. The committee consists of Mayor Santos and Councilmembers Prola and Gregory. Gregory was absent. In short, if significant action is not taken, the city will burn through all of its reserves, including eventually reserves for natural disasters and other emergencies. By 2015, San Leandro could join the City of Vallejo in declaring bankruptcy. Summary of Finance Committee Presentation Perry Carter, the Interim Finance Director, gave an update on the budget. In analyzing a budget, you need to examine at least three years of data - the previous, current and next fiscal years. Carter first reported on the "preliminary actual" numbers for the fiscal year which just ended on June 30, 2009. Illustrating how quickly the city finances collapsed last year, the original city budget for fiscal year 2008-09 assumed $76.2 million (hereafter simply "M") in revenues and $81.6 M in expenditures.
Read more