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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12211989 - 2.9 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra Costa FROM: Harvey E. Bragdon Director of Community Development DATE: December 19, 1989 SUBJECT: General Plan Amendment Request for Expansion of Discovery Bay SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Authorize a General Plan review as requested by the Hofmann Company to expand Discovery Bay. In authorizing a review, staff will proceed with a report which will then be scheduled for public hearing before the appropriate Planning Commission. Following this, the Commission would forward its recommendation to the Board for a final determination after public hearing. A full Environmental Impact Report shall be needed on this project. Given the probability that the new Countywide General Plan revision shall be adopted prior to consideration of this request, the study requirements found in that draft plan shall be required as part of the consideration process of this request. FISCAL IMPACT A General Plan Amendment fee will be paid to cover the cost of processing the amendment request. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Hofmann Company (P. 0. Box 907, Concord, CA 94522) has requested a General Plan amendment for approximately a 1 ,000 acre area located to the north and west of Discovery Bay. Their letter request points out that Discovery Bay was originally approved for 4,569 units. However, as the specific approvals were giv the CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECORD OF SYM COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON / APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _X OTHER Harvey Bragdon, Community Development Director,. amended his recommendation to include the Lucia Albers roperty and other areas that seem logical as the study develops. Earl Wetzel, East Eounty Regional Planning Commissioner, suested starting at Highway 4 and Bixler Road and progressing north for the whole area all the way over to the Hofmann property and planning the whole area. Su ervisor Torlakson commented that he favored the expanded study areas, but that extending the planning area for study did not indicate predisposition towards urbanizing, density or types of land use. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: Community Development ATTESTED -7�+ Hofmann Company PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF Discovery Bay Property THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Owners Association 0.... cez AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Lucia Albers BY , DEPUTY cjc6/jb/expanddb.bos actual number to be constructed would be 3,500 units. Therefore, they are requesting an additional 1,000 units on an adjacent 1,000 acres for either water frontage or golf course frontage lots as an expansion of Discovery Bay.' An EIR was prepared, on the Discovery Bay proposal and such a substantial expansion will require a new EIR. Additionally, the Draft Countywide General Plan discusses development of lands within flood plains extensively and requires substantial studies be undertaken to determine the safety and abilities of such areas to develop. Since the countywide plan adoption is planned prior to consideration of this request, this applicant should be required to satisfy those study requirements. By requiring them up front, the rules won' t change on the applicant after this study is authorized. It is important to advise the Board of Supervisors that granting this study authorization runs counter to the Board of Supervisor' s direction to staff to discourage all general plan amendment requests in lands currently planned for open space uses. The site is planned "Agricultural-Recreational" which has a 20 acre minimum lot size in effect. Their request is based on their view of historic decisions affecting the property and they feel their request should not fall under the Board' s existing policy limiting plan amendment requests in open space areas. A basic policy interpretation needs to be made by the Board. Should the Board authorize the study, it would be made clear that this is being done based on an historic equity issue and not a shifting from the Board' s existing policy. A copy of their letter request is attached. It needs to be emphasized that authorization of the study does not imply any acceptance of the validity of such a plan change. This is anticipated to be a very controversial issue, with numerous public facilities and safety issues which need to be resolved. J 3, 5 j6Hofmann BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS COMPANY 1380 GALAXY WAY P.O.BOX 907 CONCORD,CA 94522 TELEPHONE 682-4830(Area Code 415) RECEIVED OCTA 19E9 October 23, 1989 PHIL HELOR CLERK IN A D of SUPER CONTBA COSv� � Co .SUPERVISORS Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors McBrien Administration Building Martinez, CA 94553 Dear Board Members: Discovery Bay had its beginning in 1968 when it gained its first approvals for a 4,569-unit planned development with an emphasis on recreation. As a result of a number of design changes, Discovery Bay will now build out at approximately 3,500 dwelling units. This is because the market demand for the number of proposed townhouses did not materialize. Therefore, some of the acreage reserved for townhouses was changed to provide for detached single-family units which the market preferred. To recapture the balance of the 4,569 units that were approved, we would like to expand the Discovery Bay concept of water-oriented lots and another golf course to the west. This area comprises approximately 1,000 acres being generally bounded on the west by Bixler Road, on the north by the north line of the south half of Section 14, on the east by the Werner Dredger Cut and Discovery Bay, and on the south by the Ujdur property. We expect to establish a development plan that would provide for approximately 1,000 dwelling units. The lots (6,000-10,000 square feet typically) would have either water frontage or adjoin the golf course. In addition the streets would be private and would be maintained by the mandatory homeowners' association. This development concept has proven to be successful and well accepted as demonstrated by Discovery Bay. Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Page 2 October 23, 1989 At this time, we request that the General Plan be amended to provide for the expansion of Discovery Bay as described above. With your authorization, we are prepared to proceed with all the necessary studies, etc., to process this request in an expeditious manner. As indicated above, with the proposed 1,000 units, we would then be close to the number of dwelling units approved initially for Discovery Bay thereby making it closer to being complete. We are prepared to discuss this request with you at your convenience. Your early consideration would be sincerely appreciated. Sincerely yours, THE HOFMANN COMPANY Kenneth H. Hofmann President is