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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10212003 - C56 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ✓ ' r . ' Contra FROM: DENNIS M. BARRY, AICP Costa COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR County DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2003 `"' SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT REVIEW OF GALE RANCH PHASE IV WITHIN DOUGHERTY VALLEY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. AUTHORIZE the Community Development Department to initiate a General Plan Amendment review for the Phase IV of the Gale Ranch project in Dougherty Valley, as requested by Shapell Industries of Northern California, to respond to regulatory agency determinations. 2. AUTHORIZE the Community Development Department to initiate revisions to the Dougherty Valley Specific Pian(1996),as requested by Shapell Industries of Northern California, to respond to regulatory agency determinations. This may include both changes to various maps and text throughout the Specific Plans. Minor textual and map changes that reflect prior County Planning Agency determinations may also be made to bring the document up to date. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON October 21, 2003 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND X UNANIMOUS(ABSEN'INonee CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ABSENT: ABSTAIN: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN Contact: Patrick Roche(925)335-1242 ATTESTED October 21, 2003 cc: Community Development Director JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF CAO SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR County Counsel a Public Works Director Jennifer White—City of San Ramon A ?d DUCC ,DEPUTY October 21,2003 Board of Supervisors re:Authorize GPA and Specific Plan Review for Gale Ranch Ph. IV Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT: The costs of doing this work will be funded by fees paid by the developer. BACKGROUND: Shapell Industries of Northern California has requested authorization to initiate both the County General Plan and parallel Dougherty Valley Specific Plan changes to accommodate the requirements of State and Federal regulatory agencies as it may affect the build out of the reminder of Gale Ranch portion of this project. See attached letter listed as Exhibit "A" to this report. Because the Specific Plan is an internally consistent document, a small change to the Land Use Plan Map may trigger changes to other maps within the document. Consequently, it is probable that several figures and some text within the Specific Plan may need to be updated. See attached Location Map for Gale Ranch Phase IV listed as Exhibit "B" to this report. While this effort is underway, it may also be beneficial for staff to update the plan in minor ways to reflect the boundaries and more precise locations of past actions of the County Planning Agency in prior planning approvals. This should lead to a more precise Specific Plan as the project is being finalized. No changes will be considered that are not consistent with the adopted Settlement Agreements, Development Agreement or other regulatory agreements, which are in place for Dougherty Valley. Obviously these draft amendments will be shared with adjacent jurisdictions and will be forwarded to the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee (DVOC) prior to initiation of the County public hearing process. The need to do a cleanup effort of the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan was previously presented to DVOC in 2001. This review is only for the purposes of updating both the General Plan and Specific Plan to reflect changes as a result of determinations and requirements established by State and Federal regulatory agencies, and an increase in the allowable number of dwellings units will not be considered as part of these plan amendments. Attachments (2) 1. Exhibit A: Sept. 11, 2003 letter from Dan Coleman, Vice President, Shapell Industries,to Dennis M. Barry, Community Development Director re: Gale Ranch Phase IV/Dougherty Valley Specific Plan Amendment. 2. Exhibit B: Location Map for Gale Ranch Phase IV Fl:\General Plan Amendment and Specific Plan Review Gale Ranch Phase Mdoc SHAPELL INDUSTRIES of NORTHERN CALIFORNIA A Division of Shapell Industries, Inc. September 11, 2003 Mr. Dennis Barry Director of Community Development Contra Costa County Community Development Department 651 Pine Street,4th Floor,North Wing Martinez, CA 94553 Subject: Cale Ranch Phase IV/Dougherty Valley Specific Plan Amendment Dear Dennis, As you are no doubt aware, the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan has proven to be a remarkable planning document. It has withstood challenges on many fronts and has always stood up as a comprehensive and sound guide for the development of the Dougherty Valley. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that through the first three phases of the Cale Ranch portion of the Dougherty Valley(some 4,505 units of the 5,830 total Cale unit count) Shapell has hardly deviated from the county's original grading plan found in the 1992 Environmental Document. While the Specific Plan has proven it's metal time and time again,we do seem to be at a point with respect to the final phase of Cale Ranch where we will need to revisit some aspects of the physical design of the Specific Plan. The reason for this re-look at the Specific Plan is that we need to build out the project in harmony with the wishes of the regulatory agencies while still adhering to the basic terms of the Shapell Plan and the other various related documents. It is safe to say that even the most forward thinking of planners could not have foreseen the influence and impact on the planning process that the regulatory agencies have had in the last five to six years. Fortunately, the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan was both forward thinking and environmentally sensitive enough that the first three phases of the Cale Ranch project have proceed very close to the letter of the Specific Plan. However, as we look to implement the wishes of the regulatory agencies, it does in fact appear that much of the burden to comply with agency mandates will fall on the final phase of Cale Ranch. More specifically, the final Dougherty Valley Specific Plan needs to address the implementation of conductivity corridors, creek setbacks,possible realignment of Dougherty Valley Road and the relocation of certain parks. Homes of Quality Since 1955 P.O_ Box 361169, 100 North Milpitas Boulevard,Milpitas,California 95035 Phone:408/946-1550 Fax:468/946-9687 Consequently, Shaped Industries is requesting that County Staff initiate the process that will allow for an amendment to the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan and related documents in order that it remain consistent with the requirements of the regulatory agencies. Your attention to this matter is greatly appreciated. As always we look forward to working with staff and brining home the final chapters in the Dougherty Valley Specific Plan. Ve Truly Yours, Daniel M. Coleman Vice President Shapell Industries cc: Chris Truebridge Jim Cutler Tom Simonson