None. The Applicant is responsible for the costs of processing this application.
Development of the Heritage Point site was an objective under the former North Richmond Redevelopment Project. The parcels were originally acquired by the former Redevelopment Agency for the purpose of developing a mixed-use retail and housing project along Fred Jackson Way to complement the Heritage Senior Apartment Complex located directly across the street. The North Richmond community has strongly supported development of the Heritage Point site. However, due to market conditions and then the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency, development of Heritage Point has been delayed. Currently, the seven parcels that make up the project site are predominantly vacant, except for a vacant commercial building on the corner of Chesley and Fred Jackson Way. Now, the applicant’s agreement with the County as Housing Successor and their development proposal offers new hope that a mixed-use project on the Heritage Point site may be realized.
The project would include changing the General Plan land use designations of the 0.81-acre project site from Commercial (CO) and Single Family High Density (SH) to Mixed Use (MU).The Development Plan for this site that was approved by the County Planning Commission on March 24, 2015 included the construction of a 4-story, 42-unit, multi-family affordable dwelling unit complex and 45 parking spaces. The density is 52 dwelling units per acre. The unit mix consists of one, two and three bedroom units, including a manager’s unit.
The development includes small retail and office uses with a patio common area and children’s play space, as well as other common areas for residents, including a community room. The project proposes to add landscaping and hardscape along Fred Jackson Way and at the rear of the property. The removal of several non- code protected trees is necessary to make room for development of the project.
Affordability of all the apartments except for the manager’s unit will be regulated by deed restrictions recorded by the public funding sources, including County and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs. As a result, 10% of the units would be affordable to extremely-low income families with incomes no higher than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and 88% of the units would be affordable to very low-income households earning up to 50% of AMI.
The project’s entry drive would be located on Fred Jackson Way. The parking area would provide 45 spaces in addition to 2 handicap accessible spaces. A visitor’s bike rack for 8 bikes is located near the entry door and a resident’s bike rack for 16 bikes is located within the complex. In addition, the project proposes a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategy that would include de-coupled parking, where a unit resident would receive parking only if they had a car. If they did not have a car, they would, upon request, be given a monthly bus pass at no charge. There are bus stops adjacent to the site. Also included is a bike sharing program by which the unit residents would have free access to bicycles for local use.
Also proposed are frontage improvements which include modifications to the median strip in Fred Jackson Way to provide more room for emergency vehicles, possible off-site improvements along Fred Jackson way, north to the Wildcat Creek, involving sidewalk reconstruction, installation of corner curb cuts and/or bulb-outs, utility pole relocation and striping for bike lanes. Acquisition of an adjacent 1,060 sq. ft. property is also contemplated.
Affordability of all the apartments except for the manager’s unit will be regulated by deed restrictions recorded by the public funding sources, including County and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs. As a result, 10% of the units would be affordable to extremely-low income families with incomes no higher than 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and 88% of the units would be affordable to very low-income households earning up to 50% of AMI. Additional detail regarding the development of the project may be found in the attachments.
County Planning Commission (CPC) Hearing March 24, 2015
The CPC held a public hearing to consider the project on March 24, 2015. At that hearing they approved the Development Plan and Minor Subdivision with a recommendation that the Board of Supervisors approve the requested General Plan Amendment, County File No. GP13-0004.
If the Board does not approve the General Plan Amendment the applicant cannot construct the proposed multi-family affordable housing development.
CLOSED the public hearing; FOUND that the Mitigated Negative Declaration is adequate for the purpose of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and ADOPTED the February 2015 Mitigated Negative Declaration, with Mitigation Measures ; ADOPTED the recommendations of the County Planning Commission (CPC), as contained in Resolution No. 6-2015; ADOPTED Board Resolution No. 2015/128, including the findings contained in the resolution; ADOPTED General Plan Amendment that changes the General Plan designations on the project site from Commercial (CO) and Single Family High Density (SH) to Mixed Use (MU) as shown on Attachment G; and DIRECTED the Department of Conservation and Development to post the Notice of Determination with the County Clerk.