New 90-Unit Neighborhood Approved

New 90-Unit Neighborhood Approved

At its Dec. 12 meeting, the Planning Board unanimously approved a housing development project that will produce 90 townhome units located at 2015 Grand Street. The project will be developed by San Ramon-based Trumark Homes.

The 14 multifamily buildings will house the 90 units, five of which will be accessory dwelling units, on a 4.1-acre parcel.

Per the agreement, the developer will build the final portion of Clement Avenue between Grand Street and Hibbard Street, as well as widen Hibbard Street. Clement Avenue currently stops at Grand Street, and then starts again west of the property at Hibbard Street. As a result, commercial truck traffic has to turn off of Clement Avenue and on to Buena Vista Avenue between Sherman Street and Grand Street. The extension of Clement will complete the truck route between Tilden Way and Sherman Street, where Clement Avenue merges into Atlantic Avenue.

Trumark will also build the portion of the Cross Alameda trail along Clement in front of the project property and then also provide a public access easement through the site continuing at Hibbard to Fortman Way.

The project features two different design types, with all buildings north of Clement Avenue featuring the “A Style” design and all buildings south of Clement Avenue featuring the “B Style” design. “A Style” buildings are mostly stucco-clad with a fine sand finish and accent panels of fiber cement tongue and groove siding. The buildings are three-stories and approximately thirty-six feet (36’) tall to the top of parapet, but rooftop penthouses raise the overall building height to forty-five feet (45’). The ground floor acts as a base for the building, and the two upper floors are integrated into their own cohesive design complimentary to the ground floor. “B Style” buildings have the same layout and height as “A-Style” buildings and use the ground floor as a separate base from the upper floors.

Trumark proposes to deed restrict 4.5 percent (4 units) of the units for very low-income households, 5.5 percent (5 units) for low-income households, and 7 percent (6 units) for moderate-income households. Because at least 16 percent of units at affordable rates, they’re entitled to a 20 percent density bonus and unlimited waivers from development regulations.

One of the major talking points of the discussion was adding London Plane and Brisbane Box trees to the project’s landscaping. Both trees are included in the city’s tree plan.

The site was originally developed in 1952 as a petroleum mixing and packaging facility for Pennzoil, and then as a distribution facility until closing in 2020. The Planning Board granted Trumark the option to purchase the property from Shell Oil.