The Planning Board’s Wednesday, June 22, agenda includes consideration of a planned two-story senior assisted living facility. If plans move forward, Westmont of Harbor Bay would open the facility on 5.5 acres of open space at 2900 Harbor Bay Parkway near the Harbor Bay ferry terminal. 

The property lies within the Esplanade, which the Planning Board originally approved in 2008. That approval gave developers the green light to put up 10 office buildings on 9.22 acres.  In 2012, Stacy & Witbeck Company moved into the first building on the site. A second structure that will house the McGuire and Hester Company is currently under construction. 

On March 23 Pacific Union Land Investors LLC submitted an application to the city to construct a facility that would face San Francisco Bay with a parking lot separating the buildings from Adelphian Way. Newly planted trees would screen the parking area from neighboring homes.

The facility — a fully staffed, 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week operation with 53 full-time employees — would serve approximately 127 seniors in need of assisted living facilities or memory care. According to city staff, the building would maintain a 35-foot setback along Shoreline Park in line with other buildings, consistent with the original Esplanade Plan. 

If built as proposed the facility would include space to feed, bathe and provide residents personal hygiene and physical therapy. It would also offer a restaurant-style dining area, 24-hour food service, a movie room and common living space for use by the residents. The facility would offer prospective residents a variety of living spaces ranging from individual private rooms with bathroom facilities for single memory-care residents, to larger one- and two-bedroom spaces for senior couples in need of assisted living. 

The larger units would include private living, sleeping and bathing areas and a small food preparation space. None of the living spaces include built-in stoves and ovens.

Westmont would make van service available to its residents so they can go to doctors’ appointments, shop and enjoy off-site cultural events and activities. 
Neighbors have expressed their concern about the project’s effect on the environment. The vacant site has no habitat value for any endangered, rare, or threatened wildlife species, the staff report states.  

A study conducted by Monk & Associates Environmental Consultants at the project site in early May found no evidence of the presence of burrowing owls and other raptors, the snowy plover, California least terns and passerine nesting birds. The latter, also known as “song birds,” make up about half the bird population. The Monk & Associates study observed “no evidence of the presence of these species,” the staff report stated. A condition of approval will require a second survey be conducted 14 days prior to construction.

This project is also subject to a review by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) before construction begins. This would ensure public shoreline access and proper setbacks for the buildings. Pacific Union Land Investors is working with BCDC on a compliance review and has provided five off-street parking spaces for Shoreline Park.

This is not the last the Planning Board will hear of this project. A design review will be scheduled at a later date. For now the board must find that the living facility relates favorably to the General Plan and is an efficient use of the site. In addition the board must determine that the facility will not adversely impact adjacent properties or the existing business district and is compatible with the neighborhood. 

The city is currently working with Pacific Union Land Investors on the architectural design and landscaping plan, the staff report said.