(HAYWARD, CA.) – The Hayward planning commission received a recommendation from city staff to approve a housing project on June 25.
Photo Credit: Madison Vinas
According to Senior Planner Steve Kowalski, the project consists of nine three-story buildings that would include six to nine units each, ranging from 1,224 to 1,760 square feet in size.
The structures are townhouse-style condominiums and will be built on a 4.8-acre plot of land if the project is approved.
Within these will be three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and two-car garages with dedicated bike storage space.
The project as a whole contains seven units intended for low-income residents and one intended for moderate-income residents.
Units intended for lower-income residents were also included in a project in Livermore, CA., but the project was not as successful in passing through Livermore’s city council.
Kowalski also explains that the developer qualifies for a density bonus, which allows him to utilize waivers. These waivers allow him to mitigate some of the city’s requirements for high-density housing.
Pictured below are the requirements the developer used the waivers on.
Photo Credit: YouTube / cityofhayward
Kowalski explained that most of the waivers utilized were to avoid cutting into the hillside on the property.
Others, such as the requirement that the ground floor must be at least a foot above the grade, were mitigated in order to aid the function of the site’s more accessible units.
Kowalski closed his presentation with the staff’s recommendation that the planning commission approve the density bonus application and the plans presented thus far.
Referencing a 1.5-acre area on the site that was not designated for the residential buildings, Commission member Ron Meyers inquired whether this space would be open to the general public.
“If it were to be made accessible to the general public, the developer would have had to make it accessible for disabled users, and that would have involved quite a bit of work,” explained Kowalski. “They [also] wanted to minimize the disturbance of [the land].”
Council member Anika Hardy was also curious about this open space.
She expressed her interest in it and further inquired about the voluntary amenities the developer was already offering.
Stepping up to the podium himself, the applicant listed the following amenities:
Open lawn area
One shade structure
One lounge table
Two picnic tables
Two benches
Council member Briggitte Lowe had other concerns, questioning what strategy the developer used to determine the location of the moderate and low-income units.
“We do have a conceptual location right now. But if staff have a preference on where those are located within the buildings themselves, we are flexible on where they go,” said the applicant.
Photo Credit: YouTube / cityofhayward
Contrary to this project, which received only one supportive public comment, Union City, CA.’s own housing project raised many concerns within its community.
After their short discussion, the council moved into their commentary and voting period.
Those who commented expressed that they were relatively pleased with the project. The only comments made were made by Council member Jefferey Haman, who expressed that he wanted to see more open space.
Haman made an additional, more general remark that he wanted to see more public transportation in the area. He continued to suggest that the city increase AC transit, build more bike lanes, or potentially implement Uber lanes or a trolley system.
Despite these ideas, he too was pleased with the project, and it was passed by the council six votes to zero.
To add or correct any information in this report, please contact me at madison.v@lead4earth.org.
0
0
Comments