Planning Commission Agenda Packet 102225 (1)

BART Concept Plan Planning Commission 2 of 9 community meeting held on September 17, 2025, is also summarized in this report for the Commission’s consideration. The options represent a range of development scenarios that could be incorporated into future development of the subject site and, therefore, the Planning Commission is being asked to comment generally on these options (i.e., not select a preferred option). BACKGROUND Implementation of the Housing Element The City Council re-adopted the Housing Element at its September 19, 2023, meeting, following the California Department of Housing & Community Development’s (HCD) certification in August 2023. Program 1.3 of the Housing Element identifies the preparation o f a Concept Plan for the BART site to plan for housing in accordance with the densities assigned in the Housing Element and in accordance with state law, but also to plan for potential complementary non-residential uses and to evaluate vehicular parking demand of the on-site uses in addition to BART rider parking. The program calls for this work to be started in 2024 and completed by December 2026, with the objective of facilitating redevelopment and housing on the site to occur within the timeframe of the 2023-31 (6th Cycle) Housing Element. Staff has initiated the Concept Plan with a professional services team, with the contract administered and funded through a grant awarded as part of MTC-ABAG’s Priority Sites Program. Site Zoning, Regional Policy, and State Law The 6th Cycle Housing Element identifies the BART site for residential development, as did the 4th and 5th Cycle Housing Elements. Since adoption of the most recent Housing Element, the site has been rezoned to the Housing Opportunity Zone (HOZ) and therefore, the BART site is both assumed and designated to allow for housing at densities identified in the Hous ing Element (i.e., 75 dwelling units per acre, minimum of 555 units). Additionally, since the 4th and 5th Housing Element cycles, state law changes including adoption of AB 2923, the Transit- Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy adopted by MTC-ABAG, and other site conditions, there has been a particularly significant decrease in BART rider parking demand post-pandemic as travel patterns have changed. For example, although the Housing Element may have assumed 555 units for the site, the minimum allowable density of 75 dwelling units per acre prescribed by AB 2923 and the TOC Policy yields 1,118 units on approximately 14.9 gross acres. AB 2923 also requires the City to allow a minimum of five stories and limit parking to a maximum of one space per residential unit (whereas the City’s municipal code requires parking based on number of bedrooms). Further, SB 79 (just signed into law) takes effect July 1, 2026, and will require that nine stories be allowed on sites at BART stations. In addition to these statutory requirements, the site would also need to comply with the standards and design parameters in the Hacienda Design Guidelines and City’s adopted Objective Design Standards. Scope of Work The project scope of work was previously discussed in a report provided to the Planning Commission for its August 27, 2025, meeting. In general, the scope includes: • Project initiation – introductory meetings with the consultant team and key stakeholders, evaluation of existing conditions, and input by the community/Planning Commission/City