Downtown Plan Sails Through

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By : Julie Barsamian : 9/6/07, San Leandro Times

The San Leandro City Council gave the green light on Tuesday night ...

... to a 30-year downtown development plan, designed to attract offices, stores and thousands of residential units.

The council voted unanimously to approve the Downtown Transit Oriented Development (TOD) plan to re-zone the downtown and BART areas, making room for some 195,300 square feet of new retail space 3,431 new residential units and 718,240 square feet of office space.

Those who spoke during the public hearing said they approved of the plan, on the condition that the city make good on a tentative promise to increase zoning of affordable housing units.

Affordable housing was among the biggest concern of those at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Members of the Congregation for Renewal (COR) from St. Leander’s Church delivered the bulk of the statements during the public hearing. They approved of the general plan, yet call for the city to accommodate working families who could benefit from more affordable housing.

Peter Wolston’s concern was that he would soon be living next to 20-60 unit apartment complexes towering up to 50 feet high in his single family neighborhood.

There were many San Leandro residents, in addition to a few non-residents who work here, who fear that the city will not plan ahead when it comes to zoning enough low and very-low income housing for working families.

San Leandrans’ concerns were bolstered by the support of representatives like Lindsay Imai from Urban Habitat. Imai agrees that the plan is equipped with the opportunity to bring liveliness to the downtown area, but believes it is coming up short on affordable housing.

According to a report written by consultants at Strategic Economics “Creating a Regional Model of Mixed-Income, Transit- Oriented Development in Downtown San Leandro: Opportunities, Challenges and Tools,” TOD is good for low and verylow income families because of health reasons.

Conversely, citizens and City Council members said that building in high-traffic areas puts people at risks for noise and air pollution. City council members hope that the introduction of more transit options such as Bus Rapid Transit (which run on hydrogen fuel cells) will lessen the need for cars and reduce the city’s emissions.

Vice Mayor Surlene Grant said she shares some concerns about the Environmental Impact Report, and wants to research how noise and air pollution problems may be mitigated before moving forward with the project.

“I’m worried about the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and it doesn’t show ways noise and air pollution can be reduced,” Grant said.

Council Member Jim Prola and Mayor Tony Santos said they will look into ways to increase affordable housing in the TOD study areas.

“I would like to see affordable housing in TOD areas,” said Councilman Jim Prola. “If we can’t do it so people who work here can live here, where are we going to put it? This is the natural area.”

There are still many parts of the TOD strategy which require research and clarification, among them, a proposal for landscape planning was brought to the City Council’s attention.

Joanne Dictor spoke during the public hearing, and said she supports the plans’ aim to bring vitality to the downtown area, suggesting the city push flexible items like landscape renovation, to the top of its list, not waiting 30 years.

“Why can’t we start on the street scapes now?” asked Dictor. “Throw us a bone, I mean, come on.”

Before adjourning, council members promised to look into affordable housing by forming a committee and holding a work session in October.