Developers present 165-unit Canyon Place concept to San Ramon planners; commission offers feedback on parking, connectivity and affordable units

Developers presented a concept plan Aug. 19 for Canyon Place Residential, a proposed 165-unit development at 3150-3180 Crow Canyon Place, and the San Ramon Planning Commission held a study session to offer early feedback. No formal approvals or votes were taken; the study session is a voluntary early-review step intended to help applicants refine plans before filing formal applications.

Brookfield Residential and partner The Pacific Companies described the project as a 7.1-acre redevelopment of four parcels at the Crow Canyon Place cul-de-sac. The concept calls for demolition of existing office buildings and construction of 165 residential units: 120 for-sale multifamily townhomes (three- and four-bedroom models) and 45 for-rent below-market-rate apartments (studios through three bedrooms). The rental component represents roughly 27%–28% of the project units, and the team noted it would target about 60% of area median income for the affordable apartments.

Ryan, a city planning staff member, said the project's net density is about 31.1 dwelling units per acre, within the 20'to'40 du/acre range for the site's Mixed Use Residential (MUR) zoning. The concept currently shows about 280 residential parking spaces on site; staff noted the project, as drawn for the study session, does not meet the city's current parking standards and that the applicant may request state density-bonus waivers or alternative compliance for parking and open-space requirements during a formal submittal.

Emily Boyd, director of business strategies for Brookfield Residential, described the team and design approach and said, “All of the rental apartment units will be designated as affordable, making up 27 to 28% of the total project units.” She said the applicant intends to use state housing laws, including the Density Bonus Law, SB 330 and AB 130, to help meet affordability targets and streamline approvals.

Commission discussion and public comment focused on several recurring themes:

- Connectivity and traffic: Both commissioners and nearby property owners urged careful coordination for a proposed through-road connection to Annabelle Lane and Norris Canyon Road. The city's traffic engineer cautioned that if the roadway becomes a cut-through it will carry more traffic than a typical residential street and recommended minimizing driveway access onto that through street. Stuart McDonald, representing Crow Canyon Commons Shopping Center (Federal Realty), raised concern about parking spillover and the existing signalized Crow Canyon Road intersection's capacity.

- Parking and amenities: Several commissioners urged the applicant to consider onsite pocket parks or dual-use open-space features (for example, walking paths or seating around bio-retention areas) if the project uses density-bonus waivers for open-space requirements. Commissioners and public speakers also called for clear plans for EV charging, bicycle infrastructure, trash/mail areas and how ADUs will be parked or counted.

- Affordable-housing implementation: Staff noted the city's inclusionary housing ordinance requires 15% of units on-site to be reserved for income-qualified households; for this project that equates to roughly 25 units. The concept proposes 45 below-market rental units, exceeding the inclusionary amount; staff said the applicant may propose an alternative means of compliance and that no development agreement is required to pursue such an alternative.

- Site layout and noise: Commissioners suggested moving the four-story affordable apartment building closer to the freeway edge to act as a noise buffer and to orient townhome front doors to create a stronger neighborhood feel. Commissioners also asked the applicant to confirm whether any heritage trees can be retained and to show a clear pedestrian and bicycle network connecting to nearby parks, City Village and Iron Horse Trail.

Public commenters including Jim Blickenstaff urged larger setbacks and park acreage to preserve San Ramon's park-like character, and called attention to long-term park acreage goals in the general plan. The applicant said some paseo and green space are proposed between building clusters and that optional accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are accommodated in the townhome footprints (about 20 optional ADUs proposed), though ADUs would not count toward the inclusionary requirement.

Because the item was a concept review, commissioners gave feedback but did not take action. Staff and applicants were asked to return with a formal application that addresses parking calculations, multimodal connections, a refined open-space strategy, tree preservation and more detailed phasing, design and amenity plans.