Planning commission continues Bishop Ranch affordable-housing development agreement to July 15

SAN RAMON, Calif. — The San Ramon Planning Commission on July 1 continued public hearings on a proposed development agreement that would dedicate land at 2453 Camino Ramon to a 200-unit Eden Housing community and allow the transfer of affordable-unit obligations from multiple Bishop Ranch and CityWalk projects to that site.

Planning manager Lauren Barr told the commission that California law allows cities to enter into voluntary development agreements that set project profiles, responsibilities, timelines and fiscal provisions. The draft agreement before commissioners would increase certain inclusionary requirements for covered sites, dedicate land for the Eden Housing project, require a $3,000 per-market-rate-unit payment to the city’s affordable-housing fund for some covered market-rate communities, and would be structured as a five-year agreement with a possible five-year extension.

The commission took the continuation after extended questions about unit counts, funding risks and fallback protections. Commissioner discussion focused on the proposal’s effect on the city’s inclusionary program, how many low- and very-low-income units would be provided, and what would happen if Eden Housing could not secure financing.

“The project location is 2453 Camino Ramon. This is the Bishop Ranch service center, also the site of the recently approved Eden Housing project,” Lauren Barr said during the staff presentation. Barr…