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Livermore council re-adopts Eden Housing agreement excluding Veterans Park; 4-1 vote
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Summary
The Livermore City Council voted 4-1 to ratify and readopt the 2022 amended DDLA with Eden Housing for a 130-unit, 100% affordable downtown development, excluding provisions for Veterans Park after a lengthy public comment period and debate over prior referendums and litigation.
The Livermore City Council on July 28 voted 4-1 to ratify, reaffirm and readopt a 2022 amended disposition, development and loan agreement (DDLA) with Eden Housing for a 130-unit, 100% affordable apartment project at Railroad Avenue and South L Street, excluding the project—omponent related to Veterans Park.
The resolution would allow Eden Housing to advance toward final construction financing after years of litigation and delays. Mariana Birch, the city manager, and staff urged the council to approve the agreement now that the one-year waiting period required under state election law had expired.
Supporters of the project said delays have increased costs and withheld housing from the workforce. "It—ontinues to be a huge need for more affordable housing to support Livermore's workforce. It's time to build 130 homes for Livermore's families and workers," said Vasco Yorgov, speaking on behalf of Eden Housing, who told council the project had lost a competitive tax-credit award during years of litigation.
Opponents urged council to honor past referendum efforts and reconsider whether a four-story building belongs in the downtown core. "Do we really want a 4 story? What the people want is shopping and open space in their downtown area," said Tom Ramos, who said he helped gather signatures opposing the earlier action.
Mayor Marchand responded by reading the language of the referendum and by recounting the courts' earlier distinction between legislative and administrative actions: "The referendum clearly stated ... request that the legislative acts contained in said resolution be entirely repealed ... and that is exactly what the city council did," he said, adding that the appellate court had identified the park provisions as legislative and separated them from the housing components.
Council discussion emphasized the project s workforce housing and the cost of further delay. Vice Mayor Branning, who moved the staff recommendation, cited the city's long process of public hearings and repeated changes to accommodate public input. The motion was seconded and carried 4 to 1, with Council member Barrientos voting no.
The council directed staff to file applicable CEQA notices in connection with the readopted agreement. The resolution excludes all provisions related to Veterans Park, consistent with the appellate court ruling. The council did not take additional actions on the park at this meeting; those provisions remain the subject of separate legal and public review.
