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Committee amends and continues Stonestown redevelopment package after extended presentation and public support
Summary
Planners and the developer presented the multi-phase Stonestown redevelopment—about 3,500 homes, 20% affordable set-aside with at least 300 on-site units, a childcare facility, senior center, public plazas and $50M in transportation fees. The committee voted to amend the planning-code/map ordinance and continue both files for final edits and scheduling to future meetings.
City planning staff and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development briefed the Land Use and Transportation Committee on a comprehensive redevelopment of the Stonestown site on July 8, describing a multi-phase plan to transform roughly 30 acres of surface parking into a mixed-use neighborhood.
Patrick Grama, senior planner and project manager for Stonestown, said the project would convert underutilized surface parking into “a primarily residential neighborhood with parks and plazas, retail, community amenity space, office, childcare, and structured parking,” and identified the site in the 2022 Housing Element. OEWD project manager Jonathan Cherry said the project would permit “over 3,500 new homes” across multiple phases, provide approximately 6 acres of publicly accessible open space, redesign streets with separated bikeways, and include a transportation demand management program. Cherry also stated the project will contribute approximately "$50,000,000 in transportation sustainability fees" over construction.
The development agreement is structured to accelerate housing production while ensuring community benefits: the agreement sets a 25-year outside term, includes a workforce plan with first-source hiring and prevailing wage requirements, and requires check-ins every 600 units. The affordable housing plan equates to 20% of all units citywide for the project; at least 300 affordable units must be built on-site while a fee-out option is capped at the equivalent of 390 units. OEWD described three compliance paths: on-site inclusionary units, donation of development parcels for 100% affordable housing, or in-lieu fees and subsidies if land is donated to a nonprofit.
Christie Donnelly of Brookfield Properties told the committee the project had won unanimous Planning Commission support on May 9 and highlighted broad outreach and endorsements from labor, environmental and community groups. Dozens of public commenters—union representatives, neighborhood residents and veterans' advocates—spoke in support, emphasizing local job creation, apprenticeship opportunities and neighborhood benefits.
President Aaron Peskin raised a question about auxiliary water supply system (AWSS) connections; Marshall Coughlin with the Fire Department explained the nearest AWSS connection would be too distant (about 1,375 feet) and that hose tenders paid for by the developer in-lieu would provide more immediate coverage for the neighborhood while future connections are considered.
After discussion, Chair Mirna Melgar circulated primarily clerical amendments but staff flagged some substantive items; the Chair moved to amend the planning-code and map ordinance (item 3) and to continue both files (items 3 and 4) to future meetings to allow edits and finalization. The motions to amend and to continue passed with unanimous committee votes among members present.
