Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development Agreement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends approval of Canopy development and development agreement, expanding off‑site affordable housing
Summary
The commission voted 5‑0 to approve the Canopy (Bishop Ranch 8) project and to recommend adoption of a development agreement that raises single‑family inclusionary units to 22.5% and includes a $765,000 payment to the city housing fund. Commissioners added conditions to document technical study recommendations.
The San Ramon Planning Commission on Nov. 18 voted unanimously to approve the Canopy (Bishop Ranch 8) redevelopment project and to recommend that City Council approve an associated development agreement that increases the percentage of inclusionary for‑sale units for the single‑family portion of the project.
Staff described Canopy as a roughly 27‑acre, Downtown Mixed Use North site proposing 416 homes: 255 for‑sale single‑family detached homes (three villages) and a five‑story multifamily affordable rental building with 161 units (all affordable aside from a manager’s unit). Under the city inclusionary housing ordinance the project would have required 15% (62 units) but the proposed development agreement increases affordability to 22.5% for the single‑family portion and 16% for certain CityWalk parcels, which staff said would yield additional deeply affordable homes and support related market‑rate projects in Bishop Ranch.
Stephanie Hill of Sunset Development and project team members from WHA Architects, Steinberg Hart and Eden Housing presented design, connectivity and affordable‑housing programming. Robert Lee of WHA described three village types, optional JADUs on some floor plans and a design intent that emphasizes front doors and pedestrian paseos. Landscape architect Zeki Abed outlined a central greenbelt (approximately 2.9 acres), a clubhouse and pool, widened sidewalks along Executive Parkway, and pocket plazas.
Eden Housing representatives described commitments to deliver very low and extremely low income rental units and resident services; staff and applicant said the Canopy affordable component will support related nearby projects (notably the Related apartment community at BR1A and the AvalonBay/BR3A parcels) and that the allocation logic leaves modest surplus affordable units to support other future phases.
Commissioners focused on connectivity across adjacent Bishop Ranch parcels, fire access and trash routing that influenced the greenbelt layout, the costs and timing implications of podium versus surface parking for affordable rental financing, and conditions to ensure the implementation of recommendations from acoustical and air‑quality analyses. Staff and the applicant agreed to include condition language requiring demonstration of compliance with those studies at building permit review; commissioners also requested that staff pass commission comments to City Council about the balance of for‑sale versus rental affordability under the development agreement.
The commission adopted Planning Commission Resolution 16‑25 (project approval) and separately adopted Resolution 17‑25 recommending the development agreement to City Council (with a corrected affordable allocation table) by unanimous votes (5‑0 in each case). The staff report, revised affordable allocation table and related project materials will accompany the development agreement when it proceeds to the City Council.
What’s next: The two resolutions and the affordable‑allocation correction will be transmitted to City Council for final action on the development agreement; staff will verify CEQA compliance consistent with the general plan EIR and enforce the conditions of approval at building‑permit review and construction.
