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Livermore reviews draft 2045 general plan policies; staff flags limited commercial-industrial land
Summary
City staff told the Livermore City Council that 25 years of absorption left roughly 130–211 acres of high-potential commercial/industrial land and that the city averages about 35–40 acres of absorption per year; council discussed Midtown, East of Greenville, scenic-corridor rules, and transit priorities including ValleyLink.
City planning staff presented an overview of policy topics for Livermore’s draft 2045 general plan at the April 28 council meeting and asked for council direction to move proposed policy options into a public draft.
Andy Ross, presenting the staff overview, summarized work with the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) and the Planning Commission and said the city’s analysis shows limited remaining commercial and industrial sites. "Over the last 25 years, nearly 900 acres of commercial industrial land was absorbed," Ross said, and staff estimated between 130 and 211 acres of high-potential commercial-industrial land remain in Livermore.
Ross and subsequent speakers discussed land-absorption trends and policy choices for Midtown, East of Greenville, open space, infrastructure prioritization and economic development. Ross said Midtown is envisioned as a complete mixed-use neighborhood that could pursue job-creating industrial and office uses while prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Brandon Cardwell, director of innovation and economic development, told council that Livermore has averaged "35 to 40 acres of absorption per year for the last 20 years" and that traded-sector firms are an important revenue source. He cited Lam Research as a local example and said roughly 25 businesses generate about 40% of local sales tax revenue, with about 11 of those being industrial firms.
Councilmembers pressed staff on whether the city has vacant sites large enough for a 60-acre manufacturer such as Gillig. Cardwell said Livermore does not currently have an immediately available vacant 60-acre site in inventory and noted McGrath is being considered for residential uses to meet state housing requirements, which could preclude its use for large-format industrial expansion.
Other discussion items included suggestions to move Scenic Corridor rules into the development code to reduce ambiguity for property owners, concerns about water availability tied to RHNA housing obligations, and the need to integrate transportation partners (LAVTA, ValleyLink) into multimodal planning.
What’s next: Staff will revise policy language and prepare a draft general plan document for public release this summer, return revised language to GPAC, and anticipate adoption hearings beginning in 2026.
