University Village Development Study Session Comes Tuesday

City officials will hear more details Tuesday night about that is slated to include a Whole Foods grocery store and 175 senior housing units. 

The meeting is a study session, and will not include any action, according to the city staff report about the meeting. (The staff report is attached to the right as a PDF.)

The discussion will include a request for rezoning and exceptions to height requirements, and open space and parking standards, among other details.

The staff report describes the project as follows: "The approximately 6.3-acre project site consists of two lots located to the northwest and southwest of the Monroe Street/San Pablo Avenue intersection. The applicant would like to construct grocery store of a size up to 55,000 square feet on the north side of Monroe and a mixed-use development at the south end of the lot, which includes approximately 30,000 square foot of retail space and approximately 175 independent/assisted living senior housing units."

(Some members of the community who are affiliated with have expressed concern about the fate of the ballfields in University Village, in connection with the project. Members are scheduled to attend the May 24 meeting to clarify their position.)

According to the staff report, part of the land, along San Pablo Avenue, would need to be rezoned from "medium density residential" to "San Pablo Commercial" for the project to proceed. 

A "planned unit development" designation has been requested "to allow an increase in height and allow exceptions to zoning district open space, parking, and loading standards."

City planner Jeff Bond, author of the staff report, wrote that eight different actions would need to be taken by  and the. These include certifying the final Environmental Impact Report, and a number of other zoning and housing-related decisions. 

"As soon as possible," the staff report continues, "the applicant is requesting action on... three items." These include certifying the environmental review; rezoning the area; and approving "Planned Unit Development." 

"Once these policy level decisions are made, the applicant could then enter into agreements with developers, who would presumably apply for the remaining approvals," Bond wrote.

The May 24 meeting will include "a comprehensive presentation" on the project as part of a public hearing, which will include public testimony. 

Read more about the University Village development plans . Check back Wednesday to read more about the details of the project and the public reaction.

See the full agenda and other materials .

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.