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Developer Questions Housing Plans

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Sophia Kazmi, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Mar. 23--A developer interested in studying changing a Tassajara Road housing development from single-family houses to townhouses got an earful Tuesday night from City Council members over the city's lack of "innovative housing" -- perhaps more affordable detached houses.

The DeSilva Group wants to study changing the 195 detached single-family houses and duplexes planned for the Moller Ranch project to 326 attached townhouses. DeSilva, believing townhouses to be a better economic option, was seeking permission from the Dublin City Council to consider the study.

Councilwoman Kasie Hildenbrand said she would allow the study, but objected to approving yet another attached housing project in a city where there are already plenty of them, and too few new, midrange single-family houses.

Most of Dublin's new housing developments offer either million-dollar or near-million-dollar houses or attached-type townhouses that start in the high-$600,000 price range. Hildenbrand said Dublin needs more affordable single-family offerings.

"There are innovative ways without creating townhouses," Hildenbrand said. "I will be very happy to see something other than (townhouses)."

Other council members shared Hildenbrand's concerns with a potential change in Moller Ranch housing plans.

"We're becoming the condo capital of the world," said Councilman George Zika, noting that Dublin previously had a reputation for its concentration of fast-food outlets. "We're losing single-family detached homes."

In the past five years, 1,120 condominiums and townhouses have been built or are under construction, said Jeri Ram, community development director. Another 1,800 units have been given permits during the same period, but have not yet been built.

Zika also criticized the Moller Ranch plans for offering only a one-acre park, saying that residents would have to drive elsewhere to shop or partake in any other recreation.

Hildenbrand said she understood the need for builders to make a profit, but asked for different ways to achieve that without creating more townhouses. She cited the Starward Row housing tract, approved last year, which provides detached single-family homes in a row style, separated by alleys.

The council, however, unanimously voted to let DeSilva go ahead with the study -- and the study only -- and work with city planners on alternatives.

Separately, a seven-member housing committee will make recommendations to city leaders on new Dublin housing policies and programs. The committee will include a member of a nonprofit housing advocacy agency, a developer representative, two representatives from the city's business community and three Dublin residents. Ads seeking potential committee applicants will go out within the next month, Ram said.

Sophia Kazmi covers Dublin and Castro Valley. Reach her at 925-847-2122 or skazmi@cctimes.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, Calif.)

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