Terraces - Original Project

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

On December 9, 2013 staff introduced an alternative for the Terraces Development. For more information, please go here.

Proposed Project

O’Brien Land Company, LLC proposes to build 14 apartment buildings housing 315 moderate-income apartments on a 22-acre parcel owned by the AMD Family Trust, at the southwest corner of Deer Hill Road and Pleasant Hill Road. Seven of the buildings would be three-stories, seven would be two-stories. There would also be a two-story club house (13,300 sq.ft.), a one-story leasing office (950 sq.ft.) and 569 parking spaces. The residential building area would be 332,395 sq.ft and the project building area would be 410,547 sq.ft. The project would require removal of 92 trees and 500,000 cubic yards of earth movement. The property is located within the Hillside Overlay District at 3233 Deer Hill Road. APN 232-150-027

Environmental Review

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project was initiated in the fall of 2011 and the Draft EIR was released for public review in May 2012. The number and extent of comments received on the Draft EIR, including those from the applicant, was substantial and required time to prepare responses. The Final EIR was released on November 19, 2012. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the Final EIR on January 7, 2013 at which time over 300 pages of comments were received. The time required to respond to those comments resulted in the matter being continued from February into March. The Planning Commission held a second hearing and certified the EIR for the project on March 4, 2013.

The applicant appealed that decision and the City Council held three public hearings to consider the appeal. The City Council found that the EIR had been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and certified the EIR on August 12, 2013 (agendas and staff reports here).

Tolling Agreement

On September 11, 2013 the City entered into a tolling agreement with the applicant. The City Attorney’s office has prepared a memo to explain the reasoning for entering into the agreement.

Project Review

Project review is underway with multiple City bodies considering the merits of the project itself, including the Circulation Commission, Design Review Commission, Parks Trails & Recreation Commission and Planning Commission. Please see the schedule of dates and locations for public meetings on the proposed project. Each of the City’s public meetings will appear on the City Calendar the week prior to the meeting, where you can find the agenda and staff report. You may also email Greg Wolff, Acting Planning Director, to ask to be added to the email distribution list specific to this project.

9/16/2013 - The Circulation Commission held its first meeting on the Terraces of Lafayette. The applicant presented the project to the Commission, including 30 slides to illustrate the improvements the project would make to the vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian circulation systems. The Commission asked questions of the applicant and staff including adequacy of sight distance at the project driveways, where overflow parking would occur, and where student pick-up and drop-off would occur. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Commission continued the matter to October 21 to allow the applicant time to respond to the issues listed in the staff report and questions raised at the meeting.

10/4/2013 Update: The applicant has requested a continuance from 10/21 to 11/4 so that revisions to the project stemming from the 9/16 Circulation Commission meeting and 9/30 Design Review Commission meeting can be coordinated.

10/4/2013 Update: On September 30th, the Design Review Commission (DRC) held its first hearing on the Project. Staff provided its report, the project architect presented the design of the project, and members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The Commission asked many questions about the style of the architecture, building heights, amount of grading proposed and why the layout of the project had taken that form. The Commission wanted a much better understanding from the applicant of how the proposed design was arrived at and why they believed it was the best solution for the site. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Commissioners asked the applicant to bring back alternatives that would address the Commission’s comments. The DRC will hold its next hearing on the project on October 28.

11/15/2013 Update: The Circulation Commission held its second meeting on the project on November 4. The applicant presented slides showing 14 potential transportation improvements that could be part of the project. Options included relocating the main project entrance from Pleasant Hill Road to Deer Hill Road, bus turn-outs, a student drop-off/pick-up area, and a pedestrian/bicycle path from Brown Avenue through the project site and up the west side of Pleasant Hill Road to Springhill Road. The Commission asked the applicant to provide details on the options presented and asked staff to analyze them. The matter was scheduled to come back on the November 18 agenda, however, additional time is needed to review the submitted materials, so it will return to the Circulation Commission for further discussion on December 2.

More Information

For more information on this project, please contact Greg Wolff, (925) 299-3204.

Availability of the EIR: