Transit Oriented Development (TOD) AT EL CERRITO PLAZA BART

BACKGROUND



Assembly Bill 2923 San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)
On September 30, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2923 to allow for development streamlining and TOD standards for BART located property within ½ mile of stations in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties. This legislation is intended to create new housing opportunities near transit in order to support California’s housing and climate crisis. BART’s systemwide goal is to produce 20,000 homes with 35% earmarked as affordable on its properties by 2040.

A brochure describing AB 2923 and how it affects BART’s TOD Program may be downloaded here.

To learn more, please visit BART’s website at: https://www.bart.gov/about/business/tod/el-cerrito-plaza.

BART Board of Directors to Discuss AB 2923 Technical Guide and Draft AB 2923 Development Principles at July 23, 2020 Board Meeting

The BART Board of Directors discussed AB 2923 (Chiu/Grayson, 2018) at its regular meeting on July 23, 2020. The meeting materials are available on BART’s website here. BART staff presented information on A Technical Guide to Zoning for AB 2923 Conformance, that was available for public comment until August 7, 2020. All materials for AB 2923 are posted on the project website www.bart.gov/AB2923.
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San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan
The San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (Plan), adopted by the City Council in 2014, fosters new housing opportunities in Priority Development Areas connected to transit and commercial uses. The Plan encourages high-density, mixed-use multi-family housing projects that will include affordable and market rate housing units as well as new commercial/retail space. Projects in the Plan area that are centered around the two BART stations (Transit oriented Higher-Intensity Mixed Use district) are permitted to build up-to 65’ by right and other areas up-to 55’ by right with reduced parking requirements. There are some exceptions that could allow up-to 85’ or 65’ if project qualifies under the State Density Bonus Program. For information about Specific Plan projects, visit our major projects page at www.el-cerrito.org/MajorProjects.

The City is currently working to update components of the Plan. To learn more about this effort and how you can participate, please visit www.el-cerrito.org/SPASP.

Given that the City’s San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, Climate Action Plan and Economic Development Plan aligns with BART’s TOD goals, and AB2923, BART has selected a development team for the El Cerrito Plaza Station

El Cerrito Plaza BART Station


In 2019, BART kicked off a series of community engagement and City Council meetings to discuss TOD at El Cerrito Plaza Station. The preliminary community input received was used to develop TOD Goals & Objectives as the guiding vision for El Cerrito Plaza Station.In January 2020 the BART Board of Directors authorized staff to proceed with the next phase of this project which included a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify a development team. The RFQ was released in July 2020. The selected developer and BART are currently negotiating a Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA). The project will integrate community benefits and amenities for El Cerrito including affordable housing, public open space and art, and multimodal transportation infrastructure improvements. During the predevelopment process, developers and the City will study the feasibility of including a new library at the site. BART has received State and Federal grant funding to study and identify parking and transportation strategies to enhance station access. With both a developer on board and grant funding to continue to work on parking and circulation, City staff and BART will host nu community engagement and input opportunities. The City and the Development team are currently aiming to host a study session with the public, Design Review Board and Planning Commission in Spring 2021.

For more information about this project, also visit: bart.gov/about/business/tod/el-cerrito-plaza

The City and BART are continuously also updating a list of Frequently Asked Questions

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Request for Qualifications for Development of the El Cerrito Plaza Station - July 21, 2020

On November 19, 2020, the BART Board selected the development team of Holliday Development, Related California and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) to advance development at El Cerrito Plaza BART. The team will develop a project that aligns with the City’s San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan, Affordable Housing Strategy, Strategic Plan and Economic Development Action Plan and BART’s TOD related policies.


COMMUNITY OUTREACH



The City, BART and the development team are currently working together and aim to convene a community study session in Spring 2021. If you are interested in being notified, please sign up for Community Development eNewsletter at www.el-cerrito.org/CommDev

BART owns four parcels constituting 8.3 acres and the site is zoned for 6-8 stories.

Plaza TOD (2)

Links to past meetings and materials



BART Board of Directors Meeting
What: El Cerrito Plaza TOD Development
Date: November 19, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Teleconference
Click here to view the meeting materials.

BART Board of Directors Meeting
What: El Cerrito Plaza TOD Development
Date: January 9, 2020
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: 2040 Webster Street, Oakland
Click here to view the meeting materials.

City Council Presentation
What: BART: El Cerrito Plaza TOD Development
Date: November 19, 2019
Time: 7PM
Location: City Council Chambers
Click here to view the City Council meeting materials.

Community Open House #2
BART and City staff will be on hand to answer questions related to the development process and talk about issues related to housing, parking, transportation, and access.
Date: October 3, 2019
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM (come by anytime during these hours)
Location: Hana Gardens Senior Center, 10870 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
Click here to view the event flyer.

Meeting Materials
BART Presentation Boards
San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Project Slideshow

Community Open House #1
What: BART Open House about El Cerrito Plaza TOD
Date: August 14, 2019
Time: 5 – 7PM
Location: El Cerrito Plaza Station
Click here to view the event flyer and click here to access the meeting materials.

July 27 and July 29, 2019 – San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Workshops
BART staff participated in two workshops hosted by the City to discuss their Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) goals at El Cerrito Plaza station. You can review this information here.

City Council Presentation
What: BART Plaza Access and TOD Development – Request for Proposal Update
Date: February 5, 2019
Time: 7PM
Location: City Council Chambers
Click here to access the City Council meeting presentation.


QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
To receive information about this effort, please subscribe to our Community Development E-Newsletter at: www.el-cerrito.org/CommDev. For questions or comments, please contact the Community Development Department at community@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.