City Meeting on Ambitious Redevelopment Plan Tuesday Night

It will take decades, but if the vision of San Ramon city staff eventually becomes a reality, a large portion of the city will be drastically different than it currently is today.

City staff recently met with journalists to go over some of the specifics of the North Camino Ramon Specific Plan.

Staff presented an ambitious plan that would redevelop an area covering 295 acres in the heart of San Ramon. While the City Center project has received most of the attention as the potential "downtown" for San Ramon, the North Camino Ramon Specific Plan, if executed, would give San Ramon a downtown similar to that of Walnut Creek's. Complete with retail storefront, a number of housing options and business offices.

The City Council and Planning Commission will review the plan in a joint session at the San Ramon Community Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday night. Meetings on the project are planned throughout the spring with the council is expected to make a final decision in late May or June.

The North Camino Ramon Speific Plan covers an area stretching from Fostoria Way down to Executive Parkway and from Interstate 680 across to Alcosta Boulevard.

Currently, this area is home to the Crow Canyon Shopping Center, City Hall, Bishop Ranch offices, a Toyata parts and distribution center, a 24 Hour Fitness, a post office and a number of other business and administrative buildings.

But the plan foresees almost all of these buildings going away. Though, city staff stressed, it is up to the property owners when (or even if) they feel it is in their best financial interest to embrace the North Camino Ramon Specific Plan.

"This is a plan driven by private interest," Lauren Barr, a senior planner for the city said. "We're not forcing anybody out. When (owners) feel it is best for them this is our plan."

If built, there will be a number of new streets, crisscrossing the area to make pedestrian, bicycle and automobile traffic easier. Along these streets, there will be retail storefront, restaurants, commercial services, two-story mixed use buildings and residential housing. A parking garage would go up where City Hall currently sits.

The idea behind the plan is "smart growth." To have a place where residents can live close to work (Bishop Ranch) and also live close to the amenities they want (retail, restaurants, ect.).

Staff also sees the plan as a stimulant for the city's economy.

The plan does factor in a new off-ramp being build on Norris Canyon Road, that has faced resistance from some members of the community. But staff said the plan could still move forward even if the controversial HOV off-ramp is built.

City staff said they have presented the plan to 24 community groups since 2008.

Even if council approves the plan, staff said there is little chance of significant changes to the area in the short-term.

"This is a plan for 20 years from now," staff said.

You can review the full plan here.