Tuesday Meeting To Include Hearing On Planning Retail Future

SAN RAMON, CA — A joint meeting Tuesday of the San Ramon City Council and the city's Planning Commission will include a discussion of possible directions for how the city wants retail development to unfold over the next several years.

The City Council approved a citywide retail strategy in May that identifies the types of retail that can reasonably be attracted to the community, and identifies where those various uses should be located within San Ramon. It is a plan that had been discussed by various local officials for more than 18 months.

Tuesday's joint meeting will include a public hearing to give the general public a chance to weigh in on the city's proposals. That testimony will then be presented to the Planning Commission, which is scheduled to
continue public input at its own meeting Sept. 18.

The meat of the Citywide Retail Strategy will be contained in a proposed series of updates to San Ramon's General Plan, Zoning Code and Economic Development Strategic Plan. Together, they are intended to expand retail and restaurant offerings locally, support specialty retail at the City Center at Bishop Ranch project on Bollinger Canyon Road and increase the tax base.

The 300,000-square-foot City Center at Bishop Ranch, in fact, is seen as a game changer for local retail. Its projected commercial mix is expected to be about 25 percent entertainment, 25 percent food and about 50
percent in the "lifestyle retail" category, which includes beauty, health and wellness, fitness, home, apparel and accessories.

The first parts of it are expected to open late this year. Eventually, it will also include apartments and a hotel.
Transitioning the central Bollinger Canyon Road corridor into the city's premier retail corridor is one of the proposed main aspects of the new retail plan.

Tuesday's special joint meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the San Ramon City Council chambers at 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.

By Bay City News

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