85/Oak Grove Bridge Housing

Develop the new 85 South @ Great Oaks Blvd Site (Caltrans owned)

Location: The 85 South @ Great Oaks Blvd site is in District 10 bounded by the 85 off-ramp on the north, Great Oaks Blvd to the east, and industrial properties to the south. Attachment 6 provides an aerial map of the site. The size of the area anticipated to be used for the expansion is approximately 2.5 acres of usable land.

City Evaluation: The Caltrans-owned site is in District 10, which does not have an existing EIH facility and thus meets the Rules memorandum direction to identify sites in Council Districts that do not have an EIH. Staff is aware that while this site is in District 10, it is in relatively close proximity to two existing EIH sites in Council District 2. However, based on the search performed, staff has determined that this could be the most practical location in District 10, and best supports the overall goal of achieving an additional 400 units/beds. The site is large, narrow, and flat, and is anticipated to be fairly straightforward for the development of an EIH from a technical standpoint. Access and utilities are available from Great Oaks Blvd. The site is adjacent to the Great Oaks Blvd off ramp from southbound 85 and fronts Great Oaks Blvd on the east and abuts BAE Systems on the south.

While the site’s current configuration is practical for EIH development, very recent discussions with Caltrans have raised concerns that the site may have some development limitations. In a meeting on June 1, 2022, Caltrans informed the City that they are in negotiations with a private entity to sell a narrow 25-foot swath of the parcel to accommodate a private underground utility project. Caltrans also informed City staff that their setback requirements have changed since the previous EIH projects on Caltrans sites were reviewed and approved. City staff continues to work with Caltrans to understand how these new limits will impact EIH development. Alternate sites have been identified in District 10 and included in the Policy Alternatives section of the memorandum.

The overall site, if fully developable, has the physical size to achieve capacity up to 100 units/beds, but given its narrow character and new potential setback limitations, staff is not in a position to plan the site to accommodate capacity beyond 100 units/beds. Given this is a Caltrans owned site and is new (versus Rue Ferrari on a Caltrans site having previously gone through design approval), staff needs to represent the site and its anticipated capacity and schedule in a more conservative and preliminary manner; therefore, it is prudent to have policy and site alternatives in District 10.

City Conclusion: Develop design alternatives, taking into account setback needs from the freeway off ramp and potential underground utility project, with the goal of up to 100 units/beds, and be prepared to pursue site alternatives if the unit/bed yield drops significantly below 100.