November 07, 2013

Dublin City Council Unanimously Approves SunCal’s Plans for Transit-Oriented Master-Planned Community

DUBLIN, CALIF. – The Dublin City Council reached a major milestone on Tuesday, November 5, to bring the 189-acre Dublin Crossing master-planned community closer to reality as it unanimously approved the project’s specific plan, certified the environmental impact report and entered into a development agreement with SunCal, the property’s master developer.

The Council’s approval of the key planning documents follows the unanimous approval of the plans by the Dublin Planning Commission on October 22. Dublin Crossing will be a pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use community that will connect the east and west sides of town currently separated by the Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. The neighborhood will bring new jobs, shops, restaurants and homes, plus parks and trails that all Dublin residents will be able to enjoy.

SunCal is obtaining the land for the new community in phases from the U.S. Army Reserve, NASA and Alameda County. SunCal is building $66 million of Army facilities and infrastructure elsewhere on the base under the largest-ever Reserve Property Exchange Agreement executed by the Department of Defense. The agreement involves SunCal building the new military facilities in exchange for land that will gradually be transformed into Dublin Crossing.

The Dublin Crossing community is planned as a centerpiece for the City of Dublin. It will be a transit-oriented development (TOD) within walking distance of a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and will include 1,600 to 1,995 new homes; 35 acres of parks; 75,000 to 200,000 square feet of retail, office, hotel and industrial uses; and 12 acres for a new elementary school.

“We’re very pleased with the unanimous approvals by the Dublin City Council and Planning Commission,” said Joe Guerra, Dublin Project Manager, SunCal. “Dublin Crossing is perfectly situated to serve the growth and development needs of the region, and its design is based on walkability and TOD principles, emphasizing the accessibility of BART and other public transit.”

For the Army, SunCal is currently constructing a new Access Control Point (ACP) on the west side of Camp Parks off Dougherty Avenue, which broke ground in March 2013 and represents the first of six major projects being built in phases. The ACP includes a new Main Gate, an Administration Building covering 4,300 square feet and a 1,200-square-foot Visitor Center and Mail Room, along with other related components. These initial facilities are planned to be completed in 2014.

In addition to the current phase, the agreement’s six-step schedule also includes: a variety of road and utilities infrastructure construction and improvements; a 33,000 square-foot area maintenance support facility; a 33,000 square-foot regional medical training facility; a 42,000 square-foot Army Reserve training facility; and a 40,000 square-foot public works/logistics warehouse.

The Army chose SunCal through a competitive selection process that began when more than 150 investors, contractors, developers and other interested parties attended an “industry day” to launch the Army’s search. SunCal was selected based on its collective experience and the Army’s determination that its submission was the best overall value for the Army.

SunCal acquires, entitles and develops major residential properties and commercial developments. The company specializes in creating distinctive master-planned and mixed-use communities that emphasize quality of life, environmental sensitivity and recreational opportunities. SunCal is one of the largest privately held land developers in the U.S.