Public Hearing Set for Proposed New Neighborhood

Newark city officials will soon hold public hearings to consider adopting and approving a plan to develop 200 acres of land in west Newark. 

The proposal is to build up to 2,500 residential units, retail and commercial businesses, parks and a possible transit station west of Willow Street near Enterprise Drive.

Newark’s Planning Commission will host a public hearing on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at , according to Community Development Director Terrence Grindall.

If the project is approved, another public hearing will be held at the City Council’s Sept. 8 scheduled meeting.

A study session on the was held Aug. 9 during a planning commission meeting, and Grindall said no public comments were made during the meeting — a much different vibe than the one at a community meeting held three weeks ago.

During a , residents questioned numerous factors of the transit-oriented development proposal, including traffic concerns and environmental impacts like groundwater pollution.

The land, which was once home to industrial companies, was designated for potential residential use in 1999 and has been vacant for about 25 years, according to city officials.

Community Development Director Terrence Grindall said that the city does not regulate cleanup of lands and that the landowners are responsible for such task, he said.

Based on comments made during the July 26 meeting, a chapter on sustainability and green planning has been added to the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report.

Green planning includes factors such as adding roundabouts and building narrow roads in order to curb motorists from driving quickly and encouraging residents to walk rather than drive.

The project’s specific plan, which was drafted by Pleasanton-based Dahlin Group, Architecture-Planning, outines how the land would be used. More detailed plans would come from the developers.

Dahlin has designed several similar developments, including the 225-acre Rivermark neighborhood in nearby Santa Clara, according to the company's website.

To read the Dumbarton TOD Specific Plan, click here to download the PDF. Click here to download the Dumbarton TOD’s Final Environmental Impact Report.