A creek with cascades adorns Fairview Open Space
|
Good news!
|
Still, the fact that Toll Brothers, with its decades of expertise, has decided that it would not pencil out to for its team to build homes on these steep and rugged site, one with two creeks running through it, and heavily forested with native oaks, suggests the challenges that other developers would face.
Trekkers would like to work with like-minded organizations, including the neighbors’ group ECHO, the Sierra Club and others, to see what can be done to raise funds or get grant money that would help to purchase this site for addition to the city’s Hillside Natural Area, which it adjoins.
Eight years ago Trekkers, working with other groups in town, and with the City of El Cerrito and Trust for Public Land, succeeded in acquiring Madera Open Space, which had also faced potential development.
Interested? Let us know.
— Dave Weinstein
Trekkers would like to work with like-minded organizations, including the neighbors’ group ECHO, the Sierra Club and others, to see what can be done to raise funds or get grant money that would help to purchase this site for addition to the city’s Hillside Natural Area, which it adjoins.
Eight years ago Trekkers, working with other groups in town, and with the City of El Cerrito and Trust for Public Land, succeeded in acquiring Madera Open Space, which had also faced potential development.
Interested? Let us know.
— Dave Weinstein
Update March 2022
Luxury homes are again considered for Fairview Open Space. One of the nation’s top homebuilders is eyeing Fairview Open Space, 15 acres of open space to the north of and adjacent to the Hillside Natural Area.
One of the nation’s top homebuilders is eyeing Fairview Open Space, 15 acres of open space to the north of and adjacent to the Hillside Natural Area.
David Weinstein, Trail Trekkers president, met with Nick Kosla, the project leader for Toll Brothers on this property, to say Trekkers opposes any development on the site, which is the last large piece of undeveloped open space in the city. Nick responded that it is also a large piece of beautiful land that is zoned for residences.
Nick said no decision has been made on whether to build here or not. The company is trying to figure out how many homes it can build on the property to determine if it makes sense to proceed.
The company may build single-family or clustered homes, or even townhouses, he said. He said Toll Brothers does not build affordable housing, but would adhere to city policies requiring a percentage set aside for affordable homes.
Toll Brothers does not own the site, but is working with the owners.
It has been about five years since the owner of the property, a local family, last came to the city with a development proposal. Several of its proposals were turned away at the staff level for more information. The proposals called for almost 40 homes and would have impinged on creeks and slopes, violating various city, state, and regional regulations, laws and policies.
We understand we are not the only party to play a role in this drama. If approvals are forthcoming for housing on Fairview, we will work diligently to limit the number of units and any impact on habitat. We will work to ensure that any undeveloped land be deeded to the city for addition to the Hillside N.A.
Nick, who is also a sport fisherman and a member of the Orinda City Council, has suggested that a full environmental impact report might not be required for a housing project on the site.
Trekkers strongly disagrees, noting the habitat, air quality, water quality, open space recreation, archeological and historical resources to be found on Fairview Open Space.
Trekkers is looking forward to working with Nick and members of the community as we determine the fate of these 15 acres.
One of the nation’s top homebuilders is eyeing Fairview Open Space, 15 acres of open space to the north of and adjacent to the Hillside Natural Area.
David Weinstein, Trail Trekkers president, met with Nick Kosla, the project leader for Toll Brothers on this property, to say Trekkers opposes any development on the site, which is the last large piece of undeveloped open space in the city. Nick responded that it is also a large piece of beautiful land that is zoned for residences.
Nick said no decision has been made on whether to build here or not. The company is trying to figure out how many homes it can build on the property to determine if it makes sense to proceed.
The company may build single-family or clustered homes, or even townhouses, he said. He said Toll Brothers does not build affordable housing, but would adhere to city policies requiring a percentage set aside for affordable homes.
Toll Brothers does not own the site, but is working with the owners.
It has been about five years since the owner of the property, a local family, last came to the city with a development proposal. Several of its proposals were turned away at the staff level for more information. The proposals called for almost 40 homes and would have impinged on creeks and slopes, violating various city, state, and regional regulations, laws and policies.
We understand we are not the only party to play a role in this drama. If approvals are forthcoming for housing on Fairview, we will work diligently to limit the number of units and any impact on habitat. We will work to ensure that any undeveloped land be deeded to the city for addition to the Hillside N.A.
Nick, who is also a sport fisherman and a member of the Orinda City Council, has suggested that a full environmental impact report might not be required for a housing project on the site.
Trekkers strongly disagrees, noting the habitat, air quality, water quality, open space recreation, archeological and historical resources to be found on Fairview Open Space.
Trekkers is looking forward to working with Nick and members of the community as we determine the fate of these 15 acres.
Update December 2018: Developer returns with plan for mansions on Fairview Open Space
After two years of silence, the group that wants to build 38 large homes on the 15-acre Fairview Open Space has submitted a new proposal to the city.
The latest development proposal resembles the last proposal, including plans for the same number of houses, which was an issue for city planners two years ago. At the staff level, the decision was made to send the previous proposal back to the developer for not complying with city ordinances or planning principles.
While differing from the last plan in providing greater distance between homes and the larger of the site’s two creeks, the new plan calls for channelizing the second creek. This would violate the city’s creek ordinance, and would also violate regional water quality rules.
We anticipate city staff will again send the plan back to the developer without bringing it before the Planning Commission.
Trekkers will continue to watch over this property, which is one of the city’s treasures, the last significant piece of undeveloped open space and habitat in our city, and a natural continuation of the Hillside Natural Area.
The latest development proposal resembles the last proposal, including plans for the same number of houses, which was an issue for city planners two years ago. At the staff level, the decision was made to send the previous proposal back to the developer for not complying with city ordinances or planning principles.
While differing from the last plan in providing greater distance between homes and the larger of the site’s two creeks, the new plan calls for channelizing the second creek. This would violate the city’s creek ordinance, and would also violate regional water quality rules.
We anticipate city staff will again send the plan back to the developer without bringing it before the Planning Commission.
Trekkers will continue to watch over this property, which is one of the city’s treasures, the last significant piece of undeveloped open space and habitat in our city, and a natural continuation of the Hillside Natural Area.
Four years ago Trekkers led an effort that resulted in the city buying and adding the Madera Open Space to the Hillside Area. (Find out more about that successful campaign here.) That success owes much to the strong support of the community. We will need that support again to save the Fairview Open Space.
Note added July 12, 2016: The city has received a new development plan for the Fairview open space. When we can get a copy of the plan we will post it here.
El Cerrito Hillside Organization (ECHO)’s new website is here.
Note added July 12, 2016: The city has received a new development plan for the Fairview open space. When we can get a copy of the plan we will post it here.
El Cerrito Hillside Organization (ECHO)’s new website is here.