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Competitors
pitch plans for Patterson Ranch |
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Fremont
urges housing project construction, takes no stance on
density |
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By Scott Wong,
STAFF WRITER |
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But
environmentalists — clearly the largest and most vocal group at this
week's City Council meeting — said they just wanted Fremont's last large
undeveloped parcel left alone. Competing
interests regarding the future of the 427-acre parcel in north
More
than 150 citizens packed the Council Chambers and an overflow room for a
chance to sound off on a proposed project to build 1,300 to 1,500 housing
units, a school, a community park and an open-space area.
"This
is important habitat that needs to be preserved," said
A
spokesman for the Patterson family — which has built several neighborhoods
and helped construct two elementary schools, and improved streets in Ardenwood — argued that land owners have the right
to build on their property in the
"We
don't think we've been greedy," said "The
Patterson family has been very generous, and will continue to be
generous." Council
members, who were given their first peek at conceptual plans for the
project Tuesday, took no formal vote on the matter, nor did they say how
many houses they wanted to see on the site. Instead, they
said they were interested in seeing a balance between preserving open
space and completing a distinctive residential project that would provide
room for a new elementary school, parks and some retail.
"I
don't want to see something from (the movie) 'American Beauty' with a
typical suburban development," said Councilmember Anu Natarajan, who disclosed
that she formerly worked for a San Francisco planning firm now working on
the Fremont project. "If we decide to go down the path of development, it
has to be something really creative, really different and something we can
work together on." While
some council members warmed to the idea of building football, soccer,
baseball and even cricket fields at the site, others expressed concerns
about environmental impacts, such as lighting and noise.
Vice
Mayor Dominic Dutra said a major housing project likely would produce $1
billion worth of development rights. He
wanted to know if the developer was open to building a performing arts
center, possibly in downtown Fremont, as part of a deal.
The
development team plans to incorporate community and council feedback into
final project plans that will be presented during a community meeting
later this month or in early August. "I
don't think anything that is said tonight is set in concrete," Mayor Bob
Wasserman said. "This is not an ending. This is simply a beginning."
For a
detailed look at plans, visit http://www.pattersonranch.net/.
To learn more about the group opposing the project, visit http://www.fchf.org/
Staff
writer Scott Wong covers the city of |
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