State Clearinghouse #2021110436

The Applicant, Mowry Project Owner LLC, is proposing development of the Mowry Village Project in the City of Newark, California. The project site consists of a 29 acre site within the Areas 3 and 4 Specific Plan that is currently developed as an auto part and scrap metal salvage lot, known as “Pick-n-Pull.” The Applicant is proposing to demolish the existing on-site structures, remediate the site, and construct 203 single-family detached homes. Additional improvements would include on-street parking, drive aisles, underground utilities, Low Impact Development (LID) drainage and water quality treatment areas, lighting, sidewalks, and landscaping. The proposed project would also include off-site improvements and widening of Mowry Avenue.

The project site is located within the City of Newark in southwestern Alameda County, California, southwest of the intersection of Mowry Avenue and the UPRR tracks, west of Cherry Street (Figure 2-1). The project site consists of three parcels identified as APNs 537-0850-001-11, 537-0850-001-13, and 537-0850-002-00 (Figure 2-2). The proposed project would include off-site utility and circulation improvements along Mowry Avenue.

The project site is designated Low Density Residential by the City of Newark 2013 General Plan and zoned Park. In accordance with the General Plan, the allowable density for Low Density Residential is less than 8.7 dwelling units per acre. The proposed project would be consistent with this requirement and construct 203 single-family detached units, resulting in a density of 7 units per acre.

The project is proposing to rezone the project site from Park to RS-6000: Residential Single-Family with Planned Unit Development Overlay (PD-RS-6000). The rezoning request is to better align the zoning with the proposed use of the project and the existing General Plan designation. RS-6000 refers to residential single-family zoning district with a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet. The residential single-family district implements the low density residential General Plan land use designation.

Required Approvals: The proposed project requires city approval for entitlements including a Planned Unit Development, Specific Plan Amendment, Vesting Tentative Map, Design Review, Grading, Building and Encroachment Permits.

Initial Study and Notice of Preparation

 An Initial Study and Notice of Preparation (IS/NOP) was prepared for this project to assess potential environmental impacts and was made available for public review and comment, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The document was available for public comment for a 30-day public review period from November 19, 2021 to December 20, 2021. The City also held a Public Scoping Meeting on December 14, 2021 to receive public comments on the IS/NOP.

Draft EIR

 The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) prepared for the proposed project determined that the project would result in significant unavoidable impacts related to automobile traffic that cannot be mitigated. Also, the project would have potential significant impacts to Air, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Noise, and Tribal Cultural Resources. These impacts would be reduced to a less than significant level through implementation of mitigation measures identified in the EIR.

The 45-Day Public Review Period for the Draft EIR begins on August 2, 2023 and ends on September 18, 2023. Comments on the Draft EIR must be submitted in writing to the project planner by September 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

A Planning Commission public hearing to receive comments on the Draft EIR is scheduled on August 22, 2023 at 7:00pm in the City of Newark Council Chambers at 37101 Newark Blvd. Participants may also join the meeting via teleconference. To view or participate in the meeting, please see the instructions posted on the agenda 72 hours in advance at www.newark.org. 

Project Planner: Art Interiano, Deputy Community Development Director

• Notice of Availability and Public Hearing (PDF)
• Draft EIR (PDF)
• Appendices (PDF)

State Clearinghouse #2023090378

On September 14, 2023, the City Council reviewed and approved a proposal to redevelop a 3.72-acre site located at 38600 Cedar Blvd. The applicant, Waymark Development, proposes to demolish the existing commercial buildings and site improvements and construct 76 three-story townhomes and associated improvements including interior roads for circulation and access, common open space and landscaping, utility upgrades, and offsite improvements. An environmental analysis was prepared to evaluate the environmental impacts from the project and demonstrated that the project is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15168 and 15183 and California Public Resources Code Section 21083.3.

Project Planner: Carmelisa Lopez, Senior Planner

• Notice of Exemption - Filed 09/18/23 (PDF)
• Project Plans (PDF)
• CEQA Analysis (including appendices) (PDF)

State Clearinghouse #2022120529

On May 25, 2023, the City Council reviewed and approved a proposal to redevelop a 7.76-acre site located at 38288-38594 Cedar Blvd with a 118-unit residential development and associated improvements. The project would include demolition of the existing buildings and site improvements and construction of 118 units consisting of single-family residences and two-unit attached townhouses (duets), new landscaping, open space areas, and other associated improvements, including utility upgrades and offsite improvements. The public comment period for the Initial Study (IS) and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was from December 21, 2022 to January 20, 2023. Additionally, per CEQA Guidelines Section 15072(b)(3), notices were mailed to property owners within a 500’ radius of the project site on April 11, 2023, and the IS/MND was made available for their review through May 1, 2023. The Notice of Determination was filed with the Alameda County Clerk on June 1, 2023, and with the State Clearinghouse on June 2, 2023.

Project Planner: Carmelisa Lopez, Senior Planner

• Notice of Determination - Filed 06/01/23 (PDF)
• Notice of Intent - Filed 12/21/22 (PDF)
• Draft IS/MND (PDF)
• Appendices
  • 1 - Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Health Risk Assessment (PDF)
  • 2 - Tree Inventory and Assessment (PDF)
  • 3 - Historic Resource Assessment (PDF)
  • 4 - Geotechnical Study (PDF)
  • 5 - Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (PDF)
  • 6 - Environmental Noise Assessment, Additional Comments (PDF)
  • 6.A - Environmental Noise Study (Non CEQA) (PDF)
  • 7 - Traffic Impact Assessment (PDF)
• Final IS/MND (PDF)

State Clearinghouse #2022110249

On November 8, 2022, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved a proposal to construct a new hotel development (DR2020-002) on a 1.66-acre site located at 39888 Balentine Drive. The existing building currently used as a restaurant will be demolished and a 132-room, 75,704 square foot hotel will be constructed. Guest amenities will include ballrooms, a bar and dining area, fitness room, and roof terrace. A surface parking lot, primarily on the eastern portion of the site and smaller parking areas on the other sides of the building, would also be constructed to accommodate 96 parking spaces.

The project was determined to be eligible for a Class 32 Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15300.2. An environmental analysis was prepared and concluded that the project complies with the required criteria for the categorical exemption.

Project Planner: Carmelisa Lopez, Senior Planner

• Notice of Exemption - Filed 11/09/22 (PDF)
• Approved Plans (PDF)
• Categorical Exemption Report (including appendices) (PDF)

The City of Newark is considering a proposal to convert the existing Towne Place Suites  extended stay hotel at 39802 Cedar Boulevard, Newark into 124 units of supportive, affordable housing for extremely low-income households through the State of California’s Homekey Program. The City and Allied Housing Inc. submitted a Homekey grant application in January 2022. If awarded, this grant would be combined with other funding, including a $4 million Alameda County grant from the federal HOME Investment Partnership/American Rescue Plan act funds and a $6 million grant/loan from the City. Additional support would be provided by the Housing Authority of the County of Alameda in the form of 60 federally funded Project Based Vouchers, 12 of which would be available to extremely low-income veterans.

The use of federal funds requires preparation of a NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA). The County of Alameda is the NEPA Responsible Entity that prepared the NEAP EA. Alameda County’s Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.  Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been prepared. The FONSI and the EA are available via the links below.

Project Planner: Steven Turner, Community Development Director

• Cedar Community Apartments Environmental Assessment (PDF)
• Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (PDF)