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10/16 - Dublin residents have been heard! The West Dublin Alliance (WDA) lawsuit against the City of Dublin and Valley Christian Center (VCC) has officially been settled on September 28, 2020. All parties were agreeable to the settlement terms. This is a historic situation for Dublin residents who for the first time took legal action against the City and a business entity (VCC) on a development project that would tremendously have negative impact on the quality of life for the hundreds of residents in surrounding neighborhoods adjacent to or near the Valley Christian Center location.

All of WDA’s required sound mitigation terms for noise reduction of VCC’s sound amplified athletic field and amphitheater were accepted by the City and VCC. WDA required the City and VCC adhere to the more stringent noise level specifications of Alameda County instead of the City’s noise specifications which are too broad and general. The settlement involves having 24/7 sound monitoring systems at strategic neighborhood locations near the VCC yet to be developed sites to monitor the Alameda County noise specifications. Should the noise generation from the athletic field and amphitheater exceed the sound specs then monetary fines will be issued and activities potentially eliminated if the noise continually exceed the sound specifications. The settlement longevity can potentially be up to 36 years based on certain criteria set forth in the settlement.

West Dublin Alliance thanks the Dublin residents who supported our effort to successfully secure a settlement on behalf of all Dublin residents. 

8/18 `-  The Dublin Planning Commission rejected the AT Dublin project twice and recommended it not move forward for City Council review. After receipt of over 1,000 emails from residents and a petition with over 5,200 resident signatures, the Council voted to deny the project by a 4-1 vote on June 22, 2020. That was the final decision.

However, at the next Council Meeting on June 16, Council member Kumagai after having spoken to City Staff and the property owner made a motion to reconsider the vote for the Aug 18 Council meeting.

Prior to that meeting WDA submitted a letter from our legal adviser stating this was highly unusual and not good legal process. Another retired lawyer submitted a letter to Council stating that this has never been done before in City of Dublin and not standard legal practice.  A denial “with prejudice” should be treated as a final decision absent extraordinary circumstances.

On Aug. 18 Council Members discussed the option of changing previous vote from a No Vote "with prejudice"to No Vote "with out prejudice". Mayor Haubert and Council Member Kumagai changed their original vote to allow a No "without prejudice". This allows the property owner to continue discussions with City Staff on the At Dublin project.

The residents’ concerns are again overridden by property owner/developer interests which further confirms and begs the question whether resident concerns are of any importance to the Council and City Staff even when thousands of residents made it known their objection to any further consideration on the project. 

6/24 – City Council Meeting was held on 6/16 to discuss and approve recommendation by City Staff to approve Amendments to the City General Plan and the East Dublin Specific Plan to allow Shea Properties to build 566 housing units for “At Dublin” project. Due to zoom technical difficulties and time constraints, Council adjourned the meeting and scheduled a continuance meeting on 6/22. This was to allow for Council Member questions and Public Comment. After 7 hours the Council voted against the At Dublin project in 4-1 vote. Thanks go out to all the residents who got involved. There were over 1,000 emails and over 5,000 signatures on a petition sent to the Mayor and Council members. Your voices and action did make a difference.

6/20/20 -" At Dublin" Project

City is scheduled to take public comment at Council Meeting on Monday 6/22 starting at 6pm before voting on amending the Dublin General Plan and the East Dublin Specific Plan from mostly retail /commercial on 55 acres of a 78 acre parcel to almost all housing. Please let your Council members know you are against  amending these plans.

6/7/20 - Cambria Hotel Project

In spite of 2 legal firms stating the City was not entitled to an exemption to having to do additional environmental reviews, the City Council voted against the 2 appeals and approved this project. 

5/8/20 – Cambria Hotel Project

Appeal was filed by WDA with the City of Dublin regarding the City Planning Commission’s approval of the 6-story Cambria Hotel at San Ramon Road behind the old Hooters restaurant and Corrie building. . 

The City claimed this project needed no CEQA review because it was consistent with the Downtown Dublin Specific Plan using its 2010 Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The appeal is based on four (4) individual expert reports submitted to the City prior to the meeting by a Legal firm providing substantial evidence that this project needed environmental review. 

These four (4) reports were never addressed by the City Planning Staff or addressed after a speaker spoke about the reports during Public Comment at the City Planning Commission meeting on April 28. 

City  Council meeting is scheduled for June 2 @ 7pm to address the formal complaints.

5/4/20 - Valley Christian Center Project

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the statute WDA sued under,requires all parties to meet and try to reach a settlement.  VCC and WDA after close to 2 years are at final stages of reaching a Settlement agreement to provide adequate mitigation measures for surrounding neighborhoods.