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The Livermore Planning Commission is accepting verbal comment on a revised partial draft environmental impact report for the proposed 44-unit Garaventa Hills housing development planned for North Livermore during its regular meeting Tuesday.
In spring 2023, developer Lafferty Communities exercised their right to bring the proposed project back for review by the city of Livermore, which required revising the environmental impact report to address inadequacy identified by the appellate court following a court battle with community group Save the Hill.
The revision to the environmental report specifically includes discussion of the potential funding sources available for the acquisition and preservation of the project site as open space under the no project, no development alternative.
The project as proposed includes 38 detached single-family units and six affordable duet units on the approximately 32-acre, privately-owned Garaventa Hills site located at the western terminus of Bear Creek Drive and north of Altamont Creek Elementary School and Altamont Creek Park. Despite the city’s legal obligation to process Lafferty’s development proposal, residents who live near the project site — including members of Save the Hill — have expressed strong opposition to the project being built.
The city and the environmental consultant for the project have been preparing a revised partial draft environmental impact report (RP Draft EIR) since spring 2023.
The city posted a Notice of Availability for the RP Draft EIR on July 30 that outlines the opportunity for reviewing and commenting on the document. The notice was also mailed out to residents and interested parties within ¼ mile of the Garaventa Hills project site, according to city officials.
The city is accepting comments on the RP Draft EIR for a 45-day period which opened on July 30 and extends through Sept. 13 at 5 p.m.
Officials said that only comments received on the document that address discussion of the potential funding sources available for the acquisition and preservation of the project site as open space under the no project, no development alternative will be responded to in a recirculated partial final environmental impact report.
The role of the Planning Commission is to facilitate a public hearing to receive public comments on the RP Draft EIR, according to the agenda report for Tuesday’s meeting. No action is required by the commission at the meeting. The commission will review and make a recommendation regarding the Garaventa Hills project and the RP Final EIR at a future public hearing.
The City Council will later hold a separate public hearing and make a final decision to certify the EIR and approve or deny the project. Additionally, the project requires two land use entitlements including a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map and Site Plan Design Review. Staff anticipates review of these entitlements and the RP Final EIR by the Planning Commission and City Council sometime this fall.
The Planning Commission meeting is set for Tuesday (Aug. 20) at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Livermore-Pleasanton Elks Lodge located at 940 Larkspur Drive. The complete meeting agenda is available here.
The RP Draft EIR and project information is available here.
