Hearing Postponed On Proposed 21-Home Danville Development

DANVILLE, CA — The Danville Planning Commission postponed its public hearing on the Martin Hills Ranch project, a proposal to build 21 single-family homes and four accessory dwelling units to a 103-acre property at the ends of Como Way and Borica Drive in Danville.

The hearing was scheduled for Wednesday night, but applicant Scott Stringer told the town that he is "struggling with all of the required responses," and that his wife passed away a few days ago. A new hearing date has not been determined, but a notice will be mailed at 10 days before the rescheduled hearing. At the meeting, the Planning Commission will choose to recommend either approval or denial to the Town Council. Town staff recommend approval of the project in the staff report.

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The developer, Bates-Stringer Martin Hills Ranch LLC., is seeking to rezone the property from agricultural preserve to planned residential development. Approximately 86 acres, or 83% of the property, would be permanently preserved as open space, according to a town staff report. The proposal also includes an additional residential parcel that could be developed in the future, subject to separate town approval. Four accessory dwelling units would be reserved for low or very low-income households for 55 years if rented .

Davidon Homes is proposing 21 houses ranging from approximately 4,293 to 5,452 square feet, plus four 593-square-foot ADUs. Town planners prefer to cluster all the homes along Como Way, but the developer wants to place the additional residential parcel at the end of Borica Drive to fulfill a contractual obligation to an existing property owner.

The developer is also requesting permission for a 22-foot-wide entrance street instead of the town's 24-foot minimum, citing steep terrain and a creek. While traffic studies have found the roads adequate to accommodate homes, a traffic circle would be installed to slow vehicles entering the development.

The project would also require stabilization measures, retaining walls, and a mudflow catchment basin, since studies have identified eight previous landslides and mudflows on the property. Numerous residents wrote in to express concern over a number of issues, including landslides, mudflows, flooding, traffic safety, wildfire evacuation, and emergency vehicle access. Others questioned the additional residential parcel proposed along Borica Drive, the potential loss of scenic open space and wildlife habitat, and the adequacy of the project's environmental review.

See here to read the letters, and the town's response to them. See here to learn more about the project, including the staff report and architectural renderings.