Planning Commission initiates Stonestown redevelopment amendments; up to 3,500 homes proposed

The Planning Commission unanimously voted Dec. 7 to initiate general-plan and zoning amendments needed for the proposed Stonestown redevelopment, a multi-phase project adjacent to Stonestown Mall that sponsors say could deliver up to 3,500 housing units, five towers and about six acres of new parks and plazas.

Patrick Grama and project sponsor representatives from Brookfield Properties presented the draft Design Standards & Guidelines (DSG) and the draft infrastructure and transportation strategies. Christie Donnelly of Brookfield described a plan of predominantly mid-rise (6'8 story) buildings, with taller towers clustered to the south, a new main street on Twentieth Avenue, significant bike and pedestrian improvements, and a mix of underground and embedded parking.

Laura Cressamano of SiteLab Urban Studio, the design lead, outlined street sections, active ground-floor retail requirements for the new main street, park and plaza programming and massing controls intended to break down building scale and protect views and sightlines. Planning staff said the DSG will be memorialized in the development agreement and noted that the project site, roughly 30 acres of underutilized parking lots, will require general-plan map amendments and zoning changes ahead of EIR certification and later entitlements.

Commissioners praised the outreach and design work and voted to set a public hearing on or after Jan. 18, 2024, to advance general-plan amendments. Staff indicated that, pending adoption of the initiation resolution, zoning and SUD amendments will be before the Board of Supervisors in January and that the project will return to the commission in February for EIR certification and entitlements.

Public commenters were mixed but several housing and transit advocates supported the project for its housing potential and transit access; neighbors raised questions about infrastructure, fire-water connections and the project's affordable-housing commitments.

Planning staff and the sponsor said negotiations on a benefits package and an infrastructure finance mechanism are ongoing and will be memorialized in the development agreement.