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Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_05.09.08 - Index

4A | THEPRESS.NET COMMUNITY MAY 9, 2008
Comment invited on Boulevard plan
by Rick Lemyre
Staff Writer
City offi cials are asking for public input on a
plan to convert Brentwood’s northern entrance from
a state highway to a “Grand Boulevard.”
When the Highway 4 Bypass is completed later
this year, the State Route 4 designation will shift to
the new road, and Brentwood Boulevard will revert
to city control. The major change in traffi c patterns,
plus the development on the west side of town into
the city’s biggest commercial area, mean the traditional
approach to the city from Oakley can be
spruced up and used to meet the city’s other needs in
the coming years.
According to the Brentwood Boulevard Specifi c
Plan, the aim is “to transform the existing auto-oriented
commercial corridor into a traditional American
‘Grand Boulevard’ with distinctive, unique
buildings facing the boulevard including comfortable
walkways and generous landscaping to provide
an active, inviting, and attractive location for residents,
workers and visitors.”
“We want to make it as attractive as all the other
(city entrances), and attract new development in
an orderly fashion,” said Senior Planner Winston
Rhodes. The plan breaks the road into three segments:
The Northern Sub-Area (from Delta Road to
Lone Tree Way); the Central Sub-Area (from Lone
Tree to Applewood Common); and the Southern
Sub-Area (Applewood Common to Second Street).
In the Northern area, the plan calls for primarily
offi ce and industrial uses. The Central area will one
day be primarily residential (at between eight and 15
Brentwood
CORNFEST
CCORNFEST
July 11, 12 & 13
2008
2008
units per acre). The Southern area along Brentwood
Boulevard will comprise mostly mixed uses, including
offi ces and commercial uses with residential units
on the second fl oor. East of Brentwood Boulevard
on both sides of the Sand Creek Road extension,
the Southern section will include medium-density
residential (fi ve to 11 units per acre) and some Very
High Density Residential (20 to 30 units per acre).
The higher residential areas are designed to
provide “workforce housing” within the fi nancial
reach of teachers, retail workers and younger adults,
Rhodes said. Neighborhood retail centers will be located
at the intersections of Brentwood Boulevard
and Lone Tree Way, Sunset Road and Sand Creek
Road to serve the nearby residents.
Rhodes said the plan would take years, possibly
decades, to fully implement. One reason is that
it grandfathers in existing uses that will not conform
to the new zoning. For example, a store located in an
area slated to one day become housing can continue
to operate until the current or future owner decides
to change.
The plan has been the subject of numerous public
planning sessions. On May 20, the plan will come
before the Planning Commission for a workshop,
and the public is invited to participate. The meeting
begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
The public comment period for the plan’s environmental
impact report is currently open, and will
run until June 6. Copies of the plan are available at
the Brentwood Library and at the city’s planning offi
ces, 104 Oak St.
To comment on this story, visit www.thepress.
net.
Mayor
Robert “Bob” Taylor
Price $25.00
Pre-paid
Reservations Only
Meal Choices:
Chicken Picatta
Steak Salad
Lunch will be served at
11:30 a.m.
Opening seating
No tickets will be sold at door
Possible gang
ties in shooting
by Rick Lemyre
Staff Writer
Police are investigating possible gang connections
to the shooting of an 18-year-old male in Brentwood
on May 1.
Police responding to a 9:15 p.m. call of shots fi red
near Diablo Way and Chestnut Street in the downtown
area found the victim suffering from a smallcaliber
gunshot wound to his upper leg. He was transported
by helicopter to John Muir Hospital, where he
was treated and released the next day.
“A group was standing there hanging out and
someone just walked up, started shooting, and then
ran off,” said Sgt. Mark Misquez of the Brentwood
Police Department. “Six people got shot at, but only
one got hit. We were lucky. It could have been a lot
worse. Witnesses reported there were six shots fi red.”
A search with K9 units and a helicopter yielded
no results. The suspect is described as a white or
Hispanic male of undetermined age, about 5-feet, 5inches
tall and of thin build. He was wearing a gray
hooded sweatshirt, black beanie cap and dark pants.
The area has seen an increase in gang-related
graffi ti of late, Misquez said. The department has
stepped up its anti-gang efforts, which include more
patrols of areas frequented by gangs, and increased
appearances on school campuses by student resource
offi cers.
Those with information on the shooting are urged
to call Detective Kelly Couch at 925-634-6911.
Presents
State of The City Address
Luncheon
May 15, 2008
Sponsored By
Nines at
The Brentwood Golf Club
100 Summerset Drive
Brentwood CA
Tickets are available at the
Chamber Office Only!
240 Oak Street, Brentwood
(925) 634-3344
Name:___________________________________
Chicken Picatta #___________ Steak Salad #___________
Total amount enclosed $_________
Reservation need to be made by May 8, 2008