Brentwood city staff will seek City Council approval to raise development impact fees effective July 1, 2015, by 3.5 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively, on new single-family and active adult units and drop rates by 12.5 percent on multi-family.  The rate for a single-family unit, for example, would increase by $1,254 from $36,040 to $37,294. The council is scheduled to vote on the proposed new rates at a public hearing set for April 28, 2015.  Full Story  

In order to meet more stringent chloride standards mandated by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Brentwood is moving to prohibit the installation of salt-based water softeners in new residential construction. A recent study showed that approximately 60 percent of the excess chlorides found in the water Brentwood discharges from its wastewater treatment plant are the result of the use of these types of softeners, staff explained during a stakeholders' meeting at which a BIA|Bay Area representative attended.  Full Story  

Livermore is inviting interested developers to participate in an Isabel Neighborhood Plan focus group. The city and BART are jointly planning an extension of the rail service along the Interstate 580 corridor which will include a new station at the Isabel Avenue interchange. The city is preparing a neighborhood plan to guide land use development and infrastructure improvements around the station.   Full Story

The City of Fremont will present updated draft development impact fees -- fire and capital facilities, parks and transportation -- at an outreach meeting with development stakeholders set for  2 p.m. on April 14, 2015.  The fee update was completed to reflect the recently adopted citywide land use planning documents (e.g., General Plan Update and Warm Springs/South Fremont Community Plan) that anticipate development through year 2035.  Full Story

BIA|Bay Area's South Bay Regional Policy Committee will host presumed San Jose City Council District 4 candidates Manh Nguyen and Tim Orozco at its luncheon meeting on April 22, 2015.  Manh and Orozco were the top two vote-getters as of April 10, 2015, in the primary election held three days prior to replace Kansen Chu, who has been elected to the California Assembly. Full Story