Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Construction begins on new $90 million, 144-unit apartment community in downtown Danville

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Rendering of the Alexan Downtown Danville project in downtown Danville. Courtesy of Trammell Crow Residential.

Trammell Crow Residential (TCR), the multifamily real estate developer, along with Town of Danville Mayor Robert Storer, City Councilmembers and other local leaders, recently celebrated a construction milestone on the first new residential rental community in Danville, the Alexan Downtown Danville, which will offer 144 luxury apartment homes located within walking distance of Danville’s Historic Downtown District. The new $90 million apartment community located at 375 Diablo Road in Contra Costa County commenced framing and is scheduled for completion in summer 2020.

“This is the first apartment development of scale that has been approved by the Town of Danville in decades,” said TCR’s Senior Managing Director Bruce Dorfman. “Danville is one of the East Bay’s most prestigious and supply-constrained communities. The existing apartment stock is very limited and does not contain any Class A product and, with an average vacancy of 1 percent, renters have very few options. Pair that with the lack of affordability of for-sale housing, and Alexan Downtown Danville will provide a favorable option for first-class living in a highly sought-after, walkable downtown location.”

Danville Town Councilmembers Newell Americh, Renee Morgan and Lisa Blackwell, Bruce Dorfman, Senior Managing Director, Trammell Crow Residential, Davnville Mayor Robert Storer, Vice Mayor Karen Stepper, Vice Mayor, and Town Manager Joe Calabrigo at the ceremony for the Alexan Riverwalk project, May 15, 2019. Photo courtesy of Trammel Crow Residential

Situated at the intersection of Diablo Road and I-680 on 3.75 acres, Alexan Downtown Danville will offer convenient access to I-680 freeway and the East Bay’s major job centers as well as the Walnut Creek BART Station, just eight miles north from the site. Danville’s community of nearly 48,000 people provides a small-town atmosphere, with highly regarded schools and an outstanding quality of life. Furthermore, Danville was once again named the safest city in the state of California, according to SafeWise, an online safety resource, which analyzed the state’s communities to find the 50 safest cities.

“This is truly a remarkable day in Danville history,” said Mayor Robert Storer, Town of Danville. “This project will allow Danville to achieve its workforce housing numbers, but more importantly, it will allow 144 families to appreciate the comfort and safety this town offers its residents. It’s a wonderful community to live, work and raise your family.”

According to Dorfman, TCR is working with the Town to build a pedestrian bridge over San Ramon Creek to provide a direct link from the new apartment community to Danville’s Historic Downtown District, the public library, Danville Community Center, quality schools, and other public amenities. Residents will also have convenient access to shopping, restaurants, services, entertainment, museums and parks, making this site an ideal location for individuals as well as families.

In addition to the amenities of the Town of Danville, residents of Alexan Downtown Danville can enjoy residential units that are well-appointed and offer finishes more frequently found in custom single-family homes. The apartment community’s amenities include a clubhouse with a lounge, conference room and business center, state-of-the-art fitness center, and a package concierge. Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool and spa, fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, grill stations and dining area, a children’s play area, pet park, and vista overlooking the adjacent San Ramon Creek. Alexan Downtown Danville will also have gated, private subterranean parking with electric vehicle charging stations.

The unit mix consists of a wide variety of floor plans including studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes, ranging in size from approximately 500-square feet to 1,600-square feet. According to Dorfman, over half of the units will offer two- and three-bedroom configurations, which is not typical of apartment communities. “We think the townhomes and larger units will be very appealing to young families and single-parent households with children,” noted Dorfman.

“I appreciate the long-term relationship between Trammell Crow [Residential] and the Town of Danville and acknowledge your good work towards making apartment living in Danville a reality,” said Mayor Storer. “Together we will enjoy a place that will bring new families to Danville who will enjoy all of its splendor and allow the next generation of families to call Danville home.”

TCR’s equity partner for the Alexan Downtown Danville is Barings Real Estate Advisers and the construction lender is Wells Fargo. LCA Architects is the project architect; Gates + Associates is the landscape designer; and Carlson, Barbee & Gibson is the civil engineer.

About Trammell Crow Residential

Trammell Crow Residential (TCR) is a national multifamily real estate developer with a local presence in 13 key U.S. markets.  Over 40 years, TCR has built over 250,000 premier multifamily residences, delivering amenity-rich communities in economically thriving locations nationwide. TCR and Crow Holdings Industrial (CHI) are part of the development platform of Crow Holdings, a privately-owned real estate investment and development firm with a 70-year history and a proven track record of performance, partnership, and innovation. For more information, please visit TCR.com.

Sheriff’s Office investigates early Monday morning burglary at Alamo jewelry store

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Screenshots of burglary suspects outside Alamo jewelry store from security camera. Courtesy of CCCSheriff

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Monday, April 15, 2019, at about 1:38 AM, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report of an alarm at a jewelry store on the 3200 block of Danville Boulevard in Alamo.

Deputy Sheriffs arrived minutes after being dispatched to find the store’s front window broken. The suspects entered the business stealing miscellaneous goods and items.

The suspects are believed to have fled north on Danville Boulevard then east on Stone Valley Road toward Interstate 680.

The Crime Lab responded to the location to process the scene.

Detectives say there were four male suspects. Their vehicle is described as a newer four-door Honda Civic with after-market rims and tinted windows. Please see attached images.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

San Ramon Police arrest Manteca man for outstanding warrant, more charges Friday night

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Found with billy club, dagger, lock picks

By San Ramon Police Department

While you were sleeping….your San Ramon Police Officers were keeping you and your property safe.

Last night, Friday, April 12, 2019, an Officer stopped a car that had paper license plates covering the actual California DMV license plates. The driver (28-year-old Manteca resident, Troy Payton – no relation to the Herald publisher) was arrested for an outstanding warrant held by San Joaquin County.

The officer also found a billy club, a dagger, lock picks, and a modified screwdriver under the driver’s seat of the car, which led to add to additional charges. Just another excellent example of the work your San Ramon Police Department Officers do every night to keep the San Ramon Community safe.

Annual Redefining Mobility Summit to highlight latest trends in transportation technology in San Ramon Friday

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The Contra Costa Transportation Authority will host government and industry leaders to discuss cutting edge transportation technology; Six start-ups competing for $10,000 prize money

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) will host the fifth annual Redefining Mobility Summit on Friday, March 8th in San Ramon. The Redefining Mobility Summit brings together government and industry leaders to discuss how innovative research and cutting edge technology are revolutionizing transportation.

What:      Redefining Mobility Summit

Who:       Industry leaders speaking about the future of Connected Vehicle/Autonomous Vehicle technology

When:     Friday, March 8, 2018 from 8:15am-4:45pm

Where:    Roundhouse Conference Center, 2600 Camino Ramon, Suite 100 San Ramon, CA  94583

A complete list of speakers is available here.

A brief overview of the schedule and highlighted speakers is below:
8:15am: A roundtable with transportation innovators around the world including Japan, Canada, Spain and Australia and New Zealand.

10:00am: Keynote speaker, Anousheh Ansari, Co-founder and Executive Chairwoman of Prodea Systems, space explorer, and serial entrepreneuer.

10:45am: A panel on the latest and safest self-driving car innovations from AAA and AV technology developers featuring Ignacio Garcia, VP, Autonomous Vehicle Strategy – AAA NCNU; Alan Jowett – VP of Business Development – Ottopia and others.
1:00pm: Six transportation start-ups competing for $10,000 to help them on their quest to redefine mobility including Route Reports; Detecterra; Smart Edge; Traffic Patterns;  Allvision IO; and EVSEE.

2:30pm: The future of freight, moderated by California Transportation Commission Chair Fran Inman and featuring Jonny Morris, Head of Public Policy, Embark and Paul Konasewich, Director of Business Development, PACCAR Silicon Valley Innovation Center, and others.

3:30pm: A panel on the dynamic nature of urban mobility with Ali Mortazavi; the director of Nissan R&D and AI Sohier Hall, President/CEO of Luum; Hugo Fozzati Director of Business & Operations for AutoX and others focused on shifting transportation’s mindset from thinking about moving cars to moving people.

4:45pm: Closing Remarks & Announcement of Start-up Pitch Winner About the Contra Costa Transportation Authority

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) is a public agency formed by Contra Costa voters in 1988 to manage the county’s transportation sales tax program and oversee countywide transportation planning efforts. With a staff of twenty people managing a multi-billion-dollar suite of projects and programs, CCTA is responsible for planning, funding and delivering critical transportation infrastructure projects and programs that connect our communities, foster a strong economy, increase sustainability, and safely and efficiently get people where they need to go. CCTA also serves as the county’s designated Congestion Management Agency, responsible for putting programs in place to keep traffic levels manageable. More information about CCTA is available at ccta.net.

Supervisors approve five Verizon small cell wireless facilities in Alamo, Walnut Creek

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Before and After photos of proposed Verizon small cell wireless facility on Horsetrail Court in Alamo. Photo from Powerpoint presentation.

More appeals expected

By Daniel Borsuk

Over a volley of citizen complaints about potential neighborhood blight and health cancer risks concerns linked to Verizon Wireless’ plans to install five small cell wireless facilities on PG&E poles in bucolic unincorporated Alamo and Walnut Creek residential locations, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously upheld the county Zoning Administrator’s and Planning Commission’s rulings approving the telecommunication corporation’s requests on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

According to the staff report for agenda item, “On December 21, 2018, Ms. Alice Lee filed an appeal with the Department of Conservation and Development, Community Development Division, over the decision of the County Planning Commission to deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the County Zoning Administrator to approve the Wireless Facilities Access Permit. Ms. Alice Lee submitted a revised appeal letter on December 24, 2018.”

With Supervisor Diane Burgis of Brentwood absent from the meeting because she was recuperating from successful heart surgery on Monday, supervisors voted 4-0 to sustain favorable county zoning administrator and planning commission rulings on Verizon Cell Wireless’ requests to install five small wireless cell facilities in the right-of-way of 401 Horsetrail Court, 1524 Alamo Way, 184 Creekdale Road, 1955 Meadow Road and 20 Francesca Way, but threw in a carrot that might sway residents to feel more comfortable about Verizon Wireless installing the antennas. (See PowerPoint presentation, here).

Board Vice Chair Candace Andersen, who represents the unincorporated Alamo and Walnut Creek areas where Verizon Wireless plans to install the cell wireless facilities, each valued at an estimated $200,000, recommended that Verizon Wireless mail to affected homeowners living nearby the five proposed wireless cell antennas to be offered free, independently conducted, in-home health tests. Verizon Wireless will pick up the costs for the health tests.

Verizon Wireless attorney Paul Albritton said the communications company would agree with Supervisor Andersen’s in-home health test request. Other supervisors also approved Andersen’s proposal. Albritton said residents must live within 300 feet of a proposed small cell wireless antenna. He said the offer will be valid for one year.

Even with the in-home health inspection provision, one Alamo resident, Ruth Strong, who lives with her aged mother near a PG&E pole that is slated to have one of the Verizon Wireless antennas installed directly across from her mother’s bedroom window, told supervisors, “I don’t trust them (i.e. Verizon Wireless) from coming into my house.”

Dr. Alice Lee, one of the five appellants, told the Contra Costa Herald it is too early to tell what course of action she and other appellants might pursue. Dr. Lee said Verizon Wireless has plans to install as many as an additional 87 small cell wireless antennas on PG&E poles in unincorporated areas including Alamo, Walnut Creek, and Orinda. “There will be other carriers. There will be more towers,” she told supervisors.

Supervisor Karen Mitchoff of Pleasant Hill said it is difficult for counties to overturn requests of telecommunication communication companies requesting to install new equipment such as small cell wireless facilities on existing PG&E poles because of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 that has been amended numerous times. California counties and cities are contesting certain aspects of Telecommunications Act in the Supreme Court because the federal law supersedes local or state law.

Among consent item supervisors approved without comment from the public, were:

Hazardous Materials Response Vehicle Funding

Spending $1.3 million from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District budget to buy a Type I Hazardous Materials Response Vehicle that will be owned and operated by the county fire district. The acquisition of a new Type I Hazardous Material Response Vehicle will allow the fire district to own and operate its own vehicle. Since the formation of the county’s Hazardous Materials Team in 2016, the team has operated a vehicle on loan from the California Office of Emergency Services. That vehicle was recently out of service for over 30 days while it received warranty related repairs in Sacramento. That compromised the Contra Costa County team’s ability to respond to hazardous response incidents. Buying this vehicle will permit the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to respond to future hazardous material response incidents.

Emerging Aeronautical Technologies to Be Promoted at County Airports

Supervisors permitted County Airports Director Keith Freitas to promote and market Buchanan Field and Byron Airport as testing locations for emerging aeronautical and aeronautical related technologies. There will be no financial cost to the county general fund associated with the promotion and marketing campaign. Airport staff and any county counsel staff time will be charged to the Airport Enterprise Fund.

Kirker Pass Road Truck Lane Funding

Supervisors awarded a $14,153,763 contract to Granite Rock Company to construct the Kirker Pass Road Northbound Truck Climbing Lane project. Construction is set to begin this summer to add a truck lane on Kirker Pass Road from the Concord Pavilion to Hess Road. The addition of the lane is designed to reduce accidents caused by trucks traveling up Kirker Pass Road. Other contractors and their bids at the Jan. 22 disclosure were: Bay Cities Paving & Grading, Inc., $14,886,666; Ghilotti Construction Company, Inc., $15,225,077. 60; Gordon N. Ball, Inc. $15,528,038.20; Flatiron West, Inc. $15,528,038.20; Granite Construction Co, $16, 073, 185.10; O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. $16,073, 788 and DeSilva Gates Construction, $17,500,000.

Waterfront Initiative Funding

Supervisors approved the new funding allocations of $142,500 to implement approved Northern Waterfront initiatives planned for 2019-2020. Those expenditures included $50,000 for the Hercules site exploration for bioscience, $12,000 for a May forum, $10,000 for State Lands/Crockett waterfront access, $70,000 for collaborative marketing and a marketing video. Supervisors had budgeted $500,000 in 2017 to cover Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative projects. Since the initiative’s launch, the only expenditure since then has been the $263,000 to consultant contracts or grant match.

Paying Additional $11,000 to Winchester for Sheriff’s Department Ammunition

Supervisors agreed to pay an additional $11,000 to buy Winchester ammunition for the Office of the Sheriff because after more than 20 years, Winchester has changed its ammunition distributor in Northern California from Adamson Police Products to Dooley Enterprises. In 2017, the Office of the Sheriff executed a new purchase order with Dooley Enterprises as the new Winchester ammunition distributor to meet future training and duty ammunition demands. As a result of the change in the purchase order. the county will have paid $411,000, not $400,000 for the purchase of ammunition for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019.

To see the entire meeting agenda, click here.

San Ramon Police seek suspect in attempted kidnapping of teenage girl on Friday, Feb. 22

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From San Ramon Police Facebook Page

Please see above the forensic sketch and details from the incident that was reported on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in San Ramon.

On Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 at approximately 5:30 p.m. a 13-year-old female was walking in the 500 block of Fallen Leaf Circle when an Indian male driving a white, possibly Nissan Rogue hatchback four-door vehicle, pulled up and contacted her. The unidentified male told her, “Your Dad asked me to pick you up and drop you off at your house.”

When she said “No thanks,” the male reached across to the passenger side and through the window, tried to grab the juvenile’s arm, but instead brushed her sweater sleeve as she pulled back. The juvenile ran to the nearby Iron Horse Trail and hid in the bushes until the subject left the area. The juvenile immediately called her mother and father (as evidenced by her call log).

The suspect is described as follows:

*East Indian male

*Dark skin color

*35-50 years old

*Light blue circle around the left eye

*Shaggy hair

*Spoke with an Indian accent with a lisp

*Wearing a black hooded jacket over a light blue or grey Nike shirt

*Ring on right hand with two overlapping snakes

The suspect vehicle is described as follows:

Possibly a Nissan Rogue. 4 Door hatchback, white in color, yellow star with smiley face sticker on front windshield, partial California plate of 7HM…6, back passenger side windows darkly tinted.

Any tips can be reported to the San Ramon Police Dispatch Center at (925) 973-2779.

Pharmacist charged with robbing local pharmacy in Danville

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Pharmacist Jonathan Szkotak.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Jonathan Szkotak with one felony count of second-degree robbery. On April 3, 2018, Szkotak allegedly went to a CVS pharmacy in Danville where he brandished a firearm at the pharmacy staff and demanded specific pills. Szkotak is a registered pharmacist with the California Board of Pharmacy. He works in Alameda County for the Alameda Alliance for Health.

Szkotak allegedly approached the pharmacy counter wearing a blue surgical mask and displayed a firearm. Given that he used a gun during the course of the robbery, our office charged Szkotak with a firearm enhancement.

CVS reported to the Drug Enforcement Agency a loss report of Clonazepam and Buprenorphine. In total, 17 tablets of Clonazepam were missing and 57 tablets of Buprenorphine (three different brands) as a result of the April 3rd robbery. Upon Szkotak’s arrest, the police found a quantity of crushed Buprenorphine in the defendant’s wallet.

Szkotak’s court appearance is January 14, 2019 in Martinez. He is out of custody on a $200,000 bond.

He was charged with the following: Second Degree Robbery –  Enhancement 1, Personal Use of a Firearm

Case information: People v. Jonathan Szkotak, Docket Number 01-187866-9.

Deputy Sheriffs arrest Livermore man in Danville following stolen car chase that began in Pittsburg, Tuesday afternoon

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Driver Darryl Maiale in a photo from his Facebook profile posted on July 11, 2017.

Chase began on Highway 4 at Bailey Road in Pittsburg

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6, 2018 at about 2:55 PM, a Deputy Sheriff located a stolen vehicle on westbound Highway 4 at Bailey Road. The Deputy started following the vehicle but, did not attempt to stop it.

The vehicle suddenly sped away, leading the Deputy on a pursuit. The Deputy terminated the pursuit because of the suspect’s wreckless driving and the successful deployment of the StarChase GPS tracking technology.

The vehicle traveled at high speeds on Highway 4, Highway 242 and I-680 for approximately 15 miles before being located a second time by Deputy Sheriffs in the area of I-680 and Stone Valley Road.

The vehicle exited Stone Valley Road leading deputies on a pursuit again. The suspect vehicle crashed at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court, where it struck a Sheriff’s Office radar trailer and came to rest in the parking lot of a business.

The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody at that time. He is identified as 24-year-old Darryl Maiale, the only occupant in the vehicle. According to his Facebook profile, he is a resident of Livermore and attended Granada High School.

He was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. He will be booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for charges that include vehicle theft, felony evading, possession of stolen property, and resisting arrest.

Suspect identified in fatal officer involved shooting in Danville Saturday morning as Newark man

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

The investigation into yesterday’s officer involved shooting in Danville continues. Per the county officer-involved protocol, this incident is being jointly investigated by the Danville Police Department, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, and D.A.’s Office. The findings of the investigation will ultimately be presented at a Coroner’s inquest, a public hearing where a jury determines the manner of death. (See related article)

On Saturday, November 3, 2018, at 11:03 AM, Danville Police Officers responded to a call from a citizen of a suspicious person near Cottage Lane and Laurel Drive in Danville.

The citizen reported seeing a person exit his vehicle, walk toward several homes with bags in his hands, go back to his car and circle the neighborhood.

Officers arrived on scene. The suspect ignored commands to stop and led officers on a pursuit. Twice during the pursuit, the suspect pulled over as if he was going to give up. As officers exited their cars, the suspect fled in his vehicle continuing to lead the officers in a pursuit.

At the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road, the suspect steered his vehicle toward an officer and accelerated his vehicle. The officer was in immediate fear that he was going to be run over by the suspect’s vehicle and fired his weapon at the driver of the vehicle. The suspect was shot and transported to the San Ramon Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The suspect is identified as 33-year-old Laudemer Arboleda of Newark. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

The officer who discharged his weapon in the officer involved shooting is Deputy Sheriff Andrew Hall. He has been with the Office of the Sheriff for five years. He is currently assigned to the contract city of Danville.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Following pursuit, man shot, killed by Danville Police Saturday morning

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By Jimmy Lee, Public Affairs Director, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

This morning at about 11:03, Danville Police Officers responded to a report from a citizen of a suspicious person near Cottage Place and Laurel Drive in Danville.

As officers arrived, the suspect fled, leading officers on a pursuit. At the intersection of Front Street and Diablo Road, the suspect attempted to run over an officer, who fired his weapon at the vehicle.

The suspect was shot and transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The suspect is not being identified at this time. The officer sustained a minor injury.

The county officer-involved protocol has been invoked. This incident is being jointly investigated by the Danville Police Department, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, and D.A.’s Office.

More details are pending