August 30th, 2010
Bill Wagner
The Silicon Valley Business Journal interviewed Bill Wagner for their August 6th article on public infrastructure projects keeping construction and engineering firms busy during the economic downturn. The featured project, highway 101 and Tully Avenue interchange reconstruction, was designed by HMH and recently went out to bid. This, along with other San Jose, VTA and Caltrans projects, fueled with Federal stimulus money, have become a significant part of the current work load for design and construction firms in the bay area. Despite the current economic conditions and California budget crisis, Caltrans expects transportation construction volume to continue at an even pace. However, local public projects are expected to see a downturn. Wagner is in agreement with the Builder’s Exchange, stating that “cities, counties and the state will have fewer projects in the future”, however, we are seeing a slight upturn in private-sector work, but not enough to put us at ease.
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August 26th, 2010
Ray Hashimoto, Bill Sowa and Melissa Lander attended the recent ULI San Francisco – South Bay Brownbag about the Three Sixty Residences in San Jose. The 213-unit project, built by Mesa Development, is situated in the exciting SoFa District of downtown San Jose. The 23-story downtown condo complex includes a combination of three bedroom condominiums, two-level townhomes and penthouses. Each unit features expansive windows with views out to the Silicon Valley. During their project tour they were able to look at the unit models, a penthouse and other residential amenities which included a state-of-the art fitness center, an outdoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, and landscaped private courtyards. The project is close to many downtown destinations such as the light rail, Cesar de Chavez Plaza, Il Fornaio, Gordon Biersch and E&O Trading Company. The project is a good example of the changing housing product type San Jose is looking towards as it reinvents itself from sleepy suburb to destination urban center.
Posted in Land Planning, Land Use Entitlements, Landscape Architecture | No Comments »
August 2nd, 2010
Republic Cloverleaf Solar Project Sheet
HMH, Steinberg Architects, and RBF Consulting are working with Republic Cloverleaf Solar, a newly formed company based in San Jose, on a ground-breaking concept to utilize excess Caltrans property for solar power generation. The first-phase Pilot Project consists of solar panel arrays located on 75 to 100 acres of land on up to twelve freeway interchange sites in Santa Clara County. See the attached project data sheet for more information.
Posted in Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Land Surveying, Land Use Entitlements, Landscape Architecture, Project Updates | No Comments »
June 30th, 2010
Good news! After much discussion and coordination over the past month, PG&E has confirmed that they will, once again, accept PSE’s as well as PUE’s for placement of their facilities. HMH provided PG&E with supporting information that lead to their change in thinking. Fred Yarra’s efforts included reintroducing the matter to a new Service Planning Support Supervisor. This conversation helped them understand the issue and move their position back to accepting PSE’s and PUE’s. Nice work Fred!
PG&E will revise their Applicant Design Global Information packet to indicate the acceptance of both easements.
Posted in Utility Design | No Comments »
June 17th, 2010
Mike Campbell recently shared his experience in the implementation of Low Impact Development concepts through presentations at two South Bay stormwater program workshops. His presentation, Overcoming Obstacles to LID Implementation – Tales from Silicon Valley, was well received by municipal staff from various South Bay jurisdictions who attended.
On May 26. Mike made his presentation during the San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program’s workshop, “Complying with New Requirements of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit’s Provision C.3, New Development” at the Mission Blue Center in Brisbane.
On June 8, his presentation was made at the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program’s annual workshop, “Complying with New Stormwater Requirements for New and Redevelopment Projects”, held at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino. Mike has presented at the annual SCVURPPP workshop for the past three years.
Copies of the presentation are posted in pdf format on the San Mateo and Santa Clara Valley programs’ websites:
http://www.scvurppp-w2k.com/workshops.shtml
http://www.flowstobay.org/ms_current_projects.php
Posted in Land Planning, Stormwater Compliance | No Comments »
June 17th, 2010
Samaritan Medical Center
HMH is a proud member of the design team creating the most modern, technically advanced medical facility built for the Samaritan Medical Center. The project consists of a new four-story, 74,800 square-foot medical office building along with an adjacent five-level, 276-car parking structure that will connect with the existing parking structure on the site. Situated at the corner of Samaritan Drive and Bascom Avenue, this new facility provides an architectural cornerstone for the community. This project is part of Samaritan Medical Center’s strategic plan to expand and create a high-tech ambulatory surgery center and a comprehensive cancer center.
Posted in Civil Engineering, Land Surveying, Land Use Entitlements, Landscape Architecture, Project Updates, Utility Design | No Comments »
May 13th, 2010
From Fred Yarra, HMH Utility Design Manager
PG&E is making more changes to their Applicant Design Global Information packet they distribute to applicant designers for electric and gas design. The most significant change is that PG&E will no longer accept their facilities being installed within a PSE; they will only accept a PUE or a dedicated Right of Way. As with most changes in PG&E’s requirements, this change was not announced or coordinated with agencies or the development community. Their direction creates conflict with many local agencies since some only utilize a PSE for the standard utility easement.
PG&E defines the PUE and PSE as follows:
Public Utility Easement (PUE) – An easement for the benefit of public utility service providers created by an offer of dedications for public use on a public document, usually a filed subdivision or parcel map, although a deed may be used.
Public Service Easement (PSE) – An easement for the benefit of public service providers, including utilities, created in the same manner as a PUE. A PSE provides a broader scope of use than a PUE including the additional rights for sewer and storm drains.
Fred is currently coordinating with both PG&E’s Applicant Design Department and with their Land Department, contesting their recent change. HMH’s position is that the PSE and PUE are synonymous and that the relevant easement definition is created within the document (Final Map, Parcel Map or Easement Deed) creating the easement, varying slightly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Their idea of exclusivity will require specific coordination with all agencies – not the blanket definition they have come up with for the PSE and PUE.
We continue to work with PG&E to resolve this recent change and will keep you posted on any further findings. Feel free to call Fred Yarra if you should have any questions.
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May 5th, 2010
HMH Newsletter May 2010 Link
Last September, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted a new Construction General Permit (CGP) that imposes new reporting and compliance requirements for construction sites with land disturbance equal to or greater than one acre. The effective date of the new permit is July 1, 2010 and, if you are presently enrolled in the General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Construction Activity, you need to take action now!
Posted in Civil Engineering, Construction Permit Compliance | No Comments »
April 27th, 2010
HMH Living With LID Presentation
The HMH/APA “Living with LID” event held at HMH’s San Jose office on April 23rd was a huge success. Over 45 professionals attended, bringing background diversity and regional experience throughout Northern and Central California into the mix. Mike Campbell presented the new Regional Water Quality Control Board’s permit regulations and Ray Hashimoto, Bill Sowa and Brian Glick conducted local site tours that demonstrated some of the Low Impact Development solutions discussed by Mike in his presentation. The site tours gave everyone a first-hand chance to review constructed solutions and discuss their merits at each site. This dialogue continued back at the office over a BBQ lunch provided by HMH. Click on the graphic above and “Stormwater Resource List” below to download the presentation and additional resource links for more information.
Stormwater Resource List
Brian at Hampton Park Planter
Brian at Hampton Park Swale
Posted in Stormwater Compliance | No Comments »
April 22nd, 2010
GP 2040 Technical Document.PDF
The City of San Jose is currently planning a change in their development strategy and vision that will greatly impact development, and our future. HMH continues to be involved in the City’s General Plan update process and here, with his extensive experience in the City of San Jose, Tom Armstrong shares his view on the process. Take a look at the attached technical memo for more information.
Posted in Land Planning, Land Use Entitlements, San Jose General Plan Update 2040 | No Comments »
