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San Ramon's plan to bring in retail stores and create transit-oriented housing is a step closer to completion, with a reduced number of potential homes requested by City Council.

The North Camino Specific Plan has been in the works since 2010, although its roots can be traced back to at least 2005, when the city's economic developers began pushing for a plan to stop retail tax leakage -- sending residents outside San Ramon for shopping, rather than spending their money locally, where tax money would end up in local coffers.

Lauren Barr, San Ramon senior planner, said stopping that leakage could bring in $500,000 to $1 million a year in additional revenue, and could bring in up to $2 million annually as more retail stores come in.

"It's pretty clear businesses want to be here," he said.

The plan would rezone about 295 acres centered between city limits the north, Executive Parkway on the south with Interstate 680 and Alcosta Boulevard marking its east and west borders. It would include space for some larger stores, such as Best Buy, along with smaller retail and "workforce housing," which could provide homes for Bishop Ranch workers. Planners envision the area to build out similar to Santana Row in San Jose.

The NCRSP had opponents and supporters that turned out for the last public hearing. Two Planning Commission members, Eric Wallis and Chairwoman Donna Kerger, both spoke in favor of the plan.

Kevin L'Hommedieu, who lives in San Ramon and runs an auto repair business in a corner of the plan area, pointed out that Measure W, which included the NCRSP, was "soundly defeated " by voters.

He also questioned whether the height restrictions in the rest of San Ramon would apply in the plan area, and disagreed with the idea that Alcosta Boulevard Extension would ever be used for traffic. He said houses, businesses, PG&E cables and a hill would all have to move in order for the road to cross to Fostoria Way.

"I think that's a ridiculous thing to have on the project," L'Hommedieu said. "It'll never happen."

Former City Council member Jim Blickenstaff repeated his call to have the plan analyzed under a peer review by independent experts. He called the traffic assumptions "unrealistic" and said the San Ramon Valley Unified School District has no plan to accommodate an influx of students that could come as housing is developed.

It was housing that was the sticking point for City Council members as they held their third public hearing on the NCRSP. The plan approved by the Planning Commission allowed for up to 1,500 housing units, which would likely be apartments or condos, with a review after 1,000 units were built.

After lengthy discussion, City Council voted to modify the plan, reducing housing from 1,500 units to 1,124, the number originally allotted for on the area before the NCRSP.

Although he fought to have the housing numbers stay at 1,500, Councilman Dave Hudson ultimately agreed to lowering them to pass the plan.

Councilman Scott Perkins and Vice Mayor Jim Livingstone both noted that the NCRSP is a planning document. All projects will have to go through the same approvals needed anywhere else in the city.

"Until somebody comes forward with the money, nothing is going to happen here," Livingstone said.

The plan will come for a final vote at the council's July 24 meeting.

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