Higher density but less traffic

The Ohlone, an 800-unit housing development proposed for 8.25 acres along West San Carlos and Sunol streets in San Jose, is the first Bay Area project to be officially certified for reducing traffic.

Ann Cheng, senior planner at TransForm, said her organization, formerly the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, seeks to recognize developers who build projects that accomplish these goals.

The environmental movement in construction has convinced developers of the importance of earning certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. TransForm, based in Oakland, wants to do the same thing with cars.

“How people get to and from their new homes is just as important as what those homes are made of,” Cheng said.

The Ohlone, to be built by San Jose’s Green Republic, will provide parking spots to its residents — at a price.

“We have found in our research that the most effective way to reduce traffic is to ‘unbundle’ parking,” she said. In other words, require residents to pay for it.

Developers also plan to help future residents pay for passes for mass transit, which is near the project. All these features help to reduce traffic generated from the project by 30 percent. Cheng said the certification is conditional and does not become final until the project is fully entitled.

“We’re trying to encourage the right density of buildings in the right places,” she said.

Michael Van Every, the developer, said Green Republic is “trying to do the right thing” with the project that is now moving through the planning stages.

Katherine Conrad can be reached at 408.299.1820 or kconrad@bizjournals.com.