September 22nd, 2011
APA South Bay Sustainable Community Planning Workshop
Calling all planners! On Friday, October 14th from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM, HMH will be co-hosting a workshop on sustainability with the South Bay Chapter of California APA. The presentation will feature Scott Edmondson, the president and founder of Sustainability 2030, a strategic sustainability research and advisory initiative that helps decision makers understand, harness, and benefit from the power and potential of a strategic approach to sustainability challenges. The workshop will introduce frameworks for strategic sustainability community planning, including The Natural Step methodology originally developed in Sweden and now used as the standard for sustainability planning in communities throughout Canada. A group exercise will focus on producing benchmarks and action plans to sharpen and accelerate sustainability planning in Santa Clara County and beyond. Certification Maintenance credits will be provided, and lunch is on us! The event is free for APA members, $10 for non-members. Don’t miss out – RSVP to Katja Irvin at katja.irvin@sbcglobal.net or (408) 569-8214. HMH is at 1570 Oakland Road, San Jose, CA 95131
Posted in Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Land Use Entitlements, Landscape Architecture, Stormwater Compliance | No Comments »
January 29th, 2011
HMH's NAIOP Display Table
HMH co-sponsored the January 27th NAIOP Brokers Panel Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Clara. The event drew close to 180 real estate industry professionals to hear local leaders discuss the challenges facing Silicon Valley commercial real estate in 2011. HMH showcased its Landscape Architectural services that include landscape design integrating Bay-Friendly landscape principles, irrigation auditing and irrigation design. Bill Sowa, manager of the Landscape Architecture division is a Qualified Bay-Friendly Landscape Professional and Lisa Harris, Project Landscape Architect has completed the requirements to be a Certified Irrigation Auditor. Both are skilled at planting and irrigation design. HMH prepared an informational brochure highlighting how these services can save money for building owners and operators through the reduction of landscape maintenance and the efficient use of water for irrigation. The event was a big success.
HMH Services Sheet
Posted in Civil Engineering, Land Planning, Land Use Entitlements, Landscape Architecture | No Comments »
November 24th, 2010
This service sheet focuses on the benefit of Due Diligence reports prepared by our Land Planning and Entitlement team. Ray Hashimoto explains the process and value of having HMH gather, organize, and manage project data to assist in the risk assessment associated with development. We have seen an uptick in interest on project sites and potential in recent months but there is still a cautious atmosphere amongst our client base. Contact HMH to see how we can best serve your interests and project development. 408 487 2200
Posted in Due Diligence Report, Land Planning, Land Use Entitlements | No Comments »
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.
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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.
Posted in Utility Design | No Comments »
