In approving the project, city leaders took a step toward instituting "new urbanist" principles in yet one more development, where the emphasis is on higher density. With 47 units to the acre, the project is about twice as dense as most others in the Dublin-Pleasanton-Livermore area.

The design of the 19-acre project places about 10 percent of the project's 390 apartments above retail or commercial services space in a four-story building that will be the focal point of the development. The ground floor will house between 15 and 20 retail, service and food businesses geared toward residents in the immediate area. Likely commercial tenants include such businesses as a hair salon, dry cleaner, coffee shop and convenience store.

Rents are projected to range from $1,500 to $2,200 a month for the one and two-bedroom units. The units are grouped into four clusters centered around a common courtyard in the middle. The project will include a recreation center and a separate four-story parking garage. In addition, the site is directly across Central Parkway from a new public park.