The San Ramon City Council unanimously approved the Orchards mixed-use development on Apr. 8, clearing the way for Sunset Development to transform Chevron’s former Bishop Ranch campus into a new downtown area for the city.
The decision is significant because it enables a major redevelopment project that will shape central San Ramon over the next two decades. The plan includes 2,600 homes, 125,000 square feet of retail space, a park spanning 2.5 acres, and a greenway connecting to the Iron Horse Trail.
Sunset Development acquired the site in 2022 for $174.5 million. The residential portion will include affordable housing options, while retail spaces are planned to focus on serving residents with ground-floor shops and restaurants modeled after those found in Santana Row in San Jose.
During a special hearing before the council vote, Stephanie Miller, Senior Vice President at Sunset Development, described Orchards as “the next chapter in the evolution of Bishop Ranch” and “an infill mixed-use development that transforms a private campus.”
Local resident Brian Swanson filed an appeal against the project’s approval, arguing that “the analysis is incomplete” regarding compliance with California Environmental Quality Act requirements and traffic impact studies. Mayor Mark Armstrong disagreed with Swanson’s assessment and said that proper legal procedures had been followed by city staff before voting along with all council members to reject the appeal.
Alex Mehran Jr., President of Sunset Development and third-generation leader of his family’s company, said “This is an exciting place that changes day by day,” highlighting how Orchards fits into ongoing redevelopment efforts throughout Bishop Ranch.
Construction of Orchards will proceed in phases over approximately twenty years.
