SAN LEANDRO — A site near the San Leandro BART station once used to store construction equipment will be transformed into an apartment complex with 687 units — one of the city’s largest.

The plan from Maximus Real Estate Partners — the developer behind the “Monster in the Mission” housing project in San Francisco — also calls for tearing down the Filarmonica Artista Amadora de San Leandro Music Conservatory at 857 Alvarado St. and replacing it with a 4,326-square-foot conservatory across the street at 844 Alvarado St.

The Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustments unanimously approved the project Thursday.

“We know that the development like the one Maximus is proposing will, one, help with the housing shortage in the Bay Area, and two, add to the local economy,” said Emily Griego, president of the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.

The redevelopment site at 915 Antonio St. is just south of San Leandro Creek and about 1,000 feet from the San Leandro BART station.

“Hopefully, there will be (residents) who will be utilizing the BART station, who will be coming to the downtown to do their shopping,” Commissioner Ken Pon said.

Existing buildings will be demolished to construct the 931,989-square-foot development consisting of two buildings with a shared underground garage.

One building will be six stories tall while the second will be five stories. A total of 892 parking spaces will be provided.

The buildings will have a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Each apartment will have a full kitchen, plus a washer and dryer. About 30 percent of the units will include private balconies.

“It’s an incredibly impressive project,” former Mayor Stephen Cassidy said. “It’s taking land that has been vacant since the 1980s and making it into what will be the densest housing development in San Leandro history, and almost one of the largest apartment complexes in our city.”

Amenities will include rooftop gardens and terraces, bicycle lockers, a clubhouse, a dog park and a dog wash area, as well as a pool and outdoor spots for barbecuing.

The complex also will have on-site maintenance, leasing staff and property management.

The project is expected to generate 2,010 jobs during construction and $2.9 million annually in tax revenue for the city, according to San Leandro officials.

Target dates for a groundbreaking and a grand opening were not available.

The site totals about 5.73 acres and was previously used by Caterpillar. A car dealership is along the south and Union Pacific Railroad tracks are on the west.

An Alameda County Fire Department training facility borders the site along the north.

The developer will pay the city $1,030,000 in lieu of offering 15 percent of the apartments as affordable, a requirement of the city.

Along with the San Leandro project, Maximus Real Estate Partners is behind a proposed 330-unit apartment complex at 1979 Mission St., San Francisco. Dubbed the “Monster in the Mission” by opponents, the project is near the 16th Street BART station and has been in the works more than six years.