CCMIN102009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Jim Bautista said that class sizes at Fairlands Elementary School increased this last year and this proposal creates legitimate concerns that they could increase further. He also feared that the proposed rezoning would increase safety concerns within all of Hacienda and detract from the quiet, peaceful neighborhood that exists on the weekends. Mayor Hosterman stated that each Councilmember has a child who was enrolled in the Pleasanton Unified School District and that each has dealt with these issues. She assured Mr. Bautista that the Council, individually and as whole, is keyed in and sensitive to these issues. Deborah Sanders countered Mr. Dolan's statement that only 15 members of the public provided comments at the Planning Commission meeting; she said that 19 people spoke and roughly 50 members of the community attended. Public speaking can be very difficult and that presence carries as much weight as comments. Residents believed a task force would be established to provide the public with input on the development of this portion of the community and that those residents are now being told something different. The data presented tonight is interesting but outdated and should not be used to determine the structure of the community, and she has questions which should be answered before the PUD process begins. Mayor Hosterman clarified that the 15 people were stated as attending the neighborhood meetings, not the Planning Commission meeting. Alex Brennan, East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO), said his organization is dedicated to working with communities in Alameda and Contra Costa counties to preserve, protect, and expand affordable housing opportunities. He conveyed EBHO's support for the staff recommendation, stating that it would be a great first step of action for the City. He also conveyed EBHO's desire to work with the Council on meeting the City's additional housing obligations. In addition to meeting these obligations, the rezoning of all 3 properties would provide Pleasanton with the opportunity to serve as a role model for other Bay Area counties by providing high quality, transit oriented, and affordable development which meets the needs of the existing community. He shared materials depicting examples of local projects which he felt could dispel many of the myths surrounding affordable housing, some of which were voiced at the Planning Commission meeting. He extended EBHO's offer to provide tours of local affordable developments as well as support an educational process which promotes a greater understanding of affordable housing needs. He requested that the entire community take a stand against discriminatory views and statements blaming low- income people, people of color, renters, and affordable housing for crime, deteriorating schools, and falling property values. Gregory Kushner said he is not opposed to the rezoning process but wants to ensure that it is done in the proper order. The citizens of Pleasanton expect a task force that addresses the needs of all stakeholders before moving forward in this process and asked why the Planning Commission ignored that promise. He questioned the belief that liabilities would not increase as a result of this rezoning, said that schools are already underfunded, traffic could not help but increase, and he asked that these impacts be more closely studied. Troy Grooms said he is very proud of Pleasanton's diversity and doubted that anyone with discriminatory viewpoints would live here. He was surprised to hear that an impact study has not been performed and more surprised that he was not made aware of it before tonight. His primary concern with this proposal is the lack of current information. He acknowledged Mr. Dolan's estimation that the upcoming census would reveal increased numbers of residents working locally and /or using public transit; that when a large number of people are placed into a relatively small area, it can only mean greater congestion and overall impacts. He questioned City Council Minutes Page 10 of 25 October 20, 2009