11 ATTACHMENT 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

James Ellison, addressed the City Council, acknowledged the concerns raised but said the project provides a desperately needed boost to and jobs in the local construction industry, which has been ravaged by the recession. He said the project is consistent with existing development up and down the Stanley Boulevard corridor. He said his own company, if awarded a contract associated with the project. would be able to keep a number of employees working. The project would pump money into the downtown merchants and City coffers, and there is something seriously wrong with a society that places more importance on trees than on people. Mike Donahue, addressed the City Council, expressed concern with the precedent set by upzoning this parcel. He said the mobile home park directly across the street is in the process of closing down and his fear is that this is an incremental step in making Stanley Boulevard into apartment row. Jennifer Pearce, Planning Commission, addressed the City Council, clarified her vote on the matter. She said her concern is with the cumulative effects of this development, rather than the particular application. She said she fully supports the property owner's right to develop the property but not a project that demolishes a 102-year-old structurally sound house, razes nearly every tree on the site, and barely avoids triggering the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. She proposed that the density be raised with an attached townhome type development, keeping the existing home and a greater portion of the existing trees, or that the density be significantly reduced. She requested the application be brought back to the Planning Commission for further discussion. She also said this application clearly speaks to the need for some sort of historic home guidelines. Mr. DiDonato, applicant, reiterated that the basis of the application was driven by the City's General Plan and Downtown Specific Plan. He said he is a bit at odds with the issues being raised and is hopeful the Council will recognize that he has brought forth a quality project in a very difficult economy. The Mayor closed the public hearing. Mayor Hosterman said that by and large, she likes the project. She said the City needs higher density housing within the downtown area and she appreciates the overall look of the project. She said she visited the site, read the reports, does not believe the existing bungalow has the value consistent with a historic site, and could support demolishing the structure. She said that while she would hope to never see a tree cut down in Pleasanton, especially heritage trees, it makes more sense to think in terms of replacing them with something healthier and more in keeping with the foliage in the rest of the neighborhood. She said she would definitely like to see some sort of small area in which kids can play, perhaps situated as a buffer between the rear homes and railroad line. She also strongly encouraged the applicant to work with staff to increase green building points. Councilmember Thorne said visiting the site greatly altered his position regarding the trees and he believed the applicant's recommendation is, in fact, warranted. His primary concern is that the project is 3 years in and it seems that some issues are not yet resolved. While he absolutely respects and appreciates the public process, it does need to be streamlined so people are not tied up for so long. He hated to ask the applicant to return to the drawing board, but would like the Planning Commission to address concerns related to density and the future of the overall neighborhood. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said she too could support removal of the trees and bungalow. Regarding parking issues, she said she believed four spaces for each home to be adequate. She acknowledged one speaker's concerns regarding traffic and parking along Stanley Boulevard and said the condominium complex to the east of the project site is lacking parking, which is not this applicant's issue. She liked the look of the development in general, recognized the PHA's comments and said she would like to be part of creating a set of guidelines for future developers, though it is not reasonable to hold this project to those City Council Minutes, December 7, 2010 PUD-82, Donato Builders