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Mr. Dolan then described the total site acreage, stating that at least in one case, it is anticipated there <br /> will be rezoning of properties to a different designation but not to the 30 units per acre, such as the <br /> Gateway site. A portion of the site could be at a higher density to meet the housing need which will <br /> leave a remainder which now has an office approval. Staff proposes that the remainder come forward <br /> with a lower, more traditional low density residential zoning. <br /> Also discussed in the past have been the two levels of density needed. The 23 units per acre is <br /> intended to address moderate density homes, 30 units per acre is driven by components of State law, <br /> and select areas were chosen where higher density could be accommodated at 40 units per acre. Mr. <br /> Dolan said staff will discuss the 23 units per acre and moderate density which he said has evolved <br /> since issuance of the staff report. As the list is pared down, staff wanted to keep such criteria in mind <br /> such as geographic distribution throughout the City, elimination of concentrating units in any one area, <br /> sites that have existing utility infrastructure and street access, those that are consistent with General <br /> Plan themes and elements of it, that are transit-oriented, that have convenient freeway access, and <br /> those within a job center. <br /> Mr. Dolan said site specific criteria ended up driving some decisions include staff not including the <br /> downtown sites. There has been a theme of reserving the site for other civic uses which has not yet <br /> been resolved. The second theme which had a major impact is that they did not want to predispose any <br /> decisions within the East Pleasanton Specific Plan area which was discussed extensively by the task <br /> force, the Planning Commission and Council. While they think it is possible to consider land in the <br /> planning area, it is easier if they do not. <br /> He presented the map of the recommendations from the staff report which pared down the list. He said <br /> there were some changes based on criteria which resulted in reductions in the list. The East <br /> Pleasanton sites were left out which include: the Kiewit site (11); Legacy Partner site (14), the <br /> Downtown site (18), the small Axis Community Health site (17), and 4202 Stanley Boulevard site (21) <br /> which was at the request of the owner. Upon further consideration, site 21 owners realized that the <br /> densities required were not the best use of the site. In both cases, the owners and staff believe they are <br /> good residential redevelopment infill sites, but trying to force the densities would not produce the best <br /> project for that site. After revising the list, the total acreage was reduced from 111 acres down to 84 <br /> acres. <br /> Mr. Dolan said the revised recommendation is contained in a staff memorandum dated today, which is <br /> a subset of this list. The list pares down the 84 acres to just under 73 acres. From many people's <br /> perspective, less land would be rezoned with less impact on the community. Others think that the City <br /> should rezone as much as it can because of accommodation of the Housing Element. Staff was able to <br /> reduce the list to 73 acres because they did not give themselves credit for some of the housing <br /> affordable to moderate income families that would result from the Hacienda properties. This <br /> recommendation responds to the HCD comment that the City should not be counting projects they <br /> know about and where they know the percentage of affordable units in the project. Therefore, staff only <br /> counted the income-restricted units in the BRE development and everything after that which is left over <br /> will qualify as moderate. In fact, he said while they have had an on-going dialogue about needing more <br /> units affordable to moderate income families, that need would ultimately be addressed through the <br /> Hacienda projects. They would therefore not need to rezone anything other than 23 units per acre, but <br /> they need a full 70 acres at 30 units per acre. Mr. Dolan apologized for not incorporating this into the <br /> numbers and noted it was discussed in the past. This is similar in that it does not have East <br /> Pleasanton, Axis, the Downtown property or the small property on Stanley, but staff had to change <br /> some of the 23 units per acre sites to 30 units and then they were able to eliminate others to get down <br /> to the 73 acres. <br /> The first change was on the Irby-Kaplan-Zia site (6); which was at 23 units per acres for 6 acres. They <br /> eliminated this site because it was not needed. On the Pleasanton Gateway site (7) there has been a <br /> constant suggestion that it would fit in better with the neighborhood if there were less high density units. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 18 December 6, 2011 <br />