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PUD procedure, such as the Suncrest Townhomes on Santa Rita Road and Rotary Commons on Palomino Drive. The City has been able to approve developments with higher overall densities, exceptions to the development standards and a_greater number of affordable housing units through the PUD process than it would have been possible with conventional zoning. The PUD process is discretionary and-requires review at both the Planning Commission and City Council level. However, it allows great flexibility regarding the standards to be used and these standards can be tailored to specific sites, thus ensuring, for example, that sites near transit incorporate elements of Transit Oriented Development, and that a mix of land use> is allowed where appropriate. In order to ensure that the PUD process does not create uncertainty for potential developers, Program 9.8 commits the City to preparing and adopting Development Standards and Design Guidelines to facilitate the development of high quality multifamily housing, and to create more certainty for residential development on sites zoned PUD. These standards are intended to be similar to ones already adopted for multifamily development for three sites in the Hacienda TOD area. The site development standards adopted for the Hacienda TOD (Sites 22, 23, and 24) and for the multi-family development sites (sites 25 through 33) are shown in the Site Development Standards table on page 85. These standards establish requirements for setbacks, open space, height, parking, and internal street and alley standards. Minimum densities (ranging from 30 to 40 units per acre) for these sites were established by rezoning which was adoptec in January 2012. Development review of multi-family projects on these sites by the Planning Commission and City Council will be limited to an evaluation of the protect as to its consistency with the standards and design guidelines. Building Code Pleasanton uses the California Building Code (CBC) which sets minimum standards for residential development and all other structures. The standards may add material and labor costs, but are felt to be necessary minimums for the safety of those occupying the structures. Modification of the Code in order to reduce the cost of housing would not be appropriate if it affects safety or adversely impacts neighboring properties. The Building Division enforces energy conservation standards enacted by the State and Chapter 17.50 of the Pleasanton Municipal Code, Green Building, which generally requires new residential projects and residential additions greater than 2,000 square feet in size to incorporate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDTM) or GreenPoint Rated measures. The standards may increase initial construction costs, but over time will result in energy savings. Pleasanton's Building Code enforcement practices are complaint-driven, as are those of 70% of the local governments surveyed by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. The Building Division has adopted special construction rules primarily for safety related reasons, and to further clarify the requirements of the CBC. Examples of this are the Code requirements regarding increased pool height fencing for life-safety reasons and additional rebar requirements City of Pleasanton Housing Element BACKGROUND—February 2012 87