RES 12574 - Laserfiche WebLink

storm drainage, sewer connections, water connections, Fire Department access, street lights, and clean water-runoff measures. While additional development costs, these improvements are unavoidable in that they provide the necessary facilities and services needed and demanded by residents living in an urban/suburban environment. Occasionally the City requires off-site improvements in areas where further development will occur, and it sets up reimbursement agreements so that future developers will reimburse the original developer for those costs. Other mechanisms to "front" public improvement costs include assessment districts and specific plan finance agreements. The City will typically contribute towards the cost of public improvements for affordable-housing developments with money from its Lower-Income Housing Fund. These contributions are shown in Appendix F. The site development standards adopted for the Hacienda TOD (Sites 22, 23 and 24) and proposed for the multi-family development sites (sites 25 through 33) are shown it the Site Development Standards Table on page 85. These design standards include required setbacks, internal street and alley widths, and open space requirements consistent with creating desirable and safe living environments. Most of the multi-family development sites included in the City's inventory are infill sites which do not require the development of new public streets. Multi-family development applications were recently approved for Sites 22 and 23 where BRE, developers of multi-family housing, proposes to build 500 units. Thus, the on-and off-site improvements required by the City do not unduly constrain multi-family residential development. Codes and Enforcement The City's building and zoning enforcement is handled by two Code Enforcement officers, who are part of the Planning Division. Working mainly on a complaint basis, Code Enforcement officers identify zoning and building Code violations and work with the property owners and Planning and Building Division staff to resolve and legalize these violations. Another function of the Code Enforcement officers is to identify housing units which are substandard, overcrowded, or unsafe and to work together with other City staff to remedy these deficiencies. The impact of these efforts on the development of affordable housing is considered minor, but their impact on housing safety and on maintaining decent housing conditions is considered major. By requiring repair, maintenance, and compliance with building and fire Ccodes and zoning setbacks, the City's Code Enforcement program has eliminated hazardous conditions which are a threat to housing and residents of all income levels. Housing Constraints for Persons with Disabilities The major constraint with providing housing which meets the needs of persons with disabilities in Pleasanton is the added cost of providing the physical improvements and features which accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities. In many cases, persons with physical, mental, or developmental disabilities are also low-income, making it difficult for them to afford the added costs of the physical improvements needed to make their living areas accessible to them. The location of accessible housing is also a constraint, since housing for people with disabilities is best located where services and transportation are available for these community members. The additional costs, plus the reluctance of the development community to provide accessible units for City of Pleasanton Housing Element BACKGROUND—February 2012 94