Laserfiche WebLink
a relatively small proportion of the housing market, result in an inadequate number of such units <br /> for the need. As such, local government has an obligation to assist in meeting this need, working <br /> with non-profit agencies and housing developers to provide accessible housing. <br /> The City of Pleasanton has addressed the need for housing for persons with disabilities in several <br /> past projects. For example, the City used federal HOME funds to construct four apartments <br /> within the Promenade project (a tax credit family apartment project)with all of the amenities <br /> needed for households with a person with physical disabilities. An additional four units in the <br /> complex were reserved for persons with developmental disabilities. The City has also used <br /> HOME funds to assist the acquisition of residential properties by Tri-Valley REACH (formerly <br /> HOUSE, Inc.)to provide housing for adults with developmental disabilities who can live <br /> independently with supportive services. In 2006, the City Council adopted Senior Housing <br /> Guidelines to provide a framework to help guide the planning, design, and review of new senior <br /> housing developments in Pleasanton. The guidelines incorporate many of the standards of <br /> Universal Design to promote the creation of new housing where residents will be able to age in <br /> place. <br /> Among the City's housing goals is the provision of specially-designed housing for persons with <br /> disabilities in appropriate locations. A number of Housing Element programs specifically address <br /> ways for this goal to be accomplished. These include requiring as many units as is feasible to be <br /> accessible and adaptable to persons with disabilities within large rental projects, using a portion <br /> of the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for developers of special needs <br /> housing and service providers, setting aside a portion of the City's Lower-Income Housing Fund <br /> for housing which accommodates persons with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, <br /> encouraging the production of housing for persons with disabilities in in-fill locations where <br /> services are available, and encouraging group homes/community care facilities for six persons or <br /> less throughout the City. These programs result in the use of City resources to help fund <br /> modifications to make units adaptable and accessible to persons with disabilities and to help fund <br /> the development of new accessible units. <br /> Through its design review and plan-check procedures, the City ensures that the legally-required <br /> number of parking spaces for persons with disabilities is provided for all developments. Under its <br /> PUD process, the City has reduced the number of parking spaces for assisted-living and other <br /> special-needs housing projects where it is shown that the demand for the Code-required parking <br /> does not exist. <br /> The City's review process is not considered to be a constraint to the development of housing for <br /> individuals with disabilities since there are no special requirements or procedures for such <br /> housing. The City complies with State law regarding allowing group homes with six or fewer <br /> individuals by right with no review. Group homes with seven or more occupants require <br /> conditional use permits by the Planning Commission at a public hearing where surrounding <br /> neighbors receive notification. There are no spacing requirements or other standards or <br /> pre-conditions to limit their establishment. The City long ago re-defined "family"to include <br /> unrelated individuals living as a housekeeping unit, removing that impediment to fair housing. <br /> City of Pleasanton Housing Element BACKGROUND—February 2012 95 <br />