18 ATTACHMENT 1-4; 6-9 - Laserfiche WebLink

ATTACHMENT 8 Citizens for a Caring Community P.O. Box 1781 , Pleasanton CA 94566 March 26, 2013 Chairman Phil Blank Pleasanton Planning Commission City of Pleasanton Pleasanton CA 94566 RE: Agenda Item 6c, Rreef/Pleasant Partners LLC-California Center Dear Chairman Blank and Pleasanton Planning Commissioners, Citizens for a Caring Community(CCC) is writing to let you know of our agreement with the Housing Commission's serious concerns regarding the Housing Agreement that accompanies Pleasant Partners/Rreef(Rreef) proposal for California Center. In support of the Housing Commission we ask that you include, in your recommendations to the City Council,a request that the project not receive final approval to proceed until the Housing Commission's issues regarding the inadequacy to the proposed Housing agreement have been resolved satisfactory to all parties. At both their February and March meetings, the Housing Commission expressed concerns regarding this proposal's unprecedented lack of affordable housing.As a result,the California Center PUD comes to you without their recommendation for either Option 1 or Option 2. Unfortunately you will not have the benefit of of reviewing the minutes of their discussion because staff,at the applicant's insistence,has fast tracked this project for approval. Minutes would reveal the applicant(through staff)gave the Housing Commission a forced choice between two options. (Please see Attachments 1 and 2, CCC letters and analysis for more detailed information.) Unlike the courtesy afforded to the Pleasanton Unified School District(PUSD), they would not accept any delay needed to develop a more acceptable proposal. Furthermore, the applicant never held any public workshop with the Housing Commission to get their input before drafting the Housing Agreement. Clearly Rreef believes they are entitled to an Agreement which permanently restricts Pleasanton's ability to provide affordable housing on this important piece of property, and on other 30 unitlacre Rreef assisted proposals currently working their way through the planning process. To their credit,despite intense pressure, the Housing Commission refused to recommend either option. In order to make a decision in the best interest of Pleasanton,they felt the City should first finish the nexus study(currently underway)that will provide the basis for resetting the Lower Income Housing Fee and drafting a new ordinance to replace our recently invalidated Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance(110). CCC concurs. Rreef clearly sees this as an opportunity to force Pleasanton to entitle its oroperty with a sub-minimum level of affordability before the City adopts an enforceable housing ordinance. Rreefs recently announced substantial divestments of other business park properties in the Bay Area(see Attachment 3)suggest they may plan to sell the property rather than develop it immediately.Therefore, in order to preserve the City Council's options for negotiating with any Rreef successor,the Planning Commission should support a reasonable delay in processing until the City completes the nexus study and/or until the Housing Commission negotiates a Housing Agreement more consistent with Pleasanton's adopted housing goals, policies,and programs. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. Very sincerely, 3ecky Dennis (925)426-1525 Attachments: 3