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benefits and impacts mentioned by Councilmember Narum, he noted that residential cost impacts are <br /> lower in Hacienda because of the existing infrastructure and commercial cost benefits are higher <br /> because there is none of the attendant infrastructure and maintenance for the city. <br /> Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio asked Mr. Paxson to expand upon a comment he made to her earlier that day, <br /> which was that because Hacienda is a transit oriented development and what he termed a functional <br /> PDA, it somehow limits the impacts of RHNA. <br /> Mr. Paxson explained that it has largely to do with the fair share factors, in that there is a lesser <br /> negative effect when employment occurs within areas considered PDAs that are proximate to transit. <br /> For the purposes of the last RHNA calculation, Hacienda was considered a PDA. <br /> Councilmember Brown asked what Hacienda's current vacancy rate is. <br /> Mr. Paxson referred to Hacienda's website, but estimated between 14% and 16%. <br /> Becky Dennis referred to an analysis she submitted to staff. She said her issue is not with whether <br /> Hacienda should be allowed to keep the square footage in question, in fact she felt they could perhaps <br /> use additional square footage, but with the actual need for affordable housing in areas below the <br /> median income. She recommended that the Council postpone a decision until after the upcoming fee <br /> setting exercise, which is in part aimed at making housing a draw for businesses. She said her <br /> understanding was that a decision had not been made regarding the cap before because there was a <br /> desire to retain the office entitlements should the residential sites never be developed as such. She <br /> again asked the Council to wait on a decision and in the interim engage commercial property owners in <br /> identifying a solution to the underlying issue, which is that the housing being generated creates a need <br /> for more affordability than is available within each development. She said she believed that rather than <br /> jobs and housing centers, the model of the future would based more on a self-contained principality. <br /> She also said she saw no reason for the Council to take action with regards to California Center, as <br /> Hacienda is now in control of that project. <br /> David Miller thanked Mr. Dolan for his attempts to explain RHNA but said he still lacked a clear <br /> understanding of the actual impacts. He said his primary concern relates to schools and, while he <br /> dreads the overcrowding that will result from these developments, he is also disappointed to see that <br /> fewer units than were envisioned will be built and subsequently less fees will be generated. He <br /> recommended that staff include some statement regarding the impact on RHNA in its staff reports. <br /> Greg O'Connor acknowledged that RHNA methodology changes from time to time but agreed with the <br /> Mayor that when you create jobs, you also create a need for housing. He read a letter he had intended <br /> to submit •:o staff, which focused on the imminent surpassing of the city's existing housing cap. He felt <br /> that restoring Hacienda's commercial development capacity would only add to the city's RHNA <br /> requirements, all without consideration of the commercial allocations eminent in the East Pleasanton <br /> Specific Plan and other infill projects. By his calculations, the additional 930,000 square feet proposed <br /> for Hacienda represents approximately 5,283 jobs and 3,522 residential units. He said it was <br /> unfortunate this data was not made available to the Planning Commission and asked that the Council <br /> send the item back to the Commission for reconsideration based on this new infrmation. He <br /> alternatively asked that the Council deny the staff recommendation if it feels the need to make a <br /> decision tonight. <br /> Heidi Fielding said she is happy to see the city supporting increased residential development in <br /> Hacienda, and hoped it could do so while retaining Pleasanton's wonderful character. With regards to <br /> cash flow, she questioned whether staff factored in the revenue stream generated by multi-family family <br /> residences. She said there has been considerable discussion about affordable and single-family <br /> residential development, but asked that they not forget about middle income families in calculating <br /> City Council Minutes Page 8 of 12 September 17, 2013 <br />