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Commissioner O'Connor noted that the Commission even had presentations by <br /> nonprofits who cautioned the Commission about putting everything in one spot. <br /> THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. <br /> Heather Liang stated that she is a six-year resident and a Homeowners Association <br /> Board member of the Ironwood community. She indicated that she has been involved <br /> with this process for a long time and that she has noted almost all of the same concerns <br /> that have been brought up. She indicated that she came from Milpitas, Union City, and <br /> Fremont, and made her way up to Pleasanton to find a neighborhood that she wanted <br /> for her children who are now four and six years old. She noted that when she bought <br /> her house, she was told that the land right across the street from her house was not <br /> going to be zoned for this type of Alternatives, and never in her wildest dreams did she <br /> think she would be sitting here right now looking at all these plans. She added that she <br /> is very open to making this work best for the City; however, she is also on the side of <br /> trying to make this not a scapegoat for putting all the RHNA numbers. <br /> Ms. Liang stated that the City needs to make sure it keeps the community similar in <br /> nature to why the residents of Ironwood and surrounding communities bought their <br /> houses here. She asked that a balance be kept, a common theme with all the members <br /> of the Board today, and make sure all of the opportunities for other areas in the City <br /> have been investigated, such as near BART or other rundown areas that were zoned for <br /> retail. She indicated that she does not have any idea but believes there has got to be <br /> something else out there that maybe has not been looked at. She reiterated that she <br /> just really wants to make sure that the City has exhausted all options before saying <br /> which Alternative will be selected, that the Commissioners would all be happy with the <br /> Alternative if it were in their backyard as well. <br /> Ms. Liang stated that when she tells her my friends that live in other parts of Pleasanton <br /> about this East Pleasanton plan and how many units are possibly going to be built next <br /> to her house, most of them are clueless because they do not live next to it and will not <br /> be affected by it, but say they are glad they did not buy next to me. She stated that it is <br /> what it is, but the City needs to make sure that the rest of Pleasanton is aware of what <br /> is going on and that her neighborhood is not being used as a scapegoat for this <br /> exercise. <br /> Nancy Allen stated that she agreed with the previous speaker and that she is going to <br /> say the same thing but in just a little bit of a different way. She indicated that the City <br /> has a tremendous opportunity to create a wonderful community on the East side, and <br /> she hopes it is done in a way that is best for the community versus as a scapegoat for <br /> RHNA needs. <br /> Ms. Allen stated that she would like to address two questions that have been posed: <br /> the first is what the mix of single-family versus multi-family housing should be. She <br /> stated that in principle, she believes that the neighborhood to be created should be <br /> EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 22, 2013 Page 12 of 30 <br />