CCMIN051915 - Laserfiche WebLink

• Schools Most attendees had learned that the school district had recently prepared a demographic report which concluded that school enrollments would decrease over time. This was based primarily on data derived from households within the city that identified a decline in birth rates. Some members of the public shared a suspicion that this data was not correct and shared a lot of anecdotal information to dispute the claim. Concerns were also expressed about the importance of schools to the overall quality of life in Pleasanton and the proposed school site's proximity to the Livermore airport. • Traffic The public expressed concerns that the extension of El Charro Road would result in additional cut through traffic, the potential impacts of the project on First Street which is already at capacity, and increased congestion at the Sunol Boulevard onramps. Some individuals expressed the belief that the plan itself is flawed because it is contingent upon extending El Charro Road. • Housing Some citizens suggested that the planning of East Pleasanton prior to the next round of Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers was premature. Others felt that the plan should include multi-family housing opportunities to help meet the RHNA obligation, that the Urban Growth Boundary should be honored or that the plan should be buffered from surrounding development. • Environmental Impact Report Concerns were expressed about the identified impacts related to construction period air quality and noise impacts that primarily occur as a result of traffic generated by the project. Some individuals felt that if the Council decided to pause or halt the planning process, the EIR process should stop as well. • General Additional concerns expressed by the public debated the benefit of the plan or that the addition of more residents in and of itself would diminish the quality of life of the community. Others questioned whether developers stood to profit too much from the project, expressed concerns related to locating the school and planned trails adjacent to quarry activities, or suggested that the traffic analysis and/or demographic studies could have been manipulated. Mr. Dolan stated that staff prepared the following options as starting points for the Council's consideration. Additionally, the applicants have prepared another option in resolution form. • Option 1 Continue the planning process and preparation of the EIR, maintaining the current course. This option would complete a long-standing program of the General Plan, provide for an extension of El Charro Road as contemplated in the General Plan and at no expense to the city, create a new neighborhood with high amenities and a variety of housing choices, provide for new outdoor recreational amenities, provide additional economic development opportunities and a sizable financial contribution to the city's Recycled Water Program, capitalize on several years of hard work by the task force, and improve the city's jobs to housing balance. However, this option would also potentially increase traffic and the demand for water and schools and could City Council Minutes Page 4 of 15 May 19, 2015