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management units in 2016 and 15 units in 2017 and 3 units in 2018, for a total of 25 units; and that the <br /> conditions stipulate through deed disclosures that the developer disclose the fact that the homes border <br /> a major piece of undeveloped property specifically the East Pleasanton Specific Plan. <br /> Vice-Mayor Brown said she struggles with the idea that hard-fought land by previous City leaders <br /> should be converted to more housing, given that they worked on a balance for the adjacent <br /> neighborhood to include houses and churches, grocery stores, parks and other amenities. She said <br /> there are 1,700 apartments that have been approved by the Council which is a flood of development, <br /> and more are coming. She said the state wanted a range and 235 units is supposed to be the <br /> maximum under the City's growth management allocation. She is disappointed that the property was <br /> not fully marketed to determine if, in fact, Ponderosa Homes is the highest and best use to get out of <br /> the church's financial situation. While she wished the City could help the church, to rezone land in the <br /> General Plan is not a minor thing to change, but a major modification to amend the General Plan. <br /> Vice-Mayor Brown said in the church's financial documents, they are looking for the best way to <br /> financially resolve their situation and she questioned if churches will start coming to the City and view <br /> rezoning as a financial resource, which is a precedent she is uncomfortable in setting. Church <br /> documents indicate that after debt has been paid, they will receive $3.1 to $3.4 million. All churches <br /> have spent money on their churches and rezoning should not be a policy as a way to get grocery <br /> stores, restaurants, businesses or churches out of financial hardship. <br /> She has struggled with the matter and cited water and traffic issues, but said the real issue for her is <br /> that this is not the right thing to do for the City. Therefore, she cannot support the motion. <br /> Councilmember Pentin said when he first looked at the request, he thought about the drought and 25 <br /> additional homes. He also looks at every project individually and he looks at the community benefit. <br /> When former Mayor Pico spoke, he understands and said he remembers the many issues surrounding <br /> the pumpkin patch and changes. Change has come and what was approved does not work for them <br /> and he will not hold the church responsible to build out their envisioned plan. In listening to both sides, <br /> he sees community benefit in the sense that the traffic and drought issues are a wash and if anything, <br /> is an improvement. He thinks comments by the Mayor and comments he has had with the applicant <br /> that they could move this with the allocations on the growth management ordinance to 16, most in 17 <br /> and a few units in 18 with a caveat. The City does not know if they will move in a stage 1 or 2 with the <br /> drought in another year or two or stage 4. If they do, Ponderosa Homes is taking the chance for a <br /> moratorium and that the City will not allow building in 2016, 2017 or 2018 and this is the chance they <br /> take, and he is comfortable with that. <br /> As far as Julie Testa's remarks about schools, there is a school proposed which will grow and provide <br /> classrooms which is a benefit. Lastly, regarding public and institutional zoning land as important, the <br /> City does have this and if approved tonight, the church will still be able to create a place of worship in <br /> Pleasanton, which creates public and institutional somewhere else, but at least the church remains. <br /> With that, he could support the motion as long as the growth management allocations are metered out <br /> over the 2016-2018 timeframe. <br /> Mayor Thorne said he too struggles with the matter, given all comments that have been brought up. <br /> When he first became a Councilmember, he recognized the numerous influences on the City that the <br /> Council has no control over. He educated himself through representation on local and regional <br /> committees that are determining Pleasanton's future. In the 1980's it was different but things have <br /> changed. His fear is that if the Council maintains the public and institutional zoning and there are no <br /> buyers on the property and the property sits during another RHNA process, there will be high density <br /> housing placed on the property. <br /> He also referred to the reason for the 1700 homes and clarified that this was done by a court order and <br /> the City had to implement it. He resents the fact that people tell him he supported this as a <br /> City Council Minutes Page 18 of 28 October 6, 2015 <br />