CCMIN030116 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mayor Thorne opened public comments Sandy Yamaoda thanked the Council for the opportunity to speak on the subject of Lund Ranch. She does not live there but has resided in Pleasanton for 25 years. She has always been concerned about how we care for hillsides and ridges and is a fiscal conservative. She implored the Council to rescind the Ordinance not only to save money but noted the opposition is City -wide. Residents in Mission Park have also signed on to protect hills and Measure PP. She noted the opposition may be for many reasons, for her it was because of voter - approved Measure PP. She thought we already decided this issue. The City Council majority has decided to change the interpretation of Measure PP to accommodate the developer instead of the voters. She was one of the majority to vote Measure PP in order to protect hillsides and ridges as that was the intent of Measure PP. She is concerned that they would be ravaged and scarred for the sake of a development. Any exceptions would set a precedent which would only lead to destroying other hillsides. She urged the Council to rescind the approval and bring the four communities together to rationally discuss an alternative. Do not hinder suggested solutions by ignoring them. This development as designed will not be supported by the electorate. Michele Plunge was the coordinator of the volunteer signature gatherers which included 70 individuals from all over Pleasanton and they collected 75% of the required signatures. She interacted with residents who lamented about the multilevel Township Square and Village at Bernal and Valley, and they are opposed to grading on hillsides. She inquired how the City would accommodate the traffic, safety impacts on schools, traffic backups, longer public safety response times, and overcrowded classrooms. Council adopted something not consistent with Measure PP and she urged them to adopt consistent and explicit definitions to guide development. We have a Pleasanton Historic Downtown, outstanding schools and scenic hillsides, and we remain one of the most desirable cities to work and raise a family. She urged Council to protect the quality of life in Pleasanton and to remain a community of character and Pleasanton proud. George Dort, resident of Ventana Hills, and described himself as a "plank holder" or first resident. He was a member of a citizen's community to save the ridges and was also a member of the Ventana Hills Steering Committee. He recalled the Bonde Property matter and trying to keep homes off of the ridges; it was a compromise on a difficult negotiation as the two neighborhoods did not want the traffic. He stated if neither party is happy, it was probably a fair decision. There was fair debate and votes are cast, not all were happy with the outcome, however all left united once the decision was made. The Council made the decision to seek the Office and make the often difficult decisions. Those that were unhappy with the Council decision decided to start the referendum process with both volunteer and paid signature gatherers. There were also volunteers who opposed the referendum. The referendum petitions stated that the voters should have a say on the merits of the Council decision. The voters have spoken and the Council acted in good faith and many would now like the Council to vacate their decision. He urged the Council to allow the vote to happen and was confident once the whole truth is put before the residents the voice of the Council will be honored. Amy Lofland, resident of Ventana Hills and representing the Ventana Hills Steering Committee, provided historical information regarding the April 2, 1991 matter which allowed orderly input on Bonde Ranch. All 5 members on the committee would have preferred that no development occurred but the City's General Plan allows the growth. The residents of Sycamore Heights and Bridal Creek were notified about the proposed Lund Ranch development before purchasing their homes. Since 2011, this process has taken time, effort, and compromise among the developer, neighborhoods and City staff. The Ventana Hills and Mission Park neighborhoods support the Council's decision as fair and reasonable and one that does protect the hills and ridgelines. She is ready and willing to help educate the residents and requests that "southeast Pleasanton" be added to the ballot measure language and that the election be scheduled in June. Mayor Thorne confirmed that the steering committee could help draft the ballot measure language. City Council Minutes Page 4 of 10 March 1, 2016