CCMIN05022017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ed Broome asked those in support of the project to raise their hands and Mayor Thorne noted most of the audience raised their hands. He spoke in support of the project noting the greater neighborhood appreciates the proposed amenities, which will be for the entire City. He added this is the right project, the right size and occurring at the right time. Dan Lacy spoke in favor of the proposed project. John Conroy spoke in favor of the proposed project, noting it will help and enhance the neighborhood. Bob Slack, Pastor, Evangelical Free Church of Pleasanton, commented on challenges they have had with the subject site, noted their intent to purchase a building that has been vacant for a long time and renovate it, to help the community, including other non-profit groups and listed the benefits of the project to the church and the City. Julie Testa reported the Pleasanton Unified School District Board did not intend to agree to support this project and the contract was simply a mitigation agreement. She added the Board was interested in the property as an identified need for a future school. Ms. Testa spoke in opposition of the project and stated the City Council has an obligation to help the school district plan schools. John Bauer spoke in opposition of the project and listed points supporting his argument including the need for two new schools to eliminate overcrowding. He urged the City Council to vote against the project. Lin McNamee provided a brief history of the property noting that the school district has shown no interest in the property for thirty years. As part of the neighborhood ad hoc group, she spoke in support of the group's recommendations and stated the proposed project looks like it belongs on the site. She added that the cost of the public restroom will be off-set with new property tax revenue and spoke in support of the project. Kay Ayala commented on the purchase of the site from the school district by the Evangelical Free Church of Pleasanton noting they did not accept the offer by the school district to buy the land back, because they liked the offer from Ponderosa, better. She reported that the mitigation agreement signed by the school district, was done under the premise that Ponderosa and the City had entered into a development agreement for the project, which was untrue and that she doubted whether the Board read the agreement in its entirety. She added the City Council must represent the entire City. Additionally, she noted the public restroom goes against City policy and urged Council to deny the project. Connie Cox thanked the City Council and staff for its consideration and spoke regarding the proposed public restroom and in support of the project. She reported speaking with school district representatives who indicated they did not want the site and opined it is a dangerous place to build a school. Additionally, she indicated neighbors want the clubhouse and the public restroom and urged the City Council to approve the project. Jeff Schroeder, Ponderosa Homes, reported the school district presented Ponderosa with the agreement which they signed. He commented on attempts to work things out with the school district, but Ponderosa was already too far into the process. Mayor Thorne closed the public hearing. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 8 May 2, 2017