Laserfiche WebLink
gates and noted that with the very large lot sites being proposed, the new home builders <br />will be able to put a gate on their property if they so desire. He pointed out that a gate <br />to the entrance of this development will only serve to alienate current Pleasanton <br />residents and further divide the community. <br />With respect to the protection of the ridgelines, Mr. Ruiz stated that as someone born in <br />Pleasanton in the 1950's, he has seen much of the natural beauty of the region <br />destroyed by development. He indicated that he hopes every step possible is taken to <br />reduce the visual blight that will be created by massive homes on the beautiful hillsides <br />in the southeast corner of town. He noted that the beauty that once was Pleasanton is <br />dying a death of a thousand cuts, and he asked the Commission not to approve homes <br />that destroy the ridgelines, which should be protected for future generations. <br />Kay Ayala stated that she went down to the Planning Division earlier today to pick up a <br />copy of the Hillside Protection Ordinance and the Grading Ordinance that were required <br />by Measure QQ, and she was told that there was none. She referred to Section 2 -B of <br />Exhibit E, the full text of Measure QQ, and read:: "The General Plan has a policy that <br />Pleasanton residents will participate in land use planning and decision - making, and in <br />recognition of such collaborative and public process, an ordinance /design guidelines <br />should be developed to (a) Identify specific ridges based on engineering considerations <br />... in the Southeast Hills, in particular, and other relevant data where development <br />should not occur. (b) Such ordinance /design guidelines must be drafted as <br />expeditiously as possible and by no later than the end of November 2009." She noted <br />that this is now 2012, and the City does not have a Hillside Protection Ordinance or a <br />Grading Ordinance. She added that this was where the problem was with Lund <br />Ranch II and now here: the City is not abiding by what the voters asked the City to do. <br />Ms. Ayala stated that she and Ms. Becky Dennis had said: "Open space advocates and <br />community leaders ask the City Council to place Measure QQ on the ballot. We want a <br />hillside preservation measure that protects Pleasanton's opportunity to receive <br />hundreds of acres of open space, land dedication and maintenance endowments for <br />future parks and trails worth more than $15 million. Please vote yes on QQ." She <br />named some who endorsed the Measure: Mayor Hosterman, Vice Mayor Jerry Thorne, <br />Councilmember Cheryl Cook - Kallio, former BART Director Erlene deMarcus who works <br />for Mr. Tong, Planning Commissioner Kathy Narum, Planning Commissioner Arne <br />Olson, and Planning Commissioner Jennifer Pearce. <br />Ms. Ayala stated that this is the problem with these developments that are coming <br />forward and puts staff in a particularly bad position. She requested the Commission to <br />ask staff that a Hillside Protection Ordinance and a Grading Ordinance be the first order <br />of business, and when these projects come through, the Commission and staff would <br />have something to go with. She reminded the Commission that the voters voted for <br />Measures PP and QQ, and they were both incorporated into the General Plan so to <br />make the Commission's job a lot easier. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 28, 2012 Page 13 of 33 <br />