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bringing this project forward. He noted that while they have had their differences, there <br />was a pretty common vision for what ought to happen on this site, and he is proud to <br />say that from the first presentation out of the box, the owner team put together <br />something that was really fitting and appropriate for this site. He further noted that City <br />staff had a number of issues that they wanted the project team to address, which were <br />done along the way, and he believes the team has brought a really good project to the <br />City that provides mutual benefit for both the City and for the owner. <br />Mr. Inderbitzen presented the history of the project, noting that this was actually initiated <br />by the owner as an application to expand the office uses on this site with three new <br />office buildings measuring a total of about 500,000 square feet and a small hotel. He <br />indicated that this occurred at about the time the City was going through a transit - <br />oriented development (TOD) process in North Pleasanton, and this site was right on the <br />edge of what would have been included with the TOD development. He continued that <br />at that time, the City had a housing cap, so it made good sense for this site to go on an <br />office campus path. He added that during that process, however, the City had a change <br />in its housing cap, and the City then initiated its Housing Element Update process. <br />Mr. Inderbitzen stated that it was at this time that an opportunity arose for this site to <br />look at residential on that portion where one of the office buildings and the hotel would <br />have been located. He indicated that they then started to work with City staff and the <br />Task Force to put something together that would make sense on this site. He noted <br />that this was one of the nine successful sites to be rezoned for high- density residential <br />projects. He further noted that most of the other sites were rezoned at 30 units to the <br />acre, but this site was asked to take some additional density because the site could take <br />it, in addition to the fact that it is a good location for having 35 units to the acre as a <br />minimum. He indicated that he thinks this is the only site throughout that rezoning <br />process that had virtually no negative public reaction; the project essentially had no <br />neighborhood opposition, and this is a testimony to the fact that it is in a good location, it <br />really does function pretty much like a TOD being just barely outside a half mile from the <br />BART station, and it just fits; the project team did a good job of fitting it in there. <br />Mr. Inderbitzen then outlined the process for their presentation, stating that the project <br />team's intention tonight is not to go through the project presentation in detail as they did <br />that at the Planning Commission Work Session just four months ago and the project has <br />not changed that substantially, but to hit the high points just to get it on the record and <br />make sure that they have a good overview of the site. He indicated that Padru Kang <br />would make that presentation; followed by Brett Leon, who will review the Commission's <br />comments, questions, and input from the Work Session and show how the team <br />responded to those, and explain why they did not respond to some and what they would <br />like to see happen on those items. He stated that he will then come back to get a few <br />things on the record and to update some of the issues that were not discussed at the <br />Work Session and have arisen as they have gone forward. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 27, 2013 Page 28 of 48 <br />