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they do not know the exact details, but their preference would be to work out the details this week and go to the Council with the conditions. Commissioner O'Connor stated that he was very impressed with what the applicant has brought back to the Commission. He indicated that he believes they have answered all of the Commission's concerns from the Work Session and that he does not have any additional questions. Chair Blank thanked Mr. Zahedani for his comments about the Work Session. He stated that he has heard some developers question why they need to have a Work Session, and so he appreciates knowing that at least in this one particular case, it was effective. Becky Dennis, Citizens for a Caring Community (CCC), stated that Pat Belding and she are present this evening to offer their enthusiastic support for this project. She indicated that it is really impressive to see an applicant come forward with 20- percent very-low- income units on a small site which could not really be shared with a non - profit. She noted that this is an excellent example and is really glad to see it, and questioned why other developers are not doing it. Ms. Dennis stated that one of the things she wanted to speak philosophically about is that she is really excited that these affordable projects are coming forward now and that the City has an opportunity for this. She added that she hopes the Planning Commission thinks of these opportunities for the City to invest and bring these projects into the community as a way to help the local economy. She stated that she can imagine that one of the stops for prospective companies that might want to locate here should not only be the golf course or the vineyards but also housing for employees. She further stated that about 40 percent of people who work in Pleasanton earn below the County's median income. She added that there are a lot of folks who could be living here but currently cannot afford to, and basically, the less they earn, the farther they have to commute. She added that from the Climate Action Plan standpoint, it would be good to bring those people closer here, and projects like this one are a real showcase. Ms. Dennis stated that for other projects that bring similar affordability, CCC supports the City's contributions to bring those on -line and make them really beautiful projects through the use of the lower- income housing fund to backfill some of the requirements, should there be design issues that the Commission thinks are really important and which CCC, as affordable housing advocates, also thinks are important. She added that CCC does not think these particular developments should be any less than any other multi - family developments in the City. She indicated that they are looking at the Lower - Income Housing Fund through the Housing Commission, and they are doing a nexus study for which they would really like to have the Commission's input as to the types of things it thinks are important to backfill and to assist non - profit developers and developers like St. Anton Partners. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 8, 2013 Page 9 of 25