PC 091113 - Laserfiche WebLink

noted that they have neighbors and relatives who have had things stolen out of their yard, and the drag marks go down to the Arroyo. She expressed concern that the crime in their area will increase because of that. Ms. Natsch stated that the trees shown on the slide did not provide any kind of screening for the residents of Parkside. She indicated that they do not they do not care about an eight- to ten -foot hedge; they want tall trees. She added that the ones on the slide were sparse; they want a screen, one every five to ten feet, as they need to preserve their quality of life. She indicated that they have been really proud of the City's Planning Department with the way they have parks in every subdivision, and they would like to preserve that. Ingrid Wetmore stated that she has lived in this neighborhood for 28 years and has enjoyed living there. She indicated that if she had to purchase her home again knowing what was going to happen to her in her backyard, she would not purchase it anymore. She stated that she realizes the need for low -cost housing but questioned why it has to be so many apartments right in her backyard. She noted that this will affect the value of her home. She stated that she was really proud of the Pleasanton Planning Department and how Pleasanton was laid out as a charming city. She noted how most of the buildings on West Las Positas Boulevard are now one or two stories, and there is not a single four -story building there. She indicated that she thinks this project will definitely change the character of their neighborhood and will make it look much more like Dublin than Pleasanton. Ms. Wetmore stated that her main concern is the height of the apartments. She indicated her strong objection to four -story buildings there and thinks they should not be more that two stores as they presently have only one or two story buildings there. She stated that she is not too happy with the development and wishes it would not happen, but she realizes it is probably going to happen and that there will be more down that road on West Las Positas Boulevard because there are several other buildings that the Commission has already recently considered. Karen Ellgas stated that she took some pictures of the area and would like to share it to bring a little more focus on the project. She indicated that she objects to the number of low- density, reduced -rate, low- income residential units that are being proposed, not just for this particular property but also along the entire West Las Positas Boulevard in the near future. She indicated that she understands that the State requires Pleasanton to rezone some properties and wants to put in on record that she was at all those meetings. She noted that many of her neighbors were also at all those meetings, and being Pleasanton residents, they all support Pleasanton and want to make it as easy or as painless as possible for the City to appease the State. She added that she understands from Ms. Stern and Ms. Soo that these properties have to have 30 units per acre, regardless of whether or not they are zoned for low- income residential. She stated, however, that they do not have to be low- income, and that the City probably has to give a developer a reason if it does not approve its application. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 11, 2013 Page 11 of 27