Laserfiche WebLink
forever be a business park, that there would be no apartments or housing built on that <br />property. She added that she was also told two years ago and was just repeated <br />tonight that the City just needs to show it has the acreage and that the development <br />may probably never happen; yet, there are now 177 apartment units being built behind <br />their homes. She pointed out that 850 units have already been approved for <br />construction in Hacienda Business Park, and this will impact the schools that are <br />already over - extended with students. She indicated that the City has over 1,000 units in <br />excess, and not building on this site will not impact its numbers. She added that while <br />the City's numbers show that there would be very-low- or low- income units, the <br />developer can buy out of that by paying a fee and not have those units available, which <br />does not really benefit the people who need low- income housing. <br />George Bowen, a 29 -year resident of Pleasanton, stated that there are a number of <br />reasons to request the rezoning of the CM Capital property, focusing on the perspective <br />of "WWPD: What Would Pleasanton Do ?" He indicated that Pleasanton had a General <br />Plan that was largely driven by Measure GG, a voter cap, a housing cap, the Urban <br />Habitat Pleasanton lawsuit which Pleasanton vigorously fought, he believes, for two <br />reasons: first, because Pleasanton did not agree with the outside intervention and its <br />ability to plan the City of Planned Progress, and second, because Pleasanton did not <br />agree with the needs imposed by the State. He noted that as part of that settlement, <br />Pleasanton was forced to comply with the State - imposed housing mandate which was <br />in staggering conflict with the City's General Plan. He stated that then Mayor <br />Hosterman said that the Council, with help from City staff, was going to lawfully protect <br />the City's best interests and maintain as much local discretion as possible. He added <br />that the 2012 rezoning plan was forced upon the City, which had no choice then. He <br />indicated that the only reason the housing cap was increased and the 70 acres was <br />rezoned to allow high- density housing was because of external pressure and not <br />because it was what was best for Pleasanton. He added that, in fact, it could be argued <br />that it was a windfall for property owners and developers. <br />Mr. Bowen stated that the City has a choice now: since the RHNA requirements have <br />been significantly reduced, the City has a surplus of high- density -zoned properties <br />which will allow the construction of unneeded and unwanted high- density properties. <br />He indicated that after being forced to shoehorn numerous high- density properties and <br />less than desirable parcels which already have resulted in building review processes for <br />over 800 units, the City has a historic but fleeting opportunity to recapture some of its <br />civic self- determination in deciding the character of the City. He stated that he strongly <br />advocates, and believes that many of the citizenry present tonight also believe, that the <br />City needs need to continue to be the "City of Planned Progress" and not take the <br />opportunity to rezone. He added that he thinks the voters would believe this is needed <br />in order to maintain the City's long- standing approach to growth. <br />Anthony Ghio stated that he would like to see the CM Capital site rezoned as well, <br />having gone through the entire Summerhill planning stages of 30 units per acre which <br />ties the hands of the Planning Commission. He indicated that he thinks Summerhill <br />provided a blueprint and, while slightly altered, the 30 units had to go in there, and the <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, April 23, 2014 Page 15 of 27 <br />