PC 081314 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Dolan reminded everybody that the Housing Element itself proposes no new rezoning. He stated that staff was able to do an addendum to the existing environmental documentation, which basically just explains why no environmental documentation will be done because the City is not proposing any additional site that has not already been evaluated the last time. He added that the representatives from the Irby property were trying to push their project forward by getting involved in the Housing Element. He indicated that they recognize that was not the right timing for them, so they have withdrawn that site for consideration in this process, and so there is no proposal for rezoning that site. He concluded by saying that staff is concerned that the City maintains a healthy inventory that can be presented to HCD. Commissioner Ritter stated that he has heard that by nature, a higher- density tract uses less water than single - family or commercial uses. He asked staff to confirm that. Mr. Dolan replied that he thinks that is definitely true, and that it is also true that new houses use less than older ones, even big new houses sometimes use less than small old ones. He indicated that for the last couple of years, the City has had to implement landscaping requirements on new development that is drought - tolerant. He noted that there are different irrigation practices from the old days, and even toilets in a newer home are much more efficient. He stated that multi - family water use per unit is about 50 percent of what could be expected from a single - family detached unit. Chair O'Connor inquired if that takes into consideration the landscaping of that multi - family development or if this refers only to the actual units. Mr. Dolan replied that it refers to the whole thing. Commissioner Allen stated that she appreciates Mr. Dolan's comments about keeping the surplus in place until the City understands from HCD how it really feels about the City's inventory and whether or not it is solid. Referring to the CM Capital site and timing, she inquired, for example, if the City waited and does not make a decision on the site at this time, and HCD comes back in a few months in support of all the numbers and approves all the sites, if there would be anything that would preclude the City from coming back a little later and taking on the CM Capital site and potentially reducing that cushion. Mr. Dolan replied that technically, in the law, the City could do that if it had extra sites. He stated that he could not give a good answer because it is all a matter of how HCD would react as an agency. He added that he could not tell either if the City would be in trouble if it removed the extra sites and the cushion is not big enough. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. Belinda Zhu stated that she has been a resident of Pleasanton since February 2009. She expressed concern about additional growth in Pleasanton, indicating that she was aware that 1, 807 units have been approved for building which are not subject to the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 13, 2014 Page 18 of 32