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applicant if they believe they fall into one of these categories and if we have any <br />difference of opinion then we'd be asking for additional information that will clarify. <br />Commissioner Balch: If an applicant came in and wanted to try to get into a permitted <br />straight use they would argue that they're a heritage school. If they fell out of that <br />because they don't qualify as a heritage school, then they're conditional which is worse <br />than the Minor CUP process that they would probably prefer, right? <br />Beaudin: Yes, there's also the possibility of outdoor space things triggering. So even if <br />you're a heritage school if you wanted to have some outdoor space then you end up in <br />a more onerous process from an entitlement perspective. But you're going to entitle a <br />project at that location that will run with the land, so it may be in the business owner's or <br />property owner's interest to do that and do it the right way. <br />Commissioner Balch: Okay, thank you. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. <br />Scott Raty: Good evening Commissioners and staff. I'm Scott Raty on behalf of the <br />Chamber of Commerce. You know, I'll back up even a little bit further than some of <br />your original discussions, but we take it all back to the point that businesses in our <br />community generate roughly 60% of the local tax base and collectively act as the <br />economic engine that drives the ship, essentially providing the amenities and public <br />services that so many people equate to quality of life in our community; an <br />extraordinarily high quality of life. <br />It follows then that the City must be viewed by the business community throughout the <br />region and beyond as supportive and timely with its decisions on the impacts of <br />business and making things happen in a favorable way. So I am here tonight to <br />express our appreciation to staff and Shweta in particular and Gerry for taking on the <br />comprehensive zoning code update. It's something that the Chamber has asked for <br />many times over many, many years and in fact, it remains very high amongst our local <br />economy objectives and Pleasanton 2020 Community Vision, a document that was <br />authored two and a half years ago and maybe it's prophetic in that specifically in the <br />document, we look for the City's zoning code with an emphasis on providing greater <br />clarity and expediting the approvals related to both permitted and conditional uses to be <br />updated by 2018. With the commitment of staff, they are on course in a three -phase <br />mode to get there, but I think what's important for us to keep in mind in going in that <br />direction is that this is Phase 1. It's not the end but it's the beginning. If you approve and <br />move onto Council and then Council approves it, this really needs to stay within the <br />Council's priorities for the next two years and that I hope you also urge to them to keep <br />it there. And as part of the equation I'm ensuring that our community has the utmost in <br />public service amenities as provided by the tax base our business community <br />generates, and that above all is really why I'm here, and I encourage you to move it <br />forward and continue the great work. Our great pat on the back to staff for this effort— <br />awesome start, awesome beginning —let's keep the dialogue going, let's keep it moving <br />and I hope all of you have a wonderful and happy holiday season. <br />Chair Ritter: Thanks Scott. Thanks for all you do at the Chamber and in Pleasanton. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, December 14, 2016 Page 8 of 49 <br />