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BACKGROUND <br /> On August 21, 2019, an application for Planned Unit Development (PUD) development <br /> plan approval to construct 486 apartment units and related site improvements, including <br /> a new parking structure, was filed by the Simon Property Group. The project includes a <br /> request for a housing density bonus, as allowed by State law and the Pleasanton <br /> Municipal Code, based on a proportion of its units being designated as affordable to <br /> low-income households. The project site, located in the southeast portion of Stoneridge <br /> Mall, is one of 17 sites identified as suitable for development/redevelopment with high- <br /> density housing; nine of the 17 sites, including this one, were designated/re-zoned for <br /> this use as part of the City's required Housing Element update in 2012. <br /> The City of Pleasanton's General Plan, which was adopted in July 2009, included the <br /> certification of a Program (EIR) to address the potential environmental effects related to <br /> implementing the Pleasanton General Plan 2005-2025. Subsequently, in 2012, the City <br /> Council certified a Supplemental EIR which evaluated the environmental effects of <br /> implementing changes to the Housing Element including rezoning of housing sites, <br /> adoption of a Climate Action Plan, and associated General Plan Amendments. <br /> The Supplemental EIR provided a focused, program-level analysis of the proposed <br /> changes to the City's policy documents and land use changes to accommodate <br /> additional housing. A total of 17 sites were analyzed for rezoning; ultimately, only nine <br /> of those sites were rezoned for development of high-density housing. <br /> Since adoption of the Housing Element, several of the identified sites have moved <br /> forward with entitlement and/or construction of high density housing projects, including <br /> California Center (formerly CarrAmerica), Anton Hacienda Apartments (formerly <br /> Nearon), Vintage (Auf der Maur/ Rickenbach), and the Commons at Gateway <br /> (Pleasanton Gateway). In each case, the appropriate level of CEQA review was <br /> determined to be an addendum to the Supplemental EIR, allowing for site-specific <br /> analysis to be completed. <br /> Similar to these other sites, an addendum is also proposed to be completed for the <br /> Stoneridge Mall Housing project. Alongside other environmental topics, the addendum <br /> will include a traffic study to be completed by Hexagon Associates, as a subconsultant <br /> to FCS. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> As noted, the CEQA review is proposed to consist of an addendum to the Housing <br /> Element and Climate Action Plan General Plan Amendment and Rezoning Final <br /> Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR). <br /> In late 2012, FirstCarbon Solutions — Michael Brandman Associates (FCS-Brandman), <br /> was selected to prepare addendums for four of the nine originally rezoned housing <br /> sites. The selection was based on a competitive Request for Qualifications issued to <br /> three firms, of which FCS-Brandman was the only responsive proposal. On January 15, <br /> 2013 the City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with FCS- <br /> Brandman to prepare CEQA addendums for the four sites. On September 3, 2013 the <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />