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THE CITY OF <br /> East Pleasanton Specific Plan _ <br /> Public Comments pLEASANTONC <br /> From:Jill Miller <br /> Sent:Tuesday, December 03, 2019 10:37 AM <br /> To: Mayor and City Council <citycouncil@cityofpleasantonca.gov>;Julie Testa <br /> <itesta@cityofpleasantonca.gov>; Kathy Narum <KNarum@cityofpleasantonca.gov> <br /> Subject: East Side Development: Let the Voters Decide/Wait for Housing Numbers to Start/Do Not Let <br /> Developer Pay for Planning Process <br /> Hello, <br /> Respectfully, I request that the voters decide the future of the East Side <br /> development, both the project scope and its commencement. <br /> Recent actions by the city show that it is not listening to residents, but it will to <br /> listen to developers. I cite the Downtown Specific Plan outcome and the <br /> City's consideration to let Ponderosa pay for the East Side planning process as <br /> reasons for concern. <br /> Consider: <br /> 1.) Downtown Specific Plan -- This comment from the Pleasanton Weekly Aug. 20th <br /> article on the Downtown Specific Plan outcome pretty much sums it up: <br /> "To say I'm disappointed in this process is an understatement," Jan Batcheller, a task <br /> force member, said to open public comment. "City staff and their consultants <br /> controlled the agenda and the entire process." There was much public comment <br /> at this hearing (and others) about what the people wanted -- parking close to <br /> downtown and no new downtown housing -- and did NOT get. <br /> 2.) East Side Planning -- In the Pleasanton Weekly Nov. 20th article last week, <br /> Mayor Thorne described the developer Ponderosa Homes paying for the City's <br /> planning process as "The way I've described it is Ponderosa gets to buy the bus, but <br /> we drive it." <br /> Think about that metaphor a bit: The bus owner (Ponderosa) owns the bus, <br /> decides where it goes, how long it travels and where it refuels. The driver <br /> (Pleasanton) is essentially taken for a ride. Plus, I don't understand why <br /> Ponderosa needs to pay for it anyway...don't my tax dollars fund the salary of those <br /> involved and fees associated with the planning process? <br /> Again, it appears the city is not listening to its residents, but is willing to listen to <br /> developers. <br /> Provided to City Council for the February 18, 2020, Meeting <br />