_Minutes_November 18, 2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

was not permanent, it could be hard to change the zoning once it was set. Chair Ritter commented that it was a topic for the City Council's purview. Ms. Clark stated that changing the zoning did trade one set of economic benefits for another and brought up the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone (JDEDZ) as an example of when an economic analysis was done for a project to understand the tradeoff. She stated she would look more into it if the Planning Commission so desired. Commissioner Pace clarified he was not trying to enter into City Council territory and was only interested in the evaluation if it was within the bounds of Planning Commission to do so. Commissioner Brown inquired about the transition plan for the site from Building 1 to Buildings 2 and 3 with the parking garage. Mr. Jencek stated that 10x Genomics was just starting to think through the phasing. He stated they wanted to stay balanced and fulfill their commitments to the City, but they do not have a solution yet. He stated he would like to come back to the Planning Commission with a clearer plan at a later date. He explained the primary focus was on Building 1 and how to invest in the public realm and pedestrian connections. Commissioner Brown expressed his approval of the plan to move traffic out to the left of the site and his appreciation to leverage the retail and dining at the mall. Commissioner O'Connor inquired if the 10-year timeline for filling Buildings 2 and 3 was realistic. Mr. Jencek stated there was no way to know for sure but looking at past patterns he did not believe it would take longer than 10 years. He stated he would have more information as they got deeper into the process and would be happy to report back with more details once he had them. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Zelda Kohn, Pleasanton resident, added comments about the environmental impacts of the surrounding area, specifically mentioning hazardous material and light pollution. Nathan Kohn, Pleasanton resident, added comments about biological materials and the safety level to be used. THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Discussion Point #1: 1. Is the proposed rezone and the proposed land uses acceptable? Commissioner Pace stated the proposed project area had been underutilized for many years and the project was a great opportunity to retain a large employer and increase foot traffic to the mall where there had been a decline. He stated the project would also help attract other developers to the area. Commissioner Brown stated that he was hesitant to lose retail space but acknowledged that retail had been struggling, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated he saw the project as a reinvestment in a company dedicated to Pleasanton. He also mentioned he liked seeing critical spaces close to BART and the potential stimulus for the mall. He expressed concern with the potential impact on traffic. Planning Commission Minutes Page 4 of 8 November 18, 2020 confirmed that to be the case and that the company was interested in growing together with the City. Commissioner Allen asked if the company was planning on keeping all three locations in the City or if they would consolidate after the opening of the proposed campus. Mr. Jencek stated the idea was new net growth. Commissioner Pace asked for guidance on how to consider the economic impact to the City when the usage of land was changed and whether staff considered that in its analysis. He stated he wanted to ensure the best use for the land was selected because, even though it Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 8 November 18, 2020