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Memo to Planning Commission, November 10, 2021, Meeting – Agenda Item 5 Draft Sites Inventory – SteelWave Site (Site #28) Page 5 Site Evaluation To help guide the site selection, staff, in this memorandum, has updated the overall scoring to include the SteelWave sites. As previously discussed, the sites criteria are intended to provide a screening level evaluation of the sites, based to the extent possible on objectively measurable criteria. The SteelWave site (Site #28) scored a total of 12 points. Compared to the scores for the other 27 sites, which ranged from a “low” of 14 points, to a “high” score 26 points (out of a total of 34 points available) the Steelwave site (Site #28) with 12 points now is the lowest scoring site. Similar to the Kiewit property (also in East Pleasanton), SteelWave is a very large site that could offer an opportunity for a master-planned community; per the applicant it would include a sizable increment of affordable housing, along with market-rate units. In combination with other development, a future housing project of this size could significantly contribute to the necessary infrastructure improvements, including circulation improvements such as the El Charro Road extension as contemplated in the General Plan. However, the SteelWave property is not adjacent to any improved roads, with no established utility infrastructure and with the majority of the site outside of City limits. In addition, housing is being proposed outside of the UGB. In staff’s view, the complexity of planning for this area warrants a comprehensive study to determine the appropriate mix of land uses, number of housing units (if any), as well as the necessary supporting infrastructure and circulation. Adding to the potential complexity of including significant new housing on this site with the Housing Element is the potential development of a significant new warehouse distribution facility on the adjacent 58-acre parcel (the precise parameters of which are unknown); and the unknown development status of the 26.6-acre parcel shown as Area A that is also outside the City Limits. Although all or part of the SteelWave site (Site #28) may be suitable for future residential development at some point, since the majority of the site is not located within the City limits and that major infrastructure and utility improvements would be required to be planned prior to any future improvements, staff’s recommendation is that the site would be best reviewed through a separate specific plan process (as discussed in the General Plan) and not within the time- constrained Housing Element process. Based on the above factors and taking the initial ranking and other considerations in mind, staff is recommending that Site #28: SteelWave be removed from consideration to be included with the sites that are reviewed in the environmental analysis. PLANNING COMMISSION DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION Based on the newly added analysis and inclusion of this Site #28, staff is requesting that the Planning Commission provide direction to the staff regarding the discussion points as outlined in the agenda report with the addition of Site #28: SteelWave. Specifically, staff would like the Planning Commission to consider the modified Discussion Question 6 below (modification shown in underlined text):