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Jocelyn Combs stated there should be an affordability component in the ordinance and encouraged the <br /> Council to say so tonight so there are no surprises later for those wanting to implement SB 9 on their <br /> properties. She noted Pleasanton has many above-moderate income homes and few jobs to support <br /> those homes while the City has many low-income jobs but few homes for those people, leading to <br /> commutes both in and out of the City generating high greenhouse gas emissions. She stated SB 9 can <br /> help push the City towards carbon neutrality. She urged the City not to build anything without <br /> considering the symbiotic relationship between the jobs-income imbalance and climate impacts. <br /> Mayor Brown closed the public hearing. <br /> Councilmember Balch expressed support for many of the General Plan policies outlined in the staff <br /> report. He stated he strongly supports ADUs and JADUs for their low impacts on housing while meeting <br /> the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) numbers. He expressed concerns about the State <br /> inhibiting the ability to provide adequate parking, and also with the transit location waiver. He added <br /> having insufficient parking will be more impactful to neighborhoods than the housing unit itself would <br /> have been. He expressed concerns about what may happen in several PUDs. He added he has more <br /> problems with this than answers. He commended staff for trying to maintain the quality and character of <br /> the community and the Planning Commission for raising outstanding questions. <br /> Councilmember Balch moved to approve staff's recommendations. <br /> Councilmember Narum seconded the motion. She agreed with everything Councilmember Balch said. <br /> She added her question on building envelopes is focused on earthquake zones. She complimented <br /> staff on their excellent conservative objective design standards, how well the additional units will blend <br /> in with the neighboring streetscape, and their attempt to minimize impacts to neighbors of SB 9 houses. <br /> She commended the Planning Commission's modifications. She stated she supports both an element <br /> of affordability and correlations to CAP 2.0 and would like to discuss both at some point. She lamented <br /> they could not change the bill. <br /> Councilmember Testa expressed support for the staff recommendations. She added SB 9 is an assault <br /> on their communities and the State has overstepped. She echoed Councilmember Balch's comments <br /> about limited parking and noted it is a great example of how one size fits all State mandates do not <br /> work. She noted there will be many complications in the financing for homeowners to do a lot split and <br /> residents will be unlikely to benefit financially from a four-plex. She lamented this will open the door for <br /> speculators. She added the new units will not be less expensive because they will be new construction <br /> and sold at market rate unless the Council can create an affordability factor. She requested the subject <br /> of creating affordability return to Council. She stated there is a strong feeling there will be a January <br /> clean-up bill removing the exemption for HOAs. She thanked staff for creating an ordinance doing the <br /> best they can and encouraged pushing back on the State legislation. <br /> Councilmember Arkin agreed with the previous comments, highlighting the need for some sort of <br /> affordability requirement. She added she would also like to pursue linking CAP 2.0 with all housing <br /> development. <br /> Mayor Brown also agreed with the Councilmembers' points. She decried the top-down State mandate <br /> for overlooking the differences between various types of communities. She added she and the <br /> Councilmembers wrote a total of 64 letters looking for changes in the bill. She commended <br /> Councilmember Testa for fighting in favor of local control and noted this bill is a great example of its <br /> importance. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 18 of 19 November 16. 2021 <br />