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Objective Design Standards for Housing Sites <br />City of Pleasanton - 2 - DRAFT: December 14, 2022 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Vision Statement: <br />The livability of these development sites is paramount. We desire to build quality neighborhoods with <br />amenities for future residents and the existing community to enjoy. These future developments address <br />housing needs for households of all types, incomes, ages and abilities, and also provide a supply of <br />workforce housing in the City to accommodate mandated Regional Housing Need Allocations by the <br />State of California. Simply put, it must be a very nice place to live. <br /> <br />The developments shall be situated in an attractively designed landscaped environment with ample open <br />space, trail connections, pedestrian amenities, and shared amenities for residents such as play areas, pool <br />areas, fitness facilities or community rooms. The developments shall be transit-oriented, where possible, <br />with direct and inviting access to all available modes of transportation, including fixed transit (e.g., <br />BART), bus lines, trails, and bike connections. Public plazas and other community spaces, greens, trees, <br />and other landscaping shall be incorporated into the developments for the benefit of the public, and to <br />assist in creating a sense of place that will identify these new neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Streets, pedestrian paths, and bike paths shall be designed such that they contribute to a system of fully <br />connected and interesting routes between neighborhood focal points and are appropriately scaled and <br />defined by buildings, trees, and lighting. They shall promote open and convenient access for pedestrians <br />and bicyclists to encourage residents to use non-vehicular modes to accomplish daily errands and travel to <br />work, and school and to recreate. <br /> <br />The incorporation of retail and service uses in addition to the required minimum density residential <br />development is encouraged on sites zoned to allow such activities. These non-residential uses are to <br />encourage non-vehicular access to goods and services for future and current residents of these <br />neighborhoods in an effort to minimize traffic impacts, greenhouse gases, and other environmental <br />impacts. <br /> <br />Design features shall complement the adjacent neighborhoods and properties and draw on its <br />surroundings to ensure compatibility. Special emphasis should be placed on setbacks, building height, <br />massing, and scale, landscape treatments, architectural design, and color palates to ensure compatibility. <br /> <br />The developments shall minimize the impacts of noise and traffic. Creative placement of buildings, <br />landscaping and open space shall be used to limit the noise impact from the adjacent thoroughfares. <br />Traffic circulation shall be developed to minimize the number of driveways and conflict points between <br />vehicles and pedestrians and bicycles. All developments shall adhere to the standard conditions of <br />approval, sustainable design practices and the city’s green-building ordinance and other project specific <br />conditions and environmental mitigations that may result from the review process. <br /> <br />The intent of this document is to create quality developments that fit into the character of the city <br />while being economically viable and environmentally sustainable. <br />Each of the sites to which these standards and guidelines apply are very different in their configuration, <br />size, surrounding geography, neighborhood context, available community amenities and present unique <br />opportunities and constraints for residential development. Specific site circumstances may merit the <br />consideration of exceptions from standards and alternative proposals to meet guidelines. Such <br />circumstances shall need to be reviewed by the Planning Commission l to ensure that the intent of the <br />standards and guidelines is met. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />