03 ATTACHMENT 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

Excerpt: Approved Planning Commission Minutes, September 8, 2021 Page 1 of 9 P20-0989, City of Pleasanton, Objective Design Standards – Work session to review draft changes to the Housing Site Development Standards and Design Guidelines, and to review and discuss housing densities for residential development. Chair Brown explained the discussion and presentation would be divided into two parts: 1)changes to the existing standards and guidelines for housing sites; and 2) projects of density greater than 40 dwelling units per acre in other communities. Senior Planner Shweta Bonn presented the specifics of the item in the Agenda Report related to the first portion of the presentation on changes to the existing standards and guidelines for housing sites. Commissioner Gaidos inquired why the tiered standard stopped at 45 dwelling units per acre (du/ac) and whether there was consideration of larger projects. Director of Community Development Ellen Clark explained the Housing Standards and Guidelines were established to reflect existing established densities, which are currently a maximum of 40 dwelling units per acre. She stated there was an opportunity to consider higher density projects as part of the Housing Element process, but focus for now was on standards for existing sites and densities. Commissioner Nibert questioned the group usable open space standard for 200 square feet/unit for projects with density greater than 45 dwelling units per acre, indicating it sounded less than what would be desirable. Ms. Clark responded it was an aggregate for common open space and it was a smaller number per unit because of co-benefit for combining the space with other more usable common open space for the project. She explained the need for a careful balance to ensure potential projects would remain feasible. Rick Williams, Van Meter Williams Pollack (VMWP) LLP, stated the numbers were comparable to standards in similar other communities. He explained the ratio of square footage and common open space. Commissioner Nibert asked about the proposed step back for upper floors. Mr. Williams explained the standard focused on visual impact of the top floor, which affected the mass the most. Commissioner Nibert asked about the use of high-quality materials on 20 percent of the frontage of the building and two percent overall and asked if the two percent encompassed the 20 percent or if it was exclusive. Mr. Williams stated the two percent was included in the 20 percent, in an effort to create a base for building by using those materials on the lower portion of the building. Chair Brown asked if the intention was to promote the ability for various levels of housing and if more than two percent would make lower income housing infeasible. Mr. Williams explained they conducted test cases and it was necessary to allow flexibility while encouraging use of higher quality materials.