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apply to the Housing Element re-zone sites. In HCD's second letter to the City on April 10 HCD is requesting further be done to address Policy 11 as a potential impediment to housing developments more generally (beyond the re-zone sites). As such. Program 4.8 has been further revised. Revisions to Program 4.8 would suspend General Plan Land Use Element Policy 11 beyond re-zone sites for residential development proposals on all properties with a mixed use, low- and medium-density General Plan land use designation. This suspension will allow projects with those designations to build to the maximum density permitted in the General Plan irrespective of having negotiated additional amenities or benefits with the city. Because Policy 11 ties such requests for density above the mid- point to a PUD process, this would mean such projects would not need to go through a PUD approval, unless it was required for other reasons (e g . a project sought to deviate from development standards) Note that this change is consistent with the approach taken for the various Housing Element re-zone sites. which use conformance to objective design standards as the sole basis to determine if a project should be approved at its proposed density. And, in practical terms. given that the city is now largely built out. there are a limited number of other sites remaining in the city with potential and suitability for large scale development/ redevelopment. and for which there would have been the potential to negotiate significant additional public benefits which would be affected by this change The City would still be able to negotiate amenities and benefits for projects not consistent with the General Plan and seeking General Plan or zoning map amendments, annexations. or developing as Planned Unit Developments, since such approvals remain discretionary (Note that since the Planning Commission meeting further minor changes have been made to the text of Program 4.8 to clarify the intent of the program.) PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW The Planning Commission reviewed these changes on May 10, 2023. While the Commission had several questions about the scope and rationale for proposed changes, particularly those for Program 4.8.. the Commission did not suggest any additional changes to those proposed by staff The Commission recommended the City Council adopt the amendments as proposed. PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of this item was published in The Valley Times and an email notification was sent to all interested parties who have signed up on the Housing Element website pleasantonhousingelement.com Staff has received no public comments at time of agenda report publication. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT The City prepared a Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) for the 6tn Cycle Housing Element (SCH 2022040091). which was certified by the City Council on Page 6 of 7