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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br /> ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE REPORT <br /> October 16, 2025 <br /> Community and Economic Development <br /> <br /> <br />TITLE: RECEIVE UPDATE ON PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENTS TO THE <br />PLEASANTON MUNICIPAL CODE DESIGN REVIEW, NOTICING, AND <br />APPEALS CHAPTERS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />In August 2023, the City Council adopted the updated Economic Development Strategic Plan <br />(EDSP) which the Economic Vitality Committee uses as the foundation for its work. The plan <br />consists of five Implementation Plan Priorities: <br /> <br />1.0 Economic Development Capacity Building <br />2.0 Business Retention, Expansion & Attraction <br />3.0 Local Revenue Growth <br />4.0 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Outreach <br />5.0 Major Projects Accelerator Program <br /> <br />There are specific actions items under Priority 5.0 Major Projects Accelerator Program that are <br />related to the Life Sciences/Biotech Sector and the City’s Zoning and Permitting Processes: <br /> <br />5.1 Create Business Roadmap to Provide Clear Pathway for Zoning and Permitting <br />Identify zoning code modifications that would help bring target sectors to Pleasanton <br /> <br />In recent years, growing concerns have been raised by City Council members, Planning <br />Commissioners, property owners, and businesses that the City’s current application review <br />processes are burdensome and not user-friendly. On July 15, 2025, the City Council <br />conducted a workshop to identify its top priorities for the next two Fiscal Years. The City <br />Council identified permit streamlining and process improvements as one of its key strategic <br />priorities. This direction was affirmed at the City Council’s August 19, 2025. <br /> <br />Further, during the City Council budget discussions this past year, it was identified that the City <br />would be making a series of budget cuts, including to “Internal Services and Operational <br />Support”. With that cut, it was stated that the City will return to a minimum neighborhood notice <br />requirement rather than expanding notice beyond the Government Code. <br /> <br />Based on this direction, staff conducted a review and analysis of two key areas for potential <br />improvement: 1) the Design Review process, and 2) the PMC’s noticing, appeals, and call-up <br />procedures more generally. These areas were selected as a priority for assessment because <br />Design Review applications are the most common type of application processed by the City,