PC 02/14/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

. . . Commissioner Wright referred to Condition 34 and the construction hours. He is considering modifying the hours except for the fact that the project is to be phased and construction would be ongoing when residents are living there. Mr. Allen stated the phasing is because it is such a large project. They are governed by the growth management of 231 units in 1996 and 231 units in 1997. The applicants are going to ask the Council to allow them to acquire all their building permits at the beginning so they can build the project in a year and a half. They would also support the earlier construction hours. Chairman Lutz noted that there are other apartments across from them. Mr. Allen commented their project will not impact the Signature project and should be built much faster than the Signature project. Chairman Lutz inquired how they plan to manage the garage situation. Mr. Allen stated staff s concern is also their concern. Their other projects impose a penalty if residents use the garage for storage. He also noted that the units have a larger amount of storage than most apartments. Commissioner McGuirk inquired what schools the children living in this project would attend. Mr. Sweeney advised that they would go to either the new Stoneridge elementary, Pairlands or Donlon. Robert Gray, 2350 Willet Way, feels this project is needed in Pleasanton. His children are not able to live in Pleasanton because of the high rents. As an employer in Pleasanton, he would like to see this project go forward because his employees have to commute due to the area's high rental rates and the limited availability of rentals. PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Commissioner Wright inquired of staff regarding Condition 5 and Condition 55. Mr. Iserson would like to leave Condition 5 as written, however, Condition 55 could be written that "No more access to this project shall be permitted on Owens Drive." Commissioner Hovingh inquired if the flowering plum is an evergreen or deciduous tree. Mr. Israel advised that it is a deciduous tree. Commissioner Hovingh suggested the Owens Drive berm area have a wider variety of tree species. Chairman Lutz favors this application because it is an attractive project, it is important to have housing in this area, it is close to BART, and because there is a portion reserved for low income housing. Commissioner Barker feels that in an effort to plan for future residents of Pleasanton, Pleasanton's current residents are being ignored because there is not enough park space to accommodate the City's needs. She would rather see higher priced housing with more land dedicated to parks. The other Commissioners did not agree with her sentiment, feeling the community needs all ranges of housing. Commissioner Barker cannot support this project because of the lack of support of the City parks. Commissioner Wright commented that everything comes down to the issue of money, and the City just didn't have the money in the budget to acquire the acreage for a community park, Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 1996 Page 9