PC 04/15/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

. . . Kay Ayala, 4515 Gatetree Circle. member of General Plan Steering Committee, commented that at the last meeting of the General Plan Steering Committee, the agenda called for a "chapter-by-chapter" review of the Plan. That did not happen. The Steeriug, Committee \M not reconsider the recommendations made by the City Council, the Planning Commissioners, or the public after the first draft General Plan was distributed. The City's current General Plan proposes to limit the growth rate from 650 units plus 100 for 25% low-income units to 350 units. She is concerned that legal counsel advised the General Plan Steering Committee that changing the growth rate would expose the City to legal challenge. Ms. Ayala feels the midpoint range can be achieved without changing the growth management. Ms. Ayala then suggested that if this issue is put on the ballot, it should be an advisory vote of the people to the City Council. The Medium Density Residential and High Density Residential definition changes should be deleted from the General Plan recommendation because of possible legal challenge and it may result in less affordable housing. This change was initiated after the sub-committees disbanded, therefore, all the sub-committee recommendations did not take into consideration the change in the Medium and High Density definitions. The 4/5 majority vote to amend the General Plan should be deleted. Low Density Residential in the Happy Valley area should be limited to two-acre density with one-acre minimum lot size. Ms. Ayala is very concerned over the parcel-by-parcel down-zoning in the Foothill Road area, saving a total of 60 units. People's rights are being taken. They annexed to Pleasanton with a certain zoning, now they are being down-zoned. Joanne Zachariades, 2630 Sanderling Way, was a member of the Open Space Sub-committee. Her family (Spotomo's) was recently asked to work on the planning of the South Pleasanton golf course project. The family requests the Spotomo property be designated for development with adherence to a specific plan. Instead of estate-type development, they would like to pursue affordable housing or a self-contained, high quality retirement community (such as a small Rossmoor). A specific plan is needed to identify the feasibility of these options; the current density designations are too limited to accomplish these goals. Brad Hirst, 2456 Minivet Court, member of the Public Facilities Sub-committee, spoke regarding the 4/5's majority vote for General Plan Amendments. If a super majority vote is required to increase the number of housing units, the same should apply to decrease the number of units. The 4/5's majority vote should also apply to the Planning Commission to recommend changes to the City Council. Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 April 15, 1996