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3. MEETING OPEN FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE TO <br />ADDRESS THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON ANY ITEM WHICH IS <br />NOT ALREADY ON THE AGENDA. <br />Dolores Bengston, 568 Hamilton Way, Citizens for a Concerned Community, read her <br />statement into the record: <br />"Over one year ago the City Council adopted a new Housing Element for the City <br />of Pleasanton's General Plan. The new Housing Element proposed measures to <br />remove barriers that have prevented the construction of an adequate amount of <br />housing for Pleasanton residents of very low income. <br />"The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) <br />conditionally approved that Housing Element pending the effective and timely <br />implementation of the General Plan and rezone strategy as included in <br />Program 91. <br />"The June 2004 deadline for implementation of the required rezoning is fast <br />approaching. Citizens for a Caring Community are alerting the Council as well as <br />Commissions responsible for advising the Council in the azea of housing of the <br />need to move forward at this time. While we understand the City does not have <br />funds to construct such housing, moving forwazd with rezoning of identified <br />properties costs little and fulfills Pleasanton's immediate obligation and <br />commitment to HCD. <br />"We recognize that the issue of limited funding for this housing need is of great <br />concern to everyone, and some may view this obligation as an unfunded State <br />mandate. Lack of funding for construction may be identified as a "barrier" during <br />the new Housing Element review. However, this should not prevent the City <br />from rezoning properties where community-sponsored or non-profit housing <br />could be located if financing became available. This is of special importance as <br />we approach our General Plan housing limit. <br />"Citizens for a Cazing Community urge you to take any steps you believe <br />appropriate to assist in the implementation of the rezoning strategy included in the <br />Housing Element of the General Plan." <br />In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Arkin, Ms. Bengtson urged the Commission <br />to be as hasty as possible in completing the meetings and to keep in mind the need for <br />rezoning on different properties not identified in the Housing Element. <br />Chairperson Roberts asked Ms. Bengtson to encourage the Housing Commission to come <br />forth with its recommendations to the Planning Commission as quickly as possible. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Apri128, 2004 Page 2 of 16 <br />