SR 05:335 - Laserfiche WebLink

LAND USE ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED Other than potential changes in land use designations, there are several additional issues that need to be discussed and resolved prior to the drafting of the Land Use Element. These include: Should future assisted living units such as those proposed at Staples Ranch be counted under the 29,000 unit residential cap? Assisted living units mayor may not have full or partial kitchen facilities and usually include elements of congregate living such as meals served in a central dining room and the provision of a variety of support services. In addition, such uses may involve a number of employees. For these reasons, in the past, the City has considered assisted living projects as commercial development, and the units have not been counted against the cap of 29,000 residential units. Assisted-living projects in Pleasanton can be allowed on land designated for residential use or commercial use. The 70 room Eden Villa assisted living facility on Mohr Avenue was developed on commercially-designated property and the recently approved assisted-living facility to be located at 100 Junipero Road is on land designated High Density Residential on the General Plan. Neither project was counted against the housing cap. In addition, a 132-unit retirement hotel complex at Foothill Road and Stoneridge Drive has been approved on commercially designated property but is not yet built. Staff is seeking City Council direction regarding this issue, particularly as it relates to the Staples Ranch proposal. This project was the subject of a recent Joint Workshop, and includes a Senior Continuing Care Community with 766 assisted-living units and an 89 bed skilled nursing facility. The residents, who pay an entrance fee and a monthly fee, receive a comprehensive package of services including housing, some meals, transportation, personal services, and nursing care. This arrangement is distinct from a house or apartment that is sold for a specific purchase price or rented and the price of which is not bundled with any other services. The assisted care portion of the project consists of 65 attached-home style units, 625 apartment style units, and 76 rooms of personal care/Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) units. In regard to the Staples Ranch proposal, it could be argued that even though the 65 attached- home style units are part of the assisted care package, these units closely resemble single-family duet homes, in that they have full kitchens and attached garages with driveways onto the internal street system, and the residents of these units generally live independently. As such, staff would support counting these units under the residential cap, but staff recommends that the other units, rooms, and beds are not counted under the cap. Staff is seeking direction from the City Council on this issue in order to determine the number of residential units remaining that can be considered for development on other sites. SR 05:335 Page 2 of9