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BACKGROUND Permitted and conditional uses are defined in the Pleasanton Municipal Code in commercially zoned property per Table 18.44.090. Conditional uses require an application for a conditional use permit which requires Planning Commission action through the public hearing process. School, tutoring, and recreation facilities require a conditional use permit in various commercially zoned properties. These uses have been found to be benign with regard to land use impacts related to traffic, noise, access, or parking. Numerous school, tutoring, and recreation facilities have been approved via the City's Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process. The Planning Commission noted that many of the use permits coming before them were minor projects in scope, indeed had no impacts as noted above, and were supported by surrounding businesses and/or business associations. In an effort to alleviate the impacts to small business owners start-up timing and cost constraints, staff began to evaluate potential process changes to facilitate a more expedited process for these minor permits. Staff reviewed the application processing procedures with members of the public and former applicants to determine how the application process could be improved. Staff found applications generally resulted from a business owner having already signed a lease, trying to obtain a business license, or via the City's Code Enforcement Department. City staff was interested in finding a more suitable process for the small business owner that might be more feasible and promote a smoother process to start a business of this type in the City of Pleasanton. Simultaneous to this effort, the Planning Commission also requested that staff provide feedback whether a more expedited process could be a feasible alternative. City Staff believes that this Code amendment would expedite the review of applications thereby improving the application process for small business owners wishing to operate a small school, tutoring, or recreation facility. Currently these projects are placed on the consent agenda for action by the Planning Commission. The proposed Code amendment would allow these uses as permitted uses via an over-the-counter staff level approval if certain criteria are met. Staff is also proposing that these uses be allowed in more zoning districts, where appropriate. The proposed amendments to the Pleasanton Municipal Code are before the Planning Commission for review, comment, and recommendation to the City Council. PLANNING COMMISSION WORKSHOP At the December 27, 2006 Planning Commission hearing, staff presented the proposed Code amendment as a workshop item to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission expressed an interest in determining what issues may exist with the approvals that have been processed by the Commission, what kinds of additional conditions were placed, how frequently applications are considered by the Planning PRZ-37, Code Amendment Planning Commission Page 2 of 6