CCMIN062095 - Laserfiche WebLink

Jim Journeay, Castro Valley, stated he was an employee of the School District. Mr. Journeay believed the funds from the sale of Del Prado will help Walnut Grove School. Mr. Journeay stated he would like the rezoning of the Del Prado property to take place as soon as possible. Mr. Pico stated that this was not the meeting to rezone the property. He stated that the only decision being made was whether or not to recommend that a General Plan amendment be processed through the City. In that process, there would be opportunity for members of the community to discuss their opinions, feelings and beliefs about what should be on that property. Mr. Pico then stated that the purpose of this meeting was to decide if Council was going to start the General Plan process now, not to debate the merits of the amendment. Ms. Michelotti asked for clarification to be sure it was only the initiation of the process, and that the Council would not be making a final decision at this time. She stated the General Plan amendment process for a residential project is the issue being considered. Mr. Swift stated that what is being looked at is whether or not any General Plan amendment can be processed on this property in advance of the completion of the General Plan update because the City Council has established a policy that all General Plan amendments be referred to the General Plan Steering Committee and be processed as part of the over-all update. He stated the Council would not be initiating a particular General Plan amendment to residential or to any other use; the Council would be allowing a particular applicant to go forward with its own General Plan amendment request. The School Board's request will be to request a medium density designation but the City, in reviewing the General Plan request, can leave the existing General Plan alone, or include any other General Plan amendment that can be processed at the same time. Mr. Pico stated that the Council has the option to look at other potential uses in this process also. Bill Berek, 565 St. Marys Street, stated he had been the School Superintendent for Pleasanton and also served as the Alameda County Superintendent of Schools. His job was to remove the Del Prado property from the District's list of assets. Mr. Berek stated that every study that was done during his tenure indicated that Del Prado was not a good place for a school. The decisions that were made at one time regarding those sites were no longer applicable, and he had requested the non-use sites be divested. He recommended that the Council initiate this amendment. Gene Pons, 8832 Abbie Street, felt that the School District does not plan to build a school on the Del Prado site ever. He also stated that the City staff report of May 1995, recommends a General Plan amendment be initiated to a medium density residential designation which would be compatible with the surrounding neighborhoods. He felt the issue is complicated because of a group of residents from the Del Prado area who want a school in their area but fail to realize that the School Board is required to provide balanced education for the 06/20/95 -5 -