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139 <br /> <br /> Mr. Butler agreed with Mr. Tarver and confirmed that this is <br />a perfect location for this project. He added that while included <br />in the motion was the normal eight units per acre minimum, the <br />message from this Council is that it was extremely interested in <br />seeing more high density, low cost units. <br /> <br /> Mayor Mercer commented that Robertson Homes has spent an <br />enormous amount of time and has been condemned as a developer <br />that's coming to town to rip off the community. The fact that a <br />number of the Affordable Housing Committee members came forward to <br />speak on behalf of Robertson gives credit to Robertson for the <br />amount of time and effort that it has tried to spend in explaining <br />difficulties in providing affordable housing and the necessity for <br />this kind of housing. They have tried to explain why this location <br />is a good location for affordable housing and have gone out of its <br />way to answer every question. To his recollection, risk has never <br />been talked about and Robertson should be given growth management <br />approval because it is willing to take the risk. The idea of a 25% <br />set aside was to provide an incentive for builders to come here not <br />to give them credit for a risk. This is the first developer in a <br />long time that is willing to step forward to take a risk providing <br />he gets some incentive. It becomes a responsibility of a <br />community to provide this type of housing, especially for those <br />people who grow up here. This is housing that will fill a real <br />need in our community and it's a necessity that we provide it. The <br />neighborhoods have continually come down here and told us not to <br />place multiple housing units in their areas. The Citizens General <br />Plan Review Committee said the same thing. He's pleased to hear <br />the councilmembers, especially the newer ones, agreeing that this <br />looks like the logical thing to do. He supports this project. <br /> <br /> Ms. Scribner shared her concern about the impact of the <br />project on schools. She hoped that the developer will take this as <br />a real challenge to provide for the children and help the schools <br />plan for this project. She thought the mediterranean colors were <br />nice but understood that the colors could be overbearing in such a <br />large magnitude. On the other hand, she thought the beige seemed <br />a little drab. <br /> <br /> Mr. Tarver asked the applicants and staff to find a way to get <br />the income levels of those low income units as low as possible. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mohr commented that when one looks at what fair market <br />rents are today, and what HUD low income standard is today in <br />Pleasanton, it looks like a wash. Three years ago, a number of <br />units were built and based on the law of supply and demand there's <br />been enough supply to keep rents down for a short term. There is <br />1 or 2% vacancy factor at this time. The economic window of <br />opportunity for lenders and builders to be able to get together to <br />get something built is not something cities are usually able to <br />control. Having low income units locked in for 25 years is going <br />to prove to be a real advantage to the community. <br /> <br />12/10/91 13 <br /> <br /> <br />