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BACKGROUND The Pleasanton community has long recognized the aesthetic and open space value of the surrounding hills and ridgelines to the west and southeast of the community. This has been reflected in policies in the General Plan, such as the policies applicable to the western Ridgelands adopted by an initiative (Measure F) in 1993, in the Vineyard Avenue Corridor Specific Plan, and in the City's zoning ordinance. In various ways these policies and regulations seek to ensure the stability of slopes and the safety of hillside development, to preserve the open space and the natural or agricultural character of the hills, and to preserve heritage trees, habitat, and natural land forms. These policies and regulations are reflected in the following manner. 1996 GENERAL PLAN The General Plan is the official document used by City decision makers and citizens to guide the long range development of land and the conservation of resources in Pleasanton. The Plan is general and flexible enough (with few exceptions) to allow for future change but specific enough to guide citizens and decision makers at the policy level. The General Plan addresses hillside development in the Land Use, Public Safety, Conservation and Open Space, and Community Character Elements. In the Land Use Element of General Plan, hillside development is guided through implementation of various policies and programs related to development and open .space preservation in hill areas, by Measure F (Pleasanton Ridgeland Area Plan Initiative), and by the development limitations imposed by City's Urban Growth Boundary, The City's land use map designates an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) line around the edge of the land considered suitable for urban development at General Plan buildout (see Attachment 3). The line distinguishes developable areas capable of providing urban public facilities and services from areas identified for the long-term protection of natural resources, large lot agriculture and grazing, parks and recreation, public health and safety, sub-regionally significant wildlands, buffers between communities, and scenic ridgeline views. The UGB is intended to be permanent and to define the line beyond which urban development will not occur. Measure F was approved by Pleasanton voters in November 1993 and is memorialized in the Land Use Element of the General Plan. The measure specifically relates to the Pleasanton Ridgelands area, which includes approximately 13,000 acres generally bounded by I-580, Palomares Road, Niles Canyon Road, and the 670-foot elevation near Foothill Road, excluding the existing communities of Sunol, Kilkare Canyon, and Castlewood (see Attachment 4). This scenic area also contains substantial regional parkland, agricultural land, and valuable wildlife habitat. The intent of the Measure was to preserve the remaining agricultural open space and designate the Ridgelands as Park and Recreation (for publicly-owned land) and Agriculture (for privately-owned land). In those areas designated Agriculture, certain uses which would be incompatible with the existing visual quality are not allowed. The base density for agricultural areas is 100 acres per building site; new homes may be located only on a legal building site, Page 2 of 9