01 9-16-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

realized the City is helping to get the tax-exempt bonds and tax-exempt credits, which will help to make the project work, and she is interested in making sure 5% workforce moderate level housing is provided. She also was interested in keeping affordability in perpetuity, is concerned about the flyover and felt that the City should ensure that if the City loses 250 parking spaces, there is a plan to keep housing and parking on the site. She is interested in making sure the project complies within the City's growth management ordinance and that the playground is one of high quality. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said part of the negotiation for the easement for the flyover should be to ensure parking is worked out and not impacted. City Manager Fialho said Caltrans would need to come forth with a plan and there is no current easement on the property. City Attorney Roush confirmed there would be extensive negotiation to attempt to resolve it, but if this could not happen, Caltrans could condemn the property and the parking spaces would go away on site. Councilmember McGovern questioned if the City Attorney or City Manager were uncomfortable with any of the additional conditions, and City Manager Fialho said no, and he summarized the conditions as: 1) the developer would make every attempt to secure affordable housing within the moderate income category; 2) BART and/or Windstar and/or Caltrans would need to develop a plan that mitigates the impact of the potential flyover to a level that retains all vehicles within the property. The plan would be developed and funded if the final flyover design has an impact on the proposed development; 3) the project would comply with the City's growth management ordinance; 4) every effort would be made to develop a play area with consultation with City staff that maximizes square footage to include apparatus consistent with the City's park standards, landscaping and safe for all children. Vice Mayor Thorne questioned if the project could be conditioned to offer first choice to Pleasanton employees, and Mr. Bocian said the preference system in place includes Pleasanton employees and residents, but what it does not do is pick out a particular business in town or a particular location. Councilmember Cook-Kallio said her presumption about the task force had to do with Hacienda and she was not sure they applied to this particular development. She was thrilled the project includes things the Council has deemed important, was struggling with TOD development, however, she has learned it's not so much about the retail, but how much you can limit your carbon footprint. She expressed concern with the need for pedestrian-friendly landscaping as she felt more people would walk in these sorts of areas. She likes the idea of any kind of affordable housing, disclosed she spoke with Mr. Heffner, likes affordable housing in perpetuity, and supported the project moving forward. Councilmember McGovern said she is very interested in a grocery store for the project, said there are conservation measures she is interested in raising, she asked that conditions reflect the green list, spoke about the number of units for Hacienda, and hoped these types of projects will reduce congestion and get people out of their cars. Mayor Hosterman said moving forward with this project does not necessarily have any bearing for a future proposal in Hacienda, which is to be analyzed and viewed separately. Councilmember Sullivan said he's an advocate for transit mixed-use development, however, thinks this is the wrong project and will not do the things the applicant says it will because it is too small. He believes there are big picture issues the Council needs to review as a community before approving this project. He said there is a housing cap with a limited number of units left to do these kinds of projects and this project will take many units away from the many other Council Meeting Minutes 6 September 16, 2008