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seen around TOD's around BART stations, with the answer being between 7% and 40%
<br />depending on where it was. She said tonight, it was stated the percentage was 50%. She said
<br />she was uncomfortable with statements of possibly not needing a school, you can reduce car
<br />traffic by 50%, you can reduce parking spaces around a BART station, and she thinks if this is
<br />how TOD is proposed to be done, the City is setting itself up with assumptions that may not
<br />come true. She hoped that when MTC does go forward and talk to cities that are looking at
<br />TOD, those things are not quoted. She said there are very high quality schools in Pleasanton
<br />and thinks there are specific needs for specific communities. Mr. Johnson said he understands
<br />the values and priorities of communities, said he speaks in general terms and on average, there
<br />are certain truths that appear to become evident. However, it is not one-size-fits-all, it needs to
<br />have both the support of immediate residents and landowners, as well as the City. Also, if the
<br />City proceeds with it, it should start to generate the types of benefits it is supposed to.
<br />Councilmember Sullivan noted synergies between the land use and transportation and how to
<br />create those livable spaces while reducing vehicle miles. Mr. Johnson said either way, the City
<br />will need to go through a planning process that sets any project correctly in its context as it
<br />relates to design and density, as well as it relates to adjacent land uses, access to transit,
<br />affordability, schools and other needs, and he felt this was something more community-specific.
<br />John Rennels, BART Principal Property Development Officer, said they are pleased to have
<br />been part of the planning process of Hacienda, believes it is one of the premier business
<br />centers, the opportunity and potential there to transform it into a vibrant, sustainable community
<br />with varied development patterns through a SMART growth vision will result in a vibrant district
<br />beyond normal work hours. He felt it has the potential of integrating daytime and nighttime
<br />activities which are tax-generating and income-producing, it will create a walkable and transit-
<br />supportive environment, and concurs with staff that the vision for mixed use will add an
<br />additional cache to Hacienda, as corporations will be able to market to employees many
<br />opportunities and be able to sustain.
<br />Ed Doty, resident of Valencia, said when he purchased his home they believed the park would
<br />be quiet on weekends, it is zoned as commercial and now he has concerns given the proposed
<br />development. He said with what they pay to the business park, one of the problems will be that
<br />their dues will go up and they will be burdened financially.
<br />Marty Inderbitzen emphasized that the reason the CarrAmerica campus is involved is because it
<br />is one of the largest properties in the business park, it is relatively close to the BART station,
<br />and as the park began their new vision, it was natural for CarrAmerica to get involved in the
<br />process. The CarrAmerica property owners did not respond to residential development due to
<br />its limited amount, and the proposal seen is one the City would achieve regardless if there was
<br />a specific plan proposal, a PUD modification, or an independent PUD application. It is one that
<br />recognizes the importance of that asset in a business park, they feel a need to enhance the
<br />corporate campus, when a large corporate user like Robert Half, Inc. is looking for a place to go,
<br />and this is one of the unique places they could go, which is valuable. They would like to be able
<br />to get the project moving forward so that when the next opportunity like that comes along, they
<br />have an opportunity to retain it for the economic development of the community and for the
<br />business park. He recognizes there are traffic issues that must be analyzed, but fortunately the
<br />EIR for the General Plan update identifies the level of traffic impacts that would be generated by
<br />a project of this nature. Lastly, he believes they are within all height limits, as there are a
<br />number of 5-story buildings in the park and in the community, but they are interested in hearing
<br />from the community.
<br />CC/PC Joint Workshop Minutes 12 August 27, 2008
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