RES 01063 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ms. Ayala asked if there were four million square feet of office space that has been approved, but not yet built? Mr. Paxson said that was too high. He briefly reviewed what he remembered of various expansion projects that were .incomplete. He estimated about one million to one and a half million square feet were yet to be constructed. These are for companies that own their own buildings, such as PeopleSoft, Roche and Shaklee which have purchased land for expansion. Ms. McKeehan believed the figure Ms. Ayala referred to applied to the entire city. There being no further speakers, the public hearing was closed. There was a break at 9:40 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:45 p.m. Mayor Pico believed the most significant issues to be addressed were the land use and whether a city-sponsored market study was necessary. He felt Council should address those issues first. If it decides this is an appropriate land use, then it needs to 'decide whether it would process the design review or refer it to the Planning Commission. Ms. Dennis indicated she had struggled with this issue. Because of the history of the restaurant use on the site and the number of restaurants around this area, she did not feel a restaurant was a viable use for this site. She believed the proposed office building was an acceptable use for this property. Based on the comments of the Planning Commission and the suggestion of things to be studied, she felt those uses were already all around this site. Given the vacancy rates quoted by Mr. Paxson for office and for retail, if there is a downturn in the economy then it doesn't make sense to put more retail on the site, since it already has the highest vacancy rate. She believed putting an office use on this site supports the other uses surrounding it. She did not object to sending the project back to the Planning Commission for design review. If Council wanted to do a study, she felt it should go further than what the Commission had suggested. It should include a single occupancy hotel, residential or other housing options. In terms of commercial, retail or other business park type uses, she felt the proposed office building was best for the site. She would even agree to a bigger building. Ms, Ayala was concerned about the four million square feet of office space that is approved and not built. She believed the market has changed and supported a market study of all possibilities,.ineluding high density residential/affordable housing. Ms. Dennis indicated housing is a need of the city, but may not be the most viable for the site~ She believed the Planning Commission, when it suggested a study, was thinking more about commercial uses, and of all the commercial uses, she felt this building was the best. Pleasanton City Council 16 04/03/01 Minutes