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Public Comments February 23, 2022 Pleasanton Planning Commission City of Pleasanton Agenda Item 7 Dear Chairperson Chase and Planning Commissioners, ATTACHMENT Thank you for the opportunity to comment further on your proposed recommendations to the City Council for inclusion in the Housing Element update. In addition to staffs recommendations provided at the end of their report I have provided some additional policy suggestions I hope you will forward to the Council. These are based upon staff s discussion (page 2) regarding implementation of our current Housing Element's Goals 5 and 14, as well as Policy 36 and Program 36.1. My modifications to their recommendations are intended to improve Pleasanton's performance in these critical housing areas. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Define "workforce housing" to reflect the true income characteristics of those currently employed by all businesses in Pleasanton, consistent with Goals 5, 14, Policy 36 and Program 36.1. This is option#1. Choosing option #2 treats most of our workforce as though they are unemployed, and unworthy of housing in our community. 2. Recommend an efficient land use strategy giving highest priority to developing affordable employee housing for those working at jobs in Pleasanton which pay less than 100%AMI. This group constitutes at least 60% of unmet housing need, a need that Pleasanton can only meet with nonprofit, mixed income housing. This category is truly Pleasanton's "missing housing". The City should follow the example of other job rich communities like Fremont which buy land to facilitate construction of nonprofit workforce housing. 3. Second highest priority should be the minority of the local workforce that earns more than 100% AMI. According to the charts provided by staff, the needs of this group can be adequately provided by market rate rental housing. The IZO could be used to provide more affordable units for households earning between 80 and 100% AMI. This should allow for .profit developers to provide 25%-30% affordable units within their complex. (Archstone Hacienda provides 25% of its units at 80% AMI in perpetuity.) For sale development produces too few affordable units, and affordability is too difficult to track and maintain in perpetuity. 4. Develop Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) programs to serve all sizes of Pleasanton businesses, not just "select" businesses. The needs of small businesses may differ from those of corporations and large public agencies. But all businesses need access to affordable employee housing to thrive. This could provide an important use of your recommended increased business LIHF fees, as well as encouraging additional investment by businesses that paid lower LIHF fees in the past. 5. Require carbon neutral design for all housing developments. From rural residential (ala Spotorno Flat) to High Density Residential. This should be a fundamental aspect of all designs, not merely an option. 12