Laserfiche WebLink
City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update <br />Draft Program EIR Introduction <br /> <br /> <br />FirstCarbon Solutions 1-1 <br />https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480022/EIR/3 - Draft/21480022 Sec01-00 Introduction.docx <br />CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION <br />This Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (Draft Program EIR) is prepared in accordance with <br />the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts <br />associated with the implementation of the City of Pleasanton 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element <br />Update (State Clearinghouse [SCH] No. 2022040091). As described in State CEQA Guidelines Section <br />15121(a), an EIR is a public information document that assesses the potentially significant <br />environmental impacts of a project. CEQA requires that an EIR be prepared by the agency with <br />primary responsibility over the approval of a project (the lead agency). The City of Pleasanton is the <br />lead agency for the proposed 2023-2031 (6th Cycle) Housing Element Update, rezonings, General <br />Plan and Specific Plan Amendments (collectively referred to herein as the Housing Element Update). <br />Public agencies are charged with the duty to consider and minimize environmental impacts of <br />proposed development where feasible and have the obligation to balance economic, environmental, <br />and social factors. <br />Pursuant to California Government Code Section 65300 et seq., all cities must prepare a General Plan <br />that institutes policies and standards for future development, housing affordability, and resource <br />protection. State law mandates general plans and the elements therein “ . . . comprise an integrated, <br />internally consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency.”1 Therefore, <br />when deciding whether to approve a proposed project, the Planning Commission and City Council <br />must determine if, on balance, that project is consistent with the General Plan. The adoption of <br />Housing Element Update would also require General Plan Amendments and Specific Plan <br />Amendments to account for the land use designation changes required for new housing sites. <br />Pleasanton prepared an inventory of sites that could accommodate the Regional Housing Needs <br />Assessment (RHNA). Based on a preliminary evaluation of the capacity of existing sites zoned for <br />residential development, Pleasanton identified a need for additional locations for future rezoning to <br />allow for residential use, including sites suitable for both lower income and market-rate housing to <br />address the shortfall between the RHNA and the existing capacity for housing within Pleasanton. <br />Staff presented an initial list of potential housing sites for consideration to the Planning Commission <br />on November 10 and December 15, to the Housing Commission on November 18, and at a <br />Community Meeting on December 1. Based on initial feedback from those meetings, the Planning <br />Commission provided a recommendation to the City Council on a list of potential sites to be <br />considered for future rezoning to allow residential development. On February 1 and 8, 2022, the City <br />Council narrowed down the initial list of sites to 25 sites for inclusion in the environmental analysis <br />and for consideration as part of the Site Inventory for the Housing Element Update. All meeting <br />materials and draft documents are available for public review on the project website at <br />https://www.pleasantonhousingelement.com. <br /> <br />1 California Legislative Information. No date. California Government Code § 65300.5. Website: <br />https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=65300.5. Accessed: February 8, <br />2022.