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Page 13 of 18 related changes to the County Housing Element planned for 2025. City staff plans to continue this discussion with County staff with the goal of reducing the East Lakes units below the 445 units currently included in the County sites inventory or otherwise achieving a more favorable outcome for Pleasanton. East Pleasanton Policy Framework The City currently lacks a comprehensive vision and policy framework for development in East Pleasanton. The City’s General Plan includes only a broad discussion of East Pleasanton, including existing conditions, and a general overview of planning considerations and potential land uses that could be suitable within the overall (1,000-acre plus) planning area, framed by the intent to develop a specific plan that would provide more detailed land use guidance. Land Use Element Program 6.1 calls for the City to initiate a specific plan process for the East Pleasanton area. The Draft East Pleasanton Specific Plan prepared in 2014 was not ultimately adopted by the City Council. Given the General Plan’s direction, and with these pending residential applications, prospective interest from Amazon and other private owners in moving forward with development, extensive adjacent public lands and Zone 7 facilities, and longstanding interest in ensuring that East Pleasanton develops in a coordinated and cohesive manner, staff believes it would be beneficial to develop some type of policy framework for the area. Staff recommends initiating a process to amend the General Plan to establish a vision and policy framework for East Pleasanton development. The process to prepare this General Plan amendment is proposed to be streamlined, with public input and direction provided through meetings of the Planning Commission and City Council, potentially augmented with some focused public workshops. This framework process would be independent from City review of the Arroyo Lago and East Lakes projects, and for a project on the Amazon site, if in the near future a development application consistent with City zoning is submitted. Those applications would be allowed to proceed ahead of or concurrently with the process to develop framing General Plan policies (i.e., developing a General Plan policy framework would incorporate the projects, as proposed and/or modified as a result of near- term City Council input, rather than pausing while the framework is developed). New General Plan policies for East Pleasanton would signal to property owners the City’s long-term intentions for the area, guide City investments, and provide an opportunity to re-visit some of the key topics that were addressed in the 2015 Specific Plan effort, such as (but not necessarily limited to) open space / recreational opportunities, connectivity and interface of public and private land uses within the East Pleasanton Area, location of the solid waste transfer facility, and status of the Urban Growth Boundary. An effective set of policies will help to coordinate development and public improvements in East Pleasanton and meet the needs of current and future residents. Part 2: Arroyo Lago Project Issues The following discussion addresses issues unique to the proposed Arroyo Lago project: Project Design As noted, the applicant has submitted a “City” alternative project reflecting modifications in response to City and neighbor comments for the lots abutting the Village at Ironwood, including increasing lot sizes, increasing rear setbacks, and providing single-story homes Page 212 of 749