HACIENDA REPORT - Laserfiche WebLink

MORRI9ON I FOERSTER Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and Members of the Pleasanton City Council August 13, 2008 Page Three single site, where the uses are integrated and include a functional inteaelationship and a coherent physical design." (Draft GPU, Land Use Element at 2-23). • The Draft GPU provides that transit-oriented development `Ss focused around transit stations such as BART ...and bus lines," and is comprised of "walkable communities with mixed-use development that includes shops, public services, schools and a variety of housing types," which "are often job centers." (Draft GPU, Land Use Element at 2-21). • Policy 13 on page 2-29 "[e]ncourage[s] mixed-use development which encompasses any combination of wmmercial development, housing units, or community facilities in an integrated development. This mixed-use development would preferably be located in areas served by public transit ..." Given this strong draft General Plan guidance, much of the policy framework that typically would be used in a Specific Plan to define future infrastructure and development policies and goals, already exists as part of the Draft GPU. Hacienda is already a functioning 730 acre mixed use community with existing infrastructure. Accordingly, the GPU vision of smart- growth, transit-oriented, mixed-use development can be implemented more effectively through the PUD Modification process, rather than a more time-consuming Specific Plan process. B. Circumstances Have Changed Since the Idea of a Hacienda Specific Plan Was Initially Conceived The City Council's guidance from the mixed use and smart growth policies in the draft GPU was not available when the initial idea of aHacienda-wide Specific Plan was conceived. Also, when the Hacienda stakeholders group was initially formed, a substantially greater number of residential units was being considered for Hacienda. In view of the Council's direction, the number of residential units proposed for Hacienda has been substantially reduced. This change has reduced the need for a Specific Plan. The three properties with pending proposals at this time are only considering approximately 450 transit-oriented residential units. While there are two additional sites contemplating residential uses that have been actively engaged in the stakeholder planning work undertaken over the last few years, the total number of residential units being considered for Hacienda is substantially less than the numbers being discussed yeazs ago. C. A PUD Modification Can Accomplish All of the Planning Goals of a Specific Plan For purposes of Hacienda, a PUD Modification can accomplish all of the same planning goals that would be accomplished by a Specific Plan, including providing detailed mixed wc-138373