Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

is ready too. Good evening and welcome to the January 28th, 2026 Pleasanton Planning Commission meeting. And with that, I'll call the meeting to order. And Commissioner Wedge, would you please lead us in pledge of allegiance?

Sure. I pledge allegiance to the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And could we go ahead and have roll call, please? Commissioner Jacob, present. Jane, present. Mohan is absent. Pace present. Wedge present. and chair Morgan present. All right. Do we have any amendments by staff? No amendments tonight.

All right. And any amendments um from fellow planning commissioners? Nope. All right. And uh there's no one in the audience tonight, so I'll skip the part about the speaker cards. And just for completeness on the record, um could you confirm that we don't have any speaker cards for any topics tonight? We do not have any speaker cards.

All right. And so we won't go through that each time either since we don't have one anyone in the audience. Just for the record. And the first item is the consent calendar. Consent calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted with one motion unless a request for removal or discussion or explanation is received from the planning commission or a member of the public by submitting a speaker card for that item. [clears throat] We have two items on the consent calendar. One is the actions of the city council and the other is the u minutes from our last meeting. And I'll ask at this point whether any comments from fellow planning commissioners for either of the items on the consent calendar.

None. Okay. And with that, uh, I'll invite a motion for approval of the consent calendar. I'll make a motion. Do we have a second? I'll second. All right. Could we please have a roll call? Commissioner Jacob. Hi. Jane. I. Pace I I [clears throat and cough] Wedge I and Chair Morgan I uh the motion passes unanimously.

And the next section is meeting open to the public but since there is no one in the audience from the public uh we'll move on for that item as well. Next item on our agenda is public hearings and other matters and we don't have any public hearings or other matters tonight. So we will now move to uh matters for commission's action um information review information and we have two items here that were continued from our last meeting in December. The first one is the appointment of a planning commission chair and the vice chair for 2026. These items were continued because we didn't have uh full attendance on the December 10th meeting and then the last meeting as of two weeks ago was cancelled and I think again that was probably canceled because we didn't have a full quorum either. And so tonight we're finally meeting to elect a chair and a vice chair. And so I'll I'll let's start with the chair and we'll ask whether we have any nominations for chair for 2026.

Oh. Um perhaps before uh the commission starts, I just wanted to maybe clarify um just as background for the commission's benefit. Um so the the rules uh stipulate that um generally that the chair serves a one-year term and Commissioner Morgan has just served that chair that role. Um the commission a commissioner can serve two terms total and those can be either consecutive or non-consecutive. Um so that's just per the procedures in the uh in the uh planning commission ordinance. O almost. Yeah. I'm sorry. No no no almost. So uh can serve two consecutive. You can also serve and take a break and come back. Does that make sense? So yes,

you serve two consecutive and take a break and then and then if elect, you know, the the commission wants be chair again, you could be chair again. So okay, that is it. And as the vice chair, uh it doesn't talk about two consecutives. So I suppose you could do it your entire time on the planning commission. Something to aspire to. Not so sorry. So if I if I understand it, the kind of the only real prohibition is you can't have the same person serving more than two consecutive terms, but someone could serve one or more times if there were breaks in between. That is correct.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Well, thank you for the background and for the clarifications. And with that, we'll ask or do we have any nominations for chair for this year? Could be self-nomination, could be nomination of someone else on the commission. Um, so whoever would like to start, let's go ahead.

So I I think I just want to relay a message. So I did speak with Vive Commissioner Moan and u I asked him specifically if because if we go based on our presidents we have kept based on the rotation based on seniority the selection of chair and vice chair and I asked him if he's interested in um serving as a chair. So he said if the commission decides he will be willing to and I just wanted to put it out there and if there's enough interest I would be more than happy to nominate him for the chair and maybe just for a little bit of clarity you said that he if the commission wants him to he would be willing to would you say he would he would like to or he would be willing to or is there a way to

I think he would like to like you. Um, and so maybe for starter, let's just keep going. Are there other nominations, people that are interested in serving or nominating others just to see where we stand here? Yeah, I get um I guess my only concern is like he's not here like when we're doing the conversation and like and so forth. And so I I understand um the desire, but like it's it's hard when we're not he's not here when we're actually having the conversation. And it's um a little bit hearsay.

Yeah. And and like we knew this is coming. It comes every single year and he's he's been around for a while. And so I mean there there will always be more opportunities assuming he gets, you know, he's he stays on the commission, which I'm I'm sure he will, although I haven't talked to him about it. But that's my my concern. It isn't about like aptitude. Obviously, we haven't we haven't um he's never been chaired before, but but most of us haven't either before, you know, before we kind of get up and do it. But that's my only concern is like I feel like the person who gets nominated should be able to be here and kind of articulate their own desires and kind of what they want and whether or not they support it. And so I just that feels a little awkward to me. Um and so I I do have I do have that concern.

Yeah. And I guess maybe I have a couple thoughts there too, but let's get other people to weigh in. Uh, Commissioner Wedge, do you have any thoughts about Commissioner Pac's comments, for example? I understand them and I do agree with them. I feel that we should be here if we want to throw our name in the hat and I respect sometimes we travel and thank you. Sorry. I respect sometimes we travel and business takes us away but I feel that we should be here. [snorts] All right. Commissioner Jgo, you have a you have thoughts about this matter?

Um I would agree with the previous comments. Can I make a nomination? Um, I'll just say that I tend to have the same comments and thoughts that, um, I would feel better if the person was here so they could advocate for what they want. So there's no uncertainty about about what their interests are. And so I I know he's interested. I don't know how interested. And I don't know his schedule for this year. It would be nice to be able to ask him a few questions. And so from that point of view, u yes,

I would like to nominate um Commissioner Pace for chair. So I've I've done this uh I am the most tenured person here. Uh and I also have experience doing it in another city. Um I certainly um am willing to to step in and do it. Um I you know I I also kind of like the the fact that we had the rotation going where kind of we we give everyone a chance. And so I you know if I were to accept this and I would hope that we could kind of return to the rotation after this year and just kind of use this as a as kind of a a caretaker year. That's how I would that's how I would uh perceive uh accepting this because I'm not interested in um kind of disrupting the the rotation we have. But also I understand that you know things happen. So, um, and I would be more than anxious to to to help others, uh, get the opportunity to, uh, to do this. I've, uh, I've been serving here for a long time, and I think it's very impactful, and I I look forward to the opportunity to help others get the same opportunities.

Yeah. And I guess I I'd like to ask just a question. Um, Mr. Jane, you have about the same tenure as Mr. Mohan within a few months. Is that correct? Yeah. So I I I'm not interested in chairing this year. Ah but I I would be willing to be a vice chair. I see. Okay. Do we have any other nominations? I like those both of those nominations. Commissioner Jane for vice and Commissioner Pace for

Okay. And so let's just open it up for any other general comments among the commissioners here if anyone would like to advocate uh for themselves or for someone else or for even Commissioner Mohan who's not here. I just before we bring this to a close like to see if there are any other any other information that we should u share amongst our commission. I think both are good candidates. So [laughter] and particularly the second one, right?

I support both. So, you know, but one person is here, another one is not. So, that does make a difference. And I did relay the message, so we'll make a decision. And I don't think Commissioner Moan will have a problem either way. All right. Well, let's do it one at a time. I guess let's focus on the chair role. And yeah, I have to admit the other years we've done this, we only had one candidate, so it was easy and we just had a simple vote. And so, uh, Julie, could you please advise just a bit on the procedural aspect of this? We've got two nominations here.

I think straw just you guys talking about straw votes enough. I think I heard feedback, but if you want to go ahead and just double check that everyone is in agreement with chair pace, vice chair, would we need a motion then? No. Um, so how would we phrase it? You know, we've got two candidates. Yeah, like a straw vote. Just ask is everyone in agreement and head nods are okay. It doesn't have to be that formal for this. Yeah, I see. Yeah, we don't need a record or something. It it'll it'll be captured.

All right. So, we we have a nomination for uh Commissioner Pace to be uh the chair for 2026. And there's been some general support among planning commissioners. And so, let's just go ahead and ask each of the commissioners if they're in support of this. Commissioner Wedge, I. Commissioner Pace.

Yeah. As I said, I'll do it um for the year. Yeah. But but I want to make sure we kind of go back to the opportunity to be equal equal equal about it as we as we go forward. I think that's really important that that the community sees that this body represents all of them and and that we get diverse voices over time and so um I'll do it uh I'll do it kind of with that context. Okay. Commissioner Jane. Yeah, as I said, I think uh both are good candidates and I'm very happy to support uh Commissioner Pace for this. Okay, Commissioner Jgo, fully in support.

Okay. And I'm fully in support as well. So, with that, we're concluded on the chair. Commissioner Pace will be our chair for 2026. And so, let's move to the vice chair role. We've got one nomination so far, Commissioner Jane. And uh he's already expressed his interest. And so, be So, we'll just pause at this point to ask whether there are any other nominations for vice chair.

No, I just I I think the way we've done it is incredibly fair, which is we give everyone a chance for those that are interested and if they're not, which is perfectly fine, but I think kind of going through rotation and relying on, you know, on tenure is a is a reasonable way to do it. Um, so I'm and you know, having had the opportunity to work alongside him for the last several years, I certainly um I certainly think, you know, he's uh he's more than capable of being um you know, of serving in that role and I would be excited to see what else he he gets to do in the future. So, I'm excited to support that. Okay. Uh Commissioner JGO, any nominations or other thoughts? Um no.

All right. And I'm also very supportive of Commissioner Jane being the vice chair. So just as a formality, uh, Commissioner Wedge, I agree. You support that? I support. Commissioner Pace. Yep. And Commissioner Dgo, I support. And you're ready to take on the role. Commissioner Jane. Yeah, more than willing to help. And yeah, I think we'll see Commissioner Pace here more. Uh, so not like before. So I'm very excited. He he'll be running most of the meetings,

but just in case something happens. I'm I'm excited as well. So, congratulations to both of you for your roles for 2026. The other item that was continued from our last meeting was uh appointment of sub commmittee representatives. And if I understand correctly, we have two ve we have two vacancies on the bicycle pedestrian trail committee. one vacancy is a representative and the other is the alternate position. And for the uh [snorts] protected tree board, uh Commissioner Mohan is a representative and we have one vacancy for the representative and one vacancy for the alternate. So in a nutshell for both of those both of those commissions we have uh an opening for a representative and and an opening for the alternate on the committees and so chair Morgan just as a housekeeping matter and the alternate can participate on these committees as the regular or the alternate so everyone is eligible. I wanted to ask a quick question and from our last meeting I think I agreed to do a tree board but is there two separate tree boards or is this the only one

there there's just one tree board so I thought I had but we but we decided we didn't vote on it we didn't vote on it we decided to ultimately continue it okay uh since since we had other loose ends as well I I would be very happy to take on the um the regular rule versus the alternate. And so maybe just for starters, how many folks do we have that are interested in the protected tree board? So we've got two. Stephanie wants to do it, too. I'd like to do the alternate.

I see. I also have some interest in the tree board, but I'm not uh pressing for it either. And I've done it before. So in you know fairness I don't feel that I should do that if other people are interested there too. And then just how many people that we have that are interested in the uh bicycle pedestrian trail committee.

So I'll say there's a lot of exciting work there. We are doing the bike and pad plan. So master plan it's getting revised. Um so our general plan is a little bit away from revision. So if you like doing that kind of work I think there will be a lot of conversations this year on updating that master plan. You can get involved in the process. Um so I'm terming out is that correct? Right. I've served two years on that. You've been trails committee for two years. So, um, it's two, it's a it says three.

Three year term. So, you you could serve another another year. It's not I don't think it's mandated that you serve all three years of your term. If there's someone else who wants to step up or you'd rather step down, is there a limit for two years or no? It actually says threeear terms. Sorry, I'm gonna stop talking, Julie, because I don't know [laughter] what I'm talking about. And then, so two terms, so six years total. So, yeah, you're you're good for a while if [laughter] you want say you guys just need to pick another person. Is well, is that position even open then if it's a three-year term or uh if he No, if he wants to stay, he gets to keep it. So, yes. Yeah,

because in the red it says 23 to 25. So, that's why I was confused. I think that's what you've served thus far. That's me. Sorry. Thank you. Uh, so you've done two years, you've got another year in your term. So you're set unless you want off and then you guys just need to find one other person. Yeah, I think if someone else wants to come in even as an alternate or the regular will be more than Can I a threeear term? Interrupt. It's the term that is he has served three according to those dates. It's the full year for 2023, 2024 and 2025 have been completed. Yeah, I see the January to December now. Yeah, thank [laughter] you. Sorry.

It's not just the years. Yes. So, okay. So, you but you can do um two terms. So, six years total. Yeah. So, that's why I'm saying like there's exciting work happening. [laughter] So, someone did commissioner. Yeah. Fair. Looks like three years may be enough. I am hearing. Yeah.

The BPDC. So, I can't uh do it because I've done six years now. Um um but I would say that um if you want to kind of be close to um a part of this community that people love um and that people are really passionate about kind of the the the trails, the pedestrian, the bikes in particular, it's um I echo it's it's um it's it's important and people really care about it and so it does give you an opportunity um to to connect with a group of people that um they're very passionate um but It's it's it's a group that that does that does represent I think a strong uh group of our community. Um and it's obviously impactful in our city.

Yeah. So if there's no other person stepping up, I can take on another term. Uh but I would prefer to have at least one alternate. Um because there are maybe one or two occasions when I could not go and we didn't have any representation from planning. [snorts] Can we nominate VC? He's on the uh heritage tree board. So might not the When does this uh committee meet? Uh so it meets uh it meets once every two months. So it's what day is it on a a Monday? Monday. It's a Monday. Monday.

Monday. Fourth Monday of each month. It's turned to I think every other month. Yeah. They're meeting by monthly at the moment. It sounds like something that I would be very interested in. I'm just worried of taking on something that's a three-year term. So, you can come in as an alternate. I I think you know and some days I will if I'm not able to make it you can I if no one else is interested I can take the alternate spot and AJ you're willing to continue sounds like for the other

I'm I'm happy to continue I just wanted to let other people have the opportunity if they wanted it I think it's good year to be on that committee because we are going through the master bike and ped master plan and I I think uh commissioner JGO will be great. I think he has a lot of experience urban planning architecture so I think you'll love it. I it looks Yeah, it looks it looks kind of up my up my alley. And if you wanted to convert from alternate to regular next year, no, you you'll have some experience under your but I'm on the tree board. [laughter]

All right. Is there anything else we need to cover? All right. So, it sounds like we're in agreement that uh Commissioner Jane will will serve another term or at least start another term and Commissioner JGO will uh will start as the alternate for the bicycle pedestrian trails committee and is everyone in agreement with that? Commissioner Wedge? Yes.

Mr. Pace nodding and and I'm in agreement as well. And and then we have the uh heritage tree board. Commissioner Mohan is currently a member and will continue in that role as I understand it. And we have one vacancy for the for the for the board and then an alternate for the board. And Mr. Jgo, I think you indicated that you would like to be the uh the representative for the tree board. I will I would like to take the regular spot that's open.

And is there anybody else that wants that spot or Okay. And Commissioner Wedge, you're interested in the the alternate spot. Okay. All right. Do we have any other nominations or self-nominations? And so is everyone in agree with that? Commissioner Jagel will be the representative and Mr. Wedge will be the alternate. I see everybody nodding. And so that's great. We're finished with those items. So with that, let's move to reports for meetings attended. Commissioner JGO. I do not have any.

Mr. Jane, I attended the bike and pad committee. So as I mentioned earlier uh we are updating the bike and pad master plan. There was a extensive survey conducted with residents. There were pop-up shops. We got a lot of feedback on what the pain points are with the bike and pad master plan and uh the work is in progress. Um so there's lot of exciting work happening. U there were also presentations on u just the accidents um where we stack against every other similarly sized city in California. So we ranked 99 of like 104 like which is pretty good in terms of um incidents. But when we look at incidents for u students or in a age group which is teenagers and below we have a outsized percentage. So we are like number four on the list. So we have u much more reports of incidents or accidents for certain age group which was interesting. I thought you guys would find it useful. U so those are the updates.

Hey uh Commissioner Jane on that one. Was it related to a specific location like out in front of the schools or was there was there certain places where we should be thinking about from a planning perspective as as we see stuff come forward that might be useful for us?

Yes, absolutely. So obviously there is a red red zone like we plotted it in a heat map and wherever it showed more like red spots those will be the areas of focus. Um and with without a doubt like obviously uh centerita and hopyard they come u come in light especially sections between downtown and valley um like that area is the high traffic and also higher incidents. So that will be something of focus. Uyard was similar and you know bikers versus pedestrians was also u mixed a little bit. So, but that section will be a focus between the downtown and uh valley and even further down. So, that that did come up as a section of interest. Um I'm not sure maybe director Clark maybe it's uh for uh for uh director farmer as well when when we think of the projects that would come before us as we go forward in light of this data is the work that was done by bike ped is that something that the uh traffic um would then kind of consider as part of what their planning would be just I just want to make sure we get on the record since we have this really good data that people understand how we're going to use it as we as we go forward.

Yeah, the the the it's the traffic engineering team that's running the the the bike ped master plan update. So, Mike Tano and and his and his staff are are leading that effort. Um so, as you know, we do a pretty thorough review of of both um intersection issues and and traffic safety and site distances and all of those things. And so certainly if there's a really high collision rate at a particular intersection, that's going to be top of mind for the engineering team as they review projects to make sure either we're looking at opportunities for improvements to leverage projects to do that or to make sure we're not worsening any conditions. So I think that yeah, because traffic is the traffic team is so involved with both the planning side and development of these plans and and monitoring that data, I think we have a good a good correlation there.

Um, can I add a piece of information? And it's I I wasn't sure how I was going to get this into the meeting, but um I'm a member of the uh PCC um Pleasanton Unified School District committee. It's a parent communication um uh where everybody from PTA gets together and meets and we kind of find out what's going on with the district. And one of the biggest things that we talked about at our last meeting was um ebike and ecooter um issues. And I found out, this was something I was not aware of, that the schools are kind of in charge of the child's safety on while they're going to school and on their way home. That technically the the school is kind of the umbrella for for that. Um, even though they're not on campus yet. and they said that they were unable to kind of write a law or come up with a list of regulations because the city of Pleasanton doesn't have a written um kind of idea or doesn't have anything posted as to specifically what the regulations are. And because the city doesn't have anything, the school can't then base theirs off of what the city is. And so it was something that they asked me. I said, "Hey, I I might be able to bring something up. I I don't know about this." And so they are incredibly concerned about that exact same thing is that they because they're kind of seeing what's going on and hearing from all the parents and and hearing what the problem is that they kind of are have their hands tied

um as to how they can not prosecute but deal with issues um because there isn't anything that they can they can attach themselves to by a city regulation. And so I didn't know if I told them I did not know what the city's like where they're at in putting something together, but that I would I would bring up the point and they said that would be great because they're kind of in this limbo state. And so since you brought that up, it it it obviously is a huge issue not just for, you know, here it's the school district is kind of in a quasi panic mode because they don't quite know how to deal with it. So I just wanted to bring that up. Yeah. Um

appreciate you flagging that. So um I think uh the planning commission knows we we do have a a city PUSD liaison meeting that happens regularly and so ebikes was a topic that came up uh in the most recent meeting that I was at at least which was a couple months ago before the before the new year. um the police department. Um there's a lot of really there's a lot of statewide interest in this because as as bikes are getting more powerful, some of them can go 30 miles an hour and they're being driven by, you know, 12 year olds who have I'll say just limited judgment based on my 12-year-old um at the time. So um it's a it's a concern that we're looking at ways to I think maybe tighten up those regulations. So the city is very aware of the concern. Our police department is extremely aware of the concern. Um and liaison with the school district will be really part of that to to get something on the books and and make sure we're um or make sure whatever solution we come up with is one that um puts us in the best position to regulate these. And there there may even be some state um level um legislation coming about maybe limiting age limits on bikes to 16 plus for the more for the I forget all the different um variations and models but you know it's just it's like it's an epidemic really of of of safety and and collision rates are up and accident injury rates are up and fatalities are up because these bikes are really you know they're fast and they're heavy. Um and so a lot of a lot of accidents are happening. So

thank you. I'll I'll I'll pass that on um to just to the um it's kind of one of those scenarios where um it's a meeting where a PTA representative from every school is there and then we kind of pass out all the information to parents. So I think they'll it'll be a very positive um piece of information for parents to and schools to understand that you guys are working and and trying to come up with a solution for that. Yes, absolutely. Great. Thank you. for people that may have input. Is there a a point person that that they could contact just to

let me I was I was talking to um uh Captain Schlay Huber about this just sort of informed me off the coffin at a meeting and he's pretty so the police department is definitely plugged into this issue. Um, but I can circle back with the city manager's office and and um, Captain Ty Hooper and just sort of see if there's maybe a an update or something that we can help provide that you it would be wonderful to have possibly a representative come speak or or you know give a 10-minute you know kind of overview of kind of what's going on um, at the

two hour PCC meetings. Um if if you could patch me through to to who might be able to do that um then either I could or whatever kind of coordinate with somebody and see if I can't get somebody to come. Let me see if I can create that make the connection for you. That'd be great. Thank you.

Yeah. So I think you'll be perfect candidate for the bike and [laughter] so la last year we did pass lot of regulations or like some standards on how fast the ebikes can go and based on the types of ebikes which are allowed which are not. Um so we did put in few things in place. Um there's also a lot of feedback solicited from each school like principal and I think there's one more person from every school who was contacted as part of this master plan. U so there was definitely a lot of outreach. Then the survey included comments from parents. uh they didn't get much comments from actual students but a lot of parents did comment on school safety and things like that and the corridor uh which I was talking about from downtown um to valley kind of that area it was showing up on top in the survey results so they created a heat map and you know just a lot of people felt there's improvements required in that section So there will be a lot more work. So you'll probably like participating.

It sounds like it dovetales nicely into [laughter] your new role. So yeah, thank you for sharing that. Uh Commissioner Pace, any reports from meetings attended? Uh nope. Thank you. Commissioner Wedge, nothing to report.

All right. This is borderline whether I would need to report it, but I'll just report that I'm participating in a community activity called behind the badge where we meet with the police department every week for about 12 weeks and learn about how the police department works. So that's something we started a couple weeks ago and on Thursday nights for the next couple of months and boy, they devote a lot of time and effort to it. So, it seems like you can learn a lot if you want to. How did you sign up?

Um, I went to one of those uh they have coffee with the cops or ice cream with the cops. I went to one of those events a few months ago and I was talking to one of the police officers and he mentioned that they were starting that program in January. And so, I was interested in learning more about how the police department works. And we've had our families had good experiences and they've supported us in the community. and I I like that they're well respected and supported by community members and just wanted to learn more about that future planning calendar. Thank you. We do have a meeting scheduled for February 11th for consideration of a conditional use permit for a downtown restaurant that's going to be operating or would like to be operating as a bar. So, that will be on your calendar for February 11th. might be operating what again?

It's it's currently a restaurant. It's a a German restaurant downtown Pleasanton. And they want to expand their operational hours beyond what is allowed for a restaurant that would be okay. Described under the code as a bar. Okay. But it needs a cup. I see. Thank you. Is that it? That's it. Can I Sorry. Can I just ask one because I get this question about once a week um from someone in the community. When when do you think um there will be some further development that would come back to this group or to the public more generally around the mall?

Um we just gave the the the council an update on this. So, what's been happening behind the scenes is that the owners have been working to renegotiate their um reciprocal easement agreement, which is sort of all the the private agreements that exist among the mall owners about how the property is managed and land use and parking and all the things that sort of have to work together. Um that's uh that's taken a pretty considerable amount of time to to broker those agreements between the owners. Um we are they are about to start on about a six-month process to do some um further study and look at possible a possible additional zoning framework that would really facilitate different kinds of development including the residential that's planned. So that's that's sort of the planning side of things. Um as you know there's um continues to be vacant properties. The JC Penney store I think is maybe closed already but was closing down over the holidays. Um there are active efforts to release that space, although um those are not public at this point. Um but the owner is obviously they don't want to sit there with a large empty uh retail space and so they're trying to find a new tenant for that for that space. Um the Nordstrom property is currently on the market. So um nothing much is happening there until there's a new buyer. Um so things are happening. nothing is happening that's particularly visible um in terms of the large tenants, but we're making progress hopefully towards that master planning effort. Um the owners really needed to sort of figure out that work among themselves to untangle, you know, restrictions that existed in those agreements that really were stopping a lot of what was what the zoning allowed for to move forward. And so that was one piece and then modifications to the zoning um sort of the parameters zoning for that site as well. And that's, you know, again on the planning side. Um I was at the mall actually on was that Thursday or Friday last week? And if you've been there lately, but there's some interesting new

tenants. There's new food uses. There were a lot of people walking around. So I think the mall is um you know, despite the vacancies has made a really good effort with their um with the manager to to retenant for for new tenants and and it's you know, I think it's recovering quite a bit. Um but yeah, we do look forward to that more comprehensive redevelopment. Um it's a tough market for highdensity residential right now. And so that's why we're not seeing those projects move forward. Um so whether it's, you know, new people, new uses moving into the existing spaces or potentially maybe a little longer term that the residential developing. Um we're all equally excited to hear what's going to happen next.

Yeah. The and the other one um I hear a lot about is 580. um with those uh all those big empty buildings there on the you know on the other side closest to the to the uh to the freeway uh you know in the sharing the same parking lot with the Walmart. Is is there any kind of news on that one?

Um nothing that I can share or no sort of affirmative direction. I think they're Bricksmore who's the owner is continuing to explore um different tenanting retenting options. Um, OSH had a a lease actually they were that they were still in and paying on and and I think that finally got terminated that freed up that space. So, there's things happening. The the housing development that's there has been in discussion as well. Um, trying to find a developer for that site. So, you know, it's um, you know, it's getting to the point I think that that they're going to have to make a decision about how they move forward with that and and really try aggressively to um, pursue a retail options or or a housing project um, at that location. Is that Metro 580 or is that a different the co the coal center next to Walmart?

Metro 580. Yeah. And then and then for those that haven't seen I I go by it every day, but the um the new structures that are going out um what's the address that's right there uh on between the hospital and Walmart. Uh it's that big building like but I can't think of there's it's multi-tenant but anyway they're built where they're building all those apartments out front right along uh right right along the road there. That's probably the um the Avalon Bay Yeah. building. So that's their the last phase of their project which is the podium the multi family podium building. So that is has broken ground and they're starting vertical construction there. So that will

it looks like they've got some finished. It it looks like it's a nice project. They've got a they've got um like a child care facility in there and things. So, I mean that that that's a nice look. So, it looks like there is there are things happening. Obviously, with larger projects, it's quite complex, but it looks like we are seeing some things in the city, which is obviously exciting for for all for all of us. So, thank you for that update. Yeah, there's there's definitely we were just doing a sort of a recap of all of the entitlements that that uh we've done over the last couple of years and um you know residential I think we approved over 20 230 residential building permits last year which was more than double the the prior building permits actually issued which was pretty significant. Um so there's a lot of activity. You probably saw the Tri Valley in is is starting to develop um as is the Hopyard road site. So, you know, things things are happening and I think this is going to be a busy construction year for for Pleasanton.

Yeah. And and that um the site right in front of the transfer station is also that land is is uh you know is fenced and it looks like it's under treatment. So, it looks like some some ground will break there. Y uh this year as well. So, a lot's happening for the city.

A lot is happening. Yes. Some malls are so busy that you can't even find parking there. And other malls, you read in the paper about Blackhawk Plaza is struggling to the point where they wonder if it's going to be able to continue as it is. So, be very interested to see what we learn about the owners of Stone Ridge Mall and what we can do there. Uh, Commissioner Wedge, any um matters initiated by or sorry um yeah, matters initiated by commission members.

I did want to bring something up. Um, I had noticed a couple of times at the corner of Hopyard and Valley, um, in that shopping center where Jeans is with all of those Tesla chargers, um, that, you know, are parallel with the sidewalk. And I see people several times a week crossing right there on Hopy, excuse me, right right there on Valley. And it's, you know, to go from like the Jean side or the Tesla Chargers over to, you know, Pete's Coffee or Mr. Pickles, wherever they're going. And it's real dangerous because that's a curve right there. And so it's kind of a blind spot. And I'm concern I grew up here and most people are never looking for a pedestrian right there. Um, so I just wanted to bring that to our attention because it just made me very nervous. Yeah, I think that's good thing for bike and pad as well. I think we

that's that. No, that is a I live right next to that and so that that specific location um it it it's shocking but yeah, you're right. As you're coming around there, you can't you can't see anything that's going on. And so um I think I think you're right. Once once all the Tesla came in, Mr. Jgo, your mic. It's the

once once you're um um you can't see anything. Once those Tesla um chargers came in, I did notice a lot of people kind of trying to do that. Now, the right aid because it's gone, you have a lot less people in that parking lot, but I think it's it's specifically people charging and then running across and that Yeah, it's a blind it is a blind corner. So, I I I do notice that myself. Mhm. I don't know if a sign or I but something I'm just worried for the people crossing um and the cars andor the the bikes the ebikes. Thank you for raising that. Um Commissioner Pace, any matters initiated?

No, thank you. Commission members, Commissioner Jane, I just have a question for our HCD scorecard. Do you know when do we submit them? Uh it's going to come to the council in um I think the March 17th meeting. Uh it's due to the state on April 1, so we usually bring it about a month before that. So do we get to see in planning? We don't typically bring it to the to the planning commission. Um I'm happy to share the report when it's when it's published. Um so it's going to council on March 17th just as you know as it's really more of anformational item for them. Your email is fine if you could. Thank you. Mr. Jgo, any matters initiated?

Uh, none. None for me. And none for me. So, u Yes, director clerk.

Uh, just before we close, I wanted to note a couple of um house of housekeeping items. Um, one is that this is Estella's last uh planning commission meeting. She's moving on to another opportunity um at the city of Arinda. So excited for her, but we will miss her. Um very steady hand with the uh running the the technology and and and and uh being the secretary for this meeting. So wanted to let you know that um RSLi will be stepping in to help to uh facilitate our plat commission meetings um at least over the next few months. So um we'll we'll miss you, Estella. So um I just want to say thank you to everyone. It's been dare I say fun working with you guys. It's it it has been and um I appreciate everybody on the board and I value the experience and I'm going to miss everyone. So, thank you.

We've appreciated your teamwork and we'll miss you.

So, RSLA and Derek will be your sort of your contacts uh for any kind of just housekeeping things for the planning commission. Um, I also wanted to note just a a reminder um if you recall you adopted um or you recommended adoption of some some zoning PMC amendments around process streamlining that also included some changes to the way that our um appeal and and callup procedures work for the council. Um so we would generally report actions of the zoning administrator to the planning commission and to the council. Um we have a new procedure which is just to to do an an email publication of that information. You should be getting um already be subscribed for it. You'll get that email every Friday. Um and so that will be fall within the appeal period and the council will have that same appeal period to um to call up an item and it just really it's really intended. were seeing a lot of delay because waiting for a meeting to publish that ZA actions was causing sometimes weeks of delay if the council meetings were you know postponed or there was a recess or something like that. So

I think you said we'll automatically get this email. got an email. Yeah. From it should be coming from our I think it's from the pod who's the planner on duty is the official thing, but it's a it's a generated email by staff that will provide a memorandum of every ZA action and if we have any concerns, we notify staff so that it can be pulled out for the for the commission.

You can certainly contact staff if you have questions. Um the the council is the only the only body that has the ability to call up those ZA actions. um which uh but yeah, I know sometimes I know the planning commission will express a concern or or request you know or or ask for information about a project and we can happy to provide that. Um but the council has the call up ability. Um so wanted to give you a heads up on that. Um and then finally um with Derek coming on board and I think you've been with us now for what close to three months uh since since November um you'll be seeing a bit less of me at these meetings. Um Derek has kindly offered to sort of step up and take more of a leadership role as we do with most of our other commissions is to have the division um head sort of lead those lead those commissions. So I will still be here if there's an item that I'm involved with or or maybe as a bit of a heavier lift. I'm here I'll be here to support Derek, but uh for many of your meetings you mostly see Derek and our city attorney. Um but I'm always available um and uh happy to to chat or to debrief on any items. um and directors as well. So, those are our those are my housekeeping updates.

Wow, lots of change. Uh we will we will miss you, Director Clark. I'll still be here. Yes, but we still I'm sure I'm sure we're in capable hands.

Yeah, I'm still planning to attend some meetings. I know we have things like the Lester hearing where there's just a lengthy project history and it is not really fair to ask Derek, who's been here for three months, to recite 12 years of of planning history on on a project. So, um I'll be here to support items like that. Some of our policy and long-range planning items like East Pleasanton um related things or the mall or you know just those those things I tend have tended to have a more uh active engagement with. So, and but again, I'm I'm here. Feel free to reach out. I'm not I'm not completely abandoning you. This was a very big meeting related to personnel changes because I think almost everybody here tonight had some change that was [laughter] going to happen with them. So

congratulations and best wishes to everyone and we'll miss you here. And with that we'll adjourn the meeting. Thank you.