Pleasanton to Review Hillside Housing Plan

Pleasanton is moving closer to a decision on a long-running hillside development proposal north of the city limits, and the next vote will determine whether the project can move from planning review to annexation and construction. The proposal, known as the Hidden Canyon Residences and Preserve Project, would bring 28 new detached single-family homes to a 130.98-acre site near Dublin Canyon Road, while preserving most of the land as open space. The project also includes demolition and reconstruction of two existing homes, a new public staging area and trail access tied to the East Bay Regional Park District. The Pleasanton Planning Commission voted unanimously on April 30 to recommend that the City Council certify the final environmental impact report and approve the related entitlements. ### Where is the project, and what exactly would be built? The project site sits in unincorporated Alameda County adjacent to the northwestern edge of Pleasanton, near Dublin Canyon Road, according to city planning documents. City filings describe five assessor’s parcels plus the Oak Hills Congregation Church site as part of the proposal. The city’s project description says Ponderosa Homes II, Inc. is seeking annexation, general plan amendments, rezoning, a planned unit development plan and a tentative tract map. (pleasantonweekly.com) The development footprint would cover about 23.89 acres of the larger site, with 28 new detached homes and roadways, while roughly 104.6 acres would be dedicated as public open space. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) ### Why are some reports saying 30 homes instead of 28? Two existing homes already sit on the northeastern portion of the site, and city documents say those homes would be demolished and reconstructed as part of the project. That is why some local coverage has described the proposal as roughly 30 homes in all, even though the number of newly added homes is 28. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) Pleasanton Weekly, which covered the Planning Commission vote on May 3, described the plan as adding 28 new multimillion-dollar homes near the Pleasanton Ridge. The same coverage said the commission recommended certification of the final environmental impact report and approval of the entitlements needed to move the project forward. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) ### What park access and public improvements are included? City planning materials say the proposal includes a new public staging area to be dedicated to the East Bay Regional Park District, along with a restroom, parking and a new trail connection into the Pleasanton Ridge trail system. Those park-related improvements are part of the project description posted by the city with the final environmental review notice. (pleasantonweekly.com) Pleasanton Weekly reported that the package reviewed by the Planning Commission also included modifications to Dublin Canyon Road and an equestrian staging area. The outlet said those amenities were part of the public benefits cited as the project advanced out of commission review. ### What approvals are still needed before anything can be built? (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The April 30 Planning Commission action was a recommendation, not the final approval. Pleasanton Weekly reported that the next steps include a City Council vote, annexation proceedings and permits from outside agencies before construction could begin. (pleasantonweekly.com) Pleasanton’s City Council holds regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at 200 Old Bernal Avenue, according to the city’s meeting page. The city also posts meeting materials and agendas through its online calendar and records portal, where the Hidden Canyon item would appear once scheduled. ### Why has the project drawn opposition? (pleasantonweekly.com) Environmental review materials show the city prepared a draft and final environmental impact report under the California Environmental Quality Act because the project could create significant environmental effects. The city’s CEQA findings document says the environmental review analyzed those impacts and the applicable mitigation measures. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) Patch has framed the upcoming council review as a fight over a “controversial” hillside housing proposal, with neighbors raising concerns about environmental effects and traffic. The outlet’s headline indicates the council review is being watched as the key decision point for the project’s future. The next public milestone is a City Council hearing on the Hidden Canyon project once it is placed on a regular meeting agenda. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) Pleasanton says council agendas and supporting documents are published through the city’s meetings portal, and the Planning Commission has already forwarded its recommendation to that next stage. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) (patch.com)