Housing

By Cindy McGovern

Pleasanton's Housing Cap has been challenged in the courts. Defending our housing cap is important as City infrastructure, streets, schools, public services etc. have been planned using the established 29,000 housing units. Planning where remaining housing units will be developed and what type of housing is needed in the community will be crucial with each development approval.

I serve on the Tri-Valley Affordable Housing Committee. Our committee developed the concept of the Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center to educate and counsel residents seeking homeownership and housing stability. The Center is located in Livermore. It is a collaborative effort of the cities of Livermore, Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, the town of Danville and the Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa and HUD, local and national lenders, real estate and title insurance entities and non-profit service providers. The goal is to assist people throughout the region in obtaining information necessary to realize the dream of home ownership. The Center recently celebrated its 50th home buyer.

General Plan:

The 1996 General Plan called for 27,317 total housing units at General Plan build out. We are currently updating the 1996 General Plan to increase the number of housing units to the voter approved housing cap of 29,000 units at build out of the community.

Importance of Housing Cap:

Many of you are aware that Pleasanton's Housing Cap has been challenged in the courts and your elected officials must continue to vigorously defend it in the courts. This is an important issue as the infrastructure planned in the updated General Plan uses this number of housing units to determine the need for streets, schools, public services etc. Pleasanton has around 2000 housing units left under the 29,000 housing unit restriction. Planning where these housing units will be developed and what type of housing is still needed in the community will be crucial with each development approval.

Affordable Housing:

I have concerns about the availability of entry level housing for our workforce and our adult children to live in our community. We need smaller homes, affordable rental properties and assistance programs to help them qualify for housing in Pleasanton. To assist these potential residents, I support the city offered Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program for low and moderate income buyers of homes in Pleasanton. The program provides up to $20,000 in down payment assistance for low- and moderate-income buyers. For additional information, contact the City's Housing Division at 925-931-5007.

I support the city's Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (IZO) which requires that any new single-family residential development of 15 units or more must provide at least 20% of its units at a below-market sales price and multi-family development also requires at least 15% of the total units be below-market rates.

Senior Housing:

In September 2006, the City Council approved a new set of guidelines for the planning, design, and review of future senior housing developments in the City of Pleasanton. These guidelines include preferred standards for senior housing design, features, safety-security, services, and operational considerations. When the opportunity arises to form partnerships with non-profits, service organizations, churches, state and federal agencies, developers and the business community to provide affordable senior housing, these standards will assure quality senior facilities in Pleasanton. An example of how the senior housing guidelines have already been used is the new Parkview assisted living facility which is now home to many of our frail seniors. Construction on the 105-unit housing complex for senior citizens was completed in December 2006, and the facility was opened in January 2007. The facility offers housing with a range of services for seniors who need or want assistance with "activities of daily living." This project is the result of a partnership with the City of Pleasanton, BRIDGE Housing Corporation (a nonprofit affordable housing developer), and Eskaton (an assisted living service provider). This facility offers affordable housing units for assisted living and for seniors with memory loss.