A Pleasanton We Can All Call Home

Twelve Step Plan 

1. Reduce barriers to housing with an emphasis on:a. permit processes and fee reduction for affordable housingb. preference to developments with 10-20% affordable housingc. general fund allocation for affordable homes
2. Partner with private and non-profit organizations to help fund and support Regional Housing Needs Assessment's (RHNA).
3. Affordable housing and parking structures on land parcels near transit such as BART and ACE.
4. Allow for planned development such as the East Pleasanton Specific Site (EPSP).
5. Ensure compliance with Housing and Community Development (HCD) to prevent further lawsuits.
6. Protect our environment by maintaining open spaces and ridge hills.
7. Maintain and pave Pleasanton bike paths through infrastructure improvements to promote locals jobs that promote walking/biking to work, reduce carbon emissions, reduce traffic.
8. Partner with small business owners to preserve vitality of downtown Pleasanton.
9. Invest in transportation demands such as Valley Link/BART to Lathrop via Autonomous Vehicle shuttles.
10. Invest in PUSD, ensuring that every Pleasanton student receives a world-class education.
11. Partner with PUSD and business to develop robust jobs, professional trainings, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programs.
12. Create Division of Diversity and Community Inclusion to address the needs of minorities and youth with job opportunities and community involvement.

A Deeper Dive into Affordable Housing Needs and Solutions

In the last Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) cycle 2014-2022, HCD had assigned 187,990 new homes to meet California's housing demand. For City of Pleasanton, 1210 affordable homes were assigned.

As of August 2020, Pleasanton has only permitted 304 of these affordable homes to be built. This is in contrast to the 1187 market rate homes that were built over the same period.

By ignoring affordable housing we are creating an unsustainable city—one that does not welcome teachers, first responders, essential workers, veterans, the disabled, new college graduates, and growing families.

Right now, our Pleasanton workforce commutes as far as Carmichael (106 miles), Petaluma (69miles) and Corralitos (71 miles) causing severe freeway congestion and negatively effecting our environment with high volumes of greenhouse gases.

In July 2021, the 2022-2030 RHNA numbers will be published. These numbers might be doubled from the last cycle to 4000 plus homes. Failure to meet past and future goals can lead to State fines and other penalties.

But there is hope.

Right now, we have an opportunity to build 500 affordable homes in the East Pleasanton Specific Plan. These, along the other points in my policy plans can help guide our beautiful city along the right path.