The city of Pleasanton is seeing an explosion of growth and development not seen since the 1980s when Hacienda Business Park and Stoneridge Mall were constructed.
This time it is driven by an alliance of tech companies and the State Legislature forcing cities to rezone enormous amounts of property for tech worker high-density housing and by our city governments' desire to increase growth-related revenue.
It would be bad enough if the impacts of this growth -- traffic, air pollution and quality of life -- were spread equitably to all parts of town. But most of this new growth regime has focused on the city's northwest area.
This started with Costco and the hotels and other retail development at the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone, the Workday and 10x Genomics high-tech office complexes at the mall, and the recent approval of zoning for up to 2,000 housing units and an expansion of retail uses at Stoneridge Mall.
This development will disproportionately affect the Muirwood and Val Vista neighborhoods by concentrating the impacts on these residents. This is a clear case of environmental injustice perpetrated by the city government on its residents.
But the people in this area have little recourse to oppose these projects. When the City Council established election District 1, these residential neighborhoods were combined with Hacienda Business Park. This districting violated the state guidelines that communities should be contiguous and have common issues.
This has resulted in our neighborhood's disenfranchisement and left us without the political power of the vote to stop this. Only Jeff Nibert, the District 1 councilmember, is at risk for any constituent backlash and, to his credit, opposed the Stoneridge expansion. But one vote isn't enough to stop a project. The rest of the council voted for these projects and are immune to voter repercussions because of the districting.
In the bigger picture, this growth is not sustainable. When replicated across every city and town in the country, it puts all of us at risk for climate catastrophe and biosphere degradation. What is needed is a revisioning of the city's growth, development and fiscal policies and the prioritization of neighborhood integrity, quality of life, environmental justice and sustainability.
Editor's note: Matt Sullivan served on the Pleasanton City Council from 2004 to 2012 and is a former Pleasanton Planning Commission member. He has been active in civic issues locally for more than 25 years, including as a member of the resident group Pleasanton Citizens for Responsible Growth.
Comments
Registered user
Val Vista
on Mar 4, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Registered user
on Mar 4, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Pleasantons desire to limit growth and force builders to dedicate land to the single family home is why we are at this point.
California is 4 million homes short of demand. I support the growth of Pleasanton both commercial and residential. High density housing is the future. It is time to accept that and build the best future we can. The idea that this growth is going to harm more than help is unfounded and out of touch with reality.
The same type of people complained about the growth of Hacienda and the Mall. Claiming injustice and crime will go up. Its just not true.
Registered user
Danbury Park
on Mar 4, 2023 at 5:38 pm
Registered user
on Mar 4, 2023 at 5:38 pm
whaaa whaaa seriously Costco again Matt? smh. move on bro. not a good look.
Registered user
Highland Oaks
on Mar 6, 2023 at 10:33 am
Registered user
on Mar 6, 2023 at 10:33 am
I hate to say this, but Matt is correct when he states that West Pleasanton is disproportionately impacted.
If the total Housing Element plan is roughly 6,000 Units. With the mall being targeted for roughly 2,000 units. Do the math. That is roughly 30 Percent on one site. And that does not include the other sites that are in West Pleasanton including but not limited to:
- Merritt property (Close to FHS)
- Signature Center (Hopyard Near Chilis)
- Hacienda Terrace (Hopyard Near Chilis)
- Laborers Council (Owens and Hopyard)
The distribution of units is not proportional. Not even moderately proportional.
Regards, Dave
Registered user
Stoneridge
on Mar 6, 2023 at 11:19 am
Registered user
on Mar 6, 2023 at 11:19 am
Actually, the numbers are worse. Our RHNA requires a total of 5956 units to be zoned for various housing. However, the city already had 2792 units zoned or in the “pipeline” leaving a shortfall of 3173 units (see Staff Report page 9 here Web Link ) On 1/26 the Council approved 1150 units for Stoneridge, but there is currently 360 units in the review and approval process, so the actual total is 1510. With the Density Bonus provision, this number could easily surpass 2000 at Stoneridge. So 2000 divided into the 3173 shortfall is 63% of the needed new units will be at Stoneridge Mall. The Council is dumping all these units at Stoneridge to protect their own neighborhoods, and because of the election districts, they won't have to face voter backlash when they run for reelection.
Registered user
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 6, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Registered user
on Mar 6, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Time to start seriously looking at a plan for the east side.
Forget the Amazon mini warehouse and all the semis and delivery vans.
Come up with a plan for higher density housing along with lots of open space to offset it.
Better to have a plan that is acceptable to the community (while not perfect) than have the state plan it.
Pleasanton needs to go back to being the City of Planned Progress and the citizens need to accept the fact the city is no longer the little, remote rural town it used to be.
For once I agree with Mr. Sullivan - it’s not fair to load up the Stoneridge site with all the housing units required. The neighborhood should not have to shoulder the entire burden of Pleasanton’s shortsightedness and unwillingness to build an acceptable amount of housing for many decades.
Registered user
Amador Valley High School
on Mar 10, 2023 at 8:10 am
Registered user
on Mar 10, 2023 at 8:10 am
Plan for the east? The East Pleasanton Specific Plan was killed off a decade ago by the NIMBYs, including those currently on the council. That's how far behind we are. Now we get an Amazon Warehouse and dumping housing all into one area instead. No foresight at all. Reap what you sow.