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<br /> <br />Planning Commissioners, Planning Staff, and Honorable Stephen Cassidy: <br /> <br />First, I apologize for missing this week’s Planning Commission meeting. I had thought <br />these General Plan reviews were to take place starting a few months ago. My <br />comments below are for the record during this San Leandro General Plan proposed <br />change review period. My comments at this time are specific to the TOD DA zone <br />classifications, with some specific to the parcel former Mayor Cassidy has concerns with. <br /> <br />Although I do support TOD developments, and TOD developments in current <br />Professional Office P zoned areas, if I understand the proposed changes correctly, I <br />would want some restrictions at the perimeters or limits of the new zones. Typically <br />there are buffers, apartments or condos usually, acting as transition or buffer <br />areas between commercial areas and single family (RS) properties. I would support <br />TODs at the limits with restrictions if at the RS/TOD line TODs were required to have <br />lower floor area ratios, have lower heights, have set-back requirements that are current <br />or modified but not reduced to zero, and have more parking required than in proposed <br />TOD zones. Also, at the limit or perimeters, I would not support the removal of the <br />“daylight plane requirement” that protects single family home owners from being <br />shadowed by tall developments; there are changes in language that state that this <br />current requirement is confusing, but I don’t agree. <br /> <br />Regarding the Estudillo/Bancroft/Joaquin parcel referred to by former Mayor Cassidy in <br />his letter to Planning Commissioners, the parcel was likely purchased with the intent to <br />develop, with uncertainty as to whether the parcel would ultimately be approved as a <br />TOD DA2 parcel, or approved as something different with restrictions. As currently <br />proposed, I agree, the developer can maximize the development of the site. I think <br />there is room for improvement at the site, with mixed use retail and housing, but the <br />owner should not be tied or restricted to what was allowed in the past. We should be <br />able to come up with a nicer acceptable development. <br /> <br />I do like TODs and greater downtown housing densities. I think the increase in a <br />younger spending population will attract the popular or more upscale food, retail, and <br />entertainment that San Leandro residents often wonder why we cannot attract. I will <br />likely have more comments regarding the remaining portions of the General Plan <br />proposed changes when I return. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Tony Breslin <br />Planning Commissioner-District 1 <br />