The Pleasanton City Council approved a measure last week to rezone specific parcels at Trinity Lutheran Church and Rock Bible Church, permitting the development of up to ten residential units on each property. The vote was 4-1, with council members expressing reluctance but citing legal obligations as the primary driver for the decision.
Senior planner Shweta Bonn stated that the city faced potential conflict with the California Department of Housing and Community Development if it failed to implement this rezoning program. The state had made this action a condition for certifying the city’s Housing Element, which was originally adopted three years ago.
Pleasanton’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation requires the creation of 5,965 new residential units between 2023 and 2031, with 2,758 designated for lower-income households. After the initial housing plan was returned by state officials for revisions, a specific agreement required the city to rezone two sites to accommodate up to 10 units each.
Councilmember Craig Eicher acknowledged the difficult position the council faced. He noted that while no council member or likely many residents desired this outcome, the city had limited options to avoid jeopardizing its housing certification.
City staff initially identified five potential locations for rezoning but narrowed the selection after consulting with property owners. The two church sites were chosen due to their vacant space size, proximity to amenities, and alignment with state encouragement of housing on religious properties. Both sites received prior support from the city’s Planning Commission earlier this summer.
