Pleasanton Weighs New Process To Screen Major Development Projects Earlier

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Pleasanton City Council is considering adopting a new 'Early Project Review' process that would create a clearer and more streamlined way of evaluating development proposals that require major policy changes. Under the proposed process, applicants would need to submit detailed materials, and the city would hold public hearings to review submitted projects and decide whether to allocate staff resources to formally process them. The council could approve, delay, or reject proposals, though final project approval would still require a full review.

Why it matters

This new process aims to provide more transparency and efficiency in Pleasanton's development review, allowing the city to better manage staff resources and avoid investing time in proposals that may ultimately be rejected.

The details

The proposed 'Early Project Review' policy would apply to most private development projects requiring legislative approval, such as rezoning or General Plan amendments, but would exempt 100% affordable housing projects and smaller developments. Applicants would need to submit detailed materials, including project descriptions, fiscal impact analyses, and explanations of community benefits. The city would hold public hearings at least once per year to review submitted projects and decide whether to allocate staff resources to formally process them. The council could approve, delay, or reject proposals, though final project approval would still require a full review. The proposal also introduces application fees of $14,500 for larger projects and $9,500 for smaller projects to cover staff time, with additional consultant costs billed separately.

• The Pleasanton City Council will consider adopting the new 'Early Project Review' process at its Tuesday meeting.

What’s next

If approved, the new 'Early Project Review' process would be implemented, allowing the city to more efficiently evaluate and manage major development proposals.