Should Roads be Built on Pleasanton Hillsides?

In 2008, the Pleasanton voters passed Measure PP, which requires the city to restrict development of housing and commercial structures on steep slopes and within 100 vertical feet of a ridgeline.

The questions before the City Council now is, does that include roads?

The Contra Costa Times reports that the council is considering an ordinance that would do the following:

Besides clearly defining ridgelines and taking inventory of slopes, (the ordinance) could prohibit roads planned to connect the Lund Ranch II development to Sunset Creek Lane or Sycamore Creek Way, as well as a bypass road through Happy Valley.

The City Council first heard public comment on the issue on Tuesday and will hear more at its next meeting on April 16.

Residents that could be impacted by the roads — including homeowners in Ventana Hills and Sycamore Heights — voiced their opposition to roads, which they believe will increase traffic.

Sycamore Heights residents told the council they didn't know the roads were going to be extended when they bought their homes and the roads should be considered structures under Measure PP.

People at Tuesday's disagreed about the original intent of Measure PP, and if the measure was meant to cover roads.

Planning Commissioner Greg O'Connor said roads were considered, with Times quoting him as saying:

When voters were thinking about what this was going to cover, I don't know that they were looking at exact words ... I think they thought the hills were going to be preserved.

Kay Ayala, a leader in the Measure PP campaign, said roads construction was not considered in the process:

I can assure you that the intent of PP was to protect the ridges from housing and commercial structures, not roads.

Do you think it's OK for road to be build on Pleasanton hillsides? Tell us in the comments section.