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traditional student but is more transitioning from either unstable environment to more stable. <br />This can serve that dual purpose also. That’s how I see it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. <br />ALAMEDA:Okay. I’ll put in my two cents. Now is the time. What attracted me to <br />this application is student housing, first and foremost. What also attracted me to this application <br />is the support letter by the University suggesting that they do have a need. So, and I think I’m <br />aware of previous projects in the past that were, I guess, sold as student housing but turned into <br />non-student housing; and then our students get kind of left out again. And our University is <br />growing and, so, a part of me wants to insure that this is earmarked for student housing. I <br />understand what Commissioner Salavea is suggesting that there may be periods of vacancy; but, <br />you know, I think if you want to go that way then, to me, it’s like, you know, you’re taking away <br />the whole student housing sale, which is what’s attracting me to this application. So a part of me <br />wants to see it remain student housing; and let the University and the Applicant kind of deal with <br />the vacancies during the slow periods. And I also understand the need for affordable housing, <br />too. But in this particular case, this is earmarked for a particular group of, a particular <br />community; and that’s our students. So, I don’t know, I’m a little bit torn. Commissioner <br />McCall? <br />MCCALL:Just comments. I echo Commissioner Salavea’s ideas that we really <br />shouldn’t be limiting this. I think if we’re going to try and limit it to student housing, I mean, are <br />we going to make the judgment we’re talking full-time students, talking part-time students, are <br />we going to kick somebody out as soon as they graduate, and -? I mean, to me, I don’t think that <br />really should be our mission here. I think purely by the fact that it is right near the University <br />that in all probability it’s going to be primarily student housing. And just thinking about my <br />experiences from a few years ago, if you are in primarily student housing, it is going to be <br />probably not that attractive to, you know, non-student housing, I mean, just because of the <br />situation that students are in. But I don’t feel that we should be limited to that and we shouldn’t <br />be, you know, kicking someone who just graduated and got a wife and a kid and, you know, <br />needs to stay there for a few years before he can get on his feet and move out, or something like <br />that. I think just the proximity will pretty much guarantee that it should be primarily student <br />housing. <br />ALAMEDA:All right. Commissioner Iwashita and then Commissioner Siracusa. <br />IWASHITA:Thank you, Mr. Chair. I also support the concept of providing more <br />housing opportunities for students. And I think just the way our community is growing and the <br />college is growing that this proposal, as a matter of fact, presents additional housing <br />opportunities for students. <br />I want to make a record, though. I have my concern that, you know, the process that we’re going <br />through right now is not the proper process for having this and other zoning changes made. I’d <br />like to take this opportunity to make a record of what the General Plan requires and what I think <br />needs to be done before zoning changes like these are approved. <br />The General Plan adopted at the beginning of last year provides for planned implementation <br />under 15.1 Community Development Plans. <br />EXHIBIT A <br />7 <br /> <br />