Pleasanton City Council Votes to Put Citizen-Backed Initiative on Ballot

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton City Council voted Tuesday on a citizen-backed initiative designed to prohibit retail uses of 50,000 square feet or greater within the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone (EDZ).

Mayor Jerry Thorne recused himself over recently discovered and as yet unresolved Costco stock holdings, according to a city spokesperson. The 4:0 vote places the “Citizens for Planned Growth in the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone” initiative on the upcoming November ballot.

"We offered Pleasanton citizens the opportunity to vote on a critical issue for the city, and we are happy the Council agreed to put it on the ballot. Now we urge the voters to find out all the facts about Costco on Johnson Drive so they can make an educated choice in November." said Bill Wheeler, head of the Citizens for Planned Growth told Patch.

According to the City of Pleasanton website, the Economic Development Zone is designed to spur investment in a 40-acre area along Johnson Drive between Stoneridge Drive and I-680.

“Costco and two hotels have expressed an interest in the area, but if the initiative is adopted, Costco would be prohibited from developing within the EDZ due to its size, which has been estimated to be roughly 148,000 square feet,” city officials said in a statement. “In June 2016, the Citizens for Planned Growth submitted an initiative measure that proposes to amend the City's General Plan to prohibit retail uses of 50,000 square feet or greater within the EDZ. On July 12, 2016, the Alameda County Registrar of Voters certified that the measure contained the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot.”

Click here for more info on the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone.

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