Pleasanton council OKs code changes to speed small permits, keeps broader notice radius

Pleasanton — The City Council on Tuesday approved a package of amendments to the city’s permitting rules intended to speed approvals for small, low‑impact projects while reserving review for developments that materially affect neighbors.

Staff said the ordinance package — amendments to the municipal code chapters on public notice, design review and appeals — would align Pleasanton with state law and peer cities, reduce permit processing time and free staff to focus on larger projects. “Staff proposes modifying the public notice radius to align with government code, amending the mailed project notification requirements, codifying the on‑site project notifications, and clarifying the noticing procedures,” staff said in the presentation.

City planners told council members the code has not been substantially updated in about 30 years and that the proposed changes would keep design review for projects with clear neighborhood impacts (for example, two‑story additions, balconies and projects that add new units) while routing many minor projects directly through the building‑permit process. Staff presented data showing an average of 110…