Pleasanton council certifies EIR, approves Lester ‘Hidden Canyon’ housing, open‑space and park staging plan

The Pleasanton City Council unanimously certified the Final Environmental Impact Report and approved a package of entitlements for the Lester property (branded by the applicant as Hidden Canyon) on May 19.

Planning staff described the proposal as a clustered hillside development that would annex about 130 acres, reallocate land use designations to create 28 detached homes clustered on the eastern portion of the site and dedicate approximately 117 acres of open space — including about 69 acres pledged to the East Bay Regional Park District for a trailhead staging area. Planning staff said the project also would include roadway improvements on Dublin Canyon Road, a new traffic signal near Canyon Meadows Drive and a $500,000 contribution toward future Dublin Canyon Road improvements.

“Most of the impacts are less than significant or can be reduced to less than significant with mitigation,” Associate Planner Natalie Amos said. Staff noted one significant and unavoidable transportation impact and recommended adoption of a statement of overriding considerations to weigh that impact against project benefits, which include housing element capacity, open‑space dedication and off‑site safety improvements.

Council members asked detailed questions about access and easement arrangements with neighboring ranch owners, visual impacts and landscaping feasibility on engineered slopes, the timing and funding of the proposed traffic signal, and wildfire safety. Fire Chief Aaron Lacy reviewed wildland‑urban interface building code and mutual‑aid arrangements and said current codes and proposed site design measures address many risks.

Neighbors and stakeholders provided public comment: some lauded the new traffic signal and park staging area, while adjacent landowners raised technical concerns about an easement needed for agricultural access. The applicant told the council the team is working with neighbors and the parks district to resolve access and grazing arrangements and said the development would include robust habitat mitigation with a 10‑year monitoring program and long‑term HOA maintenance obligations.

Councilmember Eichert moved to approve staff’s recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll call. Council and staff said the project balances housing element obligations, an expanded public trailhead, and landscape protections required under the city’s hillside measures.