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heavy landscaping will be incorporated on the Bernal Avenue mounding to conceal the <br />pump spaces while ensuring signage is good. He indicated that they will be submitting <br />a rendering from the highway looking back at the project. <br />Commissioner Blank requested confirmation that the loading of trucks would be on the <br />right-hand side and that it is fully enclosed so trucks will not be visible. <br />Mr. Rodrigues confirmed that was the case. <br />Commissioner Blank stated that as was discussed at the last work session, the building <br />should not be visible from the freeway, with the idea being that motorists should not <br />know there is a center there until they have hit the bottom of the off ramp at Bernal <br />Avenue and have made the right turn. <br />Mr. Rodrigues stated that there will be a triple layering of greenery which would be <br />visible from the freeway. He added, however, that there will be a small Safeway sign so <br />people can see it and that it would be very tastefully done. <br />Commissioner Blank indicated that he hoped not to be able to see it. <br />Mr. Rodrigues stated that they have a complete color and materials board which <br />includes natural stone and recycled green sustainable materials and shows how the <br />color schemes, materials, lighting, and glass work well together. <br />David Zylstra, Chief Operating Officer, Property Development Center, Safeway, stated <br />that their company is in the business of developing shopping centers for Safeway and <br />others throughout the United States. He indicated that in 1992, he selected the Bernal <br />Property site as Safeway’s second store which he felt was worth waiting for. He noted <br />that they are developers who own and manage centers and that it is their intent to <br />develop a lasting center and be a good citizen and neighbor. He stated that he felt the <br />timing was great for them as they have access to funds even in this market. He added <br />that Safeway is constantly trying to differentiate itself from the competition by adding <br />more services and goods. <br />Mr. Zylstra stated that their fuel program is part and parcel of their lifestyle program and <br />that they attempt to develop fuel centers wherever possible. He then described <br />Safeway’s green initiatives, stating that they are a huge recycler and have composting <br />plants, the largest fleet of bio fuel diesel trucks, and a LEED-certified store that recently <br />opened in Santa Cruz. He added that they are very comfortable with a parking ratio of <br />between 4 and 5:1,000. <br />Jonathan R. Bass, attorney representing Bernal Corners, an existing gas station/ <br />convenience store in area, expressed their opposition to the project’s fueling center <br />aspect, which he noted staff opposes. He stated that his client has put a much greater <br />percentage of net worth into their small but high-quality service station complex. He <br />stated that as Mr. Dolan had pointed out, staff worked very closely with his client to <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 14, 2009 Page 14 of 25 <br /> <br />