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Mr. Bass stated that many of the legal points he would contemplate raising at the <br />appropriate time apply to the development generally. He indicated that he does not <br />think the development generally should be able to proceed without his client’s consent, <br />given the chain of title to which they are a successor. He added that having said this, <br />he does not view the other impacts on their business as quite the “head on the chopping <br />block” sector as they view the fueling center. He noted that they think they can survive <br />and compete, but not if Safeway has a competing fueling center that they subsidize to <br />bring in patrons to Safeway. <br />Commissioner Blank inquired whether the distinction then was not a significant one <br />between branded gasoline and a generic gasoline. <br />Mr. Bass replied that it is between his client’s gas station and that of Safeway. He <br />noted that it has been their experience around Northern California that when <br />superstores have fueling stations attached to them, the prices they are able to charge is <br />ancillary to the gas station; therefore, the fueling station becomes a magnet and they <br />become a much larger enterprise. <br />Commissioner Blank asked Mr. Bass if he was present at the last meeting. <br />Mr. Bass replied that he was not. <br />John Moore, President of Homeowners Association (HOA) for Walnut Hills, a <br />neighborhood community, stated that Mr. Trobbe reached out early on and asked for <br />feedback on his initial set of plans and that the HOA provided feedback. He indicated <br />that he is happy to see that some of the changes the HOA proposed have been <br />incorporated in the revised drawings, especially the alleviation of delivery traffic off of <br />Valley Avenue. He noted that one issue that has not been discussed is the Good Guys <br />show or any number of large events in the Pleasanton Fairgrounds. He stated that it is <br />amazing how far people are willing to walk to avoid paying the $8 to park at the <br />Fairgrounds. He stated that he likes the fact that the buildings create a natural buffer for <br />people who may choose to park in the center and walk over to the Fairgrounds. He <br />noted, however, that it could be an issue if too much parking is created as it would look <br />attractive to people. <br />With respect to the gas station issue, Mr. Moore sated that if he is driving out to the <br />freeway, the gas station at Valley Avenue and Bernal Corners is very convenient. He <br />noted that even with Safeway there, it would still be more convenient for people to drive <br />out through Valley Avenue to Bernal Corners and make the left to go out to the freeway <br />that to actually drive into the Safeway Center, get gas, and then make that turnout. He <br />indicated that if Safeway has a gas station, he would still probably go to Bernal Corners <br />and would only go to the Safeway gas station when he is shopping there. He added <br />that having another gas station gives residents another option because their only other <br />option at this time is the small Coast station Downtown and the couple of stations on <br />First Street. He stated that he believes there would be enough to support another gas <br />station while still supporting Bernal Corners. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 14, 2009 Page 16 of 25 <br /> <br />