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dollars for the new project, he asked what this equates to losses in sales dollars to the existing <br />grocery stores in the City. <br />Ms. Wagner replied that it varies by grocery store. Currently, the average sales per store are <br />above average. Therefore, with above average sales, there is actually room for an additional <br />grocery store. When the analysis is done with the addition of the Safeway Store, it takes that <br />average sale down to "good ". Therefore, one could say the capacity for an additional store has <br />been absorbed once this project is approved. <br />Traffic Engineer Tassano presented traffic analysis, stating that staff covered many alternatives <br />with the project, looked at the AM and PM peak traffic, restricted and full access to Bernal <br />Avenue, a modified full access to Bernal Avenue, near term and build out conditions, and a <br />phased out approach. He said staff settled on a modified full access to Bernal Avenue, which <br />means that Bernal at Koll Center will be full access to the property to the south, but will only <br />contain its existing access to the property to the north. So, while a left turn can be made into the <br />Koll Center to the north and a right turn out, you will not be able to make a left turn or through <br />movement out of there. The full access is to the Safeway location. <br />He shared the phased approach which is what Gateway would like to take with this project. He <br />broke it down in two traffic volumes, both AM and PM peak hours for each of the developments, <br />the Safeway lifestyle traffic volumes, the neighborhood commercial, the gas station and the <br />pharmacy. It totals 683 PM peak hour trip for Phase I. Phase II would include the 588,000 <br />square feet of office which would be an additional 877 PM peak hour trips. <br />Councilmember Sullivan questioned where funding comes from for the two improvements. Mr. <br />Tassano said they are currently funded through the Bernal Interchange Corporation. <br />Mayor Hosterman questioned the opportunity of improving the right turn onto northbound 1 -680 <br />without having to remove trees. Mr. Tassano said instead of creating a free right turn, they <br />would have to shift the lanes to the north which would end up creating a new 12 -foot lane next <br />to the sidewalk where there is a line of trees. He said the previous design had the full 550 feet <br />constructed for the right turn pocket which would shift everything to the north and take out those <br />trees. If staff retains that right turn pocket, instead of building additional capacity they would <br />switch the thru lane to combine thru right hand turn lanes. <br />Councilmember McGovern said the City will have to put more signals on Valley anyway, and at <br />Paseo Santa Cruz and others. Mr. Tassano said this is in the General Plan, although the current <br />direction is to hold off until such a time that it is required for more than just a few minutes in the <br />peak. <br />Mr. Dolan said staff and the Planning Commission also requested the applicant provide visual <br />simulations from various viewpoints, and he presented this from the freeway looking from the <br />first corner, and from two locations from the off-ramp when turning right on Bernal. The <br />landscaping is lush in the area and only small views of the buildings would be seen. <br />Councilmember McGovern confirmed the sidewalk in the area exists and is incorporated into the <br />site plan. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said the City is embarking on looking at other places where residential <br />can be built, and this site has been one of those potentially considered. He asked how the traffic <br />between the proposed office project compares to the 30 unit to the acre residential at Hacienda <br />BART station. Mr. Tassano said in looking at the highest intensity use on the remaining 26 <br />acres which would be assumed to be the 588,000 square feet of office, if converted into <br />City Council Minutes <br />Page 5 of 13 October 19, 2010 <br />