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r Commissioner Arkin questioned whether there were plans for a soundwall. Mr. Iserson advised that the issue game up when staff was working with PLA representatives a couple of years ago on various alternatives and the impacts to Ridgeview Commons and the apartments in that area, and he believes that at that time the PLA suggested installing a soundwall. Mr. Iserson further advised that it may be on one or two of the plans for the railway, but it was never really locked into the proposal, nor was it discussed in the EIR as something that was part of the proposal. He noted that while it may have been mentioned as a possible mitigation for noise, the height was never determined. Commissioner Arkin advised that he has talked to many people outside of the meetings, and he has not spoken with anyone who is against the train. He noted that the only opposition he has heard is at the meetings. He further advised that there was a strong vote from the community that they want it. He stated that all of the concerns expressed by the people at the meetings can be mitigated. He commented that the train will run five months a year, every other Sunday afternoon, and he thinks it will bring more livelihood to the Downtown on Sunday afternoons, which the Downtown needs. He suggested that if people are concerned about the impacts when other events are going on, the train use could be conditioned so that it doesn't come into Downtown during other events. He further suggested that the use could be conditioned as necessary to avoid safety issues. r- Commissioner Arkin stated that he feels the process should have been to decide as a community, through the City Council, as to whether the train was going to come to town, and then how the train would run could have been decided. He suggested that the train could run every other Sunday afternoon, stop at Angela and then back up all the way to Niles, which would allow for parking on Saturday and weekdays and only a few spaces would be lost. He noted that he would not be in favor of it going all the way to Wayside Park. He stated that with the limited use, he does not feel there will be noise and pollution impacts on the quality of life of the residents. He further stated that the citizens voted on this, and at a minimum, if the Planning Commission does not want to support the train, it should at least recommend that a new vote be taken by the community and that more data be provided to the community. Commissioner Harvey stated that he feels there has not been nearly enough information provided to make a decision as to whether or not there should be a train. Mr. Rasmussen advised that if the Commission were inclined to allow the train, the Commission would permit it to be considered within the Plan in the future, as opposed to the current recommendation that it not be extended into the Downtown. He further advised that if it is considered in the future, the PLA would have to come back with a development plan and go through the environmental review plan and submit precise plans for review. Mr. Iserson advised that the other consideration would be the procedural issue that if the City buys the corridor and the train uses the COrridor, there could be a conflict with the General Plan which says that consideration should be given to bringing the train in at no cost to the City. Chairperson Maas suggested that in their comments the preference of whether the train should come into the Downtown or south of Bernal should be stated. ,,-. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 9, 2002 Page 15