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Commissioner Roberts stated that while she realizes some people are very excited about bringing r the train into the Downtown, she feels that there are costs, including the cost to the community of all the crossings and the vehicles that will have to stop at these crossings. She advised that she does not see the PLA providing funds to accomplish this and it will be a serious cost to the City. She stated that it would be ideal to have the train use the same track that the ACE train uses. She noted that if it comes in south of Bernal, it is an easy walk to the Downtown. She noted that the economic interest for the Downtown is potential, and she is not sure how many of the train riders with children would actually use the businesses and restaurants Downtown. She commented that if the train comes into town, it could cut off the possibility of people from this area going Downtown, noting that people taking the train to Niles would be using parking spaces of those who want to visit Pleasanton's Downtown. She further commented that the train would eliminate the expansion of the park, which she feels is important, and it would be difficult to have a pedestrian trail. She noted that this train is a "theme ride," not light rail transportation. With regard to the vote, she stated that the Measure read that there would be no cost to the City of P1easanton, and she feels it would be a major cost. She suggested that the train come to or near Pleasanton, without going past Bernal or Junipero, but this discussion would be outside of the Specific Plan area. Commissioner Harvey stated that there is so much that is unknown about how the train project would be implemented that he could not possibly rule it out. He further commented that there might be a solution that would work, but he doesn't know enough about it, and, therefore, he would support the PDA's recommendation so that the option to bring the train to the Downtown can be left open. ~ Commissioner Sullivan advised that there are two questions: one is the planning question and the other is the political question. He stated that he feels with regard to the planning question, there are negative impacts of noise, air pollution, and blocking the streets. He further stated that he does not think the train can be brought in at no cost to the City. He stated that there is also the issue of potential loss of trails and the park arrangement. He advised that from the planning perspective, he thinks it is a negative thing because of these issues. He advised that he does not support bringing the train in and would recommend that it come up south of Junipero and not to Bernal, because there are neighbors there that it will impact. He noted that he feels there are more impacts with the train running between Ridgeview Commons and the Senior CenterlRaley's than the impacts to the Downtown. He advised that he supports the Committee's recommendation not to bring the train into the Downtown. He further advised that he feels it is a good idea if the tracks can be run to the ACE train station on Bernal. Commissioner Sullivan noted that on the political question, it is true that 75% of the voters said they wanted the train. He advised that he was one of the voters that voted for it, and having ridden the Niles train he thought it would be a great idea to bring it to Pleasanton at no cost to the citizens. He noted that when he voted for it he did not think very hard about the impacts on the neighbors and the City. He commented that he feels if all the issues are out there, he does not believe that 75% of the voters would agree with it. He advised that because he is a Planning Commissioner and is supposed to be dealing with planning issues, his recommendation will be on the planning side; while the City Council is the political arm and they may want to make a ,,-. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 9, 2002 Page 16