PC 010902 - Laserfiche WebLink

r Brent Wilcox, 3988 Stanley Blvd., stated that he is representing Mary Lu Wilcox. He noted his opposition for the extension of Del Valle Parkway to "Little" Stanley, citing the impacts on the residents on "Little" Stanley and the congestion on the north end of Main Street. Gary Dove, 5267 Meadowwood Court, advised that as a member of the Downtown Specific Plan Committee he supports the staff report. He stated that as the Chairperson for the Downtown Master Trails plan and his involvement with the Downtown Revitalization Program, he feels he has clearly heard the issue of the train. He noted that he voted for Measure DD, but it was for a conceptual plan. He noted that there were many unanswered questions. Mr. Dove advised that the PLA does not have the funds to purchase the right-of-way and are asking the City to buy it. He noted that he is strongly opposed to taking this issue back to the voters, because of the time frame it took this Committee and the previous Committee to go through all of the issues and still have the same questions unanswered and it would not be fair to present this matter without a complete understanding of it and all of the issues. He noted that the Specific Plan is good and it something that is needed. .r'" Larry Dorn, 5150 Case Avenue, noted that he supports the issue of the train. He stated that the Downtown area of Pleasant on is one of the nicest areas in California. He advised that because the item before the Planning Commission is the Downtown Specific Plan he does not feel that the discussion should include consideration of the train stopping south of Junipero, as this is not what the meeting is about. He advised that if at a future time the railway can be completed into the Downtown, he would be happy to see that. He stated that he feels the train will bring a lot of people to the Downtown. Pamela Hardy Alpert, Chair of the Downtown Specific Plan Committee, advised that as a result of the Committee's hard work and a lot of input from the community, the Committee has developed the Downtown Specific Plan and they are very proud of the document. She noted that it represents a lot ofthought, evaluation, analysis, and testimony. She further noted that the objectives of the Committee's review were to enhance and promote economic vitality, to expand recreational activities in the Downtown area, preserve and protect historic buildings and buildings of architectural merit, and to ensure that new development would be designed consistent of the existing scale of the Downtown area. She stated that with respect to the main issues in the staff report, she feels that she can speak on behalf of the Committee, and that the Committee is in agreement with those issues and supports language that provides opportunity for more flexibility with some of the specific recommendations. She further stated that there is opposition to two of staffs recommendations: (1) the redesignation of325 Ray Street from High Density Residential to Office; and (2) the redesignation ofthe two public buildings (the Veterans Memorial Building and the Historical Society Museum) from the Committee's recommendation of commercial to public. She advised that she feels the Committee's position on these two issues is well documented in the report. Art Dunkley, 239 Main Street, Suite E., advised that he would like to comment on what he sees as a procedural issue regarding the review of the Downtown Specific Plan. He stated that the train issue does a disservice to the Specific Plan, in that it has been such a concern to so many people, that there has been very little input about everything else that is in the Specific Plan. He r PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 9, 2002 Page 8