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r - r- reported that the safety issue was there from day one and City staff was asked many times to provide a report on safety. She advised that she also personally asked for staff's recommendation on the interchange. She commented that it would have been helpful if the City would have provided one person to attend the meetings and take minutes. She stated that the safety issue is going to affect the cost factors, noting that there are four schools that are very close to the interchange site, and mitigation is going to be expensive. She further stated that she feels very strongly that the students going to Donlon will need a pedestrian overpass. Laurie Fehlberg, 5149 Willowview Court, stated that she is a senior planner for a large East Bay architecture and planning firm and she understands traffic issues. She noted that she is the vice- president of the homeowner's association that represents 235 homes. She advised that the homeowners she represents are part of the Stoneridge Drive neighborhood that had no representation on the Committee. She commented on the General Plan requirement that called for the appointment of the Advisory Committee, stating that the emphasis of the Committee was to find an alternative and this was not the dictate of the 1996 General Plan. She advised that the residents of the Stoneridge neighborhoods did not get involved early in the process because they had no idea that the alternatives would simply move the impacts from one neighborhood to another. She reported that when they began to attend the meetings, they were met with the attitude that the committee had been meeting for two years, and the Stoneridge representatives were too late and that was too bad. She noted that whatever happens to Stoneridge Drive will impact neighborhoods from Foothill Road to Hopyard Road. She advised that the noise levels of stop-and-go traffic and cut-through traffic has increased year after year along Stoneridge Drive from Foothill to Santa Rita Road. She noted that widening Stoneridge will make it more appealing to cut-through traffic. She advised that the original City plan was laid out very well. She stated that the Stoneridge neighborhood is asking to be treated fairly. She noted that they are already being impacted by noise and air pollution, and additional soundwalIs are not the solution. She read a letter from her neighbors urging the Planning Commission to continue with the original plans for the West Las Positas Interchange. She advised that the residents from her neighborhood would be organizing themselves a great deal more in the future, as it obvious to them that there was never any intention of this particular committee to do what the 1996 General Plan dictated. In response to a question from Commissioner Sullivan, Ms. Fehlberg advised that they are objecting to the widening of Stoneridge Drive to eliminate the West Las Positas Interchange. Diane Cast, 7433 Stonedale Drive, advised that she is representing 56 homeowners. She voiced concurrence with Ms. Fehlberg's comments. She advised that the noise has increased substantially in the 12 years that she has lived there. She stated that they also have children in their neighborhood, and that air pollution, noise, and traffic has increased. She also commented on the impacts reducing property values. Chairperson Maas advised that she wants to be sure that the homeowners associations receive all notices related to this issue. Gene Finch, 4847 Drywood Street, stated that he concurs with the last two speakers and he does not want to see any more impacts on Stoneridge Drive. He voiced concern about the safety of pedestrians crossing West Las Positas. He stated that the first consideration should be given to PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 9, 2002 Page 8