01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Tom Foley, property manager of the Meadows Shopping Center and resident, said the Planning Commission reviewed and approved replacing one grocery store for another. Nob Hill has been at the location for 20 years and WalMart simply wants to be treated fairly and replace them. He noted the center is 67% vacant; one tenant will soon relocate to Dublin and another space cannot be leased. A different center on the corner has a 30% vacancy rate, which he felt was not good for the City. The Commission also discussed traffic in the corridor; they allowed a number of other supermarkets to come into the area and expand such as Trader Joe's, Ranch 99 Market, Fresh and Easy, Smart and Final, as well as Safeway which was originally zoned office and then rezoned to retail. Teralyn Fredricks, owner, Togo's Restaurant, said she has owned two Togo's restaurants at 3120 Santa Rita Road and the other near the Stoneridge Mall on Springdale Avenue over the last 12 years and the subject building has always been used as a supermarket. A WalMart market will bring more patrons to the area, create no traffic impacts for Santa Rita Road which has always handled traffic over the last 20 years for Nob Hill patrons, will provide competition, and address the need in the area. Leandra Brundage, General Manager, Togo's Restaurant, said she was unsure as to why people are opposed to WalMart going into an existing grocery store space. She did not believe traffic would worsen and felt the store would create much needed jobs. She felt the store should have already been up and running for the last 6 months and hoped everybody could come to an agreement and move on. Steven Robinson said he lives about 4 blocks from the shopping center and voiced disappointment in watching the traffic situation when the Hacienda project went in. Every morning and evening there is '/ mile long traffic jam on one of the two entrances and exits to a subdivision of several hundred homes. He felt the fire station could be impacted at any time because of this, pointed to the significant expansion of the elementary school making it exceedingly difficult to get in and out of the neighborhood, and asked for a CUP process to address isssues. John Stoker said over the years, elected officials for the City have done a marvelous job. He lives close to the shopping center and sees no reason for not allowing another store there. There was no opposition to the other two grocery stores in the Rose Pavilion area and the only reason he believes there is so much noise now is because of the Safeway store. Jenna Wainulna, Market Manager, 14 year employee of WalMart, said WalMart has been a great place to work; people grow amazing careers and she thinks comments are unfair about people who work for WalMart. She encouraged the Council to move forward with the neighborhood market as it will bring low prices, additional funding, and added tax revenues to the community. Helen Grace Kato, Manager, WalMart, said she was excited to hear a new store would open at the Meadows Shopping Center which would provide many benefits. She hears customers say they would like to have more groceries available at the store and the new market would employ nearly 100 new associates. They currently have 278 associates at the Rosewood Drive WalMart location, said WalMart donates and supports community foundations and non-profit organizations, schools, and a new store would bring more support. She hoped the decision of staff will be upheld by the Council so they can move forward with a new and much needed store in Pleasanton. Carmen Rivera Hendrickson voiced support as a resident who lives one block away from the Meadows Shopping Center. She indicated she was also a WalMart associate for 10 years out of high school and rose to become manager, and it is a very nice atmosphere to work in, and the community needs the store. Joe Andrade, District Supervisor, Lucky SaveMart, said he does not see Lucky's or Raley's stores being able to survive to compete against WalMart especially when there are two in town. He has seen other towns where WalMarts come in and destroy union worker jobs and the standard of living for individuals. He voiced his opposition to the project and did not want to lose another grocery store. City Council Minutes Page 2 of 26 February 7, 2012