10 ATTACHMENTS 8-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

the Urban Forestry Fund to plant more and even larger trees than what are being proposed so they are larger right at the beginning. Commissioner Allen stated that just before the Planning Commission meeting, she and another Commissioner were at a Heritage Tree Board of Appeals meeting to consider an appeal of an applicant whose request to remove a tree that had 20 -pound cones dropping from it was denied because the tree is really beautiful, and the City really protects its heritage trees. She pointed out that in this Chick -fil -A application, 13 or 16 trees considered at least fair to good in terms of health are being removed, and she takes that very, very seriously. She indicated that it is really important that that applicant put back some large trees because the trees to be removed provide screening for that shopping center. Commissioner Piper thanked the applicant for wanting to bring business and vitality to Pleasanton, and staff for all the work they have done. She stated that the renderings are very beautiful and that she loved the idea of the Pleasanton entrance sign. She concurred with Commissioner Allen's ideas to beautify the structure itself even more. Commissioner Piper indicated that her next comments come from a standpoint of her having had an office at 6111 Johnson Court for 17 years. She noted that ln-N-Out Burger made an enormous impact on traffic and mostly just congestion, such that oftentimes, the parking lot is a zoo and vehicles cannot drive around the parking lot because the line is so long. She appreciated that Chick -fil -A has lengthened its queue, but her feeling is that when In -N -Out Burger was passed, the traffic portion was under- estimated, and her concern is that it might happen here as well. She indicated that she often saw huge delivery trucks right outside the entrance into the drive -thru and inquired where those delivery trucks are going to go now. She reiterated her big concern about just getting in and getting out of the area, noting that that Johnson Court is not really a court because it goes all the way through, and people really do not know that. She added that coming out of Johnson Court onto Owens Drive only has that right -turn option, and that confuses people as well. Commissioner Ritter thanked the applicant and staff for the amount of work that went into putting this proposal together. He noted that driving by that little tree farm corner right at the entrance to Pleasanton and seeing the big hole that it is with fences along there just looks horrible, so he is very much in favor of doing something to dress that area up. With respect to the Community of Character goal, he noted that there is a Starbucks and a gas station on the entrance to the City at Bernal Avenue and a McDonald's at Santa Rita Road, so no precedent is being set by having a new fast -food restaurant at another entrance, but he agrees with Commissioner Allen on making it look really elegant and nice. He indicated that he also agrees with Commissioner O'Connor on the trees. He noted that the renderings show how hot it is in the area with a lot of concrete around. He added that it would be good even just sitting outside ln-N-Out Burger to have a little cover to provide shade, so trees would be ideal. EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 22, 2014 Page 6 of 12