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DRAFT Dr. Kenefick stated that Young Ivy Academy (YIA) was first approved in Pleasanton as a tutoring center and the request is to convert it to a Heritage School, for which staff has recommended approval. She noted that what they are asking for regarding the playground is a little unusual in context as it is not the norm, but that does not make it unreasonable, unworkable, undesirable, or inappropriate. She noted that the proposal is, in its context, an entirely reasonable, workable use of available space and will be a significant plus to the children who are students at YIA and to the community. Dr. Kenefick stated that the Oakhill Shopping Center is a retail development serving local families with a bank, a full service grocery, Mountain Mike's Pizza, Subway, Taco Bell, and other venues of food, as well as a pet food vendor, a dance and music school, a martial arts academy, a Gymboree, and YIA, a nail parlor and needlepoint shop, and a dentist. She noted that most of the families locate in Pleasanton because it is a great place to raise children; the parents are upwardly mobile professionals who both work so they can afford Pleasanton and provide their children with the best education possible. She added that YIA, situated at this location in an informal network of child-centered services, is a godsend to these parents as well as to the dance school, the music school, and the martial arts school; to Subway and Raley's; and sometimes even to Taco Bell and the dentist, in a clearly discernible element of symbiosis. Dr. Kenefick stated that YIA picks up students from local schools, transports them to the site, and provides classes in subjects such as math, language, and art, and helps with homework when needed. She added that if the students' parents wish, their children can go for classes at the martial arts academy, the music studio, or the dance school, with a YIA staff walking them over. She stated that when parents pick up their students between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., they can pretty much relax thereafter because many of their children's needs have already been met. She noted that as a testament to this, YIA serves several family groups with multiple children enrolled. Dr. Kenefick stated that what is missing from this picture is this space where the young students can get some movement and fresh air for two hours a day as an antidote for the many hours in the day they spend indoors. She indicated that they hope to review the efficiency when they receive approval for this playground proposal. She noted that the proposal has already addressed many of the Code-required Planning issues that have arisen during the application process, and what is before the Commission is the fully developed plan for an attractive, safely fenced area with a play structure on the east side of the building, that will be effectively invisible to the majority of Oakhill Shopping Center's retail customers, with vines on the fence to screen the play area from neighborhood or parking lot view. Dr. Kenefick stated that the issues that appear to deter approval are the location of the playground in a utility zone, noise, and safety. She noted that the amount of available space for the construction of the playground is more than adequate. She indicated that the issue of truck traffic is valid, but they have researched and studied this matter, and no business purpose of the utility zone would be infringed by the presence of the playground. She noted that only a few storefronts of the entities at YIA's end of the EXCERPT: DRAFT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, 11-12-2014 Page 2 of 10