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SUPPLEMENTAL RIIATERIAL To: Ellen Holmgren Provided to the City Council Subject: RE: East Pleasanton Planning After Distribution of Packet Date c/g— 20/C From:Patricia Haller Sent:Tuesday, May 19, 2015 1:00 PM To: Mayor and City Council Subject: East Pleasanton Planning As you meet to discuss the East Pleasanton Plan, be aware that not all residents share the rather loud and strident opinions of those who want you to STOP planning for development of the area. Some of us are just afraid to speak out, because the anti voices quickly get rather nasty when you disagree with them. I live in Vintage Hills,and thus am in the area close to this proposed development. I believe long-term planning is essential to making sure these lands are developed in a way that will make them an asset to our city, rather than a liability. Not planning ahead now does NOT mean the land will not be developed! It just means it will be pushed through without as much thought and consideration for what Pleasanton needs. I have looked at the proposals and I do have concerns, but I think it's better to address those concerns now with careful planning than to just stick our heads in the sand pits and scream "Not in MY backyard!" First, I would ask that we make sure that the water features be developed in a way that will provide recreation for ALL citizens of Pleasanton, while also protecting the quality of the water. (No more gated communities that force us to show our ID to access public lands like at Golden Eagle,for example.) Second, I would like to see the highest quality bicycle infrastructure possible to connect the Iron Horse Trail to the trail on Stanley, correcting the awkward street crossing now necessary on Valley. Ideally,that would also provide a safe link for children riding to and from the BMX park on Stanley, without them having to cross Stanley or Valley unprotected. Third, I'd like to see attention given to landscaping and infrastructure (like reclaimed water for irrigation)that addresses water conservation. By planning now, when the drought is on everyone's mind,we can get that into the plan. If we wait and it gets built haphazardly during a wetter time,those things won't happen and we'll regret it when the next drought comes! Fourth, I believe it is essential that El Charro Road gets built out to connect 580 and Stanley, no matter what gets built on the East Pleasanton properties.That alone would take a lot of the traffic pressure off of Santa Rita and Valley, which will only get worse when the new homes now under construction across from McDonald's are completed! Finally, I do wish developers would actually include some moderately priced homes so our teachers,city workers,and public servants can actually live in the community they serve and so our children can stay in the city they grew up in. Paying into a fund so they can build more very expensive houses does not ease this problem! I get quite irritated at those who say my children haven't "earned"the right to live in the city they grew up in, and they should live in Oakland until they make enough money to buy here. By that reasoning many of us don't deserve to live here,since we came to Pleasanton before it became so expensive. I couldn't afford to buy my own house now! Thank you for listening to all the voices—not just the loudest ones. Patricia Haller Pleasanton Click here to report this email as spam. i