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have been hurting since the closing of the Center's anchor tenant, Nob Hill, two years ago. He indicated that he has read and re -read PUD 84 -4, the staff report, and the application itself, and the appellants have provided no compelling detail or testimony this evening upon which to challenge the Zoning Administrator's highly qualified conclusion that the application is in fact, consistent with PUD 84 -4. He urged the Commission to reject the appeal unanimously and send a message of certainty to homeowners and business owners alike. He noted that in Pleasanton, those who follow the rules and act in accordance with the law will be treated fairly and have the freedom to exercise their rights within those laws, just as the owner of the Shopping Center and WalMart have done. Teralyn Fredricks stated that she lives, works, and is raising a family in Pleasanton. She indicated that she has lived in Pleasanton for almost 20 years and owns two restaurants in town, one in Meadows Plaza Shopping Center which has been there for 30 years and she has been there for 12 out of those 30 years. She stated that the reason she is here tonight is because their shopping center is hurting with the loss of their grocery store, and any further delays could cause undue hardship to all the small businesses, the owner of the Center, the City's tax base, and folks looking for work here in Pleasanton. She noted that she has been fortunate enough and has enough resources to stay in business, but other businesses in the Shopping Center have not been as lucky. Ms. Fredricks stated that WalMart chose its position to offer lower prices to its consumer and asked what is not to love about lower- priced groceries for the same product that one can get from the competitors. She added that WalMart will be offering health care, 401 K plans, and 75 -100 jobs in the City of Pleasanton. She noted that WalMart will be located on Santa Rita Road, a main thoroughfare in and out of Pleasanton, and people drive by that shopping center every day. She added that WalMart would have the same amount of traffic as when Nob Hill Foods was there, so there should not be any additional traffic impact. Ms. Fredricks stated that the subject building has been used as a supermarket for over 20 years and that all WalMart is asking to do is change the name to Neighborhood Market. She added that any restoration to be done to the supermarket should not create any significant impacts. She indicated that this is a huge opportunity for the area and noted that neighborhood residents have talked to many residents in the area and taken polls and positions throughout the last couple of years since Nob Hill left, and over the last six months, hundreds of them have indicated that they are in favor of the new grocery. She concluded by saying that WalMart has the right to operate in the Shopping Center under the terms spelled out in PUD 84 -4, and what they are asking is to allow this to be carried through with a new supermarket. Jim Cence stated that he has been a resident of Pleasanton for over 40 years. He indicated that there are two things that concern him: one is that he likes to pick the supermarket that he can shop at, and he does not want someone to tell him where he PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 19, 2012 Page 4 of 15