PC 031912 - Laserfiche WebLink

John Stoker stated that he has lived in Pleasanton since 1961 and has seen a lot of changes in this town. He indicated that he is here to support the market going in there. He noted that he lives very close to the complex, that he could actually walk to Nob Hill and would like to walk to WalMart. He expressed his surprise that the people who supposedly opposed this are not here tonight and asked the Commission to approve the application. Donna Raabe stated that she and her husband have lived in the area 27 years. She indicated that she is not a hater of WalMart but expressed concern about how 66,000 people and a few more in the City's population would support another grocery store. She noted that she observed Nob Hill's "customership" going down, down, down and inquired where the people who will shop at this store will be coming from. She indicated that as somebody gains business, somebody else will lose business, and it could be Fresh & Easy or Safeway or Raley's. She stated that Nob Hill was planned or zoned to be a grocery store in either 1982 or 1985, and Levitz was rezoned for a furniture store. She added that if Nob Hill is not rezoned to something that is a family - friendly place, every grocery store in Pleasanton will lost 10 percent of its business, which may lessen its employees; so it will be a win -win for the current tenant going into the Nob Hill store, but a loss for some of the other stores. Ken Morgan stated that he lives near the former Nob Hill store and is excited about the possibility of getting a store to replace Nob Hill. He indicated that he thinks it is a great use for the property and for the building that already exists, and the last thing he would like to see is for the building to remain vacant because that is never good for a neighborhood. David Miller stated that he is a Pleasanton resident and noted that a lot of great arguments in support of Wal -Mart have already been presented, and he would like to take it one level higher and explain why people are really here tonight. He stated that people are here tonight because America is the greatest country in this world because of three principles in place that make it that way: (1) Property rights, which is the manifestation of one's work. He stated that when people work, they are able to acquire things that, under this Constitution, they are able to do and dispose of however they see fit and not how their neighbor sees fit. (2) Free markets. He stated that no one can tell anyone else whether or not he or she can open a store or not. He noted that people vote with their pocketbook, with their dollars, and the best ideas will win; the best solutions will be profitable. He added that those who cannot keep up will fail, but new businesses will pop up. (3) Rule of law; not the rule of mobs, not the rule of the majority. He stated that there are laws in place that all have agreed to follow and adhere to. He noted that this property has been zoned for a grocery, and it is just being replaced with another market. He added that people out there who are busy- bodies and have to go and tell the property owner what she has to do with her property and the business owners whether or not they can open a business is not what this country is about. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, March 19, 2012 Page 8 of 15