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He added that as a school under the Church's sponsorship, he believes that they are <br />fully capable of providing services and care which parents deserve. <br />Vice Chair Blank disclosed the he and the next speaker, Jerry Hodnefield, have worked <br />together on other Committees for the City but have not discussed this matter. <br />Jerry Hodnefield, President of Valley Business Park Owners Association, stated that <br />their Board of Directors has examined the facts and information relating to the <br />application for the Heritage School in question and that he has physically walked the <br />site in an effort to assess the probability of impacts to the area in general and to the <br />adjoining tenants in particular. He indicated that although the requested use is not <br />specifically permitted in the Association's CC &R's, the intended use is very closely <br />related to one of the uses, which is permitted: day care centers. He added that the <br />Heritage School use, in fact, is a preferred use in some ways as the intent of use does <br />not require that it have an outside yard area and, therefore, the children will remain <br />inside the building. <br />Mr. Hodnefield stated that the subject facility is a completely separate building located in <br />a separate parcel at the very back end of the park, with abundant parking spaces. He <br />noted that he owns a building which is occupied by another Heritage School, the Dublin <br />Sunflower Center, located on Owens Drive in the center of Pleasanton. He indicated <br />that the Center has been in that location for over a year; it is a model tenant and has not <br />created any reported problems. <br />Mr. Hodnefield stated that Valley Business Park was created about 30 years ago and <br />that he played a minor part in that creation. He noted that at that time, for all practical <br />purposes, the Business Park was designed and oriented towards manufacturing and <br />contracting services, offices, and related support functions. He continued that over the <br />ensuing years, however, this has all changed with manufacturing services moving either <br />to less expensive real estate or out of the country altogether. He added that the empty <br />buildings were gradually backfilled with service industries and community support uses, <br />dance studios, drama training, gymnastics, piano instruction, karate studio, kick - boxing, <br />and engineering firms. He noted that of the nine buildings he owns in or near the <br />Business Park, there is only one manufacturing tenant left, who will be leaving at the <br />end of his lease at the end of the coming year. He added that he has one tenant <br />occupying an entire building for a water quality control operation; the rest are <br />community support services such as design studios, day care centers, and tutoring <br />centers. <br />Mr. Hodnefield stated that there are many reasons for the evolution of the Business <br />Park moving in the direction of community support, some of which are the less <br />expensive rent compared to other retail locations, the proximity to residential living units <br />and schools, the relatively safe and controlled environment, and adequate parking. He <br />indicated that most of the Park's property owners recognize this movement and are <br />moving to capitalize on the opportunities; but there are a few owners who continue to <br />resist these changes. He noted that the Board of Directors has made the decision not <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 22, 2012 Page 5 of 8 <br />