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7- Eleven puts a lot of constraint on them as far as minimum store size and other things that maybe they would not run into if it were not 7- Eleven- branded. Mr. Grayson stated that there are other incentives that 7- Eleven provides and that he will have the owner speak to that as he is not privy to those incentives one way or the other. Bob Reguilon stated that he lives about 130 feet from the station and that during the summer, he cannot leave his windows open because it gets very noisy and at midnight somebody out there is honking the horn. He added that there used to be a light pollution problem, but the trees have grown, so that is not a big a problem anymore. He indicated that he has been a volunteer for the Pleasanton Downtown Association, which does a good job of promoting small business, and he does not think this is the kind of business they need in their neighborhood. He noted that there is an AM /PM 24 -hour mini -mart on Bernal Avenue and Cole's Market right there, so there is no need for another market, especially a 24 -hour one. Maria Tracy, a homeowner in the neighborhood that abuts the project site, agreed with Mr. Reguilon regarding the noise. She stated that there is increased traffic, car doors slamming, and an ongoing concern with trash, and the proposed 7- Eleven 24 -hour facility will encourage loitering or anything else going on there. She noted that the developer talked about that site being a perfect location for a neighborhood market. She indicated that there is a neighborhood market right across the street, so this would be sort of duplicating that. She added that she has spoken to the owners of Cole's Market, the Meadowlark Dairy, and even of the liquor store up the street, and all three businesses feel that a 24 -hour mini - market in the area will very adversely affect their business. Ms. Tracy stated that the City has worked so hard at developing this beautiful Fire House Arts Center and the park area there, and in a sense, this is sort of the gateway to the Downtown coming from Livermore. She added that the Pleasanton Downtown Association is trying to make Pleasanton a very unique and special place for entertainment. She questioned if the City really wants something associated more with a strip mall being the gateway to its Downtown. Ms. Tracy questioned the 625 signatures and questioned if they are people passing through or residents or people active in the life of Pleasanton. She noted that the applicants people did not come and ask her or her sister who lives close by if they were interested in having a 7- Eleven on the site. She expressed concern about allowing a 24 -hour business that is modeled on the sale of alcohol to be another store in that area. She indicated that she called every 7- Eleven store in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon, Fremont, Union City, Danville, and Castro Valley, and 23 of the 24 stores where she talked to somebody stated that they sold beer and alcohol. She noted that they may be saying that they will not be 24 -hour and they will not be selling alcohol, but in time, once it is built, it will be there, and any promises not to do that will evaporate. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, December 12, 2012 Page 15 of 40