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Pat Belding, Citizens for a Caring Community (CCC), stated that she would like to <br />speak positively for this proposal. She noted that CCC frequently speaks in opposition <br />to projects in terms of their affordability, and it is a pleasure to be here tonight to give a <br />"yes" vote to this particular project. She commended the developer for taking on an <br />ambitious goal of 20- percent affordable with the focus on the very-low income, which is <br />not easy to do. She added that CCC recognizes that there may have to be credit sales <br />and encouraged the Commission and the Council to consider using the Low - Income <br />Housing Fund, if necessary, to make these projects go. She indicated that CCC will be <br />happy to answer any questions about how this might work when the time comes. <br />Marty Inderbitzen stated that he is present tonight in his capacity as Chairman of the <br />Board of the ValleyCare Health System (VCHS). He started by saying that VCHS is in <br />support of this project and that he thinks they have done a really good job on the project <br />that will do good things for the community. He noted that the only concern VCHS ever <br />had has to do with what it means to the continued access and ability for its patients to <br />get in and out of the site for both their doctor visits and visits to the cancer resource <br />center and to the women's services center that are currently there and potentially other <br />future programs that VCHS might want to develop on this site. He indicated that this <br />was not a last- minute matter, noting that when he found out about this, he spent some <br />time with Mr. Dolan and Mike Tassano, City Traffic Engineer, to figure out what the <br />alternatives might be to the existing access once this site gets built, one of which was to <br />try and encourage the ability to have full access off of Stoneridge Drive, which does not <br />really exist now in the main entrance to VCHS. He expressed appreciation for <br />Mr. Tassano's spending some time to try and figure out if there was the ability to extend <br />some deceleration lanes and make that work, but it was not possible. He continued that <br />he then approached St. Anton about constructing another driveway off of West Las <br />Positas Boulevard which would allow VCHS to continue using that access; it would be a <br />right -in /right -out only but would do great things in terms of separating uses and making <br />the access work. He noted that the primary goal at VCHS was to get this approved as <br />part of this project so it would get built and be coordinated with the construction of the <br />project to minimize conflicts both during construction and after construction. He further <br />noted that the only issue left was how the cost would be allocated, and both parties <br />have reached an agreement this afternoon in this regard. He added that it needs to be <br />memorialized in an agreement. He expressed gratitude that the developer stepped up <br />and said they would undertake the responsibility as part of their project if VCHS helps to <br />pay for it, to which VCHS agreed. <br />Commissioner Pearce asked Mr. Inderbitzen the same question she asked St. Anton, if <br />VCHS is comfortable with the conditions as they currently read. <br />Mr. Inderbitzen said yes. He expressed confidence that both parties will be able to work <br />out a final agreement before the project comes before the City Council, which would be <br />VCHS's preference as well. <br />James Paxson, General Manager of Hacienda Business Park, stated that he feels <br />somewhat like he is sounding like a broken record, but that he has the pleasure of <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 8, 2013 Page 10 of 25 <br />