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units needed for the site without that. She stated that she agreed with what has been said regarding the position of the pool and its impact on the neighbors. She reiterated the need for screening and mitigating what the proposal looks like from the Arroyo. C. Should a pedestrian access be provided form West Las Positas Boulevard to the proposed Open Space area? Commissioner Posson stated that he thinks the pedestrian access can be accommodated and should be required from West Las Positas Boulevard. He suggested that if the applicants have any specific security concerns or are not in favor of the access or want some type of locking system, they should bring those forward and give a good explanation for them. Commissioner Ritter stated that he knows the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Committee are trying to push very hard for inner connectivity. He noted that inner connectivity is important when laying out the plans as trails get people off the roads and on bikes and walking. He indicated that he does not know if it can be done through this property, but it is important for people to be able to walk along the Arroyo or somehow getting them to Hart Middle School across the street. Commissioner O'Connor stated that he is not a big fan of having public access into what he considers a private area for the people who live here. He noted that there is a tot lot with little children playing, and he would not want strangers walking through the middle of the complex with the children out there. He added that there will also be children at the pool. He indicated that he does not have a problem with having an egress if it had an automatic closing gate as a way for the residents to come back through. He stated that if there were to be any kind of trail connectivity, he would prefer that it be at the property line or on some kind of easement or walkway that does not actually allow the public into the property where residents are living. Commissioner Olson stated that he is on the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Committee and that he is not in favor of providing this pedestrian access at all. He indicated that he sees a security problem here and, as has been mentioned tonight, there is already a security problem on the other side of the Arroyo. He added that if there were to be one, it ought to be limited. Commissioner Allen stated that she supports doing a pedestrian access on the side of the building and that would really be about it. She noted that for beaches, people usually provide access to the public at the corner of a property. Chair Pearce agreed. She stated that she was on the committee that put together the Housing Element Design Guidelines and remembers having some of these conversations. She indicated that this is a private open space and that she does not want to create a de facto public open space by making a pathway right to it. She added that if connectivity to West Las Positas Boulevard is needed, it must be done in a way that does not make it look like this is public open space. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 11, 2013 Page 22 of 27