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Commissioner Allen stated that the next question she had was whether these fears are <br />really justified. She noted that crime is crime but questioned if they are justified. She <br />added that she looked at the OSHA report that actually has a list of highest risk <br />establishments, and it lists gas stations, liquor stores, and convenience stores as three <br />of the top five high -risk establishments, actually, twice as risky as late night bars. She <br />noted that those are national statistics and that they would certainly be better in <br />Pleasanton. <br />Finally, Commissioner Allen stated that she looked at what benefit the City is getting <br />from this business. She noted that the applicant had shared that there is not a big tax <br />impact because food is not taxed. She continued that she then looked at the survey <br />that was in the staff report that was discussed earlier and had all the different locations <br />and the crime reports. She indicated that she looked at the crime incidents a little <br />differently than the applicant did, looking for total incidents that were occurring at these <br />operations that were cited as somewhat comparable. She stated that she took the total <br />incidents and averaged them, including the applicant's location, and it averaged around <br />eight incidents per month, which is close to 100 per year. She indicated that she does <br />not know what 100 incidents per year for the Police Department costs, but if it is, say, <br />$1,000, which amount could be way off, that would be $ 100,000 per year in City costs. <br />She indicated that this concerns her too. <br />In summary, Commissioner Allen stated that she does not feel like this is the right fit for <br />this neighborhood. She indicated, however, that it does leave the question of what <br />should be done to make this more vital. She emphasized that she does think other <br />things need to be looked at and that she is concerned about this for this neighborhood. <br />Chair Pearce stated that she agrees in part with what Commissioner Allen said. She <br />indicated that she looked at the zoning, and it talks about minimizing adverse impacts <br />on adjoining residential uses; and given the concern of the neighborhood, it raises some <br />red flags for her. She noted that the Planning Commission has dealt with this a number <br />of different ways: there have been 24 -hour requests that the Commission has denied, <br />and there have been requests that the Commission has modified. She added that she <br />wants to be sensitive to the neighbors and their concerns because this is a big jump, but <br />she also wants to know if there is a way to have less hours and not go 24 -hours right <br />away; have more hours than they have if there is a concern, but pare it down to serve <br />alcohol at earlier times. She indicated that she does not want to say all the way yes, <br />and she does not want to say all the way no either. She stated that there may be a <br />way, in conversations that Mr. Hirst is going to have with the neighbors, to find a middle <br />ground where everyone is a little bit happy and try it for a while. She noted that there <br />have been some situations in the past where the Commission has allowed a business to <br />do something for a while, and then, if the Commission's concern was crime, ask for <br />Police Reports to come back in a year or six months, see what this looks like and what <br />the neighbors' concerns are. <br />Chair Pearce also agreed with Commission Allen that she would like to see a noise <br />study on the carwash. She stated that a carwash would obviously have to comply with <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 25, 2013 Page 14 of 45 <br />