PC 092513 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ms. Piekarski stated that one other issue is Fairlands Elementary School, which is only about a block to the east. She indicated that this school serves residents in the townhomes and the apartments on the west side of Santa Rita Road, and many of those elementary students walk to and from school. She noted that they cannot walk on the north side of West Las Positas Blvd. and cross Santa Rita Road because there is no crosswalk there in order to facilitate traffic leaving Hacienda Business Park. She stated that what these children typically do is cross West Las Positas Blvd. where there is a stop sign and crossing guards, then walk on the south side of West Las Positas Blvd. toward Santa Rita Road. She noted that they will have to cross two residential streets, this exit from the shopping center, and the exit at this proposed 7- Eleven before they can get to Santa Rita Road and cross the street. She stated that she believes a significant increase in traffic causes a danger to these young children as well as to the residents who live in the area. She indicated that she strongly opposes this proposal and hopes that the Commission will reject the proposed 7- Eleven. Tiffany Driscoll stated that she has lived in the neighborhood directly behind the shopping center and the gas station since 1975 and is very aware of the original property agreement for that premises. She indicated that she knew there was a rebuild to the gas station in 1989 and that she believes they either wanted to sell liquor or go 24 hours at that time, but were not allowed to do either. She stated that it seems to her that Roseberry is a corporation and not a mom - and -pop store that the gas station used to be that represented their neighborhood of Pleasanton Meadows. She added that it seems that Mr. Hirst is only an investor and does not take the interest of Pleasanton residents into consideration. She noted that it was mentioned that the notice that was passed out to the neighborhood went to 200 residences. She indicated that she received the notice, but people she talked to around the neighborhood did not receive notices or there were sporadic notices. She added that the notices failed to notify the neighborhood that they intended to put in a 24 -hour store, which would be an amendment to the original agreement. Ms. Driscoll stated that having a 7- eleven store at the entrance to a neighborhood is rather tacky and that she does not think that is the image that Pleasanton is trying to portray. She noted that there was a 7- Eleven also proposed for a gas station on First Street, and that proposal was turned down. She indicated that she was sure that had everything to do with property values of the Heritage neighborhood that was very close to there. She added that if that was rejected in the Heritage neighborhood, she believes it should be the same all the way across the board in Pleasanton and not just where the older Heritage homes are. Ms. Driscoll stated that entering into Pleasanton off of 1 -580 coming in on Santa Rita Road has no welcome to Pleasanton; there is no quaint little Main Street image that everyone loves so much. She noted that they are the actual first neighborhood that is encountered coming into Pleasanton from that side, and they just do not feel that having a 7- Eleven at the entrance to their neighborhood is a very appealing way for visitors of the wine country hoping to get to Pleasanton Main Street. She stated that they are a quiet neighborhood, full of small children and a lot of homes with seniors and people who have lived there since the 1970's who have chosen to retire there; and these people do not want a 7- Eleven. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, September 25, 2013 Page 8 of 45