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Mr. Schroeder stated that there is an opportunity to work with staff to provide an <br />additional amenity, and there may be a way to treat the lot count a little bit in doing that. <br />He noted, however, that the tot lot is not something that is attractive or of use to this <br />community who will have to pay for it and maintain it. He added that the site is next to <br />the Iron Horse Trail, which is a significant amenity, and Ponderosa paid for all that <br />landscaping all the way to the end of the corner of Valley Avenue and Busch Road. <br />Mr. Schroeder stated that they cannot do separated sidewalks because a whole row of <br />lots would get lost with that. He noted that these are two tiny private cul -de -sacs that do <br />not go anywhere, and there are no detached sidewalks next door or at the Village. He <br />added that the Estates project has no sidewalks. <br />Commissioner O'Connor asked Mr. Schroeder if the project could live with losing one or <br />two units should the Commission wish to see a more substantial amenity, such as <br />Commissioner Piper's suggestion to tie these two pieces together with a park or <br />gathering place for the community. <br />Mr. Schroder stated that they could probably lose one more lot but it is a huge risk. He <br />indicated that they make some money when they build beautiful communities in <br />Pleasanton, but they are not making a huge profit on this project, and they are trying to <br />help the Church. He added that they have received a lot of positive feedback for what <br />they build and that they do not take anything lightly; they are very deliberative about <br />everything they do, and they do the best job they can. <br />Commissioner Nagler stated that the Commission is in favor of the development if it <br />could work. He thanked Ponderosa for working with staff, but this is obviously another <br />step along the way. He stated that as much work as has occurred so far, the <br />Commission is trying to put the Council in a position of having a project that is <br />appropriate for the community and defensible. He noted that the project is candidly <br />bordering on a very recent debate about what should happen in East Pleasanton, so <br />there is going to be some attention to this development just by coincidence because of <br />its location, and the Commission has an obligation to make sure that the project is as <br />well - planned for the community as possible. He indicated that the Commission is not <br />suggesting that Ponderosa should change this project to make it economically <br />infeasible, but the Commission believes that on the margins, there are ways to approve <br />the project, that you were asked to do a Work Session with the Planning Commission <br />and, for whatever good reasons, decided that was not of interest to you. He stated that <br />this conversation, in part, is the result of that decision, and encouraged the applications <br />to put together a project that the Commission will feel good about recommending to the <br />Council. <br />Mr. Schroeder replied that he understands the Commission's responsibility and agrees <br />that the Commission has to do the right thing for the community. He stated that they <br />had two neighborhood meetings and have no significant opposition to this project; they <br />met with people who back up to the project and have heard nothing from them that says <br />they do not like this project. He pointed out that this project is not Ironwood and was <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 12, 2015 Page 22 of 34 <br />