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Carrie Cox stated that she attended the City Council meeting last night and addressed the Mayor and the City Council, and she is here tonight to address the Planning Commission. She noted that her parents started their family business, Cox Family Stores, in 1976, began retail in Pleasanton 33 years ago in 1982, and moved their office to Pleasanton in 1984. She indicated that they employ 40 people in the City of Pleasanton and that her brother, daughter, and son all work together in the business. Ms. Cox stated that they recently became aware of the City's activity to develop the Johnson Drive Economic Development Zone. She indicated that changing the zoning to allow big -box retail such as a Costco would be devastating to their family business and too many other small businesses in Pleasanton. She urged the Planning Commission to consider this effect, as small businesses have always been important in Pleasanton. She pointed out that much of the tax revenue and job creation to be gained from this project will likely be offset by a loss in revenue and jobs at existing Pleasanton businesses owned by hard - working loyal retailers who have provided goods and services to the community for many years. She noted that they found out about this project only the past week, and only because another business owner called them. She added that they never heard directly from the City and requested that wider communication about this project be provided to the residents and businesses of Pleasanton. She pointed out that a project of this magnitude will impact everyone and urged the citizens of Pleasanton to get involved and attend meetings to voice their opinions. She asked the Commission to protect small businesses in Pleasanton. Robin Barnes stated that she owned a business on Main Street for 30 years and has been on the Pleasanton Downtown Association Board of Directors. She indicated that this project is a terrible idea and opposed developing this property for a big -box store. She noted that she attended a Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce event a few weeks ago, and a Costco representative said that Costco already owned the property. She pointed out that an additional 12,000 cars in that area would turn Johnson Drive that area into a nightmare. She asked what the change in response time is for emergency vehicles to get into the housing areas in that area, and if it is five seconds longer, it is unacceptable as it may kill somebody. Ms. Barnes stated that as earlier mentioned by others, a new $2.6 million in tax money that the City might get will hurt many her store and many other stores. She asked what concessions the City is going to give Costco. She echoed an earlier speaker's statement that the City is not going to see money for a long time and that Costco will take all that money and run; it will not be spent in Pleasanton. Ms. Barnes stated that at last night's City Council meeting, the City Council proclaimed that Saturday, the 28th of this month, would be Small Business Saturday, and while urging residents to support the local businesses that make Pleasanton what it is today, the City was stabbing them in the back with this project. She asked the Commission to do the right thing and not allow this to happen, to help Pleasanton remain the unique and quaint City that it is. Susan Vierra- Cousins stated that the bottom line for her in all this is that it all comes down to quality of life. She indicated that she moved to Pleasanton in 2007 from San Jose, a very busy, very large, and very congested place. She stated that she loved the PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 18, 2015 Page 5 of 34