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Don Cape, Tharaldson Hospitality Hotels, said they continue to work with Nearon throughout <br />the process and have been anticipating the vision coming to fruition and want to move rapidly <br />provided negotiations are fruitful. He spoke about their experience. They are excited to operate <br />in Pleasanton and he spoke about traffic and hotel room generation of trips per day and said <br />he was available for questions. <br />Commissioner Brown asked what the typical project length in terms of completion. <br />Mr. Cape replied it is 12 to 14 months once they break ground. <br />Stefani Katz voiced her support for the EDZ and to move ahead with Costco. She spoke about <br />her desire to spend her tax dollars in Pleasanton and not Livermore and asked for the <br />Commission's approval to move forward. <br />John Sensiba voiced his and the community's support for the EDZ. He commended staff on <br />their work, is excited for the economic stimulation and cited the lack of speakers as an <br />expression of trust in staffs competency and in the Commission's ability to discern the facts. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED <br />Vice Chair Nagler suggested the Commission address each action item and began with the <br />FSEIR. He invited comments on the five areas contained in the EIR: (1) economic impacts; <br />(2) traffic; (3) air; (4) water and (5) potential impact on neighbors. <br />Commissioner Brown said there are some significant impacts which have been worked out and <br />the public recognizes these and still favors large big box retail which is the primary driver of <br />traffic and trip generation, and he would accept those as well. <br />Commissioner Allen stated she also accepts those. The two areas that cannot be mitigated <br />include transportation, given the City does not control Caltrans. However, the City designed a <br />process whereby the City is really controlling it because they will not be building Costco in <br />terms of having it operational until the City is assured they have the right mitigation in place, <br />which is the Caltrans improvement. On air quality, she reconciled that given the data seen <br />tonight and previously whereby any large project such as this by virtue of its size and the <br />number of cars utilizing it will have a significant impact and this is a lot less than some of the <br />projects that have been built locally. They are also bundling many things together in a win/win <br />way and she therefore supports the EIR. <br />Commissioner O'Connor echoed Commissioner Allen's comments and added that Pleasanton <br />is part of an air basin and wherever this is built would have the same impact. It is more of a <br />regional impact and he also supports the EIR. <br />Commissioner Ritter agreed with fellow Commissioners. He restated Costco's comment that <br />Pleasanton residents drive to Livermore and San Ramon approximately 3 to 5 million miles a <br />year and so this helps air quality as well as traffic. <br />Vice Chair Nagler echoed the previous comments. He asked to address the recommendation <br />regarding the General Plan Amendment (GPA) and the land use designation of the project. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, October 11, 2017 Page 6 of 13 <br />