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From: - <br />To: Jennifer Haaen <br />Subject: Dec. 1 Housing Element: Keep Mission Plaza and Valley Village Shopping Centers <br />Date: Sunday, November 21, 20211:07:22 PM <br />Please forward my email to the Planning Commission <br />Planning Commissioners: <br />I urge you to reject any plans to build high-density housing in the Mission Plaza and <br />Valley Village shopping centers. We need our neighborhood long-time small business <br />owners to remain in place. High-density housing belongs in areas closer to freeway <br />entrances and BART. <br />Why Mission Plaza/Valley Village must remain <br />As a resident of 26 years in the Santa Rita/Valley area, my family and neighbors have <br />depended on the services provided by the small businesses in the Village and Plaza: <br />• Hardware, cleaners, shoe repair, restaurants, and the ever -popular American <br />Cancer Society Discovery Shop to name a few. <br />• Location and convenience are key for the families in the many surrounding <br />neighborhoods which reduces cross-town traffic for many basic essentials. <br />• Many small business owners have operated in the centers for decades and <br />would be forced out of business and employees out of work. <br />• Closing small businesses means lost sales tax revenues. <br />Why replacing the centers with high-density housing is a bad idea <br />The proposed location is not near BART, freeways, or business parks. High- <br />density housing is intended to reduce commute traffic by locating near transit <br />centers. <br />• Santa Rita/Valley Ave is one of the most congested and dangerous <br />intersections in the middle of Pleasanton with students walking and biking to <br />three schools in the area. High-density housing in this area means more cars, <br />adding to congestion and safety for students. <br />Alternatives to benefit everyone <br />High-density housing plans must be focused on the many locations near BART, <br />freeway entrances and Hacienda Business Park so workers can walk or bike to <br />work. <br />• Create incentives so that more small businesses can choose Mission Plaza and <br />Valley Village as their home to provide our neighborhoods with more essential <br />services, thereby reducing our need to drive across town or out of Pleasanton. <br />On December 1, 1 urge you to remove plans for high-density housing to replace <br />