_Minutes_2022-09-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 of 4 September 26, 2022 with drawing away from Lucky’s, restaurants and dining services; locations of plaza and green space; and concern regarding lopsidedness of location of housing and parking. Leisa Jatczak, attendee, reported main themes from Breakout Room No. 6 including proposed entrance and exit areas; uses of space supporting the pedestrian plaza and walkability; safety with Police substation at the mall; height limits of the property; need for conference areas; and types of housing. Sarah Hosterman, Assistant Landscape Architect, reported main themes from Breakout Room No. 7 including the need for multiple access points, interior walking paths, elementary school to reduce carbon footprint, safety, and cleanliness, eliminating exterior parking and reworking the site, and incorporating other modes of travel. Lori Escobar, attendee, reported main themes from Breakout Room No. 8 including multiple access points with overarching main entrance, multiuse path from BART station, mix of green space, interior mall, upgrade existing structure and build around it, concerns regarding mandates for housing; and concerns around water, electricity and overcrowding of schools. Commissioner Brown stated the goal statement was on point. He discussed the benefits of the ring road although there was no central anchor point; limited connectivity to the bike / pedestrian side; preference for the focal point to be on the interior, a combination of restaurants and a movie theater to provide a sense of purpose and destination, for the uses to define the entrance and exit points, rather than an artificial anchor point; need to consider traffic with a potential shift from work from home; need to have a high enough density to create subterranean parking and private spaces; questions on tax revenue; and whether there was an opportunity to split the anchor spaces into three to create smaller retail spaces. Vice Chair Gaidos suggested an emphasis on safety in the theme; the primary entrance off Foothill Road; and place making features including a Police substation and open outdoor spaces. He discussed the challenge of several different owners and the need to determine where the real estate development would occur for the ingress and egress. Commissioner Morgan indicated support for the goal statement. He stated he wanted to understand the process for engaging the owners and suggested the possibility of an agreement to comprehensively develop the property and suggested consideration of housing on the upper floors. He stated traffic and safety concerns need to be addressed. Commissioner Nibert stated he liked the draft goal statement; there was no primary and secondary entrance, and it would be nice to have identity and character of a primary entrance, with several secondary entrances. He agreed with reconsideration for housing with retail ground floors. He reiterated comments indicating the least support for a main street approach, desire for a destination, residential needs, green space, pedestrian oriented plaza with entertainment and shops, and hub of activity for all seasons. He stated the mall must not look the same as the current mall and parking should be reconfigured. He discussed concerns with safety and traffic and indicated support for increased police presence. He discussed other areas for study including the need to better understand impacts on schools; questions about the property owners’ thoughts and intentions; agreements for equitable uses; different type of atmosphere from Downtown; involvement and thoughts from other surrounding businesses; amount of investment from owners compared to needs and impact to City finances; tax revenue with mix of uses; and understanding of State housing mandates. Commissioner Allen thanked the public for its input. She stated she liked the goal statement. She concurred that the ring road assisted with access and there were multiple access points which should be retained to allow flexibility. She stated the bias would be from Foothill and the freeway area. She concurred with the prior comments on place making and the need for a strong walkable area; the need