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<br />. <br /> <br />of traffic may be cutting through his neighborhood. With the expansion of Stoneridge mall, more <br />vehicles would be taking this route. He suggested that traffic-calming devices be installed on <br />Muirwood Drive North and Springdale Avenue prior to approval of additional square footage at <br />Stoneridge mall to alleviate existing cut-through traffic caused by unmitigated effects of previous <br />developments. <br /> <br />Chair Barker asked Mr. Gill if his street is included in any of the traffic-calming activities the City <br />is working on at this time. Mr. Gill said no. <br /> <br />Matt Sullivan, 4324 Muirwood Drive, also a member of the West Las Positas Committee but <br />speaking as a private citizen, concurred with Mr. Gill regarding cut-through traffic on Muirwood <br />Drive/Springdale Avenue and the need for traffic-calming devices on those streets. The problem <br />with analyzing traffic in connection with an individual application is that it does not take into account <br />the cumulative effects of all the developments in the area, which would impact the entire City. <br />When developments are approved beyond what is already in the General Plan and the West Las <br />Positas interchange is not built, traffic in the City can only get worse. He supported Condition Lb. <br />which would revoke the approval of the expansion in the event that the West Las Positas interchange <br />is not constructed and future traffic is not satisfactorily mitigated. He agreed with Commissioner <br />Cooper and questioned the benefits the City would have by vesting this much development at this <br />time. He concluded that increasing traffic ultimately adds up to negative effects on the quality of <br />life. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Mr. Gibson stated that Mr. Pretzel's recommendation that vehicles coming from 1-580 be channeled <br />to enter the mall through the second intersection rather than through Canyon Way was an operational <br />and safety improvement. He apologized for a mistake in the base condition for the traffic report <br />regarding impact on the Bernal interchange and indicated that the number should be 77 - instead <br />of 70 - to 78, thereby confirming the 1 % traffic impact increase resulting from the additional nine <br />trips. With respect to cut-through traffic on Muirwood Drive/Springdale Avenue, he reiterated that <br />Taubman would pay its fair share of whatever traffic-calming measures are required to mitigate <br />traffic impacts caused by the Stoneridge Shopping Center. With respect to cumulative impacts, he <br />stated that the traffic analyses represent the most conservative set of cumulative impacts as any other <br />in the State. <br /> <br />Ms. Williams then explained that the current vested 178,000 square feet would be utilized for an <br />additional 150,OOO-square foot department store, and the remainder would be specialty stores. <br /> <br />Mr. Gill stated that the objective of the West Las Positas Committee is to look for alternatives to the <br />interchange and does not specifically include looking at mitigation measures for Muirwood Drive. <br />He proposed that this be incorporated as a condition for approval of the Stoneridge expansion project. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED <br /> <br />Commissioner Kumaran stated that the Stoneridge mall is a good development in a good area; <br />however, with the existing traffic congestion in the area - and possibly without the West Las Positas <br />interchange and with the mall expansion - any minimal traffic impact is undesirable, even if these <br />are mere changes from LOS B to LOS C. He also questioned the revision of the parking ratio from <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Planning Commission Minutes <br /> <br />Page 11 <br /> <br />July 23, 1997 <br />