PC 071404 - Laserfiche WebLink

- Doug Hurley, principal architect, Peny Butcher & Associates, Rogers, Arkansas, gave a brief background of the company and added that they had performed a wide vaziety of work for Wa1Mart since 1979. He advised that he was licensed in 45 states and planned to take the exam for his California license in September. He displayed the plan for the design enhancements and described the changes in detail. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Kameny regarding how this exterior design compared with others he had designed, Mr. Hurley replied that this store was different in that it was not a prototypical Wa1Mart. He noted that the typical blue-gray color scheme had been changed to earth tones and that the look of the front was also different. He added that the cornices, the accents, and alternating split-face bands were not part of the prototypical designs. He believed that this store had more articulation than the prototype design and added that this was the first store he had seen with free-standing colonnades. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox with respect to pedestrian friendliness, Mr. Hurley believed that the diagram distributed by Commissioner Fox may interfere with the pazking. Aaron Evans, store manager, displayed the plan for the proposed garden center and pointed out the locations of the benches. Commissioner Fox noted that she would like to see shoppers attracted to the Pleasanton side of the freeway in a few years because the center would be pedestrian-friendly like l-- Hacienda Crossing. Mr. Evans advised that this center was an existing center while Hacienda Crossing was built new. Chairperson Roberts advised that the subject site was a single store, not a shopping center, and did not anticipate that many people would gather in front of WalMart. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Maas regazding the current entrance, Mr. Hurley confirmed that it was composed of cobblestone and terra cotta. He noted that no paving or sidewalk changes were planned for the front of the building. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Roberts, Mr. Evans advised that the smoking rooms had been removed and that the smokers would be able to use the azea at the back corner of the building. She suggested that a "No Smoking" sign be posted by the benches in front of the building. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox regarding the current lack of landscaping between Owens Drive and WalMart in the future plans, Mr. Evans advised that they had started replanting grass in the area and added that they were attempting to resolve nine years of damage. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2004 Page 4 of 24