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Commissioner Sullivan recalled an issue he had brought up at a previous heazing on this <br />application and believed that Wa1Mart wished to expand the store consistent with their <br />PUD approval. He believed that Wa1Mart had not met the conditions of the existing PUD <br />for a general merchandise store; he noted that they had been selling grocery items. He <br />believed that according to the Contra Costa County ordinance, this Wa1Mazt met the <br />definition of a superstore, which he did not believe was the intent of the original PUD. <br />For those reasons, he could not support this application. He inquired whether this <br />expansion was beneficial for the community, based on its demonstrated business <br />practices. He believed that grocery sales reduced the tax revenues without a reduction in <br />impacts. <br />Although she had not spoken with him, Commissioner Fox did not believe that the minor <br />changes made to the blueprints met Commissioner Arkin's intent in the last meeting <br />requesting a more updated design. She would like to see Pleasanton dollars spent in town <br />rather than across the freeway in Dublin. <br />Commissioner Kameny believed that the parking lots at Metro 580 would be filled when <br />it had the items that the shoppers look for. He appreciated the changes made by Wa1Mart <br />and noted that it was a larger building. He noted that if it were to be considered as new <br />construction, Commissioner Fox's ideas would be usable, but he could not see Wa1Mart <br />teazing the building down and retrofitting the entire center. He believed the addition of <br />an existing garden center would be beneficial to Pleasanton residents. <br />Chairperson Roberts agreed with Commissioner Kameny's assessment that the applicant <br />was not starting this design from scratch. She believed that people were becoming tired <br />of big-box stores and that this was an improvement. She disagreed with Commissioner <br />Sullivan's assessment with respect to food sales in WalMart and noted that Walgreen's, <br />Longs, and Rite-Aid also sold the same kinds of food. She would like to see a more <br />pedestrian-friendly plan, but added that this center was not setup in that manner. She <br />believed that without other elements, such as those stores, restaurants, and Imax theater <br />featured at Hacienda Crossing, Wa1Mart would not be a natural pedestrian gathering <br />place. She thanked the applicants for making the requested changes. <br />Commissioner Maas noted that Commissioner Arkin had requested embellishment for <br />this design review application and added that was what the applicant provided. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. <br />Commissioner Kameny moved to approve PDR-338 as conditioned in the staff <br />report. <br />Commissioner Roberts seconded the motion. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2004 Page 5 of 25 <br />