PC 10/14/1992 - Laserfiche WebLink

~ Art Dunkley, 4672 Second Street, stated he also has a business on . n Street and owns buildings on other streets downtown. He commended staff and the mmittee for their long hard work in preparing the plan. He felt that the plan is good but th t it will still be difficult to implement and please all the merchants downtown. He suggested that staff go door-to- door and make sure people know what is going on. In regard to co ments about tenants talking to property owners about their parking lots, he said that thos property owners are also concerned about parking problems. He expressed some concern that there was not enough money budgeted to take care of parking problems. He stat he is opposed to the retail-only concept and felt that it would be detrimental to downtown business. He said there is already a pall downtown because people do not really know what' going on or in what direction they can head. He felt that when construction starts they e looking at a two-year time frame where business will be poor. He further stated he has co sistently purchased property downtown until now, but would not purchase more with a r striction such as retail- only on the first floors. He supports the concept of stronger retail, ut is not in favor of mandating it. In regard to banks, he would certainly encourage that ey do everything they can to keep them downtown. Thurmon Caudill, 4715 B Augustine Street, said he has lived in Plea ton for about 50 years and he did not see anything wrong with Main Street as it is no . He has seen a lot of trouble come up with new sewer lines, but did not know of any prob ems with the old lines on Main Street. He did not think it was economically wise to start c nstruction for at least several more years. Ruby Greer, 444 Main Street, said she is the owner of Spirits and D Ii. She stated she has worked with the Task Force as a business merchant, but would like step away from that and look at the situation through the eyes of a resident. As a reside t she would probably try to avoid Main Street and go by way of the side streets. She felt that the City should find ways to encourage people to go downtown and support the merchant. She personally wished to go forward with her life and possibly sell her business. H wever, as it is now, she cannot sell it. All in all, she felt the committee and staff had co e a long way from where they were a year ago. Pat Lane, Executive Director of the Pleasanton Downtown Associati n, said their statement is in the report dated March 19. It states they encourage retail-only, but do not wish to see it mandated. TIlE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. Commissioner Mahern asked Mr. Higdon whether all the retail mere ants were polled as to the closing of Main Street for four-six weeks. Mr. Higdon said disc ssions were held on this topic but did not think individual merchants had been polled as t the closing of it. Mr. Iserson clarified that the Task Force has had many extensive meetin s regarding the subject, Planning Commission Minutes October 14, 1992 Page 14