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<br />areas. These again are generally attractive and well maintained, although, as noted below, some local <br />neighborhoods built in the 1960s and 1970s would benefit from updating. <br /> <br />Often neighborhoods are identified by commonly known names related to the developer or tract <br />name. Many recent developments have attractive, landscaped entryways with identifying signs. Signs <br />and entrances also exist for some older tracts, although a few of these are showing their age (e.g., the <br />entrance way to Pleasanton Valley off Hopyard Road). Figure 2-1 and Table 2-_ in the Land Use <br />Element show the locations and names of over 70 residential neighborhoods in Pleasanton. <br /> <br />Residential Neighborhoods Built from 1960-1980 <br /> <br />Neighborhoods developed in the 1960s and 1970s were typically designed with separated sidewalks <br />and street trees on collector streets, and new infrastructure; however, delayed maintenance and <br />upgrades in these subdivisions are changing the streetscape. Over time numerous street trees have died <br />or been removed, large trees are substantially pruned to be lower in height or to accommodate <br />overhead power lines, roadway patches exist where cuts have been made for cable and other services, <br />and the street lights are weathered due to exposure to the elements. In some cases, property owners <br />have delayed needed fencing, fac;:ade, and landscaping maintenance, which further diminishes the <br />design character in these neighborhoods. <br /> <br />Commercial Areas <br /> <br />Unlike many cities that saw substantial development during the mid-20th cenmry, Pleasanton has few <br />commercial corridors. Main Street and First Street are the exceptions. However, unlike the "strip <br />commercial" development in other cities where garish signs, franchise architecture, and poorly <br />landscaped parking lots dominate, development along these streets includes re-use of older, historic <br />buildings, street trees, mixed-use buildings and neighborhoods, parking located at the rear of <br />businesses, and pedestrian amenities. As of 2006, Pleasanton has upgraded First Street - which carries <br />the bulk of the traffic through the Downtown area - with removal of overhead lines, installation of <br />pedestrian-level streetlights, and reconstruction of the bridge over the Arroyo del Valle. <br /> <br />Most commercial development in Pleasanton lies within clearly defined neighborhood and community <br />shopping centers, located at the intersection of major arterials, and conveniendy serving the <br />surrounding residential neighborhoods. Most are well maintained; however, some have not been <br />updated over time to include more attractive signage, design treatments, paint colors, lighting, <br />landscaping, outdoor seating, and pedestrian and bicycle connections. Commercial area design has a <br />substantial impact on community character. <br /> <br />The Stoneridge Shopping Center attracts shoppers throughout the region. Opportunities exist at the <br />shopping center to enhance its outdoor and pedestrian presence by providing more attractive outdoor <br />seating areas, and creating well landscaped pedestrian and bicycle connections to nearby uses, including <br />the future BART station. <br /> <br />Community Character 011607 clean <br /> <br />10-6 <br /> <br />t/3/71YJ7 <br />