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~ Dave Bouchard, 434 Vineyazd Place, indicated that he was in favor of the project. He stated that because the center will be fairly close to where he lives, it would be a convenience for him and his family, and possibly for other residents of the southeastern section of Pleasanton, as he would not have to drive across town to go to Home Depot or Longs Drugs. He added that he appreciates what has been done across the street with the gas station and the caz wash, the convenience store and the fast food restaurants because with the rising cost of gas, he does not have to drive too far to get to these places. Mr. Bouchard noted that there aze very few pieces of land left in the City as it approaches buildout, and from the economic viewpoint, the highest and best uses should be sought for these lands. He pointed out that the amount of revenue that would be generated by other uses such as a grocery store would be less that what Home Depot could bring in; they would also generate a lot more traffic. Mr. Bouchard further noted that the project would provide a true gateway to Pleasanton at this intersection. He added that its pedestrian-friendly chazacter would provide a safe passage for school-age children coming from the Vineyard Avenue area on their way to the waterslides. John Corley, 699 Peters, representing the property owners, Mr. Frank Auf der Maur and Mr. Konrad Rickenbach, stated that they were responsible for creating the traffic problem in the area because they built Bernal Avenue from the Arroyo to Stanley Boulevard as well as the railroad undercrossing which created the intersection of Valley Avenue and Stanley Boulevard. He indicated that he would like the records to show that when they sold the property to the synagogue, they informed the synagogue representatives that the plan anticipated Nevada Court to circle through the property and end up in Utah Street to /'~ serve the commercial use planned for the property. He stated that the developers for Home Depot have worked closely with the synagogue and have agreed to have no access to Nevada Court; however, should this project not come through and they come back in the future with another developer for the site, the synagogue would not be upset if Nevada Court goes through because their representatives aze awaze the street was planned not as a driveway for the synagogue but to serve the other uses in the area. Robert Green, 3263 Vineyazd Avenue #114, read his letter to the Commission indicating his opposition to the project. He stated that the traffic in the azea has always been bad even before the gas station and the fastfood restaurants were built because people were using Stanley Boulevard as acut-through street to go to Livermore and Tracy. He added that the addition of Home Depot and other commercial uses would create greater problems and would cause traffic to back up on Santa Rita Road all the way to the freeway and from Hopyazd Road to Valley Avenue. Kelly Fasman, 174 Trenton Circle, indicated that she lived 1,000 feet from the proposed Home Depot, which would be a destination point. She noted that while she liked and shopped at Home Depot, she did not want to live next to one. She stated that this is not the right location for Home Depot as the area would not be able to withstand the traffic that would be generated by the store. She requested the Commission not to ruin her quality of life by approving the project and urged that afull-blown Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be required for a project of this magnitude. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 24, 2006 Page 25 of 34