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~ Bob Russman, 2459 Via de los Milagros, stated that he has lived in Pleasanton <br />for13 years and is a member of Congregation Beth Emek. He thanked the Home Depot <br />representatives for keeping the synagogue informed throughout the planning process and <br />for working closely with them on various issues they had concerning the project. He <br />indicated that their original concern of delivery trucks and customers accessing the <br />shopping center directly from Nevada Court, thereby causing safety issues for their <br />school children, was resolved when Home Depot moved the proposed entrance from <br />Nevada Court to Bernal Avenue. He added that Home Depot likewise agreed to <br />landscape the azea along Nevada Court to mitigate noise and view impacts that may <br />interfere with the synagogue's sanctuary activities. <br />With respect to traffic patterns azound their building, Mr. Russman noted that it would be <br />hazardous to turn onto Nevada Court from Bernal Avenue or to drive across Bernal <br />Avenue from Nevada Street to Nevada Court. He added that it would be dangerous to <br />walk across the intersection and suggested that a traffic light be installed at the <br />intersection of Bernal Avenue and Nevada Street/Nevada Court. He also indicated that <br />the possibility of a loop road would convert the cul-de-sac into a major thoroughfare, <br />creating noise and safety impacts that would necessitate a major alteration to their ingress <br />and egress, their school, and their services. He expressed confidence that with proper <br />planning and good faith, they could co-exist with Home Depot and continue to provide <br />education to their children and services and programs to their members. <br />Naomi Jones, 4017 Schween Court, indicated that she lived off of Kolln Street and <br />~ Valley Avenue. She stated that the current traffic situation in the area is already <br />unbearable and described the vazious traffic issues she and her family encounter daily on <br />their way into and out of their home. She indicated that she liked and shopped at Home <br />Depot but that adding one in the azea would cause an even greater traffic problem. She <br />noted that widening Stanley Boulevard and Bernal Avenue will not improve the problem <br />because it does not address the traffic on Valley Avenue, the route most people would <br />take to get to Home Depot. She added that there would also be noise and safety issues <br />with big trucks going to the store and making the intersection dangerous for pedestrians <br />and bikers. She stated that the only way to possibly alleviate the problem is to connect <br />Stoneridge Drive to El Charro Road to Stanley Boulevazd as indicated in the General <br />Plan in order that some of the traffic going to and from Livermore may use that route. <br />Heidi Massie, 4183 Hall Court, stated that her backyazd backs up to Valley Avenue <br />between Kolln Street and Stanley Boulevard, which she feels is the most congested area <br />in Pleasanton. She indicated that she does not oppose development on the vacant lot <br />because that would be unrealistic since that site would have to be developed, but she <br />opposed the Home Depot and Long's Drugs project because a big box development is not <br />appropriate for the site, considering the traffic problem that already exists at that <br />intersection. She noted that weekends are the only days when traffic is light, and having <br />the center there in addition to the waterslides, the Ponderosa development on Busch <br />Road, and developments in Livermore would take that away as well. She noted her <br />disappointment that projects have been proposed and completed without traffic solutions <br />in place and suggested several traffic-calming measures for the azea: install <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 24, 2006 Page 26 of 34 <br />