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495 Mr. Gene Finch, President of the Downtown Association, stated that three speakers from the Downtown Association would be making a presentation, rep- resenting the downtown merchants. Mr. Mike Clauser, co-owner of Alisal Drugs, 4271 First Street, resident of Pleasanton since 1966, and Board Member of the Downtown Association, stated he felt the City should insure business vitality in the downtown. The City formed a downtown assessment district to improve the downtown area. Through the efforts of many concerned citizens the downtown plan is just beginning to be implemented and new businesses are locating in downtown. He stated that no one anticipated competition and the proposed project will have a serious im- pact on businesses already in operation as well as keeping new businesses from locating here. Mr. Clauser asked Council to deny this one proposed shopping center because he felt it would ruin downtown. He stated this developer would have the advantage point of crossroads at this important intersection. He added that Albertson's will not fill any great void in this City. Despite growth, there is a small town atmosphere which are the results of a good down- town. Why have a General Plan if not to control growth. He asked Council to allow downtown to fulfill its participation in the downtown development pro- gram, and then allow other shopping centers as the need arises. He stated that downtown businesses are beginning to be economically viable and this should be protected. He urged Council to' stick with planned progress; developers will be here when needed. Mr. A1 Bronzini, businessman at 719 Main Street and member of the Pleasan- ton Downtown Association, stated the proposed project would require a change of the General Plan, which is not yet a year old. He stated that considerable thought was put into the General Plan and that certain areas were designated for retail and certain areas for commercial; approval of the rezoning request would suggest that the newly adopted plan was poorly thought out. He did not feel there is a need for any more shopping centers and in his opinion there should not be any more hotels, office space or shopping centers approved for at least five years. Mr. Gene Finch, President of the Downtown Association and business owner at 649 Main Street, stated he is not opposed to the design of the proposed project but does not agree on the timing of the application for rezoning to retail. He presented slides showing available retail space in Pleasanton. He stated this is a critial time for the future of downtown with its revitaliza- tion plan underway. Mr. Finch presented a petition, signed by 100+ residents, that is in addition to the one submitted to the Planning Commission, which read as follows: "We, the undersigned, would encourage the denial of the permit to build a retail shopping center now proposed by the Santa Anita Development Company on the 18+ acre Stanley Boulevard site. A general plan has been set in place recently which has designated this area for General Commercial. The required zoning change to Retail would represent an unnecessary divergence from the general plan and eliminate the only space allocated in our City for General Commercial Development. Also the existing dense traffic in this area aggrevated by gravel trucks does not lend itself to the addition of large numbers of cars and delivery vehicles needed for a large retail center. North Pleasanton is currently limited to LOS D traffic congestion while this addition would possibly bring this area to LOS E thereby ex- ceeding acceptable limits. Finally locating another shopping center at this location would create an economic hardship on our downtown by direct 9 - 4-7-87