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__ 3. Meetinq Open to the Public Tom Pico, 795 Neal Place, believed there would be serious controversy regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed project. There were serious impacts of the previous proposal and he noted he was one of the leaders of the referendum for that project. He noted these kinds of issues have been present with other projects including the Vineyard Corridor Specific Plan, the Ponderosa/Busch property, etc. an~J it has been possible to find solutions acceptable to the community. The Lin family has asked him to be a consultant to assist in finding ways to make this project more acceptable, to mitigate its environmental impacts and to make sure a way is found to turn the controversy into support. He commented that this is a significantly different project than the one previously presented. He felt that when the EIR addresses the controversy of the project that it addresses the positives and negatives to the entire community as well as to the neighborhood. He was extremely optimistic that as this process proceeds there will be solutions to allow the community to accept the project if not embrace it as it did the Ponderosa/Busch project. He believed that can happen and he is committed to ensuring that all the environmental issues and concerns are addressed. Mary Roberts, 1666 Old Vineyard Avenue, indicated she lives at the edge of this blue oak forest. She wanted the EIR to view this area as an ecological whole, not just a few trees. There is a problem in California because the blue oaks are not regenerating. She did not want small trees to be removed and was concerned about the impact of houses above the trees at lower elevations. She believed one-acre lots are usually heavily landscaped and the water runoff will affect the trees and the forest. She. then referred to the tiger salamanders that used to be on her property. A neighbor built a wetland and rearranged some grasslands --- and she has not seen tiger salamanders for twelve years. Ruby Hill has a tiger salamander preserve, but she had doubts that actually worked. She was concerned about wild fires in the area as well. All the trees in one gully were lost and have not regenerated. She was concerned about water runoff and the flooding of the arroyos. She urged the consultant to view this as a woodland and savannah and a valuable'resource. Susan Astbury, 1375 Hearst Drive, expressed concern about traffic issues and noted at peak hours it is difficult to turn left onto Bernal Avenue. It is also difficult turning right from Bernal onto Hearst Drive. She felt 980 additional car trips on Hearst Drive were significant. Safety of the children and pedestrians in the neighborhood was a concern as well. The developers would improve part of the open space and the remainder would be open to the public in the form of trails. She wondered how much traffic would be generated by people who don't live in the area coming to use those trails. Where would they park and where would the staging area be located? She also expressed concern about the impact on the schools from the additional residential housing. This is the last undeveloped ridge top open space in Pleasanton and she felt it should be protected for futur~ generations. Terri Maxoutopoulis, 3531 Crespi Court, said her family chose to live in Kottinger Ranch because it was quiet, safe, close to downtown and had excellent schools. Her children and others play in Crespi Court. She was concerned about the construction of 98 new homes. Her biggest concerns were: 1) safety of the children, 2) excessive traffic, 3) permanent loss of beautiful hills, ridge lines and heritage oaks, and 4) increased burdens on schools. She referred to the Community of Character Elements: Responsibility- 1000 extra cars on Hearst Joint Workshop City Council and Planning Commission 5 02/08/05