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<br />Mr. Sullivan was supportive of the Draft Phase II Specific Plan and the concepts, which <br />put some framework around the direction that Council was trying to pursue. He supported the <br />commitment to the environmental and fiscal sustainability with the goal that any facilities or <br />buildings that are constructed are valued by the community and blend into the environment and <br />do not stand out, with the exception of the Cultural Arts Center which he believed Council <br />needed to discuss, particularly in its current location. He supported the Grand Park Design <br />Concept and the natural woodland setting. He believed it was important for Council to try and <br />recreate something that was prominent in this Valley, which could coexist with the Sports Park. <br />He believed Council had the ability to incorporate tennis into this plan and suggested that a <br />designated land area be reflected. He believed Council needed to work on the parking <br />principles to avoid creating a sea of parking lots. He was worried about the LOS D standards <br />and Council needed to consider it prior to making any final determination. He believed <br />roundabouts were an appropriate means of mitigating traffic through the Park and preferred <br />these as opposed to traffic signals. He agreed with the goal to integrate pedestrians, bicyclists <br />and vehicles. He expressed concern regarding the noise that would be generated by the <br />railroad and the freeway. He was not sure if he supported the language included in the Plan <br />regarding soundwalls around the railroad tracks. The planning process as laid out was <br />adequate. Council needed to remember that as it goes through this process, any decision it <br />makes is referendable and the public should have some type of recourse available particularly <br />since the Bernal property was public land. A portion of the Plan discussed lumping the Bernal <br />property into an overall priority and funding setting process, and he believed Council should <br />discuss separating this and finding other ways to fund this project over time. He wanted to <br />ensure that Council maintained sensitivity to the neighbors in the area who would be impacted <br />both by the lights from the sports fields and noise generated by both the sports fields and <br />amphitheater. He believed Council needed additional discussion on how this matter will <br />ultimately be presented to the electorate. <br />Ms. McGovern referred to the Illustrative Site Plan and inquired about the Sub-Area for <br />special use and recreation (GG), which was near the housing project close to the Knoll. <br />Mr. Rasmussen said this was a requirement of Phase I to occur within the Phase II area, <br />which was intended to be a small neighborhood facility to serve those homes, which would <br />consist of a tot-lot and picnic area. <br />Ms. McGovern wondered why the developer did not include a recreational area for these <br />homes. <br />Mr. Fialho said the developer built a neighborhood park in the western area. <br />Ms. McGovern believed this land use should look like it is a part of the Plan. She asked <br />if the sub-area for an environmental education center included a building. <br />Mr. Rasmussen said yes. <br />Ms. McGovern asked if the Native American concept would be tied in with the <br />environmental education center. <br />Mr. Rasmussen believed there would be an opportunity to do so since both of these <br />uses are in the same immediate area. The primary idea was to have an educational center that <br />would serve school-age children and visitors on the weekends. <br />Pleasanton City Council 20 11/01/05 <br />Minutes <br />