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Mr. Hirst then addressed the Yee property and asked to retain the rural density residential designation. Geotechnical, botany, and biological studies have been done and a preliminary application will soon be forthcoming. There is an approved PUD for 22 lots and the proposed application will be for six lots. There was reference earlier in the meeting to lots that are legal lots at the lower end of the Yee property. He said that is not owned by Dr. Yee. Diane Lester Kolb, 11021 Dublin Canyon Road, indicated the Lester property has no known geologic issues or earthquake faults. The western hills and valleys are not visible to most of Pleasanton and the surrounding towns. The family has been in contact with the East Bay Regional Park District and is willing to work with them to address their needs for a staging area and connection to the park. The request of the family is for a general plan change to remove the public health and safety designation on the eastern strip of the Lester property, which has 16 acres of flat land and two existing houses. It is separated from the rest of the property by a creek and has been occupied by five generations of the Lester family for over 100 years. A previous planning director reviewed the property and felt it was a good spot for housing. She asked why this property is considered for changing designation to public health and safety? If the family is allowed a higher density, it would be encouraged to develop under Policy 32 of the General Plan Housing Element. They would build small housing units that were affordable by design. She has not heard of any other developers willing to offer affordable housing by design. John Rennels, BART Property Development Division, 300 Lakeside Drive, Suite 1631, Oakland, thanked Council and staff for the support of relooking at the BART property for a change in use from office to residential. This station is a critical relief valve for the east station, which has major impacts in the way of access. The new station is being developed under a public/private partnership and in conjunction with the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin and the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority. They are cognizant of the desire for a quality development and the fact that this is the gateway to Pleasanton and the Stoneridge corporate, and soon to be entertainment and retail, center. They are mindful of the synergy and connectivity among the adjacent property owners. The Heinz representative had to leave, but left a letter for Mr. Rennels to read. In summary, on behalf of the ownership groups for Stoneridge Corporate Plaza and Pleasanton Corporate Commons, he expressed their approval for the new Pleasanton West BART station proposal. The addition of a major transit hub at this location would be an amenity to the tenants and visitors of the campuses, which number 5,000 people on a daily basis. The goal is to take commute alternatives to single occupancy vehicles and this would be a major step towards increasing the number of BART riders to these office campuses. Mr. Rennels noted one concern had been about the plan to build an at grade parking lot and subsequently putting in a parking garage. He indicated after conferring with the representatives of Windstar the design for the parking has changed to include a permanent quality-parking garage as desired by the Councilmembers. Windstar has also committed additional funds to study expanding the capacity. He confirmed that the proposed high-density transit-based housing is of first quality, market rate, and compatible with the Stone ridge area. Eric Heffner, Windstar, 11149 North Torrey Pines Road #250, La Jolla, said he had brought boards and pictures of the proposed development but in the interest of time would forego that presentation. He related other projects of the Windstar Company, such as ones in Anaheim and Los Angeles, which are also transit-oriented developments. He believed the BART property is a premier suburban in-fill location for transit-oriented development. He was very pleased to be partnering with BART in the development. The Pleasanton/Dublin area will be the focus of transit-oriented developments and other communities will view it as a model. He Joint Workshop City Council/Planning Commission 11 03/01/06