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woodland, preserves and makes accessible the habitat, felt visibility was a concern of neighbors but said the reduction in the number of homes also provides significant value that allows the City to take ownership of the 500 acres. As an affordable housing advocate, she said the use of the property is consistent and affords a place where people can work and live in their community without having their quality of life diminished by a lack of open space and recreational opportunities and thanked everyone involved in the many hours and work on the project. Dolores Bengtson agreed with Ms. Dennis' comments, thanked City staff for their work, appreciates concerns voiced by residents, believed the project has been carefully planned to minimize impacts of views, felt it would serve as an anchor for an open space park on the eastern hills, its beauty and use will rival Pleasanton Ridge Park, the open space community will actively partner to share the vision of the greenbelt as other east hills properties come forward for development, it includes construction of public staging area, multi-use trail system and connector link to the future regional trail, felt residents will take advantage of recreational opportunities, felt ample time has been allowed for review of the project and she urged the Council to move forward with approval. Kurt Kummer felt views were spectacular, the trail system will connect the entire eastern side of Pleasanton from Sunol to the Iron Horse Trail, felt the plan would save most of the southeast hills, the feathering of development has been a long process, congratulated those who came together to formulate the compromise, said there is no connection to Benedict Court and urged the Council to approve the EIR. Scott Walsh felt the homes and the lots will be mitigated from a public safety standpoint, said there will be 100 foot setbacks, sprinklered homes, the City will receive a $300,000 to $400,000 fire engine, the new community will be beautiful and he urged the Council to approve the EIR. Kay Ayala said she is shocked that the plan was before the Council, felt the land was pristine and she was always told that the developer/owner had the right to split the land off from Kottinger Hills when that development was approved, which was done. She said the Council has every right to say not one house will be built on the land, the General Plan talks about no building on the ridgeline, and felt this plan followed money and influence, spoke of Planning Commissioner Fox's opposition and was greatly disappointed in how this process and plan has come forward. Alan Johansen commended the Council for their hard work, felt adding to open space parks would be a great thing, it was important that the interest of the majority should outweigh those who oppose the project, the land owner and developer have gone to great lengths, the dialogue was healthy, the plan balances the interests of the community and urged the Council to approve the EIR. Tom Pico felt balancing the benefit against impacts was always a tough decision, wished a plan could have been arrived similar to the Ponderosa/Busch property which was approved by the Council and then overturned through a referendum and then ended up with a project without any opposition. He said the goal for this project was to try to find ways to mitigate impacts to those most affected which he felt had been done. He said the permanent open space acreage is of great benefit, there was a lot of give and take between all parties, there was broad community support and urged the Council support. City Council Minutes 15 September 4, 2007