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DISCUSSION <br />The major issues expressed with the project involve traffic, economic impacts on the <br />community, truck routes, and enforcement of conditions of approval. Specific concerns <br />involve existing and projected traffic levels at the intersection of Santa Rita Road and <br />Valley Avenue, the large number of delivery trucks required to serve Home Depot, the <br />ability of the shopping center management and the City to control and enforce truck <br />delivery routes/ hours and other conditions of approval, and the economic impact that <br />the Home Depot would have on existing smaller home improvement businesses in <br />Pleasanton. Staff studied these issues through the community workshop process. The <br />information obtained did not allay the concerns regarding these issues, and the <br />applicant was asked to consider other options for use of the site. <br />Development Options: The applicant has expressed a willingness to consider other <br />uses for the site which would be more acceptable to the community while reducing the <br />impacts associated with the previous proposal. Although Regency has not submitted a <br />revised development plan, it has requested that the City Council allow Regency to <br />amend its application to make modifications in response to the community's comments <br />and Council's direction. <br />Determining uses for the site involves trade-offs with regard to traffic, economic viability, <br />type of business desired by the community, and design. Arriving at an acceptable mix <br />of uses for this center would seem to require additional discussion to determine: 1) the <br />minimum amount of floor area the developer requires to produce a reasonable rate of <br />return, 2) the maximum acceptable amount of traffic generation, and 3) the type of <br />commercial center that can be designed in a manner appropriate for its location at a city <br />gateway. <br />Procedural Options: Regency has requested that the Council table the second <br />reading of the ordinance to an indeterminate date to allow Regency time to re-evaluate <br />the project in response to the comments from the community and the City Council. <br />(Please see attached letter from Pete Knoedler.) Regency would then amend its <br />application to make modifications in response to those comments. Staff has identified <br />several options for the Council regarding Regency's application: <br />1. Wait until the General Plan Update is adopted, which is scheduled to occur by <br />December 2008. At that time the City will have a better sense of build-out <br />conditions, including future land use and anticipated circulation improvements <br />(including timing and sequence of future roadway and intersection <br />improvements). Under this scenario, the Council would direct staff to schedule <br />the second reading of the ordinance for the Home Depot proposal so that it may <br />take final action to deny the project. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />