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THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. <br />Jennifer Zheng, Little Ivy League, stated that in 2005 she started the school with an idea <br />for children to attend Chinese School and learn Chinese as well as to reinforce <br />whatever they learn in regular school under the subjects of reading, writing, and math in <br />a structured environment. She noted that the idea flourished, and the school is <br />experiencing phenomenal growth, outgrowing the current facility. She indicated that <br />she was fortunate to find the Korean Presbyterian Church, which has a total of 21,000 <br />square feet. She stated that she has eight classrooms and astate-of-the-art multi- <br />purpose room. She added that they were thrilled to have the new home and that many <br />of the parents who support the facility are present in the audience. <br />Peter MacDonald, representing the applicant, indicated that they agree with the staff <br />recommendation and conditions of approval. He stated that the school provides an <br />incredibly important service to Chinese families in Pleasanton and that while it is a <br />business that is to be regulated, the parents and children are those who would be <br />affected. He noted that the school promotes a structured academic environment and <br />provides Chinese language and cultural instruction, special tutoring, personal discipline <br />training, and help with the students' homework. He added that the school also provides <br />a safe, adult-supervised environment for school-aged children, particularly for working <br />mothers who have to be at work. <br />With respect to whether or not a tutoring school will be permitted in Pleasanton, <br />Mr. MacDonald asked the Commission to consider the effect of its decision on the <br />parents of the students. He stated that the church is an ideal facility for the use with a <br />symbiotic relationship that is both efficient and cost-effective, where the school uses it <br />during the weekdays, and the church uses it on the weekends and weeknights. He <br />indicated that it is a modern facility with no tenant improvements required, located in a <br />site that is both convenient and accessible to parent, and has exclusive restrooms, entry <br />controls, backdoor lock, and WiFi. He added that there are no other quality locations <br />available in the City. <br />Mr. MacDonald stated that the applicant and her husband have worked hard for over a <br />year to find a location acceptable to the City and practical for their use. He indicated <br />that the lease at the current location expires in June and that the applicant was planning <br />to purchase a location in the Hacienda Business Park but it was within 300 feet of a cell <br />tower. He added that private schools are not allowed in residential locations, they do <br />not work in office buildings for a number of reasons, and while they are allowed in <br />shopping centers, they are not the ideal situation. He indicated that if business parks <br />are off limits to tutoring schools, there will never be any practical locations in Pleasanton <br />for the size of the proposed school. <br />Mr. MacDonald noted that the Hacienda Park Owners Association also supports this <br />use and application. He stated that an anonymous complaint was received suggesting <br />that the school was a daycare facility and not a tutoring school; however, while daycare <br />facilities are not allowed by the Hacienda PUD, tutoring facilities are. He explained that <br />EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, December 10, 2008 Page 7 of 21 <br />