pages: PlanningBoard/2006-09-25.pdf, 13
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PlanningBoard | 2006-09-25 | 13 | Mr. Robb Ratto, PSBA, spoke in support of this item and wished to address the impact on existing businesses. The PSBA Board of Directors unanimously approved this project, citing the Kaizen- Marsden report, who estimated that 3% of current sales may be lost to Target, but that the overall impact would be minor. He noted that some retailers near the site wanted the Target, as well as Bed, Bath & Beyond and other stores, to open up, which PSBA believed would continue to improve the numbers for those stores. Ms. Sonia Scott, 2442 Otis Dr., noted that the retail community supposed to support the residents. She did not think the types of products carried by Target would compete with the smaller businesses, and she would be happy to have a Target in Alameda. She noted that there had been safety concerns about traffic, and wondered where the store could be placed on Fruitvale to ease the traffic. She believed it was too large a store for South Shore Center. Ms. Susan Battaglia, 1351 Burbank Street, noted that her concern about traffic has continued to grow. Although Target may be a good neighbor, she did not believe it was a good fit for Alameda. She believed the traffic study was flawed and should be discarded. She believed crime would be an issue with a big box store. Mr. Red Wetherill, 28 Cove Road, spoke in opposition to this project. He agreed with Ms. Thompson's comments. He noted that he was a professional architect, and did not believe the placement of this store on an island did not make sense. Mr. Jim Strehlow, 3122 Gibbons Drive, spoke in support of this item with some concerns about the egress portion of the EIR. He made suggestions on how to improve the shopping center with a three- lane egress plan. He challenged the City to plan for traffic problems in advance of the development, and for it to admit its mistakes during the DEIR phase for the good of the community as a whole. He believed the development should be redesigned for a smaller footprint. Ms. Dorothy Reid, Willows Homeowners, 2101 Shoreline #276, recalled that she had asked that this project be approached in a different way, and for the community to be involved throughout the project. She noted that she had read the EIR three times, which she believed to be inadequate. She believed that the DEIR ignored the General Plan, which discussed residential streets and not creating nuisances. She believed the traffic data was wrong, and noted that while the public views had been addressed, she did not believe the impact of a five-fold increase in store size was not addressed. Mr. Harry Dahlberg, 729 Bay Wood Road, Economic Development Commission, spoke in support of the EIR and requested that the Board accept it in its present state. He noted that the EDC conducted a number of hearings to consider the impact of such a store in Alameda, and the EDC endorsed it unanimously after considering traffic and related implications. They also found that the majority of Alamedans do want this store. Ms. Cathy Leong, 48 Kara Road, spoke in support to this item. She noted that as a past president of Planning Board Minutes Page 13 September 25, 2006 | PlanningBoard/2006-09-25.pdf |