pages: PlanningBoard/2007-11-26.pdf, 4
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PlanningBoard | 2007-11-26 | 4 | impediment to the shopping experience. He added that this kind of factor was important in the site being evaluated by the major retailers, which has become very competitive recently. He noted that most customers would arrive by car, and that the retailers were cognizant of that fact. Mr. Steve Kendrick, LPA, described the main drive aisle in front of Building A and noted that it would be important to take some of the north-south pressure off of the drive aisle behind the Fifth Street retail area. He displayed the analysis of opening up one of the bays in the center to take some of the traffic off the drive aisle onto the parking field. He believed the proposed layout would be detrimental to the retail environment in the center. Mr. Sullivan described the compromise plan, which they believed addressed the Planning Board's concerns heard on September 24, and which they believed would work well for the retailers, the site, the users of the site, and would accomplish the Planning Board's goals of having a pedestrian-friendly streetlike feeling within the center. He noted that they understood the Planning Board's concerns clearly, particularly with respect to wanting sidewalks on the west side. He believed that the sidewalk can be accomplished on the west side of the north-south street, and noted that was not the issue with the design team. He noted that the issue was blocking off the parking pods. He noted that landscaping had been added for a tree-lined feel as a pedestrian would walk the circulation patterns. He noted that they wanted to enhance the pedestrian movement along the north-south street at the storefronts. He added that they incorporated Member Cunningham's suggestion about enhancing the experience by widening the circulation along the front of the large format retail. He noted that they also straightened out some of the kinks in the circulation patterns, and that straight 90-degree angles replaced the kinks. They also increased the circulation along the east sides of all of the Fifth Street retail sites. He believed they accomplished all of the goals requested by the Planning Board. They felt strongly that the drive aisles must stay open for the convenient circulation to and from the large format. He noted that it would be difficult to maintain the landscaping along the parkways when they block the circulation to the storefronts. The public hearing was closed for Board discussion. Ms. Kim Nicholls, P.O. 1105, expressed concern about conflicts between commercial and residential developments. President Cook noted that for future purposes, she would be able to discuss general issues during Oral Communications. The public hearing was closed for Board discussion. Vice President Kohlstrand noted that she had contacted Mr. Thomas about meeting with the applicant in order to explore a compromise, using the applicant's compromise plan as a starting point. She noted that her issues with Catellus's compromise plan were that there was no raised sidewalk or standard curbs, and that the number of curb cuts along the north-south driveway had not been reduced. She believed they were trying to maximize the amount of Page 4 of 10 | PlanningBoard/2007-11-26.pdf |