2005-10-07 TOSHIRO - Laserfiche WebLink

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GALDONES:Further questions or comments? As Mr. Nishimura had indicated, in spite of the remarks by Mr. Yuen, Director Yuen, the applicant is ready to proceed. Okay, if there are no further questions of the applicant, is there anyone here from the public to testify on this subject matter? Seeing none, Commissioners, the Chair is prepared to entertain a motion. It comes with a favorable recommendation that it be forwarded to the County Council. ALAMEDA:Chair, Im sorry. I was hoping for discussion first. GALDONES:Well, if theres further discussion, the Chair is open for further discussion. ALAMEDA:Okay, this is my favorite part, thats why. I just wanted to talk-story a little bit about just the idea that Commissioner Iwashita brought up and Commissioner Siracusa on the cumulative effect of this particular area. I know we had plenty of discussion the last time, youknow,withthatbigofficebuildingthatisnowunderconstructionrightnexttotheMorman Church; and we had a lot of testimony coming in about not just the flooding but the traffic and the congestion in that area. You know, with the Mormon Church and with that new building right next, theres a lot of parking spaces in there. And I remember one particular testifier saying how the cars just zoom by, you know, and getting out in the morning its pretty tough; and with plenty rain in that area it floods up pretty quickly. So, you know, and we took that really to heart; and so we went, we did a site visit and kind of looked at that situation. And we came back, and we deliberated; and I think it was a real fruitful discussion. But this particular application, which is really interesting cause its right next, Im surprised that we dont have that kind of testimony. So Im wondering if people in the community maybe they just feel disempowered or maybe feel their voices have not been heard. And I know weve got people from the downtown, kind of visionary, you know, and unfortunately this doesnt include downtown yet so we cannot get that kind of feedback. But Im just kind of concerned about that because I dont see any testimony, and it seems like were just moving real quick into this whole rezoning kind of commercial development. So I just wanted to put it out there for the rest of the Commissioners to respond or give me your input. GALDONES:Commissioner Springer. SPRINGER:I had the same, I was interested in that same phenomenon that Commissioner Alameda brings to our attention, that there has been no community testimony on this matter although there was quite a bit previously; but that was the extent to my, you know, my deliberation on it, was that I found it interesting that no one did come forward. But, again, I am heartened that the County now includes a standard language to address this particular, was it the A&E conditions. GALDONES:Further discussion? Commissioner Graham. GRAHAM:While were all getting our memory back and trying to remember how it went last time and all, my sense was that the thrust of the community testimony last time really had to do primarily with the flooding issue, and probably this parcel is not such a concern for the 11EXHIBIT A