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P~rgc 1 oC~ Maria Hoey Subject: FW Opposition to Home Depot Concerns From• Sent:•Thursday, February 15, 2007 1:27 PM To: Mary Lu Campbell Subject: Home Depot Concerns Dear City Council Members, My name is Jennifer Rieble. I have lived in Pleasanton for over 10 years. I am very concerned about the possibility of allowing a Home Depot to be built at the intersection of Stanley and Valley, so far from any freeway access. I will not be able to attend the meeting on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007, so I am writing to express my deep concern that this will significantly and negatively alter the quality of life in Pleasanton. Adding abig-box store deep in the middle of Pleasanton is contrary to all of Pleasanton's previous development philosophy. Pleasanton's small-town charm comes specifically from the ingenious strategy of keeping all the high-traffic commercial development on Pleasanton's periphery, close to freeway access and not in the midst of residential neighborhoods. Shopping centers and strip malls that are in the city's interior consist of smaller shops, restaurants, and other facilities that draw either mainly from the local residents or from the people who would drive by them anyway. They offer convenience to the cit y's residents and workers, without generating much traffic. Home Depot is not small scale, and is not alocal-use only shopping center. It is a destination in and of itself. Home Depots draw freeway traffic, consisting of shoppers, construction contractors, and, of special concern, delivery trucks. The proposed location for this store at the intersection of Stanley and Valley is nowhere near the periphery or our city. From 680 or 580, it would be a disaster to increase the flow of traffic, including more 18-wheelers, barreling right through the already busy city streets of First Street, Valley Ave, and San to Rita, specifically to get to the Home Depot. This kind of added traffic brings increased noise, air, and water pollution. It's bad enough that we are suffering near the freeways, but we must try to keep our interior quieter, cleaner and healthier. A Home Depot also will draw residential traffic through the city, from every direction, converging on the only possible intersection to get most residents to Stanley: the infamous Santa Rita and Valley intersection. It has already been brought to the council's attention that traffic is nearly untenable at this intersection during commute hours. I know the traffic study is underway, but we are a long way from solving the traffic issues at this part of town. The Stoneridge extension? I hope it is kept in the General Plan. More than that, I hope it is built, and well-connected to EI Charro and Stanley, before any expansion begins on the East or Southeast side of Pleasanton. I cannot imagine how, as concerned city leaders, any one of you could you even consider putting a Home Depot so far from freeway access, so close to residential neighborhoods. Please, keep our city beautiful, charming, and quieter. Keep the 18-wheelers close to the freeways. Keep the big-box stores out of the middle of town. It seems so obvious. Save our city's small-town character. I love Pleasanton. Show that you do, too. Just say, "NO!" to Home Depot. Thank you Sincerely, Jennifer Rieble ~i I t~iz nn 7