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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes April 19, 2012 Page 10 of 13 • Is the diagonal parking along West Juana Avenue part of the project? Mr. Millenbah: No, it's a reconfiguration of the existing right -of -way. Commissioner Rennie asked whether the property is wholly owned by the former Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Sims said it is owned now by the City of San Leandro as the Successor Agency. In response to Commissioner Dlugosh, Mr. Sims said the Redevelopment Agency, a separate governmental entity, acquired the property; it did not draw from San Leandro's General Fund. When the State eliminated Redevelopment Agencies, it created a process for disposing of the remaining assets, including making the City of San Leandro the Successor Agency. Commissioner Dlugosh stated it seemed that thatSan Leandro will not get what was invested in the property originally, nor anything toward the cost of the demolition, and what's left after the sale is issplit among several taxing entities. Mr. Sims agreed, but noted there are properties in the City that the Redevelopment Agency acquired and subsequently sold at far less than traditional market value to achieve certain economic development objectives. Although the proceeds from this sale won't come back entirely to the City, he said, a big part will because San Leandro is a taxing entity as well. Also on the plus side are the jobs, sales tax, and a portion of the site's property taxes coming back to San Leandro. Commissioner Rennie said the City seems to need todispose of this property expeditiously, whether for this project or something else. Mr. Sims agreed, adding that it's fundamentally important to get the best possible price and there is a viable project presently. Vice Chair Abero commended the project team, describing the building fagades as wonderful, the landscaping very nice and the architecture incorporating a feel for the surrounding area. Commissioner Hernandez agreed. Chair Collier opened the public hearing. Lawrence Allphin, owner and operator of Allphin Jewelers, 155 Parrott Street, said that the San Leandro Downtown Association favors this projectand is working toward preparing a formal declaration of support at the Executive Board meeting on April 27, 2012. He said the association considers the Village Marketplace proposal a plus for downtown San Leandro; leaving the lot empty is a negative. As a "micro" retailer in the area, he said it's an essential project and judging from what he's seen, it will add customer traffic, which in turn will increase his business. Harjeet Ghuman, 176 Juana Avenue, has been a State Farm Insurance agent in San Leandro for 25 years. The whole area has office buildings, he said, and many people walk through. Mr. Ghuman's office faces the northern side of the project site, with the parking lot and a building that appears rather flat. He suggested adding a fountain area or bringing in some design elements from the corner to improve the project on that side with more architectural interest. He also asked whether the existing trees would remain or be removed. Mr. Millenbah responded that the trees now on West Juana Avenue will be coming out to create angled parking, and then new trees will be planted. Mr. Sims said the sycamores will stay on East 14th Street as part of a San Leandro "theme." Chair Collier expressed strong dislike for sycamores, and said they make the sidewalk very slick and dangerous when they drop their leaves. Joseph Flynn, who served on San Leandro's Human Resources Commission from 2001 until 2007, said that he likes the Village Marketplace proposal and thinks it's a great idea, but is concerned about the next steps. "We'll have one street that's beautiful," he said. "What are we going to do with the rest of them ?"