A draft of a supplemental Environmental Impact Report affecting development on Staples Ranch has been completed and will be available for review by the public starting today at the Pleasanton Planning Department.

The document was prepared in response to objections by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Alameda Creek Alliance that the environmental study approved by the City Council earlier this year failed to take into account environmental concerns involving the extension of Stoneridge Drive through the Staples Ranch property, which the council also approved.

Two months ago the two groups and the city reached an agreement to move forward with the supplemental EIR, which is expected to include mitigations for endangered species and wildlife on the 124-acre unincorporated site.

"This agreement gives habitat for native wildlife species a fair shake during the Staples project," said Jeff Miller, a conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. "We will be looking for stronger protection of the creek corridor next to the arroyos and adequate mitigations for wildlife impacts after the additional study and Pleasanton's reconsideration of its approval of the development."

This supplemental EIR analyzes four issue areas: traffic circulation, biological, noise and greenhouse gases," explained Nelson Fialho, City Manager.

The draft EIR, which will also be posted on the city's website, is available for review and comment for the next 45 days. After that, city staff will prepare a final draft for review and consideration that will include relevant comments. That document will then be reviewed by both the Planning Commission and City Council with the expectation that the multi-million-dollar Staples Ranch project can move forward early next year.

The major developments with their plans already in place are:

* Hendrick Automotive Group, which wants to build a new auto mall on its 37-acre portion of Staples, next to the junction of I-580 and El Charro Road, directly across El Charro from a 180-plus store outlet mall that Livermore has approved.
* Stoneridge Creek Pleasanton, a 45-acre senior continuing care community to be developed by Continuing Life Communities (CLC), with up to 800 units for assisted living, skilled nursing and independent living residents.
* Sharks Ice Center, a two-story, four-rink facility to be built by San Jose Arena Management (SJAM), a subsidiary of the San Jose Sharks, with the facility to occupy about 10 acres of a 17-acre public park that the Sharks would also develop for the city.

Each of those developments will still need specific approvals of their site plans and subsequent building permits, which will require more discussions with city planners, the Planning Commission and finally again with the City Council.

The Planning Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. next Thursday in the council chambers to consider the bid by SJAM to build a 142,000-square-foot, four-rink ice center on a 17-acre site on Staples. The project would include a restaurant and bar, pro shop for skaters and other amenities.

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