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Editorial
Build Stoneridge or lose Staples

There were smiles all around last week after the City Council approved in a 5-0 vote the basic terms for a ground lease for an ice rink on Staples Ranch. After two years of public hearings and negotiations, it looked as if all the marbles were finally in place for a multi-million-dollar development of the vacant 126-acre parcel that will include a new auto row planned by Hendrick Automotive, a 600-800-unit adult and senior care complex to be built and operated by Continuing Life Communities, a 16-20 store retail center and the ice rink, a proposal by a subsidiary of the San Jose Sharks. Missing in the master plan being drafted with these commercial, housing and recreational amenities, however, is an extension of Stoneridge Drive from its current eastern barrier at Trevor Road through Staples to connect to El Charro Road and Livermore. Without Stoneridge, the Pleasanton Weekly has learned, the Alameda County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) has indicated that it will not allow Pleasanton to annex Staples. The planned developments could still move forward, but with Staples either annexed into Livermore, which is waiting in the wings, or as part of Alameda County, which owns the land.

The debate over extending Stoneridge has simmered for years with a majority of the City Council still vehemently opposed to building the road as planned to El Charro Road until traffic congestion on I-580 is eased so that Stoneridge--which would link the El Charro interchange at 580 to I-680 and Foothill Road at its western terminus--doesn't become a favored cut-through alternate by commuters. About all the current council has agreed to is a memorandum of understanding with Supervisor Scott Haggerty and the county Board of Supervisors to keep the right-of-way for a Stoneridge extension open in the event the 580 traffic problem is solved or a future council approves the extension. Two councilmembers, Cindy McGovern and Matt Sullivan, campaigned four years ago on the promise that they would not allow Stoneridge to be extended. Both are candidates now for reelection and they have not changed their minds. Mayor Jennifer Hosterman also has resisted pressure from Haggerty and mayors Janet Lockhart of Dublin and Marshall Kamena of Livermore to include the Stoneridge extension as a part of the Staples Ranch development project.

But now the rubber is meeting the road which could bring Pleasanton's hopes of annexing Staples screeching to a halt. Not discussed publicly during last week's preliminary decision to allow the Sharks subsidiary to lease 7 acres of a proposed public park for its four-rink ice skating complex is a letter sent to Robin Giffin, the city's associate planner, by Mona Palacios, LAFCo's executive officer and dated July 18. LAFCo, she wrote, identifies Stoneridge Drive as a "Route of Regional Significance" that would provide a vital link to other cities in the Tri-Valley as well as a major parallel facility to the I-580 freeway and could potentially provide congestion relief for the 580 corridor. Because the extension is not part of the proposed project, LAFCo cannot certify the Environmental Impact Report that Pleasanton is offering as part of its annexation petition.

LAFCo's approval is needed before Staples can be annexed into Pleasanton because this is the agency established by the state to have the final say in all annexation agreements. Without Stoneridge, LAFCo Chairwoman Jocelyn Combs said, the majority if the LAFCo board, which includes Haggerty, Lockhart and Kamena, will probably turn down Pleasanton's annexation request. That could change, of course. Two councilmembers--Jerry Thorne and Cheryl Cook-Kallio--could be persuaded to approve extending Stoneridge, which Haggerty has already said the county would finance. Since the petition to LAFCo is not likely to proceed until after the mayoral election on Nov. 4, it could be up to the next mayor of Pleasanton--incumbent Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, who is seeking reelection, or her challenger Steve Brozosky--to cast the swing vote calling for Stoneridge to be built. We support building Stoneridge and making Staples part of Pleasanton. We hope voters will make that choice, too.

Posted by Matt Sullivan, Pleasanton City Council, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Sep 12, 2008 at 9:57 am

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to your editorial of September 12th entitled “Build Staples or lose Stoneridge”. The fact that this was an opinion piece doesn’t relieve the Weekly from its responsibility for getting the facts straight. You state that “about all” of the Council has agreed to keep the right-of-way intact for a future Stoneridge extension and that I have “not changed my mind” about opposing the extension. The fact is the Council has unanimously adopted the current city policy of leaving the Stoneridge Extension in the General Plan and to work with our neighboring jurisdictions to develop a “roadmap” of necessary regional transportation improvements, timing, and funding sources before the extension is completed. Both the regional and our own General Plan traffic studies indicate that if Stoneridge is extended before key regional improvements are made no relief will be provided to our city congestion. In fact, the opposite will occur as commuters from a gridlocked freeway system will stream into Pleasanton looking for relief. I have been a leader on the Council in forging this compromise policy, working with proponents of the extension and the affected neighborhoods. This compromise is the most sensible approach to achieve local and regional traffic solutions to help our neighbors as well as ourselves, maintains Pleasanton’s local control of our land-use decisions despite outside pressure, and puts us in a good position to advocate for projects that will truly benefit Pleasanton, such as widening Highway 84 over Pigeon Pass. This is the kind of responsible leadership we need on the City Council.

Matt Sullivan

Pleasanton City Council

Posted by Grow Old Waiting, a resident of the Mohr Park neighborhood, on Sep 12, 2008 at 11:25 pm

Time for silliness to stop. Time for employees to have shortest route to Hacienda jobs. Cost of gas & pollution makes it criminal for these several electeds to put their individual opinions ahead of the good of the people and the wishes of all Pleasantonians.

Stoneridge extension is so needed NOW, I say play hardball either start it now with final county deal or let Staples forever be blocked. Anybody who wants it better be vocal NOW or forever do WITHOUT the rinks and arenas you profess to want. The two gameplayer / dictators on the council, will block so that it will never happen. SO act / vote now or forever hold your tongue. Mayor is a problem.. need other candidates. I say block Staples forever as

the wedge to get ACTION NOW.

in your lifetime.