Bernal park plans going to commissions Bernal park plans going to commissions (February 04, 2005)

Residents object to putting ACE train station behind Hearst Elementary School
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

The City Council reviewed five plans for the Bernal property Tuesday night and voted unanimously to pass them on to be reviewed by various commissions and at public hearings. Michael Fotheringham of M.D. Fotheringham, Landscape Architects, who was chosen in a design competition last summer, presented the plans and described pros and cons.

For two hours, residents from the neighborhoods on the Bernal property expressed their opinions. Many objected to moving the Altamont Commuter Express train station to the property behind Hearst Elementary School and near Pleasanton Middle School.

"I'm concerned about the impact to children in the schools," said Jamie Hyams of Stonecliff Vista Lane. "Blowing its horn will be a huge distraction to the school. Also 'stranger danger' should be considered."

"The disclosure from KB Homes said trains average 22 a day," said Ryan Brown of Stonecliff Vista Lane. "Just imagine 22 trains a day blowing their horns right in front of that school." Trains must blow their horns when passing through stations.

Some expressed concerns about placing a large cultural arts center on Bernal Avenue, saying it would block their views. The center is planned to include an amphitheater, art classrooms, an art gallery, rehearsal space and an 800-seat theater.

"I'm telling you as a resident that the community wasn't built for an audio assault," said Steven Klinger of Oak Vista Way, targeting the amphitheater. "We already have an outdoor theater at the Fairgrounds and, believe me, it's loud inside my house."

Members of the cultural community also spoke, asking for the arts center to be located on Bernal Avenue rather than further south, next to I-680.

"I'm very much in favor of the northern placement off Bernal where we can have a magnificent entrance and can have a setback," said Dave Wright of the Pleasanton Community Arts Council. "There is a conception that things built along freeways are peripheral. We don't want that perception about the arts."

Rudy Johnson, also of PCAC, said there is a "terrible misunderstanding" about the amphitheater, which would not be used for rock or pop concerts but rather for the Shakespeare Festival.

He also asked for the cultural arts center to be on Bernal Avenue. "I don't believe a beautiful facility would be an eyesore. It should be something that would enhance the view," Johnson said.

"The arts center will be attractive," agreed Councilman Steve Brozosky. "I see it as an accent piece that will enhance the views."

Brozosky described his vision of the completed park as a place the entire community will go for their own reasons and then talk to each other and discover new activities and interests. He suggested eliminating one of the four plans that did not include the train station to simplify the process.

Councilwoman Cindy McGovern suggested picking two plans - one with the cultural center in the south and one with it in the north. "I don't think we need to send all five of these back," she said, noting that the commissions had been involved in the process all along.

But Councilman Matt Sullivan felt strongly that the commissions should have the chance to review them all, saying that while Civic Arts, Youth, and the Parks and Recreation commissions may have seen the plans many times, the Planning Commission had not.

"I think it is a good idea to send them all back to the commissioners," agreed Mayor Jennifer Hosterman. "Frankly we're not in a hurry."

McGovern also questioned whether the Bernal Community Park Sports Fields already approved had to be located in the northeast corner or whether the cultural arts center could go there. "It sounds like a really good approach if we're looking for a focal point, and the move would situate it away from the homes," she said.

"I'm willing to look at it," said designer Fotheringham. "Up to today, I thought that parcel was sort of sacred and we couldn't touch it."

City Attorney Michael Roush said he would have to check on the initiative that mandated the Community Park to see if it could be located elsewhere on the Bernal property. He also suggested the council wait to remove the ACE train station from the plans until he talked to Alameda County. The station is currently on county property, across from the Fairgrounds on Pleasanton Avenue, which was supposed to be a temporary location.

The council voted unanimously to send all five plans as well as minutes from Tuesday night's meeting to all the commissions, including the Youth Master Plan Implementation Committee, and to leave in the ACE train station.

Scott Trosse, owner of the 40-acre business park planned for the corner of Valley and Bernal, said he would be willing to discuss shared parking for facilities, which interested the council members.

To see a copy of the plans, contact the City Clerk's office at 931-5027.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.