The Planning Commission will be getting an earful at its Nov. 8 meeting. A couple of significant projects are slated to go before the commission at its only meeting this month.
Included in what has become a sort of building boom for Pleasanton churches lately, planning commissioners will be asked to approve a proposal by Trinity Lutheran Church to expand its facilities. A workshop to get public comment and feedback from commissioners was held in September.
Their proposal includes replacing existing portable buildings with an 8,110-square-foot education building, construction of a 3,108-square-foot multipurpose room and the expansion of the existing parking lot at 1225 Hopyard Rd. The education building will be a permanent location for the existing programs that are held at the church facility, which includes Trinity Lutheran Christian education, outside community group meetings and the Sonshine preschool, according to a city staff report. The multipurpose room will accommodate the church’s youth program. The construction work is the final phase of the church’s expansion plans from 1999.
At the September workshop, a handful of people expressed their concern of the church’s plans, saying they were worried about increased traffic and safety in their neighborhood on Golden Road. Some suggested the construction would increase the size of the congregation as well as increase traffic. The issue of parking was heavily debated because there are currently two parking lots at the church–a smaller one on Del Valle Parkway and larger one on Golden Road and residents say churchgoers often circle to find a spot or park in their neighborhood. A couple commissioners suggested a back road be built behind the facility that connects the two parking lots to alleviate the problem.
Another workshop between neighbors and city staff was held Sept. 27, with more demands made such as closing the main parking lot off Golden, enlarging the Del Valley lot and moving the ministry center building. In an October newsletter sent to church members, it says “those demands were unworkable, so we have maintained our former plans and will move to meet with the commission members and prepare for our presentation…”
The commission is also expected to receive a presentation for a proposal involving St. Elizabeth Seton Church, which is located at Stoneridge and Rheem drives. They will then be asked to approve the project.
The church plans to construct a 22,296-square-foot parish center building with a gymnasium on an undeveloped site and make various improvements at 4001 Stoneridge Dr. where the church resides.
The current application is part of a master plan for the church that was approved in 1989; the projects have been built in phases. The latest proposal is part of a larger effort that also includes plans for an elementary school and rectory buildings that have yet to be brought to the city for approval.
The parish center would be used for Catholic Youth Organization basketball practices and games, meetings for church programs, a youth group center, religious education classes, nursery for infants and toddlers during Sunday services, religious guest speakers, seminars and conferences, funeral receptions, banquets, dances and after-service brunches.
The commission meets at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the City Hall Council Chambers, 200 Old Bernal Ave.
