Nearly a year and a half after South Bay Development Company introduced its plans for a new Safeway supermarket at Valley and Bernal avenues, the plans have been slightly reworked and will return to the Planning Commission on Wednesday.
The project, called Pleasanton Gateway, will be presented to the commission as a work session, meaning commissioners will have an opportunity to -- as they did similarly in May 2008 -- go over the plans and make comments. The public is also welcomed to attend and participate in the discussion. South Bay Development is seeking input before it embarks on formal design work.
Proposed is a 65,000-square-foot supermarket which will operate 24 hours a day that would anchor the 39-acre property facing away from Interstate 680. Instead of being built in one phase as previously proposed, 58,000 square feet would be constructed as a first phase and the remaining 7,000 square feet would be added later, according to a city staff report.
A self-service gas station adjoining the market would now feature eight fuel dispensers instead of 10, to operate 24 hours a day, and would be located in the southwest part of the property, distancing it from the main entrance off of Bernal Avenue. City planners have stated that they don't support the service station and will recommend Wednesday that commissioners remove it from the plans.
The revised plans also call for the construction of a second major tenant building comprising 14,000 square feet with a double drive-through lane, which the applicant has said could be a pharmacy.
Also included in plan for the South Bay acreage are five retail buildings comprising 36,000 square feet, a restaurant (4,900 square feet), a bank (4,200 square feet) with a drive-through lane for three ATM machines and another building (nearly 7,000 square feet) for either a bank or retail shops.
Other changes from the previous plans: there will be 637 parking spaces for the commercial area, down from 651, and three pedestrian plazas facing Bernal, up from two previously planned.
South Bay Development said it would contribute to the cost for transitioning the development with the surrounding trail system on the south side, which borders the Bernal property.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday and will be held in the City Council chambers, 200 Old Bernal Ave.
Comments
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 12, 2009 at 9:16 pm
on Oct 12, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Give them the permit..!!! Quit being obstructionists...!!
Jensen Tract
on Oct 13, 2009 at 5:52 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 5:52 am
can pleasanton support 2 safeways? or will the existing store be closed...and who/what will occupy the old location? inquiring minds what to know...
another community
on Oct 13, 2009 at 6:02 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 6:02 am
GREED GREED GREED
SAFEWAY , LUCKYS , OR ANY OTHER GROCERY STORE
WE DO NOT NEED ANY MORE
Downtown
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:14 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:14 am
Great news, the other stores will either shape up or ship out, some of them know little about service, I love Safeway.
Castlewood
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:21 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:21 am
That is what you call a stimulus plan, think of all the new jobs that will be created. Or would some rather wait for the Government to extend unemployment benefits again at more cost to tax payers, people need work.
Pleasanton Heights
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:57 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 9:57 am
What happened to the report that stated if any new supermarket were built in Pleasanton, one of the existing ones would no doubt fail? Are we ready to see yet another business fail in Pleasanton? The chances of Safeway closing their present store is highly improbable.
Perhaps it is time for the Chamber of Commerce to again add their input since it is their business to incourage a proper balance of retail stores.
Pleasanton Valley
on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:11 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 10:11 am
We don't need another Safeway. I'd much rather see a Whole Foods or Lunardi's.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:02 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:02 am
I want to remind everyone here that as of today, October 13, 2009, America's economy is still based on the free-market (tho Obama is desperately trying to destroy this system).
If Safeway wants to establish another store, LET THEM! If they succeed, MORE POWER TO THEM. If not, that is the free market! It should be THEIR decision...and NOT THE CENTRAL PLANNERS!
I happen to know that a Safeway healthfood market in the Denver area is fantastic. One or more quality healthfood stores is sorely needed here in Pleasanton, regardless of which company (-ies) wants to make the move.
GET OUT OF THEIR WAY and STOP BLOCKING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT !!!
Gatewood
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:07 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:07 am
I would not want it to alter the current S at Valley & Santa Rita.
I'd be for a Whole Foods, but would want to double check the latest on Whole Foods at Hacienda Blvd & 580...across street from Mimi'sCafe. That one is suppose to be a GIANT W F with food court.
I just don't see how 2 GIANT upscale Safeways could CO-exist...actually 3. it's just another couple miles up Santa Rita to the Waterford Safeway..../seems the Valley one would suffer from boths ends. WHAT WOULD that huge building become....whose is going to have any $$ for something FIRST CLASS in that location. Safeway just UPGRADED that store about 5 years ago. Go slowly. I do know Trader Joes's & Safeway have the most dangerous driving locations in the city...people wandering around like they think cars can read their wandering minds as they wonder around. If they loved their children, they should be domonstrating 'safe walking' skills to their children....the world does not stop for them.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:45 am
on Oct 13, 2009 at 11:45 am
Hey - wait a minute - don't we already have one HUGE building EMPTY sitting there waiting for a tennant? That is 1/2 mile away from this site. I agree we need jobs created BUT can we use existing space somewhere?
I'd hate for them to run into trouble and (or not) and close the Santa Rita location - that plaza is only about 10 years old..... it works well.
Valley View Elementary School
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:11 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:11 pm
I would fully support the building of a new Safeway in Pleasanton. This town completely lacks a higher end supermarket and one is needed badly!! I also think they should keep the safeway gas station in the plans - why do Pleasanton residents always have to drive to Livermore (Costco) or Dublin (Safeway) to get more affordable gas? Bringing in some competition might help to get the gas prices lower in this town.
Happy Valley
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:32 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Yes we do NEED another gas station in So. Pleasanton. I willl pick up a staff report at the planning dept. to see the crazy reasoning behind the staffs recommendation that the gas station be eliminated.
And yes, another supermarket in So. Pleasanton would be great. Raley's has done a fantastic job on their remodel but a second store in the area would also be great for competition, selection, convenience, employment and for the City's tax base.
Del Prado
on Oct 13, 2009 at 1:20 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I think a new Safeway in that location would be great. I also believe that they should keep the gas station in the plans. I, too, think it is ridiculous that we have to drive to Dublin and/or Livermore for affordable gas. A little competition is good for everyone! I am anxious to hear the council's reasoning as to why they don't want the gas station! Bring it on!!!
Del Prado
on Oct 13, 2009 at 1:35 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Whole Foods doesn't want to come to Pleasanton. Stop asking for it. It's going to Dublin because it said Pleasanton didn't have the right demographics.
Registered user
Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Oct 13, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Registered user
on Oct 13, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Is this article missing information? I could have sworn that it had been reported in the past that Safeway wasn't looking to build just another Safeway grocery store, but wanted to build some other type of grocery store that had different offerings than the current one.
Ah yes, here's the link: Web Link
Safeway plans new 'Lifestyle' market here
"The proposed 65,000-square-foot Safeway would be designed to compete with the Whole Foods Market chain of stores that are attracting an increasing number of shoppers looking for healthy foods."
"The new Safeway store proposed for Pleasanton would follow the same consumer formula as Whole Foods"
And I really agree with "A south Pleasanton resident" that yes, we do need some shopping facilities in that location. Then you can all stop driving across town adding to congestion.
Golden Eagle
on Oct 13, 2009 at 5:27 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Stacey is right on.
Vintage Hills
on Oct 13, 2009 at 6:22 pm
on Oct 13, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Why do Californians feel a need to occupy every square inch of land with a building - whether we need it or not. We have an extravagant remodel on Raley's that has just finished - a Safeway a short distance away and a myriad of other markets in close proximity to this Valley/Bernal location. How many huge supermarkets do we need? How is this market going to differ and do we really need another gas station across the street.....I don't think so. Why can't we leave the land vacant for the future. In this economy - we have many empty commercial buildings vacant and if another "same old Safeway" goes in - somebody is going out of business and there will be another run down empty strip mall that sits vacant for years. City Council....can't you come up with a better use of this land than a Safeway?
Foothill High School
on Oct 14, 2009 at 11:58 am
on Oct 14, 2009 at 11:58 am
In response to 'resident' it truly amazes me that some folks think that they can tell landowners what to do with their property. The land at Valley/Bernal is private property. It is zoned for commercial development. Why can't the landowner determine, in general, what type of use it's put to, and how best to determine the future of his investment? If you owned a piece of property, would you want the rest of the town to tell you what you could or couldn't do there? I know we all don't want to live next to glue factories, and there need to be planning guidelines, but would you want some resident telling you to 'just leave the land vacant' if you were thinking of your family's future? IMHO, we need to remember that the rights of private property owners in this country still need to be protected. Thanks.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm
on Oct 14, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Westsider...you are RIGHT ON!
Despite the Obama democrats' strong desire to reduce and eliminate the private property rights of all Americans, private property still exists at this point. More power to Safeway or any other business that wants to expand in Pleasanton. We should WELCOME them. In case many hadn't noticed, Pleasanton is the home of Safeway and they are one of this City's largest employers. If they continue to be treated in the manner I read about in the above threads, don't be surprised if they decide to relocate to a 'friendlier' environment...which may be out of Calif. I would not be surprised if they've not considered this!
Foothill High School
on Oct 14, 2009 at 8:30 pm
on Oct 14, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Good idea westsider. Actually, a glue factory would fit nicely on the land that is the open land next to West Las Positas and the I-680 freeway where the WLP interchange was planned to go.
Oak Hill
on Oct 15, 2009 at 12:08 am
on Oct 15, 2009 at 12:08 am
Hope. Can't put a glue factory on that property. The locals are campaigning for a full service, 24 hour, Super Nail Salon and Spa there. We don't have one on this side of town...
The clipboards are coming out soon...:)
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:45 am
on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:45 am
There are two of those intersections, one is near Stanley with a McDonalds on the corner.
There was supposed to be a Home Depot on the other corner, which would have been convenient, and probably brought a lot of tax money to Pleasanton. Why wasn't that built?
But whoever laid out Pleasanton Streets and street names should be ashamed.
Names change for no reason. Short streets that line up with other streets have different names. Adams changes to Mirador is just one example. Streets run in circles, and turn corners, like Stanley. Maybe we can at least name streets more logically in the future, and perhaps we could correct some of the existing short stupid streets?
You'd probably have to have both names for a while and phase out over time.
Maybe we can re name a street after the guy who did this?
It should be a one way street, and just lead out of town!
Registered user
Amberwood/Wood Meadows
on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:58 am
Registered user
on Oct 15, 2009 at 11:58 am
just me wrote: "the Santa Rita location - that plaza is only about 10 years old"
I missed this earlier. Actually, only the Safeway building is new. The set of buildings where Walgreens is are original and had the exteriors renovated. Right next to Walgreens where there is parking now used to be the old, smaller Safeway building attached to Walgreens and there were a bunch of little shops attached on the other side. The little shops formed a pedestrian-friendly plaza in front of them. It was a place to hang out while soccer games were going on over in Amador Valley Community Park. Santa Claus used to come visit in that little plaza. Where the new Safeway building is there used to be another building occupied by Sprouse-Reitz. Sprouse-Reitz closed up and then the little shops started closing up.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 5, 2010 at 9:43 am
on Jul 5, 2010 at 9:43 am
Has anyone head what is going on with the "planned" Safeway Lifestyle market? I have not heard anything about it in 9 months.
Personally I think we are very fortunate to have a corporate HQ like Safeway in Pleasanton. It is clean, we have jobs, people don't need to commute to get there, they pay taxes. I think Safeway is great!
But are we going to get a new high end store?