Thursday, February 11, 2016 VOLUME LIII, NUMBER 6 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING DUBLIN, LIVERMORE, PLEASANTON, SUNOL Sharp Criticism For Tesla Project And Its Environmental Review By Jeff Garberson zations, such as the Center for values, and a UC-Berkeley profes- Motorcyclist Association. A standing-room-only public Biological Diversity, the Sierra sor worried about the spread of a These groups had a common See Inside Section A hearing in Tracy last week heard Club, the Audubon Society, the potentially fatal fungal disease. theme, that the existing state California Native Plant Society In contrast to criticism of the recreation site at Carnegie is too Section A is filled with sharp criticism both of the propos- al to expand motorized recreation and Alameda Creek Alliance. proposed expansion, the hearing small for growing numbers of information about arts, people, It also came from groups with also heard strong support for it off-roaders, that there are no other entertainment and special events. to the Tesla site in eastern Alam- eda County and of the manner in a very different focus, such as from groups that organize and nearby places to practice their There are education stories, a Livermore Heritage Guild, the encourage motorized off-road sport, that their fees and taxes paid variety of features, and the arts which a required environmental review is being carried out. Society of American Indians, east recreation – groups like the Blue for an expansion that was approved and entertainment and Livermore neighbors concerned Ribbon Coalition, the Off Road Ve- by the state, and that off-roaders bulletin board. Criticism came from a wide range of environmental organi- about noise, traffic and property hicle Association and the American (See TESLA, page 4) Council Selects Finalists for Downtown Livermore Development The Livermore City Council interested in seeing other proposals voted 4 to 1 on its two preferred for a hotel. Of the options present- options to develop two sites in ed, he would go with Lennar's hotel downtown Livermore. partner, The Compass Project, and Selected were Lennar Multi- RSVP Investments. family and its hotel partner, The Laureen Turner selected Tru- Compass Project, and Trumark mark for residential and RSVP for Homes for residential and RSVP the hotel with Lennar a choice to Investments as the hotel developer. build both. Councilmember Stewart Gary Gary agreed that Lennar was voted against the motion because an excellent choice, but selected he wanted to have more than two Summerhill Homes and its hotel hotel options. In the interview partner T2 Hospitality as his other of candidates Monday night, he preferred option, He cited their noted that RSVP had mentioned financial standing. that they might delay somewhat Mayor John Marchand went the construction of the Livermore with Trumark for what he said Photo - Doug Jorgensen hotel until they finished work on were its compelling elements. The media was given a tour of the new I-580 Express Lanes specially designed to improve the commute two other proposals. He had floated Lennar and their hotel partner, for all motorists along the approximately 14-mile Tri-Valley corridor in Alameda County through Dublin, a motion to select three developers, The Compass Project, were a good Pleasanton and Livermore. The lanes are scheduled to open in February 2016 (weather dependent). adding Summerhill Homes and its pairing He chose RSVP as a hotel The I-580 Express Lanes are operated by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda hotel partner T2 Hospitality to the developer to work with Trumark. CTC) and are funded with federal, state, regional and local dollars, including voter-approved Measure finalists. Prior to selecting finalists for B. They are part of the Bay Area Express Lanes, a network that will include 550 miles of express lanes The two sites, when developed further consideration, the Liver- would complete the Downtown more City Council heard presenta- by 2035 in the Tri-Valley. For more information, visit the Alameda CTC Website at www.alamedactc. Specific Plan . They encompasses tions on proposals to develop two org/580expressmediakit the former "Lucky Shopping Cen- sites in the heart of downtown ter," as well as property adjacent to Livermore. the Bankhead Theater. The city is- Fifteen submissions to the RFPs sued requests for proposals (RFP) were sent; three were withdrawn. last September seeking ideas for a City staff narrowed the field to six TVLC Withdraws Elk Grove variety of uses including housing, for council review along with a retail, a hotel-conference center, submission from the local Ad Hoc and a parking structure. Community Group. Charter School Application After hearing proposals from Three focused on residential seven potential developers, each only, one on a hotel, and three on By Ron McNicoll process for what would be called Golden State at the beginning of councilmember was asked to list a mix of hotel and residential uses. Tri-Valley Learning Corpora- Golden State Charter School the next school year. If TVLC were his or her top two for housing and All included some level of retail tion (TVLC) has withdrawn its (GSCS). to reapply, before Feb. 1 of next top two for a hotel. development, as well as parking. application to establish a charter However, TVLC withdrew its year, the school could not start until Bob Woerner selected Trumark Rankings looked at two as- elementary school in Elk Grove. request on Jan. 26. TVLC interim the fall of 2017 for the 2017-18 Homes as the top residential de- pects. One related to such areas as TVLC had begun the process of CEO John Zukoski said that the school year. veloper, with Lennar second. He experience, financial support and providing information requested corporation needed time to ad- Although the petition was with- said, "On the hotel side, it would readiness. The second considered by Elk Grove Unified School Dis- dress all of the concerns in the drawn Jan. 26, the EGUSD had be none of the above." compatibility with the Downtown trict (EGUSD), and faced a Feb. staff report. prepared a 10-page staff report Steven Spedowfski listed Tru- Specific Plan's vision for the 1 deadline to submit it to the staff If TVLC had successfully com- ready for its school board's meeting mark and Lennar as his top two downtown. and school board. The submission pleted the application process, on Feb. 2. residential developers. He was Following each presentation, would have started the application it would have been able to start Of major concern to the Elk (See DOWNTOWN, page 10) (See CHARTER, page 6) Dublin Smoking Control Earns Referendum Collects Over 6000 Signatures Top Mark 4th Year in Row Supporters of the referendum Dublin has received an "A" for alternatives, the other in regulating aimed at overturning the 43-unit the fourth consecrative year from the sampling of tobacco products. Lund Ranch II approval turned in the American Lung Association The "A" for Dublin put it in the petitions to the Pleasanton City for its efforts in passing controls same class as two other cities in Clerk last Friday. on many aspects of smoking. Alameda County, Union City and According to Allen Roberts, In the categories that comprise Berkeley. Statewide, Dublin was the clerk issued a receipt for 6086 the grade, Dublin earned an "A" in rare company as one of only 17 signatures. The clerk will next sub- for establishing regulations to at- cities or counties to score an "A." mit the signatures to the Alameda tain smoke-free outdoor air, and The state itself received an "F" County Registrar of Voters for a "B" in smoke-free housing and from the Lung Association. Cali- verification. A total of 4124 valid tobacco retailer controls. The city fornia pulled in a "B" on smoke- signatures are required to qualify picked up four bonus points in free air policies, an "F" for its low the referendum for the ballot. other categories to propel it to the tobacco taxes, an "F" for failing to If validated, the matter would overall "A" grade. sufficiently fund tobacco preven- return to the Pleasanton City Restrictions on such things as tion and tobacco control programs, Council. The council could decide sampling of tobacco products and and an "F" for poor coverage of to place it on the ballot or vote to restrictions on retailer locations smoking cessation and treatment rescind the project. earned the bonus. services. Referendum supporters believe Livermore and Pleasanton The Lung Association said that the Lund Ranch II develop- were both given a "D". Except that the tobacco tax in California ment, as approved, violates Mea- Photo - Doug Jorgensen for slight number variations in has not changed since 1999. The sure PP. The measure prohibits Supporters of the effort to referend the Lund Ranch II turned in the "raw scores" that make up the Legislature refused last year to structures on slopes of 25% or petitions to the Pleasanton City Clerk last Friday. grade, the two cities have identical raise it. The tax of 87 cents per greater or within 100 feet of a report cards. Both earned a "B" in pack ranks California as 35th in ridgeline. No grading to construct smoke-free outdoor air, a "D" in the United States. residential or commercial struc- along Sunset Creek Lane to the 25% or greater. In addition, retain- smoke-free housing, and an "F" Bids to put two versions of a tures is allowed on hillside slopes Sycamore Heights/Bridle Creek ing walls along a creek would be in reducing sales of tobacco prod- tobacco tax on the ballot in No- 25% or greater, or within 100 neighborhood. built within 100 feet of a ridgeline.