The Cupertino Courier

Walgreen developer turns to neighbors

By Pam Marino

Choosing negotiation over certain defeat, the developers of a proposed Walgreen drugstore agreed to continue their Planning Commission request for one month in order to meet with unhappy neighbors.

Developers announced at last week's Planning Commission meeting that Walgreen was withdrawing its request for 24-hour operation of the proposed store at the corner of Bollinger Road and Blaney Avenue in the All-American Shopping Center. Angry residents had blasted the idea at a meeting two weeks earlier.

Despite the withdrawal, the project was headed for defeat, with three planning commissioners--David Doyle, Andrea Harris and Paul Roberts--announcing they opposed it because of residents' complaints. Commissioners Donna Austin and Orin Mahoney said they supported the project.

The commissioners gave the developers the option of appealing a negative recommendation to the City Council or continuing the issue until the Oct. 27 Planning Commission meeting.

All five commissioners were generally supportive of the idea of a Walgreen coming to the fading All-American center, which would be completely renovated after the store's construction. In addition to revamping the center, Walgreen would bring welcome sales tax revenue at a time when businesses have been leaving the city.

However, Doyle, Harris and Roberts said they could not vote for a project that the neighbors clearly did not want.

"I'm going to vote no on this project because the homework hasn't been done with the neighborhood," said Harris, who chairs the commission. She criticized developers for meeting with city staff for six months, but never enlisting any ideas from neighbors.

Residents argued before the commission that the new store will bring increased traffic and noise to surrounding homes, despite city staff reports to the contrary. One of the spokesmen for residents, Peter Turk, presented a petition with 90 signatures opposing the store.

The commissioners suggested that part of Walgreen's problem is the poor relationship neighbors have with the existing center. Neighbors said noise from early-morning deliveries--illegal under city codes--odors and trash have been a constant problem, with little responsiveness from the people who represent the trust that owns the center.

The company planning to renovate the center has an option to buy the property from the trust if the Walgreen store is approved for construction. Mike Tevis, representing the interested buyers, promised the commissioners the center would be run in a clean, safe, professional manner by the new owners.

Commissioner Roberts said he could understand the suspicions of residents based on the past operation of the center.

Commissioner Doyle suggested the two sides get together. "The new owners need to prove to the neighborhood there is a value to the neighborhood," he said.

After the public hearing, the developers' representatives met with residents to determine when the two sides could meet. The first meeting was scheduled for last night, with potentially more over the next few weeks.

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