Lisa Quan Q&A: Fremont Planning Commission (1/12/2009)

Brian Chang: Why did you move to Fremont?
Lisa Quan: I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I moved to Fremont because I believe that this city has a lot of potential for growth and is very hospitable to family life at the same time.

Brian Chang: Should A's move to Pacific Commons or Warm Springs BART Station? Why?
Lisa Quan: I would like to make our very best efforts to bring the A's to Fremont and turn this city into a major destination point. Therefore, while I prefer to see the project in the Pacific Commons area because it is more remote from single-family residential units, I am not foreclosed to the Warm Srpings option by any means. However, in the event that is the Pacific Commons area is not feasible, we should look carefully at the Warm Springs area and make creative efforts to make that choice happen.

Brian Chang: How are you going to address traffic, school, parking, and crime at the A's Ballpark Village?
Lisa Quan: I believe that these factors can all be handled successfully through the use of careful evaluation and creative planning.

Brian Chang: Do you think that the A's will move to Fremont? Why? How about San Jose?
Lisa Quan: I am very optimistic about the A's moving to Fremont because I have seen many presentations given by Lew Wolff and his team and believe that Fremont fits the A's criteria. I know that a move to San Jose has been discussed as an alternative but I do not think that San Jose is a good fit for the A's.

Brian Chang: What do you want to see Fremont in the future?
Lisa Quan: I would like to see more venues that would attract people from all age groups thereby increasing tax revenues for the city. I especially would certainly like to see a substantial boost to high-end retail and restaurants.

Brian Chang: How are you going to solve Global Warming?
Lisa Quan: Everyone is confronted with the problem of global warming. Therefore, each of us will have to make changes in our lives such as looking to more mass transportation, to alternative fuel sources and monitoring our carbon footprints.

Brian Chang: Do you think Fremont is well designed? Why?
Lisa Quan: While projects such as the Pacific Commons are successfully designed, Fremont certainly has room for more improvement.

Brian Chang: Do you think Fremont needs more recreation like Sport Center and Performance Art Center?
Lisa Quan: Since many people travel to other cities for recreation, I think that a sports center will keep residents in town and attract others as well. In general, Fremont needs more places where people can shop, watch sports games, watch movies, and live performances, dine and play.

Brian Chang: What do you think of the Creekside Landing shopping center? What types of retail do you want to see inside the shopping center? Should they open big box stores?
Lisa Quan: I would like to see more movie theaters, clothing stores, restaurants and other non big-box retail in that area.

Brian Chang: Should Fremont retain bedroom community feel or a big city? Why?
Lisa Quan: Fremont now has over 200,000 residents and is the fourth largest city in California. As such, it simply is not practical to attempt to keep it a bedroom community. People need recreational places, shopping and dining within the city limists rather than just having a place to come home to after work. Now, most people drive to San Jose or Palo Alto in search of interesting restaurants and attractive retail stores. This impacts this city's tax revenues, the number of jobs within the city and fuel expenses for the residents.

If you wish to support Lisa Quan, please write or send an e-mail to Mayor Bob Wasserman at 3300 Capitol Avenue, Fremont, CA 94538 or bwasserman@ci.fremont.ca.us.