By Peter Albert, DTNA President

A new Trader Joe's at 15th and Sanchez? A new office building at the CPMC-Davies campus? Martinis at Cafe Flore? These three proposals have two things in common: They are proposed for the Duboce Triangle, and the project sponsors have sought the support of the neighborhood.

I hope the importance of this opportunity is clear to all of us. It is one thing to find out about a development proposal when the bulldozers are shoving dirt around, but it's another to be able to give input in the planning stages, before the permits have even been filed with the City. The sponsors have asked for our input, early, and the DTNA Board has spent hours trying to get a handle on these proposals. We are studying their possible impacts and benefits, the challenges of supporting businesses while protecting the quality of life in the Triangle. We've watched how other groups in our broader neighborhood, such as CAPA and Hayes Valley, have handled these subjects, and we've taken part in the discussions.

For Trader Joe's, issues such as traffic (this is a problem intersection), parking (how much - if any?)/ land use (a single use store? mixed-use with housing?), design (how can a "big box" look and function like a neighborhood store?) come up.

The CPMC-Davies' new office building and redevelopment plans are also sensitive issues, which you have already helped us reconcile, and the architects are developing their first real response. Cafe Flore, a well-loved institution, proposes liquor sales, operational hours changes, some entertainment and other use changes.

We've asked the project sponsors to come and present this to you with us on July 12, and we are eager to hear what you have to say. Please set aside the two-hours- plus from 7 pm to 9/9:30 pm, and come to the CPMC Davies Auditorium (B level) - prepared to listen, to ask questions and to give feedback.

As DTNA President, I feel a tremendous responsibility to conduct a meeting that will be open, fair, honest and informative. Our Board will come out of this meeting with positions on these projects that the City will take very seriously when it, too, must make a decision. But just as we hope the City will listen to us, I hope you will come and listen to all sides, and give your thoughts on the proposals.

Please look at our website: www.dtna.org. [Note: you are there right now.] We will keep this updated with the meeting outcome as best we can.