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expressed concerns with the Cunninghams proposal, which would demolish the quaint, existing 480-square-foot cottage that currently provides a much-needed unit of affordable housing and place a 25-foot tall, 1,862-square-foot home right next to the existing 1,778-square-foot home, which is the old Hall home, one of the most historic homes in the City of Pleasanton. He stated that Mr. the land is non-conforming and is big enough, even with the two homes on it, to fall under the 40 percent FAR. He added that if the applicant is allowed to proceed as planned, the historic home at 215 Neal Street would have an even larger home squeezed in right next to it. Mr. Bourg stated that technically, the two homes on one lot would have an FAR of less that 40 percent, but the real purpose of the FAR is to speak to how aesthetically a home looks as it sits on the land and how it blends in with surrounding homes. He noted that in this case, the two closest residences are two historic homes that were given plaques and recognized as heritage sites by the City of Pleasanton at the natio year of 1976 and listed in the Downtown Specific Plan as historic resources and in the General Plan as historic structures. Mr. Bourg added that in most cases, lots allow for room to spare around proposed additions or remodel; so the FAR is meant to address the mass and scale of a proposed home and how it fits among its surrounding. He noted that the FAR in this area is 40 percent, but the uniqueness of where the small cottage sits on the large lot means that the 1,862-square-foot new home must be squeezed onto a 2,825-square-foot portion of the lot between the two historic homes, giving it an effective FAR of at least 66 percent and puts it as close as 12 feet from the historic home at 215 Neal with one corner as close as eight feet to that home. Mr. Bourg stated that aesthetically, the house does not fit there, is out of character with the historic neighborhood, and negatively affects the quality of life of at least four heritage homes in the beautiful historic neighborhood. He stated that at 25 feet high, the house would tower above their lot, create a large shadow until the afternoon, diminish light to the plants in yard, take away from their privacy in their home and yard, and limit their views of trees and the neighborhood from their home and their yard. He added that the setbacks are not in keeping with the code, and it has substandard tandem parking and very little street parking. He stated that the proposed home will not blend in with its surroundings and will detract from the character of the heritage neighborhood. He indicated that he opposed the proposal. Christine Bourg, Downtown property owner, stated that she and her husband have lived in their home for 37 years and that she opposes the plan because of its size and massing for the smaller portion of the lot on which it sits. She provided a brief history of the property, stating that the house was moved from Tassajara in 1900, that a carriage house was built for the Halls Clydesdale horses and buggy and was thereafter converted into a cottage to house soldiers. She indicated that Camp Parks was a WWII training site, and citizens were asked to house soldiers. She noted that after the war, the cottage became an affordable rental property. PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MINUTES, April 13, 2011 Page 6 of 19